I believe in fate.
I believe fate comes in many forms.
Like a $50 gift card and Louies Modern cocktails.
I knew Katy had been planning to go to Europe in August. Her friend from college is getting married in France.
Side notes: I apparently didn’t choose my college friends wisely. And Katy obviously downgraded in the friend department with me.
Y’all remember Katy. My best friend. We used to ramble on about news in our cleverly titled web series “Besties with Katy and Liz.”
Our internet fame ended when Katy took a job at the Kansas City Star. I know you all have been suffering from withdrawals ever since.
How Katy plans for trips abroad.
Several months back after a few cocktails – I forget now how many exactly – Katy mentioned that I should be her plus one.
Maybe she was joking or just really wishing I would go but knowing it wasn’t likely I’d agree.
I did. Immediately. I had wanted to go, but it’s rude to invite yourself to a stranger’s wedding in France. I guess it’s also awkward to ask a friend to go to a stranger’s wedding in France.
But Louies Modern cocktails are known to make things happen.
At the time, we had no idea Katy would be moving to the Midwest.
We just thought we were destined for a great time in Europe. We didn’t realize we were destined for a majestically epic friend reunion in Europe. (Technically the reunion will happen in the Orlando airport, but whatevs.)
So here we are on the cusp of our grand reunion with plans to explore the hell out of Barcelona before heading to France for the wedding and wine – obviously.
How I plan for trips abroad.
It will be the first time for each of us in Europe. For some reason newspaper internships took up our college summers instead of study abroad programs.
Luckily for me, Katy is basically a travel agent and has taken care of most of the planning. There have been a few Skype dates in which we’ve charged up our credit cards over bottles of wine and other gossip. My end of the Skype calls happen from the same couch where Katy and I drank too much wine and champagne while we were supposed to be watching Vicky Cristina Barcelona but instead just cried and word-vomited about our friendship on a night leading up to Katy’s departure.
Katy’s been mapping out our trip and what places we should hit in the same day due to geographical location. I’ve been focused on the finer things like how to say “alcohol” in French.
As soon as we saw FC Barcelona had a match while we were in town, we tracked down tickets.
We were clutch and got tickets to an FC Barcelona match, which is bound to be an incredible kickoff to our trip. There are plans to visit Sagrada Familia and Park Guell. The end of our trip will see us basking on the banks of the Mediterranean. And also we’re planning to go on a ham tour?! I’m weirdly excited about that one. I’m looking forward to the chance to eat and drink and be merry and meet new friends and make more memories.
But more than anything, I’m thrilled to be reunited with my best friend. If only she was here to help me pack.
Katy was fully packed on Sunday. I still haven’t unpacked my suitcases from my last move so that I can pack them with clothes for Europe.
Follow me on Instagram (elizabethmsu) and Twitter (@_ejohnson_) or check #KatyElizabethBarcelona and #bestiesreunited for updates from our trip.
