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So we were all lucky enough to get vacation after just two months of work.Not only did they give us time off but they also paid us for part of our work.The one thing I learned from this is if you have a question do not be afraid to ask it.The way the program works is you get paid in full at the end of the summer, but some of us were running low on funds so we asked if we could have an advance.To our surprise they said no problem and had it ready on Sunday when we were done working.
I sent my children home with their parents and went to collect my envelope of cash and was on my way.I wasn't really sure where I was going to end up so I walked to the train station with a friend thinking we were just going to go out for lunch and a few beers.Two hours later I was in Barcelona sitting in a bar belonging to a Spanish motorcycle club.I was a bit apprehensive about going to hang out with bikers at first because let's be honest, black people and bikers don't always have the best relationship.We get off the train and walk with a friend who lives in Barcelona for about 15 minutes and then come to this unmarked door.He pushes the buzzer and someone opens the peephole looks out at us and then opens the door.He looks myself and my two friends up and down and then rushes us into the door.I look around and the place looks just like a biker bar in America.There are rebel flags hanging from the ceiling, skull and cross bones on the wall and half naked pin-ups of women in leather that look like they are from the seventies.They also did not get the memo that heavy metal died about fifteen years ago.The people are not at all what you would expect though.They varied in age, are covered in tattoos but they all just seem like that crazy uncle we all have but only see at major family gatherings.We are greeted with hugs and beers which is not at all what I expected and then are asked if we would like to arm wrestle and help work on a bike.This part is completely what I expected.I was asked if I owned a bike in the states or if I ever thought of getting one.I told them the story of how I almost bought a bike when I turned thirty and what kind I wanted.After the laughter stopped about my lame bike we played some fosse ball with them and had a few more beers after which my friends and I were kind of hungry.We said our goodbyes and they told us we were welcome back any time we are in Barcelona and even gave us their card.Yes the bike club has a business card.
We walked around for a bit trying to find something to eat and one thing stood out the most to us; Hard Rock Café!I know this is an American chain restaurant but you have to keep in mind we have been eating camp food for well over a month and need something with taste not just substance.After we were told there was a forty-five minute wait for a table we decided to wander around and hit a few bars.Bar one was a bust because it was an American bar which was overpriced and everyone was speaking English.Another strange thing about me is while I love bars and America, when I am in another country I do not want to sit in a bar with Americans speaking English, downing imported Budweiser products.We finished our drinks which I had to call the bartender out on because she tried to short change me, thinking I didn't know how Euros work, and went to a tapas bar where we got a liter of beer, a shot of something and a tapas all for five Euro.We each drank and ate our little snack while we laughed about the past weeks of camp and then headed back to the Hard Rock for dinner.
They seat us at our table and we order some more drinks in order to keep the buzz going.This is where the story gets funny.It takes about forty-five minutes for them to prepare our four meals along with everyone else that is waiting for food.When they bring it out our waiter drops one of the plates of food, we freak out thinking we would have to wait almost another hour before the plate is replaced.Before we can even say something to him about it, there is another plate of food in front of my friend.It was all amazing and I can still taste it in my mouth compared to the bland salty food I have been getting lately.
After dinner we parted ways with the friends that live there and head to the beach to meet some other friends.We wander into a mellow lounge type bar on the beach for a few more drinks and talk about plans for an upcoming trip.By the time we are done we have long since missed the last train so lucky for us one of our friends was nice enough to drive us back to camp with is like an hour away
The rest of my vacation however was not so entertaining because I caught a cold from living in tight quarters for two months with so many people and drinking after so many little children.Americans depend on all kinds of medicine when they are ill, and when you can't get it you are lost and must rely on normal home remedies.I am happy to say the remedies worked and by Friday I was good to go.We had a party at the camp because one of the counselors was leaving.I am happy to say I did not have to work the day after the party because the only thing I remember is copious amounts of alcohol and lots of dancing and the sound of laughter.
Saturday came around and it was time once again for the house party we all seem to look forward to.This time there was no food involved, just lots of alcohol and music and drinking games.Note to self:Not everyone likes to play beer pong.We figured this out by trying to explain it to the Spaniards who thought it was a waste to throw a ball that has been rolling onto the floor into perfectly good drinkable beer.I can't say I disagree with them either.We played a few other games and then once again the sun started coming up so we had to say our goodbyes and head home for the welcoming of new children for the last week.
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