Barcelona: Home of ISU Space Camp 2008 and Dangerous Curves

Michael Laine -- president of the LiftPort Group -- recently set aside his space elevator-building duties to attend International Space University (ISU). Part two of his adventures in Barcelona, Spain are chronicled here.

Advice to anyone traveling to another country, especially if the trip involves a stay of almost 3 months... learn the freakin' language. Learn something, anything.

I got lost the moment I left the airport. I'd like to blame the taxi driver for getting me lost and driving in completely the opposite direction, but that blame isn't fair. I have no doubt the cabbie was trying his best to be helpful.

So $70, 12 hours, one hotel and a different taxi cab later, I arrive at my correct destination.

As soon as I arrive at International Space University's 2008 Summer Session Program, I'm greeted by people that I had corresponded with from the U.S.: Halit, who is in charge of logistics and Rafael, who worked with me as I gathered up my funds for tuition. They have a rough job -- coordinating 120 people from 26 countries, each student their own issues and dilemmas. They handled mine with grace and simplicity.

After 36 hours of airplanes and airports, I stank and it was time for a much-needed shower. I had showered that morning before I caught the (second) taxi, but the humidity and temperature warranted another before I subjected myself on to the company of others.

There were about 40 students checked in by the time I made it downstairs, and some of them were sitting around the lounge. So, what do you do in that situation? You dive in, start shaking hands, and asking: What's your name? Where are you from? What are you studying/working on? Why do you like space?

What was your name again?

Soon the adventurous group decides they're tired of waiting, so we step out into the city and it is beautiful. Everywhere I look, I see heavily peopled footpaths, ancient and modern sculptures, and beautiful women. Each of these has dangerous curves. I enjoy the view.

The 10 of us roaming Barcelona quickly get to know each other. The crowd morphs, greetings take place. Something catches the attention of someone and the crowd morphs again. At times we head this way, at times, that way. Sometimes we stop and admire street performers, sometimes we pass, externally oblivious -- because we are so caught up in the conversation we're having with new friends we've just met.

This kind of thing happens when you put 112 smart, committed and passionate people in the same place at the same time... I can't wait to get in a classroom with these people!

Then it's time to head back and grab dinner. It's served cafeteria style, and the food is pretty good. I glance across the aisle at my classmates getting to know each other. Five people sit around me, one each from Spain, Ireland, and Israel, and two from Canada.

I can assure you, it's a strange life being the "Space Elevator Guy." In an environment like this, it's inevitable most everyone has heard of the project. When I say that I'm working on the elevator to space, the responses vary from: "Oh, I've heard of that", to "Oh! I've heard you on The Space Show!" (Hat tip to Dr. David Livingston!). Some give puzzled expressions, others practically scream incredulity -- but here, in this setting, the person is too polite to laugh in my face. (That happens some times -- wait 'til I tell you of Professor Tolyarenko's flying carpet.)

Then it's time for the informal welcome session where the staff line up and introduce themselves. I'm surprised and very glad to see Jim Burke there -- a guy who's been with ISU from the very beginning, 20 years ago.

The staff calls students by country, and each student stands, gives their name, and where they were born. Collectively we could have saved a lot of money if the class had been held in Montreal... more than 20 students are from Canada! A dozen Americans are there too, but I hadn't met any yet. I think "internationalism" is one of the program's most important aspects, and is one of the primary reasons I chose this school.

Finally, we're excused around 10 p.m. and set loose upon the Barcelona nightlife. Many of us head into town to find a drink, but as soon as the crowd gets to the destination, I realize this isn't my "scene" and head back to the street.

The nightlife on La Rambla (heart of the touristy area) is world class people watching. Families walking dogs, couples making out, friends fighting, grandpas drinking, working girls asking if I want a date (I pass, but remember my earlier comment about women with dangerous curves? I'll tell you about pick-pockets later, too...)

So then it's time to head home. The crowd from school is still in the club, and I feel a bit of a gulf between them (average age, 20ish years old) and me (40). I will certainly go clubbing, but not tonight. Tonight, I want to get my thoughts down on paper, and get to bed.

It's 2 a.m., and we've got a lot to do the next day.

Michael Laine is the president of LiftPort Group, the Elevator to Space Companies. You can follow him on Twitter and Lifestreaming, and check out his company's YouTube page here.

Photos, top to bottom - courtesy of Michael Laine:

• Statue of Columbus
• Barcelona ships
• Sculptures - All of these pictures were taken on the first afternoon, when we had a chance to wander around, after checking in. An important detail is to always look up. If you keep looking at eye level in Barcelona, you'll miss an important aspect of the city.
• La Rambla - First impressions, as I climb out of the Metro station, and into the heart of the downtown.

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