Last day!

Our last day started like any other day:  we were walking down to the market to grab a cup of fruit for breakfast.  Suddenly, my mom realized she had forgotten the beach towels we needed for our trip later to the beach at the hotel.  So, we waited for her outside while she ran back to get them.  I was innocently standing there when I felt something hit my shirt.  I tried to deny it but as I looked down there it was, bird poop.  I knew this was bound to happen sometime but not on my last day! I ran back to the hotel to wash it off and after several pictures and laughs we continued on our day.

After breakfast we went to the Pablo Picasso museum.  It was amazing to see what he was painting at just 9 years old.  Later we went to the Barcelona zoo!  There were wild peacocks walking around right next to the people and the zoo was really nice.  All the walking became tiring but we dragged our feet all the way down to the beach to have lunch on the beachfront.  When we walked down to the water it was pretty cold so we didn't stay too long.  So, after spending some time at the beach we walked back to the hotel and my mom and I went up to the terrace in our hotel and laid out.  It was so relaxing!  Uncle Brad and Rob went to a contemporary art museum while my mom and I walked around.  I got a cute little cactus in a small pot with a flower for my dorm room.  We met back up for dinner and went to the same Mexican restaurant we had went to the previous night because we liked it so much.  In almost every city we went to, if we found a restaurant we really liked we went back the next night.  My last day was well spent and a good way to wind down before a crazy traveling day!

And the nightmare begins...Saturday morning we woke up hopeful that in 24 hours we would be landed in Chicago and either sleeping at my grandparents or driving the 2 hours home.  Little did we know, this day was going to be never ending.  We made it through the long 8 hour flight from Barcelona to Philly where we had a 7 hour layover and then was supposed to board our plane to Chicago.  I surprisingly felt pretty good after the 8 hours and it went by fairly quickly.  Since we had such a long layover we decided to go see if we could be on standby for one of the earlier flights to Chicago.  The earliest one had no room but there was hope for the next flight which was our last chance before our flight.  We thought we were going to get on but last minute they said they didn't have room for all 3 of us.  So, we went and had dinner together and then hung out for a couple more hours before boarding our plane to Chicago.  We boarded first because we were zone 1 and as soon as we got on they had delayed the boarding for an hour because of traffic in Chicago and bad weather.  Soon, everyone else began to board and before we knew it, it was 10:30 or so at night.  The pilot kept making announcements saying we should be able to take off soon and then we never did.  Eventually, he said they had timed out.  So, we all got off the plane and there was plenty of yelling from fellow passengers as we found out that the next available flight straight to Chicago that they could fit people on was Monday.  We all got put on crazy flights that went to a different destination then flew in to Chicago.  So, today we fly to Phoenix then fly to Chicago.  A five hour flight just because!  Uncle Brad left a little bit ago because he has a flight to Dallas then Chicago then Seattle.  Needless to say it's going to be a long day for all of us.  We are do in at 6:30 then have to drive two hours to get home.  Also, last night there were no hotel rooms close by available so we had to spend the night in the airport which is not something I recommend.  The airport is freezing and we each had these weird aluminum blanket things but we managed to get a couple hours of sleep after being up for 24 hours.  So, now we are waiting to board our flight to Phoenix, in the opposite direction as our end destination!  But, as long as we actually take off this time, I'll be happy.  :)

Our trip didn't end as we had planned but it doesn't take away from how awesome the last two weeks have been!  I'm so grateful and blessed to have gone on a trip that I will remember forever.  It was truly a trip of a lifetime!!!  I can never thank you enough Uncle Brad, you rock!

Some of our last day pictures:

The beach

One of the peacocks walking around 

Toucan

The penguin was super close to us!

Huge turtle!! He was trying to get through the fence to be with his other turtle friends

The meerkats were watching this super loud annoying peacock

Jaguar 

Rhino

Elephant

Zebra

Thank you Uncle Brad for the best two weeks ever!!!

The monkey was sitting right up against the glass and we took this picture.  It looks like he's taking a selfie!

We just got the best news ever as I was typing this!  We got moved to a flight that stops in DC but we are going to get into Chicago five hours earlier than we would've!!! Woo hoo!  

These last two weeks have been incredible, thank you again Uncle Brad!