I Fell For You

Chapter 13: See you again, Prince

I hoped for time to go slower. Like a droplet after the rain taking its time sliding down a leaf, or like the sands gradually leaving the upper glass of an hour glass. Pero gaya nga ng sinabi nila, kapag masaya ka, bumibilis ang oras. Every day feels like just an hour, every hour like a minute, every minute like a second.

We are now on our fourth day on our trip in Barcelona. Ilang araw nalang ay flight ko na pabalik sa Pilipinas, at habang tumatagal ay mas nalulungkot ako tuwing iniisip na kailangan ko nang umalis. Kung pupwede nga lang na mag-extend pa ako ay ginawa ko na, pero hindi na rin praktikal pa iyon. Ephraim has his royal duties while I have to face...well, adult life.

Funny how a few weeks ago, I went to Paris to become independent and travel alone, only to end up wanting to spend more time with someone I met during the trip. Well, sino nga ba kasing makakahula na ganoon ang mangyayari. Everything that happened is unexpected.

Nagtimpla ako ng kape habang si Ephraim naman ay naliligo pa sa bathroom. We actually booked two separate rooms, pero parang wala rin namang silbi ang isa dahil madalas siyang nandito sa hotel room ko at lilipat lamang sa kabilang kwarto 'pag oras na ng tulog.

Umupo ako sa kama at sumimsim sa kape habang tinitignan ko ang naka-readying itinerary para sa araw na ito.

The main reason why I want to visit Barcelona is, of course, their architecture. Sikat ang Barcelona sa nag-gagandahan at kakaibang mga disenyo ng istraktura. There are many architectural styles that can be seen in the entire city gaya ng Catalan Modernism, Art Nouveau at mga Gothic architecture na madalas rin makita sa Paris.

For the past three days, we spent our time visiting some of the famous tourist attractions here in Barcelona. Like, of course, the very famous and immense unfinished basilica, La Sagrada Familia, designed by Barcelona's infamous architect, Antoni Gaudi. Previously it is under the supervision of Ar. Francisco de Paula del Villar na nag-resign after a few years at pinalitan nga ni Gaudi.

As we all know, Sagrada Familia's construction began a hundred fifty years ago. It is even dubbed as the world's longest construction dahil hindi pa din ito tapos hanggang ngayon. Pero kahit pa hindi pa rin ito tapos, ay hindi mapagkakaila ang ganda ng simbahan.

Sabi nila kapag natapos raw ito ay itong magiging pinakamatayog na basilica sa buong mundo. Pinakamalapit sa langit, at nagsisilbing atonement para sa paghingi ng tawad sa mga kasalanan.

Fun fact about the basilica is that the tomb of its dead architect, Gaudi, is placed on the underground level where the visitors can freely visit.

Bukod sa Sagrada, nakapaglakad na rin kami sa La Rambla which is the center most street in the city, and the heart of Barcelona's social life. It is filled with the bustling atmosphere of different activities. Nagkalat nga ang street performers doon na na-enjoy ko namang panoorin.

'Di kalayuan roon ay narating rin namin ang La Boqueria na isa sa mga orihinal na landmark sa Barcelona na nabuo pa noong 1217. The market truly feasts the eyes with its colorful displays of vegetables and fruits, candies, sweets, breads, fresh-mixed of smoothies and many more. It is voted as the best food market in the world.

Comparing to Paris though, the foods here are more affordable. I remembered going gaga over their strawberry coconut smoothie habang si Ephraim naman ay gustung-gusto iyong garbanzo beans with blood sausage sa Bar Pinotxo.

For our third day, we spent the whole day touring around the Gothic Quarter, located in the oldest part of Old Town Barcelona. Muntik pa kami magkaligaw-ligaw ni Ephraim sa paglalakad sa mala-labyrinth na lugar. Sa totoo lang, ang plano ko lang ay bumisita sa Barcelona Cathedral at tignan ang mga remains ng Roman Walls roon ngunit dahil kasama ko nga itong si Ephraim, kung saan-saan niya ako hinatak.