{Backpacking Through Europe: Barcelona}

Ahhh Barcelona....one of my favorite cities in the whole wide world. When ever we tell people that we traveled Europe they always ask, "what was your favorite city?" BARCELONA! 

We were so relieved when we finally arrived in Barcelona! The previous night we took an overnight train from Paris to Barcelona. Literally the worst night ever. We arrived at the Barcelona train station around 10:00 a.m. thinking everyone was going to be up and stores would be open but boy were we wrong. The people of Barcelona love to stay out late and then sleep in late! 

We decided to take a cab to our hostel because we had no idea where we were going and I'm glad we did. We got to our hostel and were so thankful they had Caffe Americano {regular coffee}. We cleaned up a bit and decided to roam the streets. 

Finally, at noon, the BEST tapas bar opened up. If you ever visit Barcelona, i HIGHLY recommend visiting this tapas joint--La Tasqueta de Blai. Only 1 euro per tapa and amazing sangria!!

We took a double decker bus tour. This was a great way to see the city since the city is so large!

Our hostel cooked free dinner! Who can pass up a free meal when you're backpacking? There was a man from India staying at our hostel and taught the chef how to make indian food. it was SO tasty! He cooked us curry chicken and lentils! YUM!

Day 2 we visited La Segrada Familia. This needs to be on everyone's bucket list! One of the most beautiful places I've ever seen! This church has been under construction for over 100 years! Thankfully we bought our tickets in advance because the line was wrapped around the entire church. We were able to go right inside as soon as we got there and did a tour of the church with the head sets. 

Pictures can't do it justice.

This puts the church in to perspective. You can see how big it really is!

This was taken from a big hill in Park Gueli. 

From park gueli we ventured to La Boqueria Market! As soon as we walked in they had fresh squeezed juices. I was in heaven! 

Resisted the temptation to dive right in all of that candy! 

We got a bottle box of sangria and went down to the beach to enjoy the evening! It was nice to chill and sit by the water! 

This is another MUST DO in Barcelona-- Bosque Palermo!! You have to get their paella!! Barcelona is known for their Paella and this is THE BEST!! 

No idea was this thing is but I ate it!

....Next we're off to ITALY!!

{easy}

What is easy?
It is easy get involved in every day life and put God in a box.
It is easy to push Him to the side and say "I've got this."
It is easy to listen to the temptations of the devil telling you you can't handle the stress.
It's easy to get caught up and overwhelmed.

It's hard to completely put our trust in God.
It's hard to give it over to God and let Him handle our stress.
It's hard to remember to pray when we are at our best and at our worst.

Since school started in early August it has been easier for me to push God to the side and wallow in self pity. It has been easy for me to say "well, maybe I'll just quit, I can't handle the stress."

While on my drive to Louisville with just Polo and me in the car, I had a lot of time to think and pray.
I honestly felt God talking to me saying "Brooke, I put you in that position for a REASON." You see, before I ever got a job I prayed. I prayed that God would place me where HE saw fit, not me! I wanted so badly to teach REGULAR ED. I was uncomfortable changing diapers of a 10 year old and I did NOT want to do it. I prayed. What did God do? Put me in a situation where I thought I would be uncomfortable and taught me to TRUST Him. My first year, I did just that and I fell in LOVE with my job. The life of a special education teacher is not easy. It's not easy changing 12 diapers a day while potty training 2 others, writing IEP's, and meeting IEP goals. But that is where God wanted me.

 Over the past month since school has started I've had a hard time managing stress and work. It has been easy to be negative about life and about my job. God tapped me on the shoulder and reminded me to trust in him. So on that drive last weekend, I prayed. I prayed that God would work on my heart, change my attitude, and HELP me! I made the decision to have a better attitude towards work and you know what? It WORKED! I went to school on Monday and told my assistants, "I promise from this week forward I am going to stay positive, not raise my voice, and give these children the love they deserve."

I cannot help these students on my own, I NEED God and I  need to show my students God's love. Many of my students do not have fathers, they do not have running water at home, they have few clothes, and some are forced to skip supper. I need to love these children like Christ loves me. It's not about ME it's about the students!

God has not been speaking but YELLING this message to me in the past week that there is no problem TOO big for His power and no problem too small for His worry! HE CARES! Our lives are shaped by our thoughts. The mind is so so powerful! "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he... {Prov. 23:7}

I encourage you to give your worries to God and consciously decide "I cannot do this own my own". The mind is a powerful thing. We need not let our worries take over our daily lives or life will pass us by.

{Backpacking Through Europe: Paris}

Paris is typically known as the city of love and romance. The city where you can find couples kissing everywhere, holding hands, and staring in to each others eyes. For us, it was run as fast as you can to see as much as you can in 24 hours. With a wee bit of romance and hand holding thrown in between. 

We took a high speed train from Amsterdam to Paris on Saturday, June 22. We checked in to Emeraude Hotel Lodge du Centre Paris. We freshened up as quickly as possible and made our way to the metro. 

The funny thing about the Eiffel Tower is that it is literally breathtaking the first AND the second time you see it. You always see so many pictures of the Eiffel Tower whether it be browsing the aisles of homegoods or the pages of vogue magazine. No matter how many times you see pictures, seeing it in person takes your breath away. 

Last time I was in Paris we did not get to see it at nighttime. This time it was at the top of my list to see the Eiffel Tower sparkle at night! 

After seeing the Eiffel Tower during day light, we decided to find a "cheap" place for dinner and wait until the sun went down. We ate dinner at Bistro de Lonchamp and it was very tasty and nice to eat a meal for 7 Euro a piece AND have a NICE waiter that spoke English!

We went down the road after dinner and bought a bottle of wine at a cheap store {no cups, no bottle opener} and made our way to the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower. We met a nice, older American couple from Texas that opened our wine for us--those nice Americans!

I got my wish and got to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night. I didn't realize that it only lasts for 4 minutes--11:00-11:04!

Dale was hungry again and got a nutella crepe and O.M.G it was HEAVENLY!

The next day we RAN through the city because we had about 10 hours left in Paris! We walked ran down Champs de Elysees , saw Louis Vuttion and  Arc de Triumph. We RAN through the Lurve in 2 hours flat, said hey to Mona and the Egyptians and left!

Tried getting a picture with Mona--talk about claustrophobia {and Mona didn't even make the pic}

We stood in line for Notre Dam. The weather at this point was crazy. It went from freezing cold, to blazing hot, to POURING down rain in about an hour!

Before we left Paris we got another Nutella Crepe, this time with banana added in {that makes it healthy, right?}

Au Revoir Pairs!

The night of June 23 we boarded an overnight {regular speed}train to Barcelona. I say regular speed because this train ride was TEN HOURS. This was literally the worst night of my life. I do not sleep well unless I am in a bed. I am not the type of person that can fall asleep in a car, doctors office, airplane, boat, train, you name it. Unless I am horizontal, forget it! I did not sleep a WINK on this dang train.

We literally booked the train the DAY tickets became available and cabins were already, somehow sold out. We were forced to settle for "reclining" seats. We figured it would be ok. No. It was TERRIBLE.
This picture was taken "pre" take off. We were excited to be heading to Barcelona. See how I had my seat covered with the blanket? I was terrified of germs! And check out Dale's baguette! haha! Always prepared with extra food!!