Barcelona, Spain

Mixing my sugar cube in my first Absinthe shot!
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I arrived in Barcelona still a little sick, but ready to party!  Shyla welcomed me and set me up in her sweet guest room with Internet!  Which is nice for a man who has been staying at hostels and random hotels.  I arrived very late the first night and Shylita had school the next day (she is getting her Masters in Corporate Social Responsibility in Barcelona - how cool is that?!?) so we just hit the hay.  The next day I wandered about town taking in some of the sights and then met up with Shy and some of her friends at happy hour.  Danielle was particularly perturbed because a gang of kids was lighting off M80s right behind where we were drinking.  It was quite funny to watch her face each time one went off!

Reaction afterwards... wowee!
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We left happy hour to head home and wait for Sara to arrive (she was flying in from Germany for the weekend where she was working - although she lives in Boulder CO).  Nice life eh?  We went out that evening to a tapas place which turns into a club.  It was quite a transformation.  I got up to go the bathroom after dinner and when I came out (2 minutes later!) all the tables were cleared and the place was packed!  I've never seen anything like it.  We had another beer and then headed out to find a cool bar.  On the way, I was feeling sick again and was about to head home when Sara realized the look in my face (she has known me for years) and told me what I needed was an Absinthe shot.  Never one to turn down a shot, I agreed!

I proceeded to do my first Absinthe shot. And I LOVED it! It gives you an INSTANT buzz.

Getting psyched up to drink it
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We arrived at our destination with about a dozen peeps in tow (Shylas friends from school and some other intl visitors) where I proceeded to do my first Absinthe shot.  And I LOVED it!  It gives you an INSTANT buzz.  Its even better than silver Patron.  I wanted to do a second one but everyone thought I was crazy and talked me out of it.  The girls were instantly drunk - shot right passed buzzed.  Its almost like 4 shots in one.  The key of course is to do it before you start drinking, not after you are already buzzed.  Wow, its great!

Downing it!
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With my new buzz and newfound energy we headed over to another bar and ultimately headed to a late night dance club, Sutton.  Sadly there was a huge pack of people trying to get picked to get in, and this at 2am!  Now, I am way too old to wait in lines to be picked anymore.  In college it felt so cool to do it - now, puhlease!  They told me just 5 minutes, 5 minutes.  Which of course becomes 10, but before 15 I said; thats it for me!  Ill find another bar to drink at.  One of Shy's friends Adam said he'd join me, that he didn't want to wait either.  It was at this point that Marisol got the attention of the door staff and got us all in.  So in we went for more drinking, dancing and fun!  I got home a few hours later and hit the hay.

Danielle, Adam and Ben
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The next day we lazed about (hungover) got brunch and then the girls went shopping.  I stayed in and napped.  Hangovers and still being sick don't mix!  That night we went out to dinner and then drinks at a cool bar.  We all said wed take it easy that night and in Barcelona this means getting home at 2-3am.

The next day we had brunch and checked out Parc Guell where Gaudi built some houses and some of the stuff in the park.  That dude is quite the architect!  After this we met Shy's friends at a cool beach bar playing house music.  Ahhh the life!  Now I know why Shyla wants to live here forever ;-)