diggin' this

(holstee manifesto)

This reminds me of the Lululemon Manifesto...loveeeee.

Barcelona, Baby!

I’ve heard tons about Barcelona and how wonderful it is from so many people + books + travel shows, that I was very excited to go a couple weekends ago (gah! I can’t seem to keep up with this blog!).  Myself and a handful of other girls had all bought tickets to a house music concert called Sensation Barcelona White, prior to coming to Spain…but more on that later.

Lauren and I took a night bus from Madrid to Barcelona (~7 hours by bus).  It sort of sucked, but it was cheap!  After a couple of hours of sleep at one of Lauren’s friends house, we met up with three other girls to tour around the city.

Our first day in Barcelona, my roommate Lauren showed the rest of us girls around the city since she studied abroad in Barcelona.  We first took a stroll down Las Ramblas, a central and very touristy street in Barcelona.  Part we through, we stopped at the famous Market La Boqueria.  It is the largest market in all of Cataluna and is incredible.  The foods are both local and exotic; from any animal part you can think of, to candies to fruits and vegetables, the market has it all.  There are even several stalls that serve tapas made from fresh market foods.

pig head, anyone?

fresh juices

We wandered aimlessly through the various stalls on Las Ramblas, and eventually made our way to the beach.  Although it was nice out, the temperature wasn’t quite warm enough to wear swimsuits and lay out.  We were told that it was the first day the weather wasn’t nice and that up until our arrival, many had been spending day after day on the beach.  We still enjoyed our time by sitting on the beach, wading through the ocean and having a couple of beers. 

Lauren went off and did her own thing, but the rest of the girls and I went on to visit the Barrio Gotico (the old city center) and the exquisite Cathedral Santa Eulalia.

The next day, we spent much of our day at  (Park_Güell), just one of Antoni Gaudi’s magnificent architectural creations (it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site!)  After having a picnic, strolling around the park we decided to rest and get ready for the concert! 

 one of the buildings at the main entrance

travel buds: Jessica, Lindsay, Cynthia

dragon, rarr!

The concert was called Sensation White, a electronic/house/techno/trance music concert, where we were required to wear all white.  It was pretty crazy, but I had expected a bit more of it than what it was…I’m sure it was much more fun for all of them people droppin’ acid and stuff ;)  It was crazy seeing thousands of people wearing all white and crazy lights and music though.

concert venue..pretty crazy, eh?

All in all, I LOVED Barcelona and can’t wait to go back soon… I have yet to see La Sagrada Familia (again, by Gaudi), but I’m sure I’ll see it soon

“No matter where you run, you just keep running into yourself”

Before I post on my Barcelona adventures…I just wanted to blog about some of the feelings I’ve been having.  I’ve been feeling a bit…off.  As I was sifting through the document entitled “Fave Quotes” on my computer (which I often do, when I need a way to articulate my feelings), I came across the above quote (can anyone guess where it’s from?  Breakfast at Tiffany’s, of course :) ).

This isn’t my first time living abroad, so I’m not completely foreign to the feelings of culture shock, but for some reason this time living abroad has been a bit more difficult…or maybe it’s just because I recall all of the wonderful times from my previous times abroad, and I’m forgetting all the rough times at the beginning?  Regardless…I’m quite often a deep thinker, always pondering this and that.  I’m also a chronic “wisher”- I always wish I was “there” not “here”.  When I finally get “here” I want to be “there.”  It really is an unfortunate way to live ones life. 

I think part of the reason I wish all the time, is because by not liking where I am, I don’t have to face the scariness and difficulties that one can face in the present.  In other words, I’m a tried and true scardy cat!  Unfortunately, by not being present, I feel…I KNOW I am missing out on some of the really great things in life.

While it’s easier and more comfortable to hang out at home instead of making an effort to go out and do things and meet new people or while it’s easier to sit by myself at school “recess” instead of letting go of my ego and attempting to speak in Spanish and connect with the other teachers or while it’s easier to wait to see what other people are doing instead of just going solo somewhere and seeing what I want to see, when I want to see it…the easier thing never gets me the results I want, thus leaving me blue and/or full of regret.

I know this won’t be an easy task.  But I feel like I need to just face the fact that life is what you make of it; be present; quit wishing life away; no regrets.  Living and working in Madrid is an opportunity of a lifetime, and I’m sick and tired of wishing my life away, it’s time to BE PRESENT.

So…I guess…here goes nothin’

The REAL Oktoberfest: Munich + Fussen + Heidelberg, Germany

Before starting school, a couple girls and I arranged a trip to Germany prior to starting school.  It went something like this:  We flew to Frankfurt, with the intention of taking a train straight from the airport to Munich.  However, once in the air, we found out that the airport we were flying in to was about a 1.5 hour car ride away and that we only had about two hours once we landed to catch our train.  In a panic, we spoke with the people around us; the guy sitting next to Melissa and I turned out to be in the US army and was stationed in Germany.  One of his fellow army members (also on the plane) just so happened to be headed in the direction we needed to go, and offered to give us a ride.  Little did we know, the ride was on the Autobahn...I nearly peed my pants.


We made the night train in time and arrive in Munich the following morning around 7am.  From there we went to the campsite we would be staying at for two nights for Oktoberfest.  We stayed at a campground for an excursion company called "Stoke Travel."  Stoke provided us with food and drink, as well as tents and sleeping bags.  The tents and sleeping bags were nasty...you HAD to have a good buzz and then some to sleep in those things...but it was really fun anyway.  

(campsite)

The first day we were tired and cold but eager to make good use of our time in Munich, we took a shuttle to the Oktoberfest grounds.  Most of the people wore traditional clothing (even if they weren't German): Lederhosen (guys) & Dirndl (gals).  The first day we just wandered around the grounds and sampled all the food (brats, soft pretzels, etc.). The next day, we got up early and went to a beer hall by 9am.  A stein of bier was 10 euro!  It was fun to be able to say we had a beer at the REAL Oktoberfest...ok maybe two or three :) 

(nothing like a stein of beer & a donut to start the morning off right!)

Although we had a blast at the Stoke campground, our next stop was to another town in Bavaria, called Fussen.  Fussen is a cute little town, famous for its two magnificent castles: Neuschwanstein (this is what Disney based the castle off of in Sleeping Beauty) and Hohenschwangau.  It pains me to say this, but we planned too many activities in the next two days, and were not able to go in the castle because we had to catch our next train to Heidelberg, Germany.  Boooooooo! It was really depressing.

Neuschwanstein Castle...from afar :( 

Heidelberg is a picturesque town, located on the Neckar River.  We arrived in Heidelberg at night and stayed at an amazing little hostel (with the nicest beds and pillows EVER...a god-sent after those damn smelly tents in Munich)  The next morning, we woke up early, before most of the town was up and went sightseeing.  Heidelberg also has an old castle, though not nearly as magnificent as the ones in Fussen (it's actually considered to be "ruins").  The Neckar River area was my favorite part of the town, especially the beautiful Old Bridge.  We also visited a couple of famous churches and Philosopher's Walk- a place where philosophers and professors from the famous Heidelberg university would walk and talk back in the day.  

(Heidelberg & the Old Bridge)

Overall, we had a wonderful time in Germany.  I would definitely like to go back someday and see the things I missed...but ahhhhh! so much world to see!!!!

Yes, I'm alive!!

Hello WORLD!

It has been a crazy first month here in Madrid!  Unlike studying abroad, when you teach abroad/work abroad, everything isn't set up for you upon arrival!!  We have to look for our own housing, set up our own appointments to allow us to stay in the country past what our visa says, find your way around, set up our own phone/internet/etc...

So what have I been up to?  In a nutshell:
- finding an apartment-- it was no easy task!
- settling in w/ Lauren...THANK GOD FOR IKEA!
- exploring Madrid
- eating, drinking & siesta-ing
- traveling! (stay tuned to hear about Germany & Barcelona...)
- starting school

Thanks for bearing with me the last month..lots of blogging to come in the next few days :)

(my room...it was NASTY prior to my big IKEA binge)

(bathroom, equipped with a bidet!)

(dining room)

(nasty floral print living room furniture...I guess it could be worse)

(part of the kitchen)