!Hola!
So, I am just now completing week 3 of the Barcelona experience. So far, I am having a really good time. Last weekend I went to Montserrat, which is this mountain an hour outside the city that was created by volcanic activity, so it is really neat. It is also a really holy place for Catalonians because the Black Virgin was discovered there, this supposedly really old statue (modern day scientists have discovered that it is really not that old). However, no matter how legitimate a holy place Montserrat is, it is still really really beautiful. The picture on the right is me at the top of Montserrat looking tired from the climb (it was really steep!).
In other news, I have now been mistaken for a local many times, and twice now have I been able to give legimate answers to the questions. I am very proud.

Labels: adventures in europe

So, I´m starting to get into the swing of things here. I´ve started two of my classes, Gramática, Conversación y Composición and Las Guerras en la Literatura y las Artes Visuales. Starting soons is Imágenes de España en el cine contemporáneo, Barcelona la Historia y la Ciudad and Artistas Españoles. I´ve also seen ALOT of the city. Some of the highlights have been climbing to the top of La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi´s huge and unfinished church, Montjuic, a small mountain in the city that hosts gardens and museums, the Rembrandt exhibit in La Pedrera and the Caravaggio exposition in the Museo National de Arte de Catalunya. I´m also making plans to travel all over Europe, which is very exciting. Anyhow, must go to class now.

Labels: adventures in europe

Here are some of the highlights of my first week in Barcelona:
1.) Finding the little plastic king in my piece of cake on ¨Dia de los Reyes Magos¨(the 12th day of christmas) and being crowned queen and blessed with good luck.
2.) Seeing the Gaudi sites, namely Casa Batllo, La Perdrera and Casa de las Carolinas
3.) Sucessfully making my way to two classes
4.) Eating patatas bravas, yummmm...
5.) Going to my first discotecha and dancing to horrible american music!

Labels: adventures in europe

Some Pictures:

top left, my room at my homestay

top right, me on the balconey of my homestay

left, Parc de la Ciutadella

Labels: adventures in europe

So, here I am in Barcelona. I arrived safely and will begin posting pictures soon. I am living in a homestay with a woman named Josefina, who is very nice and a very good cook. I will start school on Monday and I hope that I will have more frequent internet access there. A few days ago was a holiday called El Dia de Los Reyes, which is the 12th day of Christmas. There is a tradition that everyone eats a big cake and inside there is a little plastic king (sort of like mardi gras) and whoever gets the king gets good luck. And guess what? I got the king! They put a paper crown on my head, it was very funny. I have a picture that I will try to post soon. Also, I bought a mobile which was very exciting for me. I feel much more secure now. Anyhow, I will report back soon. In the meanwhile, email me or leave a message telling me what is happening with you.

Labels: adventures in europe