Back from Barcelona (and Amsterdam)
It's finally time for a post of my fall break.
I spent about 10 days in Spain with Kara, Adam, and Elena. Friday morning we flew out of Prague and into Barcelona, where suddenly, it smelled like Florida. The sun was shining, palm trees were waving in the breeze, and the people were smiling. After leaving Prague's 40 degree weather and scowling Czechs, we promptly decided we would move to Barcelona.
PALM TREES!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, we explored the city. Our hostel was located in a small neighborhood off of La Rambla, and it's comfortable chaos became one of my favorite things about the trip. It seemed to have a large immigrant population, with lots of Indian markets and restaurants. The actual rooms were in what essentially became our private flat - just us with another group of travelers in a very sizable apartment. Granted, the boiler was on the fritz and we didn't have hot water until Saturday night, but that's minor considering the privacy and space we were given.
Alleyway
Almost everyday, we went to the San Josef Market on La Rambla, to buy fruits, nuts, juices, cheese, pastries...the sights and smells there were heavenly.
We also explored the port area, with the statue of Christopher Columbus reaching out to sea. The area had lots of outdoor stalls with food and trinkets, and it was great for lazing around and watching the water.
Cristobol Colon
Arches
The water.
We also toured works by Gaudi, an architect with an amazing eye for the organic potential of masonry. The aesthetic of his designs is reminiscent of a "drip" sand castle.
La Sagrada Familia
Gaudi also designed Parc Guell, a space meant to house a functioning community with residential space..
We ate a lot, twice at our favorite tapas place, called Origens, were 99.9% of all the ingredients used were from Spain.
This is how you eat flan...
We finished up almost each day with gelato or a gofre (the waffle, not the rodent).
And we found street performers every 2 blocks or so.
Flamenco
Monday evening we took a night train to Madrid. I wasn't thrilled to be on the train, I never realized how claustrophobic I could feel. But it was cheap and saved us the cost of a hostel for a night, so I'd do it again.
I enjoyed Madrid a lot - but it seemed a bit more hectic than Barcelona and functioned more like a metropolis rather than a resort town, so they have very different vibes and are hard to compare. I got together with Dave and we went inside the Prado to see some master works, then Dave introduced us to the menu del dia (fixed lunch menu including at least two courses and a drink - a nice food bargain for a student's budget) and some other delightful aspects of Spanish culture (of course at this point we'd already embraced the siesta).
We also saw a flamenco show - my new favorite art. I must see more - and to hear the music! Ay, with driving beats and raw vocals, the most beautiful guitar playing I've ever heard, it was incredible.
Rain rain go away.!
And the rain did go away, for a lovely last day spent in Madrid under blue skies.
This poor cat we found in a Madrid pet store...but at least it wasn't an outdoor pet store like in Barcelona.
We also went to La Reina Sofia and saw Picasso's La Guernica - definitely my favorite museum moment abroad so far. I knew the museum had a large Picasso exhibit, but I didn't realize the Guernica was there. I was so shocked to see it in the hall, it really is very striking in person and I would definitely go back for another look.
Our return to Barcelona required another night train trip...this time I was a bit more prepared.
Prepackaged food is your friend.
I was really psyched to return back to Barcelona and finish out the trip there, especially since Bridget decided last minute to fly out of Vienna to meet up with us! But our hostel experience sort of dampened the last few nights - the place was overbooked, crowded, dirty, and noisy. The staff pretended to be helpless and were probably not too keen on Americans. For comparison, here was our first hostel in Barcelona, BCN Loft.
Nice, cheery, bright...
And this was at Rambla y Catalunya Hostel. Poor Kara had to build her own bed.
Back in Barcelona we saw the Picasso museum, ate some more, and Bridget and I went to the Dali Museum (astounding - really mindblowing). We also had a bit of sangria.
But Bridget drank it all.
But as far as unplanned trips to Spain go, I think this one was pretty amazing. Considering we went without a plan, and we figured out trains and hostels sort of on the fly, I think we did well. I'd love to spend more time in Barcelona, maybe get a flat there for a few months and work at a private gallery or museum. In the residential streets all the neighbors know each other and shout out across their balconies and down to the kids on the streets below, passing along messages and warnings as they shake out laundry on their wrought iron railings. Everything is noisy - the cars, the bikes, the kids, the adults, the birds, the radios...sound for the sake of sound fills the air and envelops everyone that walks by. I can't wait to go back.
This past weekend I went to Amsterdam with Kara and Elena and we met up with Kara's friend Ashley, who's studying in England.
I haven't got my pictures up on photobucket, or figured out this photo/browser thing anyway because it's impossible.
But it was beautiful - with the concentric web of canals, the dark brick buildings, the bicycles speeding past.
Even bad weather didn't put a damper on the weekend. It was freezing and rainy, and grey most days so my pictures aren't so spectacular. But we went to Museum N8, or Museum Night, which was 17 euro for 40 museums...obviously 40 wasn't our goal, but we saw the Reiksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank house, all of which had great exhibits and were very well done to handle the massive crowds of the young artsy schmoozing Dutch and tourist types. I loved the city, and the Dutch are extremely friendly and easygoing. Another place I can't wait to see again someday.
A fond hello to everyone out there. Peace.
I spent about 10 days in Spain with Kara, Adam, and Elena. Friday morning we flew out of Prague and into Barcelona, where suddenly, it smelled like Florida. The sun was shining, palm trees were waving in the breeze, and the people were smiling. After leaving Prague's 40 degree weather and scowling Czechs, we promptly decided we would move to Barcelona.
PALM TREES!
Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, we explored the city. Our hostel was located in a small neighborhood off of La Rambla, and it's comfortable chaos became one of my favorite things about the trip. It seemed to have a large immigrant population, with lots of Indian markets and restaurants. The actual rooms were in what essentially became our private flat - just us with another group of travelers in a very sizable apartment. Granted, the boiler was on the fritz and we didn't have hot water until Saturday night, but that's minor considering the privacy and space we were given.
Alleyway
Almost everyday, we went to the San Josef Market on La Rambla, to buy fruits, nuts, juices, cheese, pastries...the sights and smells there were heavenly.
We also explored the port area, with the statue of Christopher Columbus reaching out to sea. The area had lots of outdoor stalls with food and trinkets, and it was great for lazing around and watching the water.
Cristobol Colon
Arches
The water.
We also toured works by Gaudi, an architect with an amazing eye for the organic potential of masonry. The aesthetic of his designs is reminiscent of a "drip" sand castle.
La Sagrada Familia
Gaudi also designed Parc Guell, a space meant to house a functioning community with residential space..
We ate a lot, twice at our favorite tapas place, called Origens, were 99.9% of all the ingredients used were from Spain.
This is how you eat flan...
We finished up almost each day with gelato or a gofre (the waffle, not the rodent).
And we found street performers every 2 blocks or so.
Flamenco
Monday evening we took a night train to Madrid. I wasn't thrilled to be on the train, I never realized how claustrophobic I could feel. But it was cheap and saved us the cost of a hostel for a night, so I'd do it again.
I enjoyed Madrid a lot - but it seemed a bit more hectic than Barcelona and functioned more like a metropolis rather than a resort town, so they have very different vibes and are hard to compare. I got together with Dave and we went inside the Prado to see some master works, then Dave introduced us to the menu del dia (fixed lunch menu including at least two courses and a drink - a nice food bargain for a student's budget) and some other delightful aspects of Spanish culture (of course at this point we'd already embraced the siesta).
We also saw a flamenco show - my new favorite art. I must see more - and to hear the music! Ay, with driving beats and raw vocals, the most beautiful guitar playing I've ever heard, it was incredible.
Rain rain go away.!
And the rain did go away, for a lovely last day spent in Madrid under blue skies.
This poor cat we found in a Madrid pet store...but at least it wasn't an outdoor pet store like in Barcelona.
We also went to La Reina Sofia and saw Picasso's La Guernica - definitely my favorite museum moment abroad so far. I knew the museum had a large Picasso exhibit, but I didn't realize the Guernica was there. I was so shocked to see it in the hall, it really is very striking in person and I would definitely go back for another look.
Our return to Barcelona required another night train trip...this time I was a bit more prepared.
Prepackaged food is your friend.
I was really psyched to return back to Barcelona and finish out the trip there, especially since Bridget decided last minute to fly out of Vienna to meet up with us! But our hostel experience sort of dampened the last few nights - the place was overbooked, crowded, dirty, and noisy. The staff pretended to be helpless and were probably not too keen on Americans. For comparison, here was our first hostel in Barcelona, BCN Loft.
Nice, cheery, bright...
And this was at Rambla y Catalunya Hostel. Poor Kara had to build her own bed.
Back in Barcelona we saw the Picasso museum, ate some more, and Bridget and I went to the Dali Museum (astounding - really mindblowing). We also had a bit of sangria.
But Bridget drank it all.
But as far as unplanned trips to Spain go, I think this one was pretty amazing. Considering we went without a plan, and we figured out trains and hostels sort of on the fly, I think we did well. I'd love to spend more time in Barcelona, maybe get a flat there for a few months and work at a private gallery or museum. In the residential streets all the neighbors know each other and shout out across their balconies and down to the kids on the streets below, passing along messages and warnings as they shake out laundry on their wrought iron railings. Everything is noisy - the cars, the bikes, the kids, the adults, the birds, the radios...sound for the sake of sound fills the air and envelops everyone that walks by. I can't wait to go back.
This past weekend I went to Amsterdam with Kara and Elena and we met up with Kara's friend Ashley, who's studying in England.
I haven't got my pictures up on photobucket, or figured out this photo/browser thing anyway because it's impossible.
But it was beautiful - with the concentric web of canals, the dark brick buildings, the bicycles speeding past.
Even bad weather didn't put a damper on the weekend. It was freezing and rainy, and grey most days so my pictures aren't so spectacular. But we went to Museum N8, or Museum Night, which was 17 euro for 40 museums...obviously 40 wasn't our goal, but we saw the Reiksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Anne Frank house, all of which had great exhibits and were very well done to handle the massive crowds of the young artsy schmoozing Dutch and tourist types. I loved the city, and the Dutch are extremely friendly and easygoing. Another place I can't wait to see again someday.
A fond hello to everyone out there. Peace.