Hostel Territory

So we've set off to Barcelona to live the dream and open our very own hostel. We're keeping this journal online to keep everyone updated of our progress, adventures and mishaps navigating Barcelona's booming tourism industry, Spanish bureaucracy, and daily life in Catalunya.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Back in BCN.

Our test mattresses arrived today (ie the mattresses Lee and I will be sleeping on until the hostel opens). They're pretty nice, but mine takes up almost my whole room. Considering my sleep habits, I suppose that's proportionally appropriate.

We met with a guy today about installing a security camera system. I think I'm getting really old, because everything seems really high tech to me. You can access the feed from your cell phone anywhere. We're thinking of hiding one in a teddy bear in the lobby to keep tabs on our receptionists.

In more fun news, we're going to the opening of a new ice bar tonight. -5 degrees celcius inside. Lee's fingers turn purple walking down the street in balmy BCN weather, so I'm sure she'll have a blast. All in the name of research of course. Their website plays Vanilla Ice. They had me at "Stop, Collaborate and Listen." Should be, er, cool.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving! The ground in Milwaukee is covered in snow, and I'm wearing wool. When is my flight back to Barcelona?

No, I'm actually looking forward to a Throop family Thanksgiving. Well, I was until my Dad showed me this.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Back in the US of A for Dia de Accion Gracia, as they say. Reverse culture shock hasn't been too bad. Lots of gracias instead of thank you, and I still get heart palpitations trying to think of how to phrase awkward requests in Spanish at restaurants and stores. But otherwise, my stomach is quickly stretching back out to accommodate American portion sizes, and I'm loving driving to the store two blocks away.

Back in Barcelona next Sunday. Any requests for American treats?

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Okay I promise not to blog about the status of every reservation we have, but I still haven't heard from our potential first-reservation-ever girl! Perhaps Somnio was a little too rich for her blood? Or maybe she googled us and read the blog post I wrote about her? (If that's the case - I swear - free cava, turn down service, in room massages (by Lee) - whatever you want)
We just received our first request for a reservation! Okay, well it was more like a girl asking for our rates, but she does have specific dates she wants to book. I shamelessly told her that she would be our first reservation and would therefore receive total VIP treatment. Think that'll make her feel warm and fuzzy (guilty) enough to book? I'll let you know!

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Just a typical night out in Spain with the neighborhood Tuna band. Apparently not everyone was as appreciative as the bar patrons. The fun ended pretty abruptly when the neighbors started throwing buckets of water.

Friday, November 02, 2007

All right, here are some slight more dramatic before and after construction pictures. Demolition is now almost complete, and all the new walls are almost up.



Yesterday was a holiday in Spain, All Saint's Day. We celebrated at a nearby street fair with traditional Catalan dance, glasses of moscatell and some roasted chestnuts.