So it is Sunday morning right now and last week was the last full week of classes and the last full week I will spend living in Barcelona with my host family. I am not letting that fact ruin my last few days here but it has been on my mind for a while.
Last Saturday I got back from Amsterdam and after a long night and trip home, I finally went to sleep around 10 and woke up at 4. It was still Jourdan's birthday so we had to go celebrate some more. My good friend Bjorn was also in town with his girlfriend, Sara, who is studying in Morocco. After dinner we went to go meet Bjorn and Sara at their hotel and bring them to our friends place. They were having some people over before going out. We usually don't do this because everyone either lives in a home stay, dorm, or an apartment with an RA and they are not allowed to be too noisy (this is one reason I am very glad that I didn't get an apartment). Our friends home stay family went out of town and the parents told them to have some people over, at least that is what they said. We stayed there for a while and then ended up going to a club called Catwalk for a while before going home. Nothing too eventful but I had a lot of fun and we got Jourdan pretty sauced on his birthday. He ended up waking up around 4 the next day.
That Sunday I didn't really do anything. I needed a nice break, so I just relaxed and caught up on the blog. That night Bjorn was still here but his girlfriend left so I took him to my favorite place L'Ovella Negra. We were there for a while and we got a tower of beer and played some card games. His plane was leaving around 6 in the morning so I figured I would just stick around with him and then use my bus pass to get him to the airport. After Jourdan left before 12, some girls sat next to us and eventually started talking to us. One was Australian, Chanelle, and the other was Italian, Linda. They were both working in London and a bit older than us. We ended up talking to them for a while until the bar closed and then took Bjorn to the bus to send him on his way. The bus was there when we arrived so everything was very fast but Chanelle decided to get on the bus for some strange reason and the bus left. At first I was confused and didn't think she actually got on the bus but in fact she did and Linda and I were both left in confusion. I didn't mind because it wasn't really my problem to deal with. As long as Bjorn got on his flight I was happy. I ended up walking with Linda for a while back towards her hotel and got to know her a little. On the way back we planned to meet up the next day because she would still be here and I have a 5 hour break between class.
The next day we met up for lunch and walked around for a while. I showed her some of my favorite places in Barcelona like Maremagnum, which is like a long dock, and the Palau de la Musica. We tried to do a tour because I wanted her to see the inside but they were all full. Then I had class at 3:45 and we parted ways. Later in the day I realized that was the first time that I actually made plans with someone who is not American or lives in my home stay. Sometimes out at night I might meet someone and possibly talk about meeting up again but I guess it never happens. This realization was slightly disappointing because I only have one week left and I made my first foreign friend but at the same time it felt great because even though I haven't actually made plans with anyone, I have still met a ton of people from all over the world. All in All, I have met (and by met I mean actually talked to for a while and gotten to know them a little) tons of Americans, some people studying in the US on my program from London and Malaysia, my home stay sister from Brazil and brother from Holland, a few people from Barcelona, 2 girls from Canada in Greece, and now add a girl from Australia and Italy. The only sad thing is that they all have one thing in common, which is that they speak fluent English. Its great though...I am lucky to have met so many diverse people here.
The rest of the week was pretty boring. Spanish final was Friday. I think I did pretty well but we will see when I actually get the grade back. I also finished my paper in my Architecture class, so I have completely finished two classes and have three more. For the past two days I have just been doing homework and relaxing.
Other than that, Kris and Susan (my brothers wife and younger sister) are coming to visit on Monday Afternoon. I will be 100%done with class on Tuesday at 5:15 and I need to be out of the home stay on the 6th. I am going to travel after the semester and hopefully go to Brussels with Kris and Susan and then meet a friend in Berlin, another friend in Prague, then go to Edinburgh and Northern UK, and hopefully explore some more of Spain before going back to Barcelona to get my stuff and go back home. It has been a long road, even though it went fast, and I would not trade this experience for anything in the world. I know for one thing that I will come back a better, more mature, and a more open minded person.
And will probably keep posting on the blog
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Amsterdam
After Greece we went to Amsterdam for a few days.
We flew from Athens to Amsterdam on 4/20 and arrived around 3 in the afternoon. We were meeting some friends here but they were arriving later in the day. We were going to wait for them in the airport but we decided to just head into town and walk around. We took the train to Central Station and bought a map. We were both very hungry so we went to get some Thai food in Chinatown.
On our way we happened to walk right into the Red Light district without even knowing it. We walk past the first window and the woman was standing perfectly still. We both thought she was a manikin until she started moving and we both jumped back. The Thai food was pretty good and it was nice to get some food and sit down for a while. We then planned out the rest of our day.
The weather was gorgeous. It was actually warmer in Amsterdam than Barcelona at the time and some locals said that it was the nicest day they had ever seen before Easter. That put me in a great mood. Our hotel was right near Vondelpark so we wanted to walk there and chill in the park to wait for our friends, Rebecca and Sierra. We slowly walked for about 30 minutes and eventually made it to the park to sit down. On the way we took some photos and absorbed the culture.
When we got to the park we just sat down and relaxed for about an hour until the girls arrived
I noticed some pigeons drinking water. I don't know about anyone else, but watching this was very amusing as I have never seen a pigeon drinking water.
Then I laid back in the grass and looked up at the trees. I was very content.
The girls arrived around 6. We went into the room and put our stuff down. Everyone was pretty hungry so we went to a place called Burger Bar. This place was amazing. You could make a custom Burger and choose from a list of ingredients and cheese. Somehow they forgot about mine and Jourdan's burger so we got an extra 70 grams for free. I wasn't too disappointed that we had to wait but it was extremely difficult to sit and watch everyone grub out on theirs.
Delicioso!!!
The girls wanted to see the Red Light District so we walked over to Dom's Square. They have been setting up a carnival for the past few days and it was open now so it was cool to go there and watch. We also met up with another friend Rachel, who missed her flight and took a later one.
This was one of the spinning chair rides that are at every carnival and when it is dark my camera's shutter stays open longer so I can get some really cool photos.
We walked around for a while looking for a coffee shop to hang out at and watch the Barcelona futbol match. I got some tea and we just hung out until we went back to the hotel to go to sleep. Everyone was pretty tired but it was a lot of fun and everyone was excited to be in Amsterdam.
We all wanted to get some famous pancakes for breakfast. Jourdan and Sierra's friend, Brenner, is studying in Amsterdam so he took us to a place to get some. I got a pancake with Eggs and Bacon, and put some maple syrup on it. Let me just say that it was one of the best pancakes that I have ever eaten. The Eggs and Bacon were cooked inside the pancake instead of being put on top.
(from left: Sierra, Brenner, Rebecca)
(from left: Jourdan, me, Rachel)
Here is the after picture
Once again, Delicioso!
After this we just walked around for the rest of the day. The girls wanted to do some shopping and since Jourdan and I are so easygoing, we didn't complain. I was just happy to walk around and soak up some sunshine. After a few hours Jourdan and I were getting a little bored so we tried to go to the Heineken Museum but it was already closed for the day. So we just went back to the hotel. That night we basically did the same thing as the last day. Just a coffee shop and go to sleep.
We woke up and did pancakes again, this time near the Anne Frank house. I had a pancake with honey mixed fruit, and ice cream. I figured the mixed fruit would come with all of the different fruits that were on the other pancakes but I was wrong...should have asked. I really just wanted some strawberries but it only came with peaches and pineapple. Why it didn't say "pancake with peaches, pineapple, and ice cream" I am not sure. It was still good.
We then tried to go to the Anne Frank house but there was a huge line so we decided to hold off until later. We went to the I Amsterdam sign instead and took some pictures, then went to the Van Gogh Museum.
I like this one...the S's sharing some love
They didn't allow pictures in the Van Gogh Museum but it was a really cool museum. I am not really a fan of art but I liked him because he is different. I actually got a post card of my favorite paining which was a skeleton smoking a cigarette with a black background.
After this we had to move hotels because the other one was completely booked. Also Jourdan and I had to leave at 3 in the morning because of an early flight so we did not stay in the hotel for the last night. We also stopped bye the Anne Frank house. By this time the line was only about a 20 minute wait and we got to walk around it without it being that crowded. It was a great museum and we saw the entire thing which is not really possible in most museums.
While they checked in we tried to go to the Heineken museum again, and missed it again. The store was open though so we bought some souvenirs...which were fairly cheap.
April 23rd is Jourdan's birthday so we had to go to a bar to celebrate at midnight. We just went to a place near bye and had some drinks...and a round of shots. They also gave us a shot on the house for his birthday but it tasted more like juice, as I would expect for any shot on the house. It was fun but we had to leave and get our bags to go to the airport.
Amsterdam was great. I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do but it was very relaxing and I loved the city and the atmosphere. I could see myself living there for a short period of time.
It was also good to go back to Barcelona. Even though I had a great time on Spring Break, traveling is exhausting. But this week we have finals and then everyone leaves. It is Thursday right now and the week has been very up and down.
So long for now
We flew from Athens to Amsterdam on 4/20 and arrived around 3 in the afternoon. We were meeting some friends here but they were arriving later in the day. We were going to wait for them in the airport but we decided to just head into town and walk around. We took the train to Central Station and bought a map. We were both very hungry so we went to get some Thai food in Chinatown.
On our way we happened to walk right into the Red Light district without even knowing it. We walk past the first window and the woman was standing perfectly still. We both thought she was a manikin until she started moving and we both jumped back. The Thai food was pretty good and it was nice to get some food and sit down for a while. We then planned out the rest of our day.
The weather was gorgeous. It was actually warmer in Amsterdam than Barcelona at the time and some locals said that it was the nicest day they had ever seen before Easter. That put me in a great mood. Our hotel was right near Vondelpark so we wanted to walk there and chill in the park to wait for our friends, Rebecca and Sierra. We slowly walked for about 30 minutes and eventually made it to the park to sit down. On the way we took some photos and absorbed the culture.
When we got to the park we just sat down and relaxed for about an hour until the girls arrived
I noticed some pigeons drinking water. I don't know about anyone else, but watching this was very amusing as I have never seen a pigeon drinking water.
Then I laid back in the grass and looked up at the trees. I was very content.
The girls arrived around 6. We went into the room and put our stuff down. Everyone was pretty hungry so we went to a place called Burger Bar. This place was amazing. You could make a custom Burger and choose from a list of ingredients and cheese. Somehow they forgot about mine and Jourdan's burger so we got an extra 70 grams for free. I wasn't too disappointed that we had to wait but it was extremely difficult to sit and watch everyone grub out on theirs.
The girls wanted to see the Red Light District so we walked over to Dom's Square. They have been setting up a carnival for the past few days and it was open now so it was cool to go there and watch. We also met up with another friend Rachel, who missed her flight and took a later one.
This was one of the spinning chair rides that are at every carnival and when it is dark my camera's shutter stays open longer so I can get some really cool photos.
We walked around for a while looking for a coffee shop to hang out at and watch the Barcelona futbol match. I got some tea and we just hung out until we went back to the hotel to go to sleep. Everyone was pretty tired but it was a lot of fun and everyone was excited to be in Amsterdam.
We all wanted to get some famous pancakes for breakfast. Jourdan and Sierra's friend, Brenner, is studying in Amsterdam so he took us to a place to get some. I got a pancake with Eggs and Bacon, and put some maple syrup on it. Let me just say that it was one of the best pancakes that I have ever eaten. The Eggs and Bacon were cooked inside the pancake instead of being put on top.
Here is the after picture
After this we just walked around for the rest of the day. The girls wanted to do some shopping and since Jourdan and I are so easygoing, we didn't complain. I was just happy to walk around and soak up some sunshine. After a few hours Jourdan and I were getting a little bored so we tried to go to the Heineken Museum but it was already closed for the day. So we just went back to the hotel. That night we basically did the same thing as the last day. Just a coffee shop and go to sleep.
We woke up and did pancakes again, this time near the Anne Frank house. I had a pancake with honey mixed fruit, and ice cream. I figured the mixed fruit would come with all of the different fruits that were on the other pancakes but I was wrong...should have asked. I really just wanted some strawberries but it only came with peaches and pineapple. Why it didn't say "pancake with peaches, pineapple, and ice cream" I am not sure. It was still good.
We then tried to go to the Anne Frank house but there was a huge line so we decided to hold off until later. We went to the I Amsterdam sign instead and took some pictures, then went to the Van Gogh Museum.
I like this one...the S's sharing some love
They didn't allow pictures in the Van Gogh Museum but it was a really cool museum. I am not really a fan of art but I liked him because he is different. I actually got a post card of my favorite paining which was a skeleton smoking a cigarette with a black background.
After this we had to move hotels because the other one was completely booked. Also Jourdan and I had to leave at 3 in the morning because of an early flight so we did not stay in the hotel for the last night. We also stopped bye the Anne Frank house. By this time the line was only about a 20 minute wait and we got to walk around it without it being that crowded. It was a great museum and we saw the entire thing which is not really possible in most museums.
While they checked in we tried to go to the Heineken museum again, and missed it again. The store was open though so we bought some souvenirs...which were fairly cheap.
April 23rd is Jourdan's birthday so we had to go to a bar to celebrate at midnight. We just went to a place near bye and had some drinks...and a round of shots. They also gave us a shot on the house for his birthday but it tasted more like juice, as I would expect for any shot on the house. It was fun but we had to leave and get our bags to go to the airport.
Amsterdam was great. I didn't get to do everything I wanted to do but it was very relaxing and I loved the city and the atmosphere. I could see myself living there for a short period of time.
It was also good to go back to Barcelona. Even though I had a great time on Spring Break, traveling is exhausting. But this week we have finals and then everyone leaves. It is Thursday right now and the week has been very up and down.
So long for now
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Greece
For spring break Jourdan and I decided to go Greece and Amsterdam. We tried to plan a lot of stuff for Greece but really didn’t have enough time to do everything we wanted to. I wanted to go to Myceane where there are famous ruins and “The Lions Gate” that I learned about in my Architectural history class. I also really wanted to hike up to the top of Mt. Olympus but it is about 5 hours North of Athens and a 2-day trip. We ended up planning for Athens and Santorini. I am on the ferry leaving Santorini right now and I am very satisfied with our trip here.
We left Barcelona on Thursday morning and landed in Athens around 3:00 PM. We didn’t have a place to stay so we just took the metro to Athens, bought a map, and found a place to stay for the night in Athens. We stayed at a 3 star hotel for 45 euros. It also included free Internet and breakfast. It wasn’t the nicest but it was well worth the one night stay. After checking in we went and got dinner at a place nearby and took a nice walk to the Acropolis and back.
It was a really nice walk and we passed a ton of cool things on the way. There are a ton of ruins and we went up on a hill called acropolis hill that had a great view of the city. Then as it was getting darker we went around to the other side of the Acropolis and saw the Parthenon all lit up.
There is a really cool foot path going back towards our hotel from the Acropolis. We walked down that road and observed the street artists and people selling jewelry and other crafts.
It was a really cool walk back down to the dirty streets of Athens. Athens is a great place to go for a day or two but I feel like more than that would be a little much. It is really dirty and there really isn’t anything more than the Greek ruins, museums, and nightlife.
The next day we woke up early and went to the Acropolis. I have really wanted to go there for a while and it was as cool as I could have imagined. We saw the Parthenon, although it was covered in scaffolding.
Then we saw the Temple of Athena. I learned that originally there was an olive tree in the middle but I guess it was gone by now. After hanging out for a while we walked down to the Acropolis Museum. The museum was not that great but the top floor was basically a recreation of the roof of the Parthenon. They had a lot of original statues and a few recreations but a lot of it was still missing.
After that we went back to the hotel to check out and started heading to the port to catch our 8-hour ferry to Santorini. On the way we picked up a bag of Pita bread, some sweet peppers, feta cheese, water, and two bottles of wine for the ride.
While we were waiting to leave a group of people from Israel came and sat next to us. They were playing music which was cool at first but they were pretty bad. I enjoyed it anyway while we were sitting in the sun out on the deck of the ferry. We also met a group of people also studying in Barcelona. They also brought some booze and managed to finish it with 5 hours left in the boat ride so they were pretty drunk when we met them. The boat ride was fun. We just chilled out on the deck for a while, ate our food, drank our wine, and played some cards. We also saw a great sunset.
We got to Santorini around midnight and had a driver waiting to take us to the hotel at the port.
The hotel, or hostel, was called Villa Manos. Usually when you look for the best price, you sacrifice customer service but it seemed to be the opposite at this place. When we arrived they gave us a glass of wine, a map. In the morning they offered to call a place for us to rent ATV’s (which we did), and they made fresh breakfast for us right there.
We rented some ATV’s for the 3 days we were there. This was probably the best part of the stay on the Island. It made everything so easy, and we really did as much as you possibly can in three days.
The first thing that we did was take a little boat ride to the Volcano. We checked out of the hotel and they said we could leave our luggage there until we got back. The boat left from the old port so we had to walk down this windy snake path to the bottom of the cliff
It was a short hike up to the top of the Volcano and back down but it was really cool. I don’t think I have ever been on a Volcano so this was a first time experience. After the hike we got back on the boat and had the option of swimming to the hot springs. We boated over to another Island and both of us hopped into the water to the hot springs. The water was really cold so while I was swimming I was really looking forward to the hot springs. However, the hot springs was really just some lukewarm water, not really hot. While we were hanging out there we started talking to some people from Maryland. They were all studying in Manchester, England and on spring break too. After the hot springs we went and got lunch with them and parted ways. They will actually be in Barcelona when we get back so we might see them again. Here are some pictures of the Volcano tour
After lunch we went back to grab our bags and head out to our other hostel. When we left she treated us as if we knew here for years. She gave us both a big hug and the two cheek kisses.
We made our way down to Perissa where our next hostel was. We got a little bit lost but eventually found the place and checked in. This place was more of a hostel where younger people go to party. The receptionist was really nice and helpful but it didn’t really have that home feel. By this point it was around 4 in the afternoon. Our original plan was to go to the Red beach but it was a little too late for that. Instead we cruised on over to the most southwestern point where there is a lighthouse. The drive should take about 30 minutes but we stopped so many times to take some pictures that it took us well over an hour. Here are some photos from the ride
Behind the lighthouse was a rocky ledge that almost led down to the water. We hung out for a while there taking pictures and just hanging out. I also found the famous rocks from Santorini that float in the water. I grabbed a few for souvenirs.
By the time we left the sun went down and it was getting dark. We found a place to eat dinner overlooking the water and then just went back to the hostel to go to sleep
The next day we decided to make our own breakfast. There was a hot plate and supplies in our room so all we had to do was go to the supermarket and get some food. We made some bacon, omelets, and toast. This was very easy and it gave us the chance to save some money on food.
Our plan for the day was to hike up a small mountain to the Ancient ruins of Thira. It is a short drive from our hotel and then about a 45-minute hike to the top. We didn’t have the best weather, and it rained for a few minutes but right when we got to the top the sun came out and it was beautiful. Here are a few pictures of the hike.
After that we wanted to go to the Red Beach on the south side of the Island. Right before we got there we stopped at a place called the Dolphin to eat some lunch. The Red Beach was unlike anything I have ever seen before. It is a cliff face with red volcanic rocks and a rocky beach. We walked around for a while taking pictures, climbing on some huge boulders, and skipping some rocks before settling on some towels. I also went swimming in the freezing cold water but it was really refreshing once my legs went numb. The pebbles on the beach we also perfect for a foot massage because they were small and round so I walked around for a while.
We went back to the hostel around 6 in the afternoon and I took a nice little nap. I hadn’t drunk enough water so I woke up feeling a little groggy. We went to a restaurant nearby called Grandmas Recipe that our friends from Maryland suggested and after dinner we just went back to the hotel to hang out and go to sleep. Traveling and doing stuff all day really takes the energy out of you.
In the morning we made breakfast again and then checked out of the hostel in Perissa. When I was looking up things to do in Santorini I read that they had some amazing wineries so today we wanted to check some out. We packed up everything and put our bags on our ATV’s and went to a Winery called Boutari. We got there before noon and were once again, the only people in the place. We ordered 6 tastes of Santorini wine. Our guide was great. He knew everything you need to know and gave us a sheet to fill out on how to rate the wines. You judge it by color (eye), smell, and taste, and get a score out of 100. I was impressed with my results because after 5 ratings I was only off by an average of 3. We only had a small taste of each since we had to drive our ATV’s. After that we went to another place that the Boutari winery suggested. It was a tiny family owned business that only produces about 40,000 bottles a year. This one included a free tour and a free taste of one of the wines. We each ended up buying a bottle there for gifts.
It was a short drive to Fira where we were staying the last night. We got there before noon to check into our hotel and put our bags down. There was just one more place on the Island that we had not explored and it was the northern most town of Oia. We were also told that the drive was awesome there and back. We stopped about half way to get some lunch at a place on a mountain overlooking a valley. When we got to Oia we didn’t really stop but just drove around there for a bit. We went down a windy road to a cove where there were some restaurants and a path around the shore. We just walked around and headed back. But not before coming across a dirt soccer field where we enjoyed the last hours of the ATV’s and did some doughnuts. When we went back to Fira we dropped the ATV’s off and walked around town for a while.
I took another nice nap when we got back to the room before going to get some dinner. We went to a place in town and got some Pizza and Pasta.
This was the only night that we actually went out in Santorini. There are a few bars in the area and they all have 2 for 1 cocktails until 10 or 11 so we had a few drinks and ended up going to a club and dancing for a little while.
The next day was our last in Santorini so we just got some food, souvaniers, and prepared for the 8-hour ferry ride back to Athens. Bye Santorini!
On the ferry we were playing cards and some kids from Denmark asked if they could play. They sat down and we played some games and talked to them for a while. It was cool talking to some random people. They knew English pretty well and it helped to pass the time. Right after they left, two Canadian girls who stayed in our hotel and rode down to the port with us came over and wanted to join us for cards as well. We had about 3 hours left and we cracked open our second 1.5 liter wine bottle and played cards with them. They were really nice and backpacking around Europe. They were also heading to Barcelona the next day so we might see them there. When we arrived at the port we took a cab to the hotel and they came to the same one because it was right near the port.
In the morning we parted ways and headed to the airport to go to Amsterdam. We are meeting up with some friends from Barcelona in Amsterdam for 3 nights.
We left Barcelona on Thursday morning and landed in Athens around 3:00 PM. We didn’t have a place to stay so we just took the metro to Athens, bought a map, and found a place to stay for the night in Athens. We stayed at a 3 star hotel for 45 euros. It also included free Internet and breakfast. It wasn’t the nicest but it was well worth the one night stay. After checking in we went and got dinner at a place nearby and took a nice walk to the Acropolis and back.
It was a really nice walk and we passed a ton of cool things on the way. There are a ton of ruins and we went up on a hill called acropolis hill that had a great view of the city. Then as it was getting darker we went around to the other side of the Acropolis and saw the Parthenon all lit up.
There is a really cool foot path going back towards our hotel from the Acropolis. We walked down that road and observed the street artists and people selling jewelry and other crafts.
It was a really cool walk back down to the dirty streets of Athens. Athens is a great place to go for a day or two but I feel like more than that would be a little much. It is really dirty and there really isn’t anything more than the Greek ruins, museums, and nightlife.
The next day we woke up early and went to the Acropolis. I have really wanted to go there for a while and it was as cool as I could have imagined. We saw the Parthenon, although it was covered in scaffolding.
Then we saw the Temple of Athena. I learned that originally there was an olive tree in the middle but I guess it was gone by now. After hanging out for a while we walked down to the Acropolis Museum. The museum was not that great but the top floor was basically a recreation of the roof of the Parthenon. They had a lot of original statues and a few recreations but a lot of it was still missing.
After that we went back to the hotel to check out and started heading to the port to catch our 8-hour ferry to Santorini. On the way we picked up a bag of Pita bread, some sweet peppers, feta cheese, water, and two bottles of wine for the ride.
While we were waiting to leave a group of people from Israel came and sat next to us. They were playing music which was cool at first but they were pretty bad. I enjoyed it anyway while we were sitting in the sun out on the deck of the ferry. We also met a group of people also studying in Barcelona. They also brought some booze and managed to finish it with 5 hours left in the boat ride so they were pretty drunk when we met them. The boat ride was fun. We just chilled out on the deck for a while, ate our food, drank our wine, and played some cards. We also saw a great sunset.
We got to Santorini around midnight and had a driver waiting to take us to the hotel at the port.
The hotel, or hostel, was called Villa Manos. Usually when you look for the best price, you sacrifice customer service but it seemed to be the opposite at this place. When we arrived they gave us a glass of wine, a map. In the morning they offered to call a place for us to rent ATV’s (which we did), and they made fresh breakfast for us right there.
We rented some ATV’s for the 3 days we were there. This was probably the best part of the stay on the Island. It made everything so easy, and we really did as much as you possibly can in three days.
The first thing that we did was take a little boat ride to the Volcano. We checked out of the hotel and they said we could leave our luggage there until we got back. The boat left from the old port so we had to walk down this windy snake path to the bottom of the cliff
It was a short hike up to the top of the Volcano and back down but it was really cool. I don’t think I have ever been on a Volcano so this was a first time experience. After the hike we got back on the boat and had the option of swimming to the hot springs. We boated over to another Island and both of us hopped into the water to the hot springs. The water was really cold so while I was swimming I was really looking forward to the hot springs. However, the hot springs was really just some lukewarm water, not really hot. While we were hanging out there we started talking to some people from Maryland. They were all studying in Manchester, England and on spring break too. After the hot springs we went and got lunch with them and parted ways. They will actually be in Barcelona when we get back so we might see them again. Here are some pictures of the Volcano tour
After lunch we went back to grab our bags and head out to our other hostel. When we left she treated us as if we knew here for years. She gave us both a big hug and the two cheek kisses.
We made our way down to Perissa where our next hostel was. We got a little bit lost but eventually found the place and checked in. This place was more of a hostel where younger people go to party. The receptionist was really nice and helpful but it didn’t really have that home feel. By this point it was around 4 in the afternoon. Our original plan was to go to the Red beach but it was a little too late for that. Instead we cruised on over to the most southwestern point where there is a lighthouse. The drive should take about 30 minutes but we stopped so many times to take some pictures that it took us well over an hour. Here are some photos from the ride
Behind the lighthouse was a rocky ledge that almost led down to the water. We hung out for a while there taking pictures and just hanging out. I also found the famous rocks from Santorini that float in the water. I grabbed a few for souvenirs.
By the time we left the sun went down and it was getting dark. We found a place to eat dinner overlooking the water and then just went back to the hostel to go to sleep
The next day we decided to make our own breakfast. There was a hot plate and supplies in our room so all we had to do was go to the supermarket and get some food. We made some bacon, omelets, and toast. This was very easy and it gave us the chance to save some money on food.
Our plan for the day was to hike up a small mountain to the Ancient ruins of Thira. It is a short drive from our hotel and then about a 45-minute hike to the top. We didn’t have the best weather, and it rained for a few minutes but right when we got to the top the sun came out and it was beautiful. Here are a few pictures of the hike.
After that we wanted to go to the Red Beach on the south side of the Island. Right before we got there we stopped at a place called the Dolphin to eat some lunch. The Red Beach was unlike anything I have ever seen before. It is a cliff face with red volcanic rocks and a rocky beach. We walked around for a while taking pictures, climbing on some huge boulders, and skipping some rocks before settling on some towels. I also went swimming in the freezing cold water but it was really refreshing once my legs went numb. The pebbles on the beach we also perfect for a foot massage because they were small and round so I walked around for a while.
We went back to the hostel around 6 in the afternoon and I took a nice little nap. I hadn’t drunk enough water so I woke up feeling a little groggy. We went to a restaurant nearby called Grandmas Recipe that our friends from Maryland suggested and after dinner we just went back to the hotel to hang out and go to sleep. Traveling and doing stuff all day really takes the energy out of you.
In the morning we made breakfast again and then checked out of the hostel in Perissa. When I was looking up things to do in Santorini I read that they had some amazing wineries so today we wanted to check some out. We packed up everything and put our bags on our ATV’s and went to a Winery called Boutari. We got there before noon and were once again, the only people in the place. We ordered 6 tastes of Santorini wine. Our guide was great. He knew everything you need to know and gave us a sheet to fill out on how to rate the wines. You judge it by color (eye), smell, and taste, and get a score out of 100. I was impressed with my results because after 5 ratings I was only off by an average of 3. We only had a small taste of each since we had to drive our ATV’s. After that we went to another place that the Boutari winery suggested. It was a tiny family owned business that only produces about 40,000 bottles a year. This one included a free tour and a free taste of one of the wines. We each ended up buying a bottle there for gifts.
It was a short drive to Fira where we were staying the last night. We got there before noon to check into our hotel and put our bags down. There was just one more place on the Island that we had not explored and it was the northern most town of Oia. We were also told that the drive was awesome there and back. We stopped about half way to get some lunch at a place on a mountain overlooking a valley. When we got to Oia we didn’t really stop but just drove around there for a bit. We went down a windy road to a cove where there were some restaurants and a path around the shore. We just walked around and headed back. But not before coming across a dirt soccer field where we enjoyed the last hours of the ATV’s and did some doughnuts. When we went back to Fira we dropped the ATV’s off and walked around town for a while.
I took another nice nap when we got back to the room before going to get some dinner. We went to a place in town and got some Pizza and Pasta.
This was the only night that we actually went out in Santorini. There are a few bars in the area and they all have 2 for 1 cocktails until 10 or 11 so we had a few drinks and ended up going to a club and dancing for a little while.
The next day was our last in Santorini so we just got some food, souvaniers, and prepared for the 8-hour ferry ride back to Athens. Bye Santorini!
On the ferry we were playing cards and some kids from Denmark asked if they could play. They sat down and we played some games and talked to them for a while. It was cool talking to some random people. They knew English pretty well and it helped to pass the time. Right after they left, two Canadian girls who stayed in our hotel and rode down to the port with us came over and wanted to join us for cards as well. We had about 3 hours left and we cracked open our second 1.5 liter wine bottle and played cards with them. They were really nice and backpacking around Europe. They were also heading to Barcelona the next day so we might see them there. When we arrived at the port we took a cab to the hotel and they came to the same one because it was right near the port.
In the morning we parted ways and headed to the airport to go to Amsterdam. We are meeting up with some friends from Barcelona in Amsterdam for 3 nights.
Friday, April 15, 2011
London
This past weekend I went to London. I couldn't skip Spanish class again since I have already missed 4 classes so I had to take a later flight. Unfortunately I didn't get to London until 2 AM because of the enormous line to get through customs and the hour bus ride from the airport. When I got there I met up with my friend Greg, who visited me in Barcelona, and we went back to his dorm where I was staying for the weekend. He is going to Regents College, which is in Regents Park. The campus is extremely nice and the park in the spring is said to be one of the nicest in Europe. I completely agree with that statement because I went in spring and got blessed with some amazing weather. The park is beautiful and packed with people.
We woke up on Saturday morning and went to see some sites in London. There are a bunch of people from UNH on the London program that Greg is on and someone I know, John who is studying in Budapest, was visiting some other people. They wanted to go to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace but it turned out that there was no changing of the guards that day. We didn't really do anything more than just walk around but it was a beautiful day and it was great to see the city. We went to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The London Eye, and Trafalgar Square. After that we wanted to get some lunch at the Burrow Market.
The Burrow Market was awesome. I got some Vietnamese Curry Chicken. Then we walked around and got free samples of cheese, jam, and some other stuff. The Burrow Market was probably my favorite part of the trip. It had a great feel, it wasn't too touristy, and it had some great food.
After the market we went back to Regents park. By this time in the day, maybe 4 in the afternoon, the park was packed with people. We went and sat on the lawn right outside of the dorm with Greg's friends and soaked up some sunshine. At night we went to everyone's favorite place called The Rocket. It was a fun night, nothing extraordinary, but did some dancing and drinking.
On Sunday I didn't need to leave until 3 in the afternoon so we walked around London from Regents Park to Pickadilly Square, Covent Garden Market, and Chinatown. Greg did a good job tour guiding and telling me some cool facts. Before I left for Barcelona we spent some more time outside on the lawn. I was definitely not expecting the weather in "gloomy" London to be so amazing so I was extremely happy. Only until I left London though because my flight was delayed an hour and a half.
Right now we are on spring break. Jourdan and I are going to Athens and Santorini for 6 days and then to Amsterdam to meet up with some friends for 3 nights and then back to Barcelona. I am writing this from a hostel in Santorini. I am already in love with this Island and I haven't even seen it in the day. I might post in a few days but might be too busy hiking up volcanoes, going to wineries, basking on black sand beaches, biking to ancient ruins, and renting a four wheeler. CANT WAIT
We woke up on Saturday morning and went to see some sites in London. There are a bunch of people from UNH on the London program that Greg is on and someone I know, John who is studying in Budapest, was visiting some other people. They wanted to go to see the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace but it turned out that there was no changing of the guards that day. We didn't really do anything more than just walk around but it was a beautiful day and it was great to see the city. We went to Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, The London Eye, and Trafalgar Square. After that we wanted to get some lunch at the Burrow Market.
The Burrow Market was awesome. I got some Vietnamese Curry Chicken. Then we walked around and got free samples of cheese, jam, and some other stuff. The Burrow Market was probably my favorite part of the trip. It had a great feel, it wasn't too touristy, and it had some great food.
After the market we went back to Regents park. By this time in the day, maybe 4 in the afternoon, the park was packed with people. We went and sat on the lawn right outside of the dorm with Greg's friends and soaked up some sunshine. At night we went to everyone's favorite place called The Rocket. It was a fun night, nothing extraordinary, but did some dancing and drinking.
On Sunday I didn't need to leave until 3 in the afternoon so we walked around London from Regents Park to Pickadilly Square, Covent Garden Market, and Chinatown. Greg did a good job tour guiding and telling me some cool facts. Before I left for Barcelona we spent some more time outside on the lawn. I was definitely not expecting the weather in "gloomy" London to be so amazing so I was extremely happy. Only until I left London though because my flight was delayed an hour and a half.
Right now we are on spring break. Jourdan and I are going to Athens and Santorini for 6 days and then to Amsterdam to meet up with some friends for 3 nights and then back to Barcelona. I am writing this from a hostel in Santorini. I am already in love with this Island and I haven't even seen it in the day. I might post in a few days but might be too busy hiking up volcanoes, going to wineries, basking on black sand beaches, biking to ancient ruins, and renting a four wheeler. CANT WAIT
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Catalan Culture Studies Field Trip to El Born
A few weeks ago Xavi took us on a field trip to El Born to check out some of the old guilds from the Middle Ages. We started at the Palau de la Musica and walked through the old windy streets down to the Santa Maria del Mar, learning about the streets, plazas, and guilds. It was a rainy day, one of the few since I have been here, and I forgot my camera so I did not take pictures. I did however take my parents on the same field trip one day when they were here, and surprisingly I took them on the exact same route through the windy streets.
The first building we stopped by was the Palau de la Musica, which might be my favorite building in Barcelona. We then walked down a narrow street and Xavi told us about the buildings, some of which were hundreds of years old. Almost all of the buildings have a very small door and a large window on the ground floor. Then the first floor has a big window with smaller windows as you get higher. This is because the store front was on the ground floor, the owner lived on the first floor, the professional (Iron smith, shoe maker, etc...) lived on the second, the interns lived above that, and then servants lived on the top floor. This makes sense because there were no elevators so wealthier people didn't want to walk to the top. Also there was usually only one bathroom and it was on the ground level.
At the end of that street is a market called Mercat de Santa Caterina.
Recently it has been renovated and now it looks very nice and new. This market is more spread out and not as crowded as the Boqueria and it basically has the same stuff. There is also a restaurant inside that is very popular. I need to go there before I leave here.
Next we went to a plaza called Plaça de Llana. This means plaza of wool, which is where the price of wool would be listed for the traders when they came to Barcelona. It would be a standardized price for each day and it was completely regulated by the people selling the wool.
One shop caught my eye as I walked back. It was an old shoe store with some amazing shoes. They were all hand made and leather but they were all over 200 euros.
This store has probably been owned by the same family doing the same thing for a few hundred years. It is cool to see things like that here in Barcelona because there is nothing like that in the US.
There is also a church called Santa Maria de Mar. This might be one of my favorite churches in Europe. Almost every church I go to is so incredibly flashy, wealthy, and elaborate. This one was the exact opposite. It was very dark with no art and bare stone walls. However it felt like you were transported back into the middle ages when you walked in. There were graves that were over 400 years old with a family crest. It had high ceilings, and huge arches, and was just breathtaking.
Some other streets we passed were Carrer de Banys Vells (Street of the old baths) where women would go to wash clothing and people would take their baths about once a month. Some more were Carrer de l'Espaseria (street of swords) and Carrer de Miralers (street of mirrors).
I really enjoyed this tour and learned a lot about the area. I was also able to give the tour to my parents, obviously not telling them all of the details, but I was able to translate some street signs in Catalan, and to tell them about the history of the area.
The first building we stopped by was the Palau de la Musica, which might be my favorite building in Barcelona. We then walked down a narrow street and Xavi told us about the buildings, some of which were hundreds of years old. Almost all of the buildings have a very small door and a large window on the ground floor. Then the first floor has a big window with smaller windows as you get higher. This is because the store front was on the ground floor, the owner lived on the first floor, the professional (Iron smith, shoe maker, etc...) lived on the second, the interns lived above that, and then servants lived on the top floor. This makes sense because there were no elevators so wealthier people didn't want to walk to the top. Also there was usually only one bathroom and it was on the ground level.
At the end of that street is a market called Mercat de Santa Caterina.
Recently it has been renovated and now it looks very nice and new. This market is more spread out and not as crowded as the Boqueria and it basically has the same stuff. There is also a restaurant inside that is very popular. I need to go there before I leave here.
Next we went to a plaza called Plaça de Llana. This means plaza of wool, which is where the price of wool would be listed for the traders when they came to Barcelona. It would be a standardized price for each day and it was completely regulated by the people selling the wool.
One shop caught my eye as I walked back. It was an old shoe store with some amazing shoes. They were all hand made and leather but they were all over 200 euros.
This store has probably been owned by the same family doing the same thing for a few hundred years. It is cool to see things like that here in Barcelona because there is nothing like that in the US.
There is also a church called Santa Maria de Mar. This might be one of my favorite churches in Europe. Almost every church I go to is so incredibly flashy, wealthy, and elaborate. This one was the exact opposite. It was very dark with no art and bare stone walls. However it felt like you were transported back into the middle ages when you walked in. There were graves that were over 400 years old with a family crest. It had high ceilings, and huge arches, and was just breathtaking.
Some other streets we passed were Carrer de Banys Vells (Street of the old baths) where women would go to wash clothing and people would take their baths about once a month. Some more were Carrer de l'Espaseria (street of swords) and Carrer de Miralers (street of mirrors).
I really enjoyed this tour and learned a lot about the area. I was also able to give the tour to my parents, obviously not telling them all of the details, but I was able to translate some street signs in Catalan, and to tell them about the history of the area.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Visit from los padres
Hello everyone. Sorry it has been a while since my last post but I was occupied keeping my parents busy.
They got here on Thursday, March 24th and left on Sunday, April 3. While they were hear we basically did everything that you can do in Barcelona. I also saved a lot of the major sites in Barcelona for their visit so I was also excited to see everything. Especially the Gaudi stuff.
The highlight for them was probably the first Sunday when my host family invited them over for Paella at lunch. Their kids also joined us. They have two kids, Gerrard 29 years old (I think) and Angela who is 30 years old. Angela has a husband and is pregnant with a girl. All three of them joined us for lunch and know English, more of less, which helped with the translating. My parents were blown away by the Paella and the whole scene in general. The entire lunch lasted about 3 hours and we talked the whole time.
On Friday night we went to Montjuic to see the Citadel on top and see the Joan Miro Museum. Our plan was to take the gondola to the top but we missed the last one of the day by about 2 minutes so we had to take a cab. There was a protest and a lot of traffic so we didn't get to the Joan Miro museum until it was about to close so we just went to the Citadel and then the fountains at Plaza España. The fountain show is amazing and it only happens on Friday and Saturday night.
My favorite part about having my parents here was that they could take me out to dinner. I have been here since January, and I had not gone out to dinner once. While my parents were here we went out to dinner every night. The first place we went to was called El Glop. This place was not that great but we had some Torres wine, and some Calçots. Calçots are onion type things that are charred and you dip in some kind of sauce. They were really good and fun to eat.
The next night my mom got a little sick and I had to take her to my programs doctor. This was bad but it didn't seem to be much of an obstacle while they were here. After taking her to the doctor my dad and I went around the corner to a Thai restaurant. This place was pretty tasty, although the Pad Thai didn't compare to Taste of Thai in Ithaca. My expectations might have been a little high.
Monday night we went to a famous place called Els Quart Gats. It means The Four Cats in Catalan, and it is famous because Picasso and Earnest Hemingway used to hang out there. The restaurant had a piano and someone playing the whole time we were there, and he was very good. My dad even suggested a song and he played it. My dad loved that. Tuesday night I invited some friends out to dinner and we went to a place called Los Caracoles (The Snails). This place was also very good. I got a half rabbit. I had never had rabbit before but it was really good. Although I wasn't really sure how to get to the meat, but it was an experience.
Wednesday night we went to the Palau de la Musica to see a piano concierto. It was an orchestra with a grand piano, and it was amazing. We couldn't really see the orchestra when we leaned back in our seats but I just enjoyed listening and looking around at the ceiling and walls that are so incredible. Here are some pictures
I have wanted to go here since I first walked by it and saw some pictures of it. After that we went around the corner and got some Mexican food and Margaritas. The next night we went up to Gracia to a place my dad found. We kept it simple and just ordered a Bolognese spaghetti and a Hawaiian pizza. They were both amazingly good. Then to top it off we decided to order the chocolate brownie with syrup on top, and it might have been one of the best brownies that I have ever tried. Friday night we went to a place called Los 7 Puertas (the 7 doors), near Barceloneta and the port. Once again the food was amazing.
The next morning my aunt, uncle, and cousin were getting into Barcelona. I was saving the best place for the one night when both my parents and cousins parents were here. I got a recommendation from my professor to go here and get the Paella. We got there and got a bottle of Cava, but ordering food was a little complicated because of the language barrier so the manager had to come help us. I tried but there was a lot that I couldn't translate. We got some red shrimps for an appetizer and I split a Paella for three with my cousin and aunt. I have to say it was amazing but not quite as good as momma can make, which really says something about her cooking. My professor also told me to talk to the owner/chef Juan who was cooking the Paella. One thing I loved about this place was that they were cooking the Paella at a stoke right out in the open so you could watch them make it. I went and talked to him for a minute and say that Xavi had told me about this place. Then when we were almost done with dinner he came over and gave me a bottle of Cava. I was amazed that he did this and extremely thankful. It was also really good Cava. I think I am going to save it for my last dinner with Jourdan and my family here as a thank you to them.
After my parents left I had a week with my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin. It was really fun having them here and I have never spent that much time with them and not my parents. I also got to learn about my Uncles crazy travels around Europe in the 70's while he was hitchhiking from Israel to Spain. I didn't spend much time with them in the day but I went out with them on two nights. The first place we went to was a tapas place in El Born that was amazing. We got wine, cheese, ham, smoked fish, and some great sausage things. Then on Thursday night they invited me to the Palau de la Musica again for this Guitar soloist from Barcelona. His performance shocked us all and he made some sounds with an acoustic guitar that I didn't know were possible...like a snare drum. He was also funny and put on a show towards the end. We bought his CD and I put it on my computer. It is classical guitar but very soothing and nice to listen to.
Having my family here was awesome, and they loved it. They also got to do pretty much everything that I suggested and wanted them to see. Although I tired them out and I think they were glad to return home to reality. I know my mom was happy to get back to working out.
Thanks Mom and Dad...also less than one month left here :(
They got here on Thursday, March 24th and left on Sunday, April 3. While they were hear we basically did everything that you can do in Barcelona. I also saved a lot of the major sites in Barcelona for their visit so I was also excited to see everything. Especially the Gaudi stuff.
The highlight for them was probably the first Sunday when my host family invited them over for Paella at lunch. Their kids also joined us. They have two kids, Gerrard 29 years old (I think) and Angela who is 30 years old. Angela has a husband and is pregnant with a girl. All three of them joined us for lunch and know English, more of less, which helped with the translating. My parents were blown away by the Paella and the whole scene in general. The entire lunch lasted about 3 hours and we talked the whole time.
On Friday night we went to Montjuic to see the Citadel on top and see the Joan Miro Museum. Our plan was to take the gondola to the top but we missed the last one of the day by about 2 minutes so we had to take a cab. There was a protest and a lot of traffic so we didn't get to the Joan Miro museum until it was about to close so we just went to the Citadel and then the fountains at Plaza España. The fountain show is amazing and it only happens on Friday and Saturday night.
My favorite part about having my parents here was that they could take me out to dinner. I have been here since January, and I had not gone out to dinner once. While my parents were here we went out to dinner every night. The first place we went to was called El Glop. This place was not that great but we had some Torres wine, and some Calçots. Calçots are onion type things that are charred and you dip in some kind of sauce. They were really good and fun to eat.
The next night my mom got a little sick and I had to take her to my programs doctor. This was bad but it didn't seem to be much of an obstacle while they were here. After taking her to the doctor my dad and I went around the corner to a Thai restaurant. This place was pretty tasty, although the Pad Thai didn't compare to Taste of Thai in Ithaca. My expectations might have been a little high.
Monday night we went to a famous place called Els Quart Gats. It means The Four Cats in Catalan, and it is famous because Picasso and Earnest Hemingway used to hang out there. The restaurant had a piano and someone playing the whole time we were there, and he was very good. My dad even suggested a song and he played it. My dad loved that. Tuesday night I invited some friends out to dinner and we went to a place called Los Caracoles (The Snails). This place was also very good. I got a half rabbit. I had never had rabbit before but it was really good. Although I wasn't really sure how to get to the meat, but it was an experience.
Wednesday night we went to the Palau de la Musica to see a piano concierto. It was an orchestra with a grand piano, and it was amazing. We couldn't really see the orchestra when we leaned back in our seats but I just enjoyed listening and looking around at the ceiling and walls that are so incredible. Here are some pictures
I have wanted to go here since I first walked by it and saw some pictures of it. After that we went around the corner and got some Mexican food and Margaritas. The next night we went up to Gracia to a place my dad found. We kept it simple and just ordered a Bolognese spaghetti and a Hawaiian pizza. They were both amazingly good. Then to top it off we decided to order the chocolate brownie with syrup on top, and it might have been one of the best brownies that I have ever tried. Friday night we went to a place called Los 7 Puertas (the 7 doors), near Barceloneta and the port. Once again the food was amazing.
The next morning my aunt, uncle, and cousin were getting into Barcelona. I was saving the best place for the one night when both my parents and cousins parents were here. I got a recommendation from my professor to go here and get the Paella. We got there and got a bottle of Cava, but ordering food was a little complicated because of the language barrier so the manager had to come help us. I tried but there was a lot that I couldn't translate. We got some red shrimps for an appetizer and I split a Paella for three with my cousin and aunt. I have to say it was amazing but not quite as good as momma can make, which really says something about her cooking. My professor also told me to talk to the owner/chef Juan who was cooking the Paella. One thing I loved about this place was that they were cooking the Paella at a stoke right out in the open so you could watch them make it. I went and talked to him for a minute and say that Xavi had told me about this place. Then when we were almost done with dinner he came over and gave me a bottle of Cava. I was amazed that he did this and extremely thankful. It was also really good Cava. I think I am going to save it for my last dinner with Jourdan and my family here as a thank you to them.
After my parents left I had a week with my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin. It was really fun having them here and I have never spent that much time with them and not my parents. I also got to learn about my Uncles crazy travels around Europe in the 70's while he was hitchhiking from Israel to Spain. I didn't spend much time with them in the day but I went out with them on two nights. The first place we went to was a tapas place in El Born that was amazing. We got wine, cheese, ham, smoked fish, and some great sausage things. Then on Thursday night they invited me to the Palau de la Musica again for this Guitar soloist from Barcelona. His performance shocked us all and he made some sounds with an acoustic guitar that I didn't know were possible...like a snare drum. He was also funny and put on a show towards the end. We bought his CD and I put it on my computer. It is classical guitar but very soothing and nice to listen to.
Having my family here was awesome, and they loved it. They also got to do pretty much everything that I suggested and wanted them to see. Although I tired them out and I think they were glad to return home to reality. I know my mom was happy to get back to working out.
Thanks Mom and Dad...also less than one month left here :(
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