The view from the top.

Brief update since my last entry:
Pardon the delay in posting another update; the previous hostel only had WIFI in a small, non-air conditioned room, which was always crowded and noisy.  Obviously, this was not really an inspiring environment to think or write.  After our stay at Paraiso Hostel, Matthew and I had a mere ten minute walk to our next hostel, Sun and Moon Hostel, which was positioned on the busiest street of Barcelona, La Rambla.  We stayed at this hostel for ten days, until today, September 1, 2013, we checked out, and took the metro to our next temporary home called INOUT Hostel.  This hostel is amongst some large hills within one of Spain’s national parks.  It contains a swimming pool, a restaurant, a café, and beautiful views in every direction.  Most importantly, it is an escape from the madness of city life, which leads me to my entry…

 

One day whilst staying on La Rambla Street, we decided to explore in a new direction, as we had grown tired of the beach, and were eager to experience something new.  We began walking toward what appeared to be a small mountain (I am not sure if it is simply a giant hill or a mountain; I am ignorant to the differences).  Upon approaching the side of the hill which faced the bay, we found a wide stone stairway which steeply crawled up the mountain.  Curiosity beckoned; we started climbing. It was beautiful… It was the first moment we had escaped city life since arriving in Barcelona, and it was so rejuvinating to have some fresh air.  Approaching the top, the path of nature ceased and before our eyes, were man-made gardens that were meticulously arranged and stone square ponds filled to the brink with lily-pads and lotus flowers. Tiny circle bushes were arranged in rows, while large stone statues of women towered over them.  We walked down a path and found ourselves gazing at Barcelona from on top of the world, a view of the city which we have spent the last two weeks living in.  For me, this was more than just an opportunity for a good picture…

 

You see, we have spent the last two weeks getting lost in the chaos of Barcelona, surrounded by buildings too close together, and too high, to see anything beyond the present street.  You pass block after block, yet never look above the street level view which entraps you… the bums and beggars, the noisy cars, the weird smells, the herds of people stomping down the street; it’s just too much. But here I was, staring at this chaotic city from above, mesmerized by its beauty, in disbelief that this has been the same Barcelona that I was beginning to resent.  How did I miss its beauty?  How is the sight of a city that has been testing my temper able to almost draw tears out of my eyes? 

Ever since the climb back down from that mountain, I feel different about this city by the sea, with its rich history, and beautiful architecture.  When your environment remains the same for so long, it begins to become familiar to you and it seems to lose any magic or mystery it may have possessed before.  The bigger picture is pushed into your peripheral, and the details become the object of obsession.  The mind begins to focus only on the errors and defects.  Sometimes it takes looking up, walking away, or climbing to a new place to get a fresh of perspective.  The flaws may not disappear, but you are reminded that the though they remain, that in proportion to the beauty of the whole, they are simply minor details.

This was a profound, metaphorical moment for me. Not only did it change my perspective of Barcelona, but it changed my perspective on my life.  In leaving home and beginning this voyage, there was so much I was excited to experience and see that I was forgetting one of the greatest things the trip was inevitably going to offer… a new perspective of the old, along with an experience of the new.  Now that I’m climbing up, I have a beautiful new perspective of where I have come from… home: who I was there, the people surrounding me, and the places I know so well.  I am now standing on high grounds with fresh air and gazing at the beauty of the life I live.  No longer do I obsessively fret over the small daily details, but rather, stand in appreciation for the beautiful thing I call my life. 

Lots of love from Barcelona. XOXOXO.