Second time we went to Park Guell, a week or 2 ago, nicer day and more time for photos.
*Parque Guell (part 2, better)Photos
*Panorama Video

Various

Luisa told us (or a lady at the library told us?) to go to this water exhibition. Woo! The history of water in Barcelona or something. We just went for the hell of it, and because it was in the Torre Acbar, which as one teacher said- "some people say looks like a suppository".
*Water Exhibit and Torre Acbar photos

Afterward, we wandered around La Ribera and stuff for a while, stumbled upon an art fair type thing, and also a ton of old people in a plaza doing a traditional dance. We don't know what it's called though. We also found a bagel place. YAY!
*Wandering Photos
*Old people video

This is one of the Gaudi houses, now it's one of those untouchable historic monuments like the pyramids and such. I don't remember how she explained it. But it's amazing. There are a couple families that rent apartments in it(no idea how much that must cost..) and there's also a bank at the bottom and a museum on top.
*Casa Mila Photos

Updates:

-It's cold. Not Michigan cold, but Barcelona cold. I have no idea what degree it is.. but anyway, I should have brought a coat. Oops!!
- Going to Italy on Tuesday. WOO!!
- Going to be broke soon. WOO!!
- Lexi and I got haircuts and a boniato yesterday. Boniatos are yams. Haircuts.. you're on your own.
- We did this intercambio program with students from a tourism school on monday. It was slightly awkward, they outnumbered us like 4 to 1.. so we got together in groups of 3-4 spaniards with 1 american. And chatted. About.. fast food, and how Americans only eat hamburgers. That's what europeans think anyway. However we did meet some cool people, and we're planning to all get together this weekend. Should be fun.
- I have some pictures from the Casa Milá and from Park Guell, but I haven't gotten the chance to upload them yet. However, I did finally buy a new laptop battery, which means in 10-15 days I will be able to steal internet more frequently and easily.
- I found a spot near our house with decently strong enough wifi to make calls.. so I am trying to slowly make the rounds of friend llamadas without looking like an idiot by standing in front of a bank on the phone for too long. Meh.
- That's about it for now.. Hopefully I will have pictures up sometime this weekend. And I'm sure I'll take 1000 in Italy... Ciao!

about two things

first-
Dia de la Hispanidad was Friday. Lexi and Jonathan and I wanted to go shopping but everything was closed. So we wandered around, ended up going from Universitat to Barceloneta(which is pretty far..) and saw some cool stuff. And accidentally went to a wedding. Oops!!
*Walking around photos

second-
Lexi and I had another slightly unsuccessful trip, to la Sagrada Familia. It was closed. But still amazing. So we took pics on the outside. It was started in 1882 and is supposed to be done in 2026. That wiki page has a picture of the model of it completed..crazy.
Then we went to Hospital Sant Pau, part of the Barcelona modernism route. It's like a little village with colored roof tiles and mosaics on the walls and all kinds of coolness. We both want to get sick or injured so we can go there. Knock on wood. Anyway, my camera battery died that day so I went back today for pics. Here are both!
*La Sagrada Familia and Hospital Sant Pau photos

Ooh.



Secondly, we bought tickets to Paris for €.02. That's right. One centimo each way. After taxes and such.. it was like €35. But still.

Thirdly, we finally went to the beach this weekend. It was nice. But crowded. And people go around yelling "aguacocacolacervezabeer?!" or just "beercervezabeer!" or any combination of beverage words. And little ladies come around and go "Hola, massage!" or "Masaje!" or "Massagee?! 5 euro! Very nice!" It's funny. And awkward.

Fourthly(edit), aaaaand I'm locked out on the balcony. HA!!!!

Palms is getting us a cat tomorrow!!! Hooray! I can't wait to meet you kitty formerly known as josie!!

Various

- I think I'm getting over my fear of shrimp feet.
- I was eating a pudding and Luisa came up and dipped a cookie in it for me and stuck it in my face.
- I just helped her with Excel again, and with making folders. She is amazed.
- Beach tomorrow.
- Trying to organize a trip the week people are going to Morocco. I'm thinking Munich->Zurich->Milan, or Vienna->Zagreb->(Trieste?). I also want to go to Helsinki. Paris.. Rome... pshh, Those can wait. Greece probably won't happen yet because it's hella expensive.
- Spanish people are not good walkers, in general. Well, old spanish people. Like the ones who stop and eat ice cream in the middle of the sidewalk.
- Gelato is everywhere.. I'm not going to be able to go back to regular old ice cream.
- Luisa just unplugged my computer. Hasta luego!

Vall de Boi

This weekend we took a bus trip to Vall de Boi, a picturesque region to the nor...west... I don't know. The camino took 4 hours, not bad on the way there. We first went to a church from the 11th or 12th century, which wasn't as cool as all the other things we've seen, but there was a bell tower we got to climb up in. And by climb I mean climb. The "stairs" were more like 7(?) long steep ladders. Deadly. Not really. Anyway, it was a pretty view. Then we just went straight to our pyramid-like hotel, where our hearts filled with promises of a heated pool were broken. Well there was a wedding going on, so walking by it to get to the pool was extremely awkward. And the pool closed at 8, and was kinda small and un-noteworthy. I don't think anyone went swimming. Anyway. Then we went to eat at a place with almost american-like food, and then a sports bar to watch the Barcelona game. They are doing awesome by the way. The next morning we got up early to go to a national park(Parque Nacional de Aiguestortes y Estany de Sant Maurici or something). Pyrenees!! It was pretty. We went on a little hike. Hooray. The cool part was riding up a moutain in 4x4s. Jurassic Park style. Love it. PLUS, there were cows, and mountain goats(!!!). The only goat we saw though was from really far away and it was just a little white speck. All the cows and goats had bells on them though, so random bells would ring from all directions. If I had pissed off a mountain goat and gotten headbutted, it would have been worth it. But I didn't have the chance. Oh well. Next time. Oh yeah, so, then we pretty much just left, and had to stop at like 4 different little cities on the way home to try to eat. Disaster. Most of the places were closed for siesta, or full, or didn't want to serve so many people. Or any people. Restaurants here are weird, they never want anybody to eat in them. Whatever. At least you aren't required to leave a tip. Then we got home. That's about all I have to say about that.
*Vall de Boi Photos

Mercat de la Boqueria and Rambla del Mar

Mercat de la Boqueria
Aka Mercado for us non-Catalans.Lexi and I went a few days ago after an unsuccessful trip to el Palau Guell. Anyway- This is a huge outdoor market off La Rambla, with all kinds of fruit, vegetables, eggs(I know..), candy, fishs, ummm..lentils...figs...whatever. You'll see. It's very colorful and reminds me a little of the Farmer's Market in LA, only, with no restaurants, and lots of raw fish, so, I guess it doesn't remind me of the farmer's market at all. Nevermind.

*Photos del Mercado and YES they have chocolate hedgehogs. aww. mitch.
*Yes, Some were alive. Creepy. (video)



Rambla Del Mar
Naner told me about this before going. It's huge, so I don't know if this is the part he meant. But La Rambla is a huge touristy street where they even sell hamsters. Anyone? I'm down. Also Korean Squirrels. And ferrets and chinchillas, obviously. There were like 2 animal stands I didn't see though, maybe they have hedgehogs. Anyways at the end there is a huge dock-boardwalk type thing that was built around when the Olympics were here. And we went to hang out there for a bit.
*Rambla del Mar photos