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