A Guiri's Adventure

Book excerpt: A Guiri's Adventure: Barcelona through the eyes of an American is a shamelessly honest chronicle of Greta Paa-Kerner's experiences living in Barcelona, Spain. Spiced up with cynicism, self-deprecation and dry humor, it is a recount of the history, geography, economics, and cultural euphemisms of the region. It's an armchair adventure about an American during her first year of living abroad. With the disputed U.S. presidential elections, the terrorist attacks of September 11 and Europe's transition to the Euro monetary system, it was an eventful time to live in Europe. Every chapter in A Guiri's Adventure captures this unique period in history. Through the highs and the lows of settling into a new culture Greta learned that being a foreigner, a "Guiri" meant more than speaking with an accent. For her it also meant taking a personal journey beyond one's self-made limits and stretching beyond what was comfortable. She wants you to take that journey with her. Barcelona, home of the ancient Roman settlements, the Modernist art movement and the 1992 Olympics is a story unto itself. Famous architects like Antoni Gaudy and artists like Joan Miry have shaped this fascinating city and provide a colorful mosaic backdrop for this foreigner's adventures.