Berlin y más

Well, yes, I am back from Berlin, and I must say that I have a very different impression of it than what I thought it would be like.
Firstly, it is still recuperating from the Soviet era, is an extremely industrial city, with an immense amount of street art, grunge, and grafitti. However, I don´t see it as a completely negative thing, because there is a huge art and music movement influenced by this street culture. It´s actually being geared towards children directing their anger or frustration in another manner: to art.
It´s definitely more grey and colder there (freeeeeezing, to be exact!), but I guess in this way, the city is warmed up by all the brilliant colors of the street art. We also learned that there is a kind of unwritten code to the way artists and groups go about their street art. Only certain areas are open to over drawing or writing, and it´s known as ´tagging´ all the rest are to be conserved for at least a while.
The Berliners prefer not to dwell on their dark past, because, the whole world knows what happened, so the best to do while in Berlin is to recognize what happened, but to understand the current culture as the present.
The food there is awesome, theyre very organically aware, enviornmentally progressive, and there are so many different types of cusines there , oh and AFFORDABLE! actually, almost cheap for a big city!
Next stop for me after I´m in Barça is KIEV!!
so excited to finally see the place I was born!!
Hasta luego,
val

Dejame Vivir....

.....is a great song that's becoming super popular aqui en Espana. You guys should check it out, it's a duo by Jarabe de Palo y Mari de Chambao.
In any case, I'm back from Andalucia, which was awesome, tons of fun, delicious, beautiful, and above all a crazy cultural experience. I think I have almost 700 pictures from the week, went a little crazy, especially at the Alhambra in Granada. I've never seen anything like the processions that went on during Semana Santa in my life. I don't think you would believe it or understand the insane processions that at first glance appear to be a KKK parade because of the large pointed hats and capes..however, it turns out it's a traditional Spanish cultural/religious affair. There are different colored outfits depending on the group, be it different unions or saints..ranging from an all white getup, to black, yellow, red, green, etc. All of them held long, burning candles that would drip tons and tons of wax on the street. Depending on the city (it was a different atmosphere in every city, Sevilla, Granada, and Malaga), people would be taking part in the procession, small children coming up with balls of tin foil to catch the dripping wax to create their own "wax balls," join in with noisemakers, etc. There would always be a very loud band with lots of drums to let you know where the procession was. Finally, a huge, probably 10x10 ft. float with a huge statue of the virgin mary, lots of candles and gold would be carried through the streets...it was interesting and quite creepy at times.
Unfortunately, at the moment I don't have time to recount the differences between the cities, because it's my host mom's (Pilar) birthday today...must go home and celebrate/get her some flores!

Ha'ta luego

ay caramba! semana santa comienza!

Semana Santa is the week before Easter aqui en Espana, our spring break.....

So here I am in Barcelona, sitting in a park in my neighborhood, illegitimately getting internet…I guess that’s what happens when you become a poor traveling student overseas…the cost of paying for internet is extraneous and high, and since the wireless internet in my apartment is no longer available, I have had to succumb to such ways. In any case, I’ve just come back from traveling up north, specifically Amsterdam. It was incredible seeing the difference in culture and customs up there. That’s technically the most northern part I’ve been in Europe, and one can definitely tell.

Firstly, I heard tons of English around me, tons of friendly people, and lots of tourists. Well, the tourists aren’t unique to Amsterdam, but for some reason I noticed a lot of them there. It was beautiful during the days we were there, and thankfully only really rained the last night. It was awesome, we walked around practically the whole time, the canals were awesome, although it was bitterly cold, we got to see al ot of the center of the city. Our hostel was in a great location, right next to the large Vondelpark, near the museums as well as Liedelsplein (definitely spelled that wrong...)

Anywho, I just realized that my flight for Sevilla leaves tomorrow at 6:50 am! REAAAAAlly early, meaning I have to get there at 5:45, and get on a train to get to the airport, so early early wakeup call!

I'm going to be in Sevilla, Malaga and Granada for the next week, so I definitely will have limited time in the next weekish to update. Everything's grea tthough, and I'm hoping for beautiful weather to take advantage of Andalucia's Arab baths and the beaches.....

Ay dios mio, this is going to be craziness, but i'm super excited, have 2 batteries charged and lots of energy (haha)

Hasta luego a todos,

que vayan bien!

Val

Hola a todos

Hey everyone,
I apologize for the long delay, it's been a crazy past few weeks. I went to Rome, was my birthday weekend, and just all in all, taking it in and doing as much as possible. I've been having an amazing time, and have just come to the realization that my time here is pretty limited and dwindling....but asi es la vida!
I had an amazing time in Rome, nonstop touring of the city, tasting gelatis, pizza, pasta, and all that I could do in 3 days...I noticed that Rome is a COMPLETELY different city from Barcelona - Barcelona seems like such a young city, even though it is older than all of the cities in the US....Every corner you turn in Rome you will find ruins upon ruins, mosaics, marble....the amount of art and history there is unfathomable...it's beautiful, but i've gotten to know Barcelona so well in the past (almost..) 2 months, that coming back to barcelona seemed strangely like coming back home...weird, yes, but I love it!!

My next trip is going to be a big one - spring break, semana santa is in a few weeks. Will be going to Amsterdam for the first weekend and then traveling around Andalucia, or southern Spain. Sevilla, Malaga, and Granada...with one other girl. So i'm super excited for that!! Semana Santa is the week that leads up to Easter, so it is definitely one of big celebrations and cultural festivities.

Check out my pictures....
besos y abrazos a todos
Valeria

Carnaval!!

I finally got the chance to experience the way people in Spain celebrate Carnaval. I learned, actually, that because Spain was under the Franco dictatorship until 1975 more or less, Carnaval's only been a part of the culture for about 30 years. Therefore, now, every year, Carnaval is being celebrated more and more, especially in the street party of Sitges. Sitges is an amazing beach town just south of Barcelona (about 30-40 min on the train). That is where we went last night to see the craziness that ensues. Also, Sitges Carnaval is the equivalent of Castro Halloween, but I don't think pictures can do it justice, since you really have to be there, hear the music and the noise, see the costumes, the mayhem, to really understand it. All in all, it was awesome and fun, and we got to meet some amazing people, which started on the train to the party......

Dina and I before we left for Sitges

Two mexicans (note the "Burberry ponchos" and hair), a gay disco man, and two masked girls. Oh the train, we met a group of crazy French people.. On the street...various pictures, including this one of a devil priest? and goldilox...

Mmm, definitely a woman...;) (Note the hands...you can always tell)
Some more revelers
Crazy platform shoes...and one of the 'mexicanos" again

Vin a la suppa!

...that's a phrase I hear about every night - it means "come to dinner" in Catalan. One of the classes I'm taking is Catalan language and culture, so I'm able to practice some of what I learn at home, which is pretty cool:)

So I've been in Barcelona for almost a month now, and definitely feeling more accustomed to the way of life here. I just finished my first week of real classes now, and really am occupied for most of the weekdays, which is good, I'm a real student in BCN!
My campus is cool, pretty modern architecture. it's a great location, a couple blocks from the beach, right next to a gorgeous park with fountains and a zoo. However, the fact that I walk outside my classroom during breaks or during lunch and am struck by a cloud of smoke is pretty revolting. The term 'fresh' air does not exist in Barca, you would need to go out of town for that! Which is just what I did last weekend....


A couple friends and I decided to take a little adventure just about an hour and a half out of the city to the serene mountains, specifically out to Montserrat. It is a gorgeous sight: a monastery and museum hidden away in a breathtaking setting of greenery, blue sky, and at the top of steep cliffs. BUT! These cliffs are unlike any I have ever seen, they are smooth, without sharp lines, and fluid, as if somebody took wet sand and dropped it from the sky, to make an elaborate sand castle.
Pictures will be up soon on picasa site.
Have a good day, all.
Next update will be about CARNAVAL!!!!!!

Disculpe!

I will update soon! I promise! BBut here is some good news: you can all see my pictures EASILY on this new site I uploaded my photos to.
Please let me know if there are problemas, gracias.


http://picasaweb.google.com/valgofman

Una torta...o un tortel..que es la diferencia?

...was my short lesson in Spanish in the kitchen just now, as my host "mother" was preparing dinner. Un tortel is a traditional cake/torte which the Catalonians eat during holy days (similar to the three kings cake they have during Carnaval). However, una torta is the word for a slap on the face. Definitely a good thing to keep in mind when talking about tortels, or tortas for that matter.

Anywho, I just got home from a day on campus and a tour through Museu Picasso and Barri Born. It was a very interesting tour all in Castellano, which discussed Picasso's career from his early childhood through his beginning life in Paris.
There were many paintings from when little Pablito began painting when he was only 8, 10 years old that are just inspiring and incredible. How can such a young child have had such a lucid vision and impeccable skills?? As we moved through the museum, I saw the evolution of Picasso's style and his lifestyle through his paintings. He only began to paint in a cubist style after one of his good friends committed suicide and his painting took a turn to a different, more depressed era: the blue period, where he basically painted in blue tones for 4 years, transitioning into a more cubist type perspective.
The Borne neighborhood, although quite touristy, full of expensive tapas bars and restaurants, clothing stores, and jewelry shops, is very cute and is a place to go get a nice cocktail. I don't think I'll be there too much as I need to save money for travel and going to concerts!!
Well now I believe the tortel will be served *I hope!* and since I'm really hungry (still haven't gotten accustomed to the late dinner every night) I will go help with that!


Hasta luego...

Vale....

...is the word of the Spaniards. It means "ok" or "right," and people use it every other word practically (more or less...) I've gotten accustomed to it, it's been quite amusing though.
I'm also getting used to the amazing food, cafe con leche, bocatas, or sandwiches, usually with an abundant amount of jamon y tomate.
Also, it's amazing just to be walking around, wandering the streets, and seeing gorgeous architecture and sites, like the arc de triomf, parc de la cuitadella, casa batllo, plaza de espanya, the beach with gorgeous statues, parks at every turn, plaza catalunya.....the list goes on. I'm amazed by the amount of varieties of public transportation available at your disposal, including bike rentals where you pay an annual fee and can use a bike and drop it off at any location (VERY cool) (www.bicing.com), the metro, cable car (like muni), buses, trains, and of course, what I do most, walk. It's a great walking city, and I'm thankful for my comfortable shoes and warm coat.
I just had my first clase de idioma, class in Spanish, which definitely will help me freshen my Spanish a bit now that I've been speaking it constantly every day. I even found myself having trouble remembering certain words in English and thinking in Spanish. It's incredible, being here a mere 10 days or so has catapulted me into the culture, language, mentality, fashion, food, everything. I've even picked up a Catalunya accent and use some local idioms when I speak in Spanish (grathias, que tal?, coge el telefono )
s well it's almost dinnertime here so i'm about to go and then explore the city on a Monday night..will talk about that later
hasta luego!

http://www2.snapfish.com/photolibrary/owned_view=owned_2008/t_=119642440

Hey everyone, everything's a LOT better now that I finally got my bags from the aeropuerto...so i'm typing now from my ordenador portatil, or laptop ;) Above is a link that will *hopefully* get you to all the pictures that have been accumulating on my camera
enjoy! and please post comments, i'd love to hear from all of you guys :)