More Pictures!!!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Pictures!
Below are pictures of Montserrat, the monastery and some other interesting pictures from my trip, enjoy!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Montserrrat, Montjuec, Montblanc Muchas Montanas!!
Sorry for the time between posts, I have been extremely busy traveling, checking out the major tourist attractions, planning future trips, and (oh yeah) attending classes! This last week included the fiery spectacle that is the Feast of Saint Joan, fiestiaing (a new word?) at the posh CDLC on Barcoloneta beach, climbing the craggy peaks of Montserrat, and a refreshing swim in in the Piscinas Montjuic (beautiful pools overlooking the city, the former home of the high dive in the 1992 Summer Olympics. The scenery and landscapes that abound in the Catalunya region of Spain ane incredible and offer both high mountain peaks and ever-expanding sprawling overlooks of the Mediterranian sea and expansive beaches.
The feast of Sant Joan, an annual festival of fire and the Summer solstice emerging from pagan traditions, was an incredible displey of countless floral, shimmering colors exploding in the sky, all night reverly including enough cava to fill an ocean and bonfires that burn past morning. We spent the night on the beach with a large group of friends, and enjoyed the festivities and delicious ¨Coques¨, traditional pasteries made with fruit and anise. The fireworks were spectacular and not only relagated to the air above the water, with children and others ensuring that the fireworks continue in and around the crowd (I actaully took a firework to the leg, luckly my jeans saved me!). The night itself was filled with the youthful, ecstacic spirit of Spain, always full of life, happiness and appreciation for the ¨finer¨ (hedonistic :) ) side of life.
On Saturday, we traveled once again on the incredibly efficient train system for about an hour to the cable car that extends directly up the mountain to the classical monastery, museum and paths above. The cliffs of Montserrat are like none other in the same vicinity, showing a very rounded, ¨serrated¨appearance, that have shown through geologic evidence to have been under the sea millions of years ago in history! WE purchased both tickets at the Espanya station and were successful in reaching near the top of the mountain. I would highly recommend traveling to Montserrat for a day trip for all who visit Barcelona.
The monastery was incredible as well as the cathedral next to it, while the museum was also amazing. We came at the right time apparently, as the museum had on loan a comprehensive collection of archeological artifacts from the Sumerians, Egyptians and ancient Iberian peoples. They even had a mummy and pottery with cuneiform (the oldest form of writing!), and also many sculptures and tools. Even more exciting was the museum´s collection of Picasso, Monet and Dali, with several pieces on display nearly 5000 feet above sealevel in a building literally carved out of a mountain! A Bunch of pictures are to come!!
The monastery was incredible as well as the cathedral next to it, while the museum was also amazing. We came at the right time apparently, as the museum had on loan a comprehensive collection of archeological artifacts from the Sumerians, Egyptians and ancient Iberian peoples. They even had a mummy and pottery with cuneiform (the oldest form of writing!), and also many sculptures and tools. Even more exciting was the museum´s collection of Picasso, Monet and Dali, with several pieces on display nearly 5000 feet above sealevel in a building literally carved out of a mountain! A Bunch of pictures are to come!!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Los Indignatos and una Semana Excelente
Hola vosotros, just concluded my second week of classes in Spanish civilization and Spanish language at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. So far, everything has been great, I am learning exponentially more Spanish than I ever have before due to my immersion in the culture, the weather has been clear and sunny and I am becoming somewhat more acquainted with the city and its layout. During this week, I attempted to walk to my apartment from school (took about 3 hours, apparently there are 2 streets named Maragall...oops), checked out the magnificent and looming spectacles of the Sagrada Familia and Arc de Treomph and enjoyed some exceptional Kebabs (not Spanish food I know, still amazing!). The jamon serrano bocadillas as they are called are still excellent and I am not sick of them (yet), and I seem to have one just about every day (see the picture below :).
We also discovered a local hangout frequented by young travelers called Chupitos, where rowdy patrons can enjoy an incredible variety of shots (over 500 available!), all for 2 euro each, a must-go if you are in Barcelona. Other interesting moments include saying hello to a dog (hola perra, found out it means something else, think female dog), and the awesome George Payne Irish Pub reminiciant of Macdinton's Irish Pub in South Tampa, with Guinness flowing and buckets of Amstel for 10 euros. Tomorrow we are traveling to the pristine beach town Sitges, located about an hour south of Barcelona, to enjoy the beaches and tour the largest winery/cava crafters in Spain. I will update after my trip for sure, here are some pictures of Sagrada Familia, the Arc de Treomph and other interesting sights/eats from my travels.
1.Em in Front of the Masterwork in Progress, The Sagrada Familia Cathedral
2. Striking Modern Art in the Gothic Quarter, a Commentary on the Thousands of Cameras that have been Installed all throughout Spain and Europe
3. The Ubiquitous Jamon Serrano Bogadilla and Espresso (Cafe Solo)
4. Delicious Plate of Homemade Hummus with Veggies and Pita
5. Me in Front of the Arc de Treomph
5.
We also discovered a local hangout frequented by young travelers called Chupitos, where rowdy patrons can enjoy an incredible variety of shots (over 500 available!), all for 2 euro each, a must-go if you are in Barcelona. Other interesting moments include saying hello to a dog (hola perra, found out it means something else, think female dog), and the awesome George Payne Irish Pub reminiciant of Macdinton's Irish Pub in South Tampa, with Guinness flowing and buckets of Amstel for 10 euros. Tomorrow we are traveling to the pristine beach town Sitges, located about an hour south of Barcelona, to enjoy the beaches and tour the largest winery/cava crafters in Spain. I will update after my trip for sure, here are some pictures of Sagrada Familia, the Arc de Treomph and other interesting sights/eats from my travels.
1.Em in Front of the Masterwork in Progress, The Sagrada Familia Cathedral
2. Striking Modern Art in the Gothic Quarter, a Commentary on the Thousands of Cameras that have been Installed all throughout Spain and Europe
3. The Ubiquitous Jamon Serrano Bogadilla and Espresso (Cafe Solo)
4. Delicious Plate of Homemade Hummus with Veggies and Pita
5. Me in Front of the Arc de Treomph
5.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Some More Pictures and a Festival of Fire and Lights
Hello my fellow blogreaders, just a quick post and some more pictures that I just uploaded from my camera. Today is Sunday, and Spain reveals its Catholic roots, with most stores closed and the beginning of the Feast of St. Joan festival. Some got started early yesterday, setting off impressive fireworks and readying themselves for an all night long festival with bonfires in the streets, extravagant firework displays, and reveling until morning. Oh, also, we have no school on Monday. Here are the pictures:
1. Hampsters and other pets for sale on Las Ramblas
2. View of Barcelona skyline from Park Guell (Conceived and completed by Gaudi)
3. Barcelonata Beach
4. Bullet Skyscraper completed in the last 10 years
5. Protest march of the youth movement over the high unemployment and support of corperations
6. Us off the Costa Brava, near Cayacae
7. Massive solar panel array on side of highway. Spain is leading the way in alternative energy production, the US needs to wake up!
8. Extremely delicious traditional Catalan dish with tomato, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic
1. Hampsters and other pets for sale on Las Ramblas
2. View of Barcelona skyline from Park Guell (Conceived and completed by Gaudi)
3. Barcelonata Beach
4. Bullet Skyscraper completed in the last 10 years
5. Protest march of the youth movement over the high unemployment and support of corperations
6. Us off the Costa Brava, near Cayacae
7. Massive solar panel array on side of highway. Spain is leading the way in alternative energy production, the US needs to wake up!
8. Extremely delicious traditional Catalan dish with tomato, extra virgin olive oil, and garlic
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Cayacae, Roses and Emporia!!!
It has been an incredible weekend so far, we took a trip yesterday to the beautiful fishing village of Cayacay on the Costa Brava, the place the Salvador Dali called home for most of his life. The village is located on the juncture of the sprawling Pyrenees mountains, which form the border between Spain and France. Only accessible by boat, Cayacae is a quiet, pristine paradise that has yet to be overrun by tourists. I was amazed by the complexity of the buildings and their location, carved right out of the rolling mountains and rocky cliff sides. The undoubted highlight of the trip was a swim in the azure, aquamarine expanse of the Mediterranean off a chartered glass-bottom boat, complete with several dolphin sightings and views of the craggy, steep landscape of the igneous formed cliff sides and caves.
Emporia, an extremely well preserved set of enormous Greek and Roman ruins dating back to 600 BCE, was incredible as well, situated directly on the shores of the sandy Mediterranean and also next to a beach side bar/restaurant that serves up delicious jamon, bogadillas, and a refreshing Lemon/beer combination on tap. The beaches were amazing and even had reachable cliffs that others in our group explored and took some ecstatic dives into the water from. More to come very soon!! Now the pictures, :)
1. Pyrenees mountains, Roses, Spain
2. Us at the Emporia Roman/Greek Ruins c. 600-200 BCE
3,5. Emporia Beach, Notice the Pyrenees in the background. It is about 50-60 km from the French border.
4. Emily enjoying a glass of agua? at the beach bar, notice la copa in her hand
6. Greek statue of Asclepius, Apollo's son and god of medicine and healing
Emporia, an extremely well preserved set of enormous Greek and Roman ruins dating back to 600 BCE, was incredible as well, situated directly on the shores of the sandy Mediterranean and also next to a beach side bar/restaurant that serves up delicious jamon, bogadillas, and a refreshing Lemon/beer combination on tap. The beaches were amazing and even had reachable cliffs that others in our group explored and took some ecstatic dives into the water from. More to come very soon!! Now the pictures, :)
1. Pyrenees mountains, Roses, Spain
2. Us at the Emporia Roman/Greek Ruins c. 600-200 BCE
3,5. Emporia Beach, Notice the Pyrenees in the background. It is about 50-60 km from the French border.
4. Emily enjoying a glass of agua? at the beach bar, notice la copa in her hand
6. Greek statue of Asclepius, Apollo's son and god of medicine and healing
Monday, June 6, 2011
El incitio de escuela!
Today was the first day of school here in Barcelona (I am here for study abroad, remember!), and it was an eventful one for sure. I woke up for my first class and enjoyed a typical Spanish breakfast (desayuno, no not coffee and cigarettes) of cured ham on a croissant, and a delicious and very strong cafe solo, essentially a shot of espresso. Food and drink can not usually be taken to go in Spain, probably due to the cultural importance of the experience of meals and the appreciation of savoring a meal; however, I discovered a very small coffee shop near my apartment that will provide a tiny cup for espresso to go and a bag for my bocadilla (sandwich).
The metro in Barcelona is very efficient and even with changing lines, it is possible to get essentially any where near the city center in under 15-20 minutes. This is incredibly helpful for the trip from my apartment to school, located in the L' Example (y' shample) district of Barcelona. Catalan, an ancient language that was spoken exclusively in the northeastern region of Spain for over 800 years, is omnipresent in Barcelona, further complicating navigation for an someone who speaks Castilian Spanish un poco (a little). Nevertheless, the Catalan is somewhat similar to Spanish, despite the ubiquitous use of x and l', and some signs are written in Catalan, Spanish and English. My class itself is an overview of Spanish culture and history, and my other class is a Spanish language class, both working (ideally) to push my towards fluency and the understanding of the multifarious Spanish culture. Grades are assigned out of 10, with a 5 as passing and 10 as "perfection". Maybe American colleges could try out this system? Later, we checked out the exceptional Mercato en la Rambla, a sprawling, extremely colorful produce and meat market full of an incredible variety of produce and delicious food.
Thanks to everyone checking out the blog, more awesome posts are to come. Here are some more pictures of the city!:
The metro in Barcelona is very efficient and even with changing lines, it is possible to get essentially any where near the city center in under 15-20 minutes. This is incredibly helpful for the trip from my apartment to school, located in the L' Example (y' shample) district of Barcelona. Catalan, an ancient language that was spoken exclusively in the northeastern region of Spain for over 800 years, is omnipresent in Barcelona, further complicating navigation for an someone who speaks Castilian Spanish un poco (a little). Nevertheless, the Catalan is somewhat similar to Spanish, despite the ubiquitous use of x and l', and some signs are written in Catalan, Spanish and English. My class itself is an overview of Spanish culture and history, and my other class is a Spanish language class, both working (ideally) to push my towards fluency and the understanding of the multifarious Spanish culture. Grades are assigned out of 10, with a 5 as passing and 10 as "perfection". Maybe American colleges could try out this system? Later, we checked out the exceptional Mercato en la Rambla, a sprawling, extremely colorful produce and meat market full of an incredible variety of produce and delicious food.
Thanks to everyone checking out the blog, more awesome posts are to come. Here are some more pictures of the city!:
Lost in Barcelona!
Buenos noches! The last few days have sped by, full of attempts to learn subtle cultural practices, preparation for the beginning of school and a few small mishaps that tend to befall the American traveler (Tip- don't put 4 people in an elevator made for 2, your key may break off trying to escape). The highlight of the last few days would have to be "The Lost Bar/Dharma Initiative", a meticulously decorated bar based on one of my favorite TV shows Lost, complete with Oceanic flight 23(?), the infamous hatch, Dharma beer and energy drinks, and fellow Spanish Lost lovers. To top it off, the bar touted large LCD TVs playing another my my favorite shows, "The Walking Dead", an AMC original series that I cannot wait to come back for a second season. The bar is located on an unassuming street near the ME Hotel 
Barcelona, check it out:
Barcelona, check it out:
Friday, June 3, 2011
First post, hola Barcelona!!!
Hola!!! The first three days in Barcelona have been incredible, crazy, interesting, slightly disorienting, thrilling, and most of all unique. I have encountered the ubiquitous Iberian ham (a cured ham with generous amounts of salt that seems to hang in every market, restaurant, and store), rode the extremely efficient metro (subway) countless times, and experienced Barcelona nightlife at its best at Opium Mar (an all night club located ON the beach). In comparison to my former locale (Where I spent the first 2 days of my trip) the metropole of the Iberian Peninsula of Madrid, Barcelona presents a more laid back, beach vibe, with an enormous selection of culinary delight that will satisfy any palate. In addition to its location on the beautiful beaches of the Mediterranean, Barcelona is also an extremely green city, with most main streets lined with native trees and palms. The city itself is also surrounded by emerald peaks of mountains, the most well-known being Monseratt. Flowing plants and hanging clothes line the balconies of the majority of apartments in the city, further accenting its greenery and aiding in producing oxygen for the some 2.5 million denizens of this bustling Mediterranean port.
I arrived in Barcelona following a 10 hour bus ride from the gem of Toledo, an incredibly beautiful and old city originally founded by the Romans, complete with an extravagant cathedral that took 247 years to complete that towers over the city, and a discoteca in a CHURCH that gets crowded around 2 AM. Our bus trip took us through the heart of Spanish wine and olive country, with rolling, mountainous acres and acres of cultivated grape varietals and olive trees. As we grew closer to Barcelona the terrain saw a change to more mountainous deciduous trees reaching hundreds of feet. We arrived in the city at rush hour, around 6:30, later due to the all to well known siesta that many Barcolonians engage in during the scorching hours of 12-3 PM. The existence, accessibility, and popularity of public transportation was immediately evident, as we saw on our journey an above ground tram, countless buses and many metro stops with stairs descending into the subterranean strata whose complexity still perplexes me.
The arrival at my apartment was greeted by rain, and we had to run to the door, that required a foreign type of key, leading to another door and an small elevator with a sign (4 personas, or 300 kg). We got to the apartment and discovered that it was far more spacious than we had imagined, with 4 bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a view overlooking the street below from the 7th floor and a small peek of the ocean from the window. The first night we went to a local cafeteria (small, informal restaurant)/bar, and were happy to find more that ham on the menu. I got a hamburger and halfway through eating it realized that it was in fact a HAMburger, as in a burger made with ham and not beef. Still it was delicious, as was the beer for 1.30 euro each (about 1.80 US dollars), only slightly (okay, far :)) cheaper than the 4-6 dollar a beer prices at some American establishments. Day one ended with an early night and a relief for still jet lagged self.
Day two was eventful, starting with an orientation meeting at the Autonomous University of Barcelona campus, an ornately decorated early 20th century hospital building, converted into classrooms and faculty offices. The professors emphasized the difference in the Spanish schooling system, in that, grades are on a 1-10 scale, a 10 is very hard to get and the professor has all the power in deciding grades. Next me and Emily walked throughout the city, coming across the modernist master Gaudi's apartment building (pictured below), and coming across a foodie paradise of a Sushi restaurant Kaitensushi with a conveyer belt rotating all you can eat sushi, tempura, fresh seafood and noodles (over 65 dishes) for 8.50 euro. The food was exceptional with the salmon avocado rolls and shrimp with ginger and broccoli being standouts. Definitely go here if you are Barcelona.
The night's festivities was the Barcelona Summer kick-off party with DJ Chachi of New York City and someone playing the electric violin (incredible and unique). We spent some time at a local restaurant before that actually had very good thin crust pizza with, you guessed it, ham! Opium Mar opened its doors at 12 and was packed by 1:30, with people from all over the world dancing, partying, and soaking in all that Barcelona has to offer. The club served up overpriced drinks, but the location cant be beat, as the beach is steps away and patrons are allowed to go to the beach and return without a problem (See pictures). The night ended with everyone leaving around 6, just in time to watch the sunrise over the Mediterranean (camera died before, perfect!)
Thanks for reading my first post, there will be many more to come!!! Also, more pictures will be uploaded very soon.
Ciao,
Eric
Apartment View in Barcelona (The Mediterranean is on the right):
Toledo from the Hotel Beatriz balcony:
Toledo Cathedral:
I arrived in Barcelona following a 10 hour bus ride from the gem of Toledo, an incredibly beautiful and old city originally founded by the Romans, complete with an extravagant cathedral that took 247 years to complete that towers over the city, and a discoteca in a CHURCH that gets crowded around 2 AM. Our bus trip took us through the heart of Spanish wine and olive country, with rolling, mountainous acres and acres of cultivated grape varietals and olive trees. As we grew closer to Barcelona the terrain saw a change to more mountainous deciduous trees reaching hundreds of feet. We arrived in the city at rush hour, around 6:30, later due to the all to well known siesta that many Barcolonians engage in during the scorching hours of 12-3 PM. The existence, accessibility, and popularity of public transportation was immediately evident, as we saw on our journey an above ground tram, countless buses and many metro stops with stairs descending into the subterranean strata whose complexity still perplexes me.
The arrival at my apartment was greeted by rain, and we had to run to the door, that required a foreign type of key, leading to another door and an small elevator with a sign (4 personas, or 300 kg). We got to the apartment and discovered that it was far more spacious than we had imagined, with 4 bedrooms and two bathrooms, with a view overlooking the street below from the 7th floor and a small peek of the ocean from the window. The first night we went to a local cafeteria (small, informal restaurant)/bar, and were happy to find more that ham on the menu. I got a hamburger and halfway through eating it realized that it was in fact a HAMburger, as in a burger made with ham and not beef. Still it was delicious, as was the beer for 1.30 euro each (about 1.80 US dollars), only slightly (okay, far :)) cheaper than the 4-6 dollar a beer prices at some American establishments. Day one ended with an early night and a relief for still jet lagged self.
Day two was eventful, starting with an orientation meeting at the Autonomous University of Barcelona campus, an ornately decorated early 20th century hospital building, converted into classrooms and faculty offices. The professors emphasized the difference in the Spanish schooling system, in that, grades are on a 1-10 scale, a 10 is very hard to get and the professor has all the power in deciding grades. Next me and Emily walked throughout the city, coming across the modernist master Gaudi's apartment building (pictured below), and coming across a foodie paradise of a Sushi restaurant Kaitensushi with a conveyer belt rotating all you can eat sushi, tempura, fresh seafood and noodles (over 65 dishes) for 8.50 euro. The food was exceptional with the salmon avocado rolls and shrimp with ginger and broccoli being standouts. Definitely go here if you are Barcelona.
The night's festivities was the Barcelona Summer kick-off party with DJ Chachi of New York City and someone playing the electric violin (incredible and unique). We spent some time at a local restaurant before that actually had very good thin crust pizza with, you guessed it, ham! Opium Mar opened its doors at 12 and was packed by 1:30, with people from all over the world dancing, partying, and soaking in all that Barcelona has to offer. The club served up overpriced drinks, but the location cant be beat, as the beach is steps away and patrons are allowed to go to the beach and return without a problem (See pictures). The night ended with everyone leaving around 6, just in time to watch the sunrise over the Mediterranean (camera died before, perfect!)
Thanks for reading my first post, there will be many more to come!!! Also, more pictures will be uploaded very soon.
Ciao,
Eric
Apartment View in Barcelona (The Mediterranean is on the right):
Toledo from the Hotel Beatriz balcony:
Toledo Cathedral:
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