catching up, moving forward

[prosewitch]

We finally got the footage of me and operateri dancing at Tribal Revolution this past June: click here for the youtube! I'm so pleased with the dance, even though the music fucked up in the middle and we had to improvise a bit.

I got my cartilage pierced yesterday in a fit of pique with d_c_m. It's been years since I've had a new piecing and this is my first

Comments

[katestine]

I went to Madrid last Christmas break (flew in Christmas Day, left on New Year's eve). I love European art, so even with 4 days in the city, I didn't think it was enough time for the Prado and the Thyssen-Bornemisza. We also spent a day in Toledo, which was lovely. Keep in mind: stuff may not be open on Christmas Day and Sundays in general.

I actually loved Spain so much, I'm going back there this Christmas, but to Andalucia this time. Never having been, I can't give any help on that topic :)

Hal Higdon is the guy to read when it comes to marathon training. I followed his Novice 1 plan (started with Novice 2, but got sick and dropped to Novice 1) for the NYC marathon in 2007 and it worked out fantastically: finished my first marathon with a reasonable time and felt pretty good the whole way. Afterwards, on the other hand...

[prosewitch]

I'm an art fan as well, so I'm really looking forward to the museums! So Madrid is definitely on the list, will possibly also do Toledo. Our plan for Xmas is probably either to find a mass to attend in a neat-looking church (mostly for novelty's sake, as my family's mostly Jewish), or hole up in a hotel room (as opposed to a hostel) and just hang out. :)

Thanks for the marathon info. I've run a few 5Ks and I run anywhere between 5-12 miles a week, so I think that with 6-8 months' notice I could totally do a marathon.

Also, hi, I'm Jeana, welcome to my LJ. :)

[katestine]

Yeah, I wanted to go to Madrid for all the same reasons that I first wanted to go to Florence.

You'll need to work up to 15mi/wk 22 weeks before the marathon.

Thanks!

[rhiannon76]

I like Barcelona better than Madrid, personally. Can't give a specific reason why, I just prefer the vibe of the one city to the other; they've both got amazing art, architecture, and food, so you can't really go wrong. Next time I get back to Spain, though, I am damn well going to Seville, because I've never been there and I've wanted to since I was little.

[katestine]

My sister, who's been to both Barcelona and Madrid, tells me the food is better in the former; I assume the architecture is more modern.

Out of curiosity, why do you want to go to Seville?

[rhiannon76]

I don't know that the architecture is more modern in Barcelona-- there's a beautiful gothic quarter that has medieval and early Renaissance buildings mostly still intact (there's a tiny but great Picasso museum tucked away in there, by the way.) Then there's all the Gaudi architecture, which is its own beast-- definitely doesn't look old, but doesn't exactly look "modern" to me, either.

I was a medieval studies major as an undergrad, and well before that I was fascinated with the diversity of cultures in Moor-ruled Spain during the Middle Ages. Seville was a central part of that history. More recently (in the past 5 years), I've been studying flamenco, and Seville (well, all of Andalusia) is the cultural epicenter of flamenco music and dance.

Also, Andalusian horses are really pretty. I'm sure I could smuggle one back in my carry-on bag...

[katestine]

Oh neat! I'm starting to read about Moorish history in preparation for my trip.

I asked bc I was wondering if there was something specific to Seville: I'm spending 1.5 days in Granada and I'm debating whether to spend my other most-of-a-day in Cordoba or Seville. So far, Cordoba is winning.

[encorecrazay]

I've been to both Madrid and Barcelona, I like both. I think there is more variety in the food choices in Barcelona. You do get to see the fun Gaudi architecture in Barcelona too. If you're into museums, I think Madrid has an definite edge.

As for other cities, since I have a bias, Paris!

The only problem I forsee is Madrid and Paris get really cold in the winter.

[rhiannon76]

Paris isn't as cold as Bloomington in the winter. More rainy, less snowy.

[encorecrazay]

After living in Austin for 10 years, I think anything below 50 degrees is really cold. And I lived in Minneapolis for 4 years of grad school, sometimes with 2 feet of snow on the ground.

[prosewitch]

My mom loved the Gaudi architecture so you can bet we're going to Barcelona!

Paris... been there, done that! And with any luck it won't be as cold as Indiana in the winter... ;p

[d_c_m]

Yay for our vid being up!!! I have added it to a new playlist on our DDBD YouTube channel, BTW. :)

And I LOVE my pierced ears!! Squee! They look so good!

[prosewitch]

Yay about the vid!

And how are your ears healing? My piercing's still sore, but that's because I keep jarring it when hugging people...

[d_c_m]

Oh yes, my ears are a little sore too but getting less so. Plus they don't get red as much or for as long when I wash them. :) Plus I would expect that yours would be a bit more tender due to the whole cartilige thing. :) I'm glad we had it done.

[kreie]

Toledo is stunning, and Granada has the Alhambra, which is stunning.

[prosewitch]

Thank you, I'll see whether those fit into our itinerary...