I love the way the word serendipity just rolls off the tongue. I'm always excited when I get to use it, which isn't often, because it's rare to find something wonderful when you aren't looking for it. So it was great when I experienced two serendipitous moments during my 5 days in Barcelona!
Serendipitous Moment #1:
This one requires a little background: I met my friend, Leah, while studying abroad in Sevilla. We were roommates staying with a local family. One of the many photos we had in our room was of Leah with her friend Allasia. During spring break, Chris came to visit me along with a couple of friends from BC. On their last night in Spain, we stayed out all night in Madrid because they had a 5am flight back to Boston. After dropping them off at the airport, I headed to the train station. The place was deserted. I began dozing off while waiting for my train when I heard two voices in English. I looked up and immediately recognized the girl from Leah’s picture – Allasia! I walked up to her and said something like, “Excuse me, but is your name Allasia?”
The next time I saw her was in 2008 when we were both bridesmaids at Leah’s wedding.
Then, on our second day in Barcelona, my parents, Chris and I were leaving our apartment in Gotic when I saw a very familiar face walking down the street. We both recognized each other and found it pretty hilarious to meet this way once again in Spain! She is in the middle of a master’s program in BCN and lives right around the corner from where our apartment was located. The next night, the three of us caught up over drinks & dinner. Allasia showed us her apartment on the top floor of a building from the 1300's, with an amazing view of a plaza and church in El Borne. Christopher Columbus supposedly lived in a building right around the corner!
Serendipitous Moment #1:
This one requires a little background: I met my friend, Leah, while studying abroad in Sevilla. We were roommates staying with a local family. One of the many photos we had in our room was of Leah with her friend Allasia. During spring break, Chris came to visit me along with a couple of friends from BC. On their last night in Spain, we stayed out all night in Madrid because they had a 5am flight back to Boston. After dropping them off at the airport, I headed to the train station. The place was deserted. I began dozing off while waiting for my train when I heard two voices in English. I looked up and immediately recognized the girl from Leah’s picture – Allasia! I walked up to her and said something like, “Excuse me, but is your name Allasia?”
The next time I saw her was in 2008 when we were both bridesmaids at Leah’s wedding.
Then, on our second day in Barcelona, my parents, Chris and I were leaving our apartment in Gotic when I saw a very familiar face walking down the street. We both recognized each other and found it pretty hilarious to meet this way once again in Spain! She is in the middle of a master’s program in BCN and lives right around the corner from where our apartment was located. The next night, the three of us caught up over drinks & dinner. Allasia showed us her apartment on the top floor of a building from the 1300's, with an amazing view of a plaza and church in El Borne. Christopher Columbus supposedly lived in a building right around the corner!
with Allasia at the Mercer Hotel rooftop bar
Serendipitous Moment #2
The day after dinner with Allasia, we did a lot of walking and sightseeing. By 7pm we were exhausted, so my parents went back to their hotel and Chris and I walked back to our apartment. At the apartment I checked email, Facebook, etc. On Facebook I saw a picture of my cousin Mirta from Costa Rica in the plaza right around the corner from our apartment. It had just been posted. Luckily, she was still connected and I found out that she was in town just that day/night with her brother Alejandro so we made plans to meet for dinner at 10:30. The last time I saw Mirta & Alejandro was in 2004 when Chris and I visited Costa Rica so it had been a long time. Mirta & Alejandro were on a whirlwind European vacation visiting Paris, Barcelona, Morrocco, Rome, Florence and probably a few other places I’m forgetting. They were staying with their friend in BCN and all of us went to this great little Indian place in Barri Gotic where I had an awesome lentil soup. We loved catching up with Mirta, getting to know Ale (since he was so young when we first met him), and meeting their friend Ber. I took pictures that night but they never appeared on my phone:( Luckily Mirta got one!
The day after dinner with Allasia, we did a lot of walking and sightseeing. By 7pm we were exhausted, so my parents went back to their hotel and Chris and I walked back to our apartment. At the apartment I checked email, Facebook, etc. On Facebook I saw a picture of my cousin Mirta from Costa Rica in the plaza right around the corner from our apartment. It had just been posted. Luckily, she was still connected and I found out that she was in town just that day/night with her brother Alejandro so we made plans to meet for dinner at 10:30. The last time I saw Mirta & Alejandro was in 2004 when Chris and I visited Costa Rica so it had been a long time. Mirta & Alejandro were on a whirlwind European vacation visiting Paris, Barcelona, Morrocco, Rome, Florence and probably a few other places I’m forgetting. They were staying with their friend in BCN and all of us went to this great little Indian place in Barri Gotic where I had an awesome lentil soup. We loved catching up with Mirta, getting to know Ale (since he was so young when we first met him), and meeting their friend Ber. I took pictures that night but they never appeared on my phone:( Luckily Mirta got one!
Alejandro, Me & Mirta in Barcelona
Serendipity, thank you! Barcelona was such a treat.
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