I'm back in the hostel, relaxing just a bit after a great first full day in Barcelona. Yesterday we came in, (after a 1 and a half hour delay on our flight due to protesting air traffic controllers in France!) and got settled in the hostel before setting out for a bit of food. It was about 2 in the morning, so not a lot was open near us, but we found some sandwiches and walked around a bit.
Then, today, Nick and I went to a little breakfast place on our way to La Sagrada Familia this morning, and then headed the rest of the way to the cathedral. It was AMAZING. I have honestly never seen anything like it. Unreal. It was so many different things all at once...religion, art, architecture, light, strength, height, weight, humor, reverence...wow. We also paid 2 extra Euros to take an elevator up one of the towers and got this amazing view of the city from up there. Kind of dizzying, but also completely worth it.
After that we hiked up to Park Guell, which was SO cool. We stopped for lunch along the way and I got this delicious fish simply drenched in herb butter. Mmmmm. Lovely. So, then on to Park Guell. I am all about La Modernisma, honestly. Gaudi is fabulous. The weather was great and we just walked around and took lots of pictures. The park is up above the city, so the view was amazing, we could see all the way to the sea! It's not a park in the traditional "open air and grass" sense of the word, but rather is a rambling series of pathways and staircases, half-covered and plazas, and lots of amazing architecture and sculpture. A lot of good people watching too. And many tourists. :) We also toured the Gaudi house/museum, which was nice.
Then, a quick metro down to La Placa Catalunya, where we hopped off and walked down La Rambla, a pedestrianized street, and a great farmers market next to it. Tons of strange pets for sale, some street performers, plenty of fruit and meat and cheese and chocolate. I treated myself to a little chocolate and it was lovely. Then we took the metro back to our hostel because our feet were aching after almost a full 9 hours walking around! In a few hours we'll go out to dinner and then to a club with the hostel; they organize night-out-events for the people staying here so that we can all be in a group and go to cool places. Yesterday our room was shared by a couple guys from China and Japan, today we have three college students from Texas. Nice to speak the same language! Adios for now!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Little things
Today has, so far, been a day of lovely little delights.
First, I went to go get a coffee at the shop right next to my dorm, and when I walked up to the counter, the barista started making my drink before I even ordered it. "Americano, right? Cream, no sugar?" Yes! Awesome. I think the day that a barista remembers your order by looking at you has got to be one of the better moments in a coffee lover's career. :)
Then I walked all the way across town to the library to return a book, and when I was walking back I came across a veritable gaggle of British school children (couldn't have been older than kindergarten or first grade) walking down the street in pairs, holding hands, all in matching blue jackets, with a bunch of teachers and aids around them. I died of cuteness overload.
I also stopped for a lovely lemon and sugar crepe from a street vendor, and had a nice little conversation with her about studying abroad.
And, of course, in an hour, I'll be off to the train station, and then the airport, and then Barcelona!
I'll be there 'til Saturday, but maybe I'll get a chance to update from the hostel. Wish me luck!
First, I went to go get a coffee at the shop right next to my dorm, and when I walked up to the counter, the barista started making my drink before I even ordered it. "Americano, right? Cream, no sugar?" Yes! Awesome. I think the day that a barista remembers your order by looking at you has got to be one of the better moments in a coffee lover's career. :)
Then I walked all the way across town to the library to return a book, and when I was walking back I came across a veritable gaggle of British school children (couldn't have been older than kindergarten or first grade) walking down the street in pairs, holding hands, all in matching blue jackets, with a bunch of teachers and aids around them. I died of cuteness overload.
I also stopped for a lovely lemon and sugar crepe from a street vendor, and had a nice little conversation with her about studying abroad.
And, of course, in an hour, I'll be off to the train station, and then the airport, and then Barcelona!
I'll be there 'til Saturday, but maybe I'll get a chance to update from the hostel. Wish me luck!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Photography
A photograph of mine is going to be in a Cambridge University photography exhibit!
I entered this contest on a whim, but one (or maybe two, actually, I'm not sure) of my photographs ended up being chosen, along with a group of about 25 others (including my friend Tanya, from school). The theme was "Journey" and I submitted two of my photos from a series of doors I did a while back. The photo uploader on Blogger isn't working, but I'll put up the photos when it is.
I'm really excited about this, as I haven't really done photography in a while, and I've been thinking about getting back into it when I'm back in California. The exhibit is March 6th. I'll be sure to take pictures to put here!
I entered this contest on a whim, but one (or maybe two, actually, I'm not sure) of my photographs ended up being chosen, along with a group of about 25 others (including my friend Tanya, from school). The theme was "Journey" and I submitted two of my photos from a series of doors I did a while back. The photo uploader on Blogger isn't working, but I'll put up the photos when it is.
I'm really excited about this, as I haven't really done photography in a while, and I've been thinking about getting back into it when I'm back in California. The exhibit is March 6th. I'll be sure to take pictures to put here!
Traveling!
I'm getting ready to go to Barcelona tomorrow! Ahhh, I can't wait!
Got some Euros, figured out train schedules, printed my boarding pass...just have to pack in the morning and hopefully I'll be good to go! I'm going with my friend Nick and staying in a hostel for three nights. (The place got great reviews on my new favorite website, hostelworld.) My sister and mother went to Barcelona a couple of years ago, so they've given me some good advice on places to go and things to do. I promise to take lots of pictures to put up here when I get back!
Got some Euros, figured out train schedules, printed my boarding pass...just have to pack in the morning and hopefully I'll be good to go! I'm going with my friend Nick and staying in a hostel for three nights. (The place got great reviews on my new favorite website, hostelworld.) My sister and mother went to Barcelona a couple of years ago, so they've given me some good advice on places to go and things to do. I promise to take lots of pictures to put up here when I get back!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Books
I got two new books from the library today: Seven Theories of Religion (Frazer, Freud, Durkheim, Marx, Eliade, Evans-Prichard, and Geertz, some of which I've read, some of which I haven't) edited by Daniel L. Pais, and The Batttle For God: Fundamentialism in Judaism, Christianity and Islam by Karen Armstrong. I am suuuchhh a dork!
Friday, February 19, 2010
Dinner and a show
I have a pot (two, actually, none of my pots were big enough!) of homemade lentil soup sitting on the hob, simmering away, a nice cold beer, a sweet chocolate, and the Olympics (in English!) to watch. Life is good.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Olympics
Yes, it is 1:30 in the morning, but I am staying up late to watch the Olympic men's ice skating, because that's how I roll.
I realized recently that I'm never quite satisfied with ice skating, because, well, it's just not dance. I know the completely legitimate response to that is "well, duh, Lauren, they're different things" but they're close enough to warrant the comparison and this sport sometimes just leaves me feeling...disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond impressed with the jumps and spins, and I have no doubt that this sport takes incredible amounts of hard work and skill that I couldn't posses in a million years. But, for me, it leaves something to be desired in the artistry category. The skaters often seem to lack the musicality that contemporary and classical dancers emphasize so much....when the music is big, they're just gliding across the floor, when it's soft, they suddenly jump into the air! Not to mention they miss out on great moments for little--but still powerful--motions: a flick of the wrist, rolling the fingers, snapping the head... So, I hear this great music and just spend half the time choreographing contemporary dances in my head! (granted, I do that to most music...)
Yet, here I am up at 1:30 in the morning in order to watch this sport, so you can't say I don't enjoy it!
I realized recently that I'm never quite satisfied with ice skating, because, well, it's just not dance. I know the completely legitimate response to that is "well, duh, Lauren, they're different things" but they're close enough to warrant the comparison and this sport sometimes just leaves me feeling...disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I am beyond impressed with the jumps and spins, and I have no doubt that this sport takes incredible amounts of hard work and skill that I couldn't posses in a million years. But, for me, it leaves something to be desired in the artistry category. The skaters often seem to lack the musicality that contemporary and classical dancers emphasize so much....when the music is big, they're just gliding across the floor, when it's soft, they suddenly jump into the air! Not to mention they miss out on great moments for little--but still powerful--motions: a flick of the wrist, rolling the fingers, snapping the head... So, I hear this great music and just spend half the time choreographing contemporary dances in my head! (granted, I do that to most music...)
Yet, here I am up at 1:30 in the morning in order to watch this sport, so you can't say I don't enjoy it!
30 Days
I'm coming home in a month!!! Yayayayayayay! And, before that: Barcelona, a tour of London artsy things with my class, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Cork for St. Patricks day! It is so nice having things to look forward to.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Dinner
I made my salmon, mashed potato, and broccoli dinner tonight and it was delicious! Lots of butter on the broccoli, lots of lemon on the salmon, and well, butter again in the mashed potatoes. :) I have now officially cooked my first piece of fish for myself, and I even have enough for leftovers!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Yankee Doodle
Tonight was fabulous. First we went out to a satisfying Wagamama meal and then walked across town to this great little pub called the Maypole. It was exactly the kind I like...not too dark, not too light, a great atmosphere, friendly bartenders who call us "Yankee Doodle" and make fun of my drink choice but then help me choose a great local brew....lovely. We got to sit there and watch the Olympics and have a drink, which was just perfect, and then we stuck around to watch a mouth-watering food show about chocolate, which was kind of embarrassing, and kind of awesome, and then we called it a night. I know that may all sound quite un-cool, but honestly, I couldn't have asked for more.
Side note:
We wound up at this place because it was the only pub we could find that was showing the Olympics. Actually, they weren't even planning on showing it, but promised to switch the channel when we got there if we wanted. I asked the bartender why no one watches the Olympics here and he said, "Because we never win!" awww....sometimes it is really great being from the USA. :)
Side note:
We wound up at this place because it was the only pub we could find that was showing the Olympics. Actually, they weren't even planning on showing it, but promised to switch the channel when we got there if we wanted. I asked the bartender why no one watches the Olympics here and he said, "Because we never win!" awww....sometimes it is really great being from the USA. :)
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