My favorite time of the week!
Saturday was very lazy - laundry, gym, and met up with a friend for late night bottle of wine and cheese platter.
Sunday - made ´breakfast´ of pesto pasta and soaked up the sun on my terrace. Quite nice.
Met up with my friends Rosa and Tim later for dinner. Found a great Italian restaurant in the El Born neighborhood called ´Ristorante Gravin.´ Fantastic risotto with gorganzola and asparagus. Yum!!
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Mare Magnum y Salsa!
Tonight is Heike´s last night, so Rosa, Marina and I took her out for a nice evening.
We started with tapas and wine at the Mare Magnum. Overpriced and poor quality. Not recommended.
Afterwards, we found our way to a salsa club called Antilla on Aragó 41. WAY too crowded but still fun to watch them dance. Every person in that club knew what they were doing. Intimidating!!
We started with tapas and wine at the Mare Magnum. Overpriced and poor quality. Not recommended.
Afterwards, we found our way to a salsa club called Antilla on Aragó 41. WAY too crowded but still fun to watch them dance. Every person in that club knew what they were doing. Intimidating!!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Walking tour of Barri Gótic
Marina, Heiki and I are off on another walking tour of the city. This time, to the neighborhood of Barri Gótic (Gothic Quarter). This is an area of Barcelona that contains well preserved Gothic buildings, medieval squares and many many alleys which snake their way throughout the Barri Gótic.
We also managed to find ancient Roman columns which have been preserved in the heart of the Barri Gótic since the 14th century. Preservation and restoration of the columns was carried out by Richard´s relative, Lluís Doménech Monataner ;)
That night, we went to La Fenice on Av.Diagonál where on Thursdays its 5 Euro entry for all you can eat tapas and 1 drink. All drinks after are only 3 Euros. Met lots of Brazilians, Italians and Spaniards and spoke only Spanish for a majority of the evening. See, it IS possible to have fun while studying!
At one point all the lights blew out at the bar. Glad to see I´m not the only one with that problem! The light in my bathroom frequently goes out. Usually at inopportune moments like when I´m in the middle of a shower. Greeaattt....Gotta love the bad wiring in these old buildings.
Finally found the right person to ask about the painter. The look on his face told me this definitely is not the norm. Great. Just my luck to have the crazy painter crashing on my couch. Luckily, he seemed to be gone by the time I came home today.
We also managed to find ancient Roman columns which have been preserved in the heart of the Barri Gótic since the 14th century. Preservation and restoration of the columns was carried out by Richard´s relative, Lluís Doménech Monataner ;)
That night, we went to La Fenice on Av.Diagonál where on Thursdays its 5 Euro entry for all you can eat tapas and 1 drink. All drinks after are only 3 Euros. Met lots of Brazilians, Italians and Spaniards and spoke only Spanish for a majority of the evening. See, it IS possible to have fun while studying!
At one point all the lights blew out at the bar. Glad to see I´m not the only one with that problem! The light in my bathroom frequently goes out. Usually at inopportune moments like when I´m in the middle of a shower. Greeaattt....Gotta love the bad wiring in these old buildings.
Finally found the right person to ask about the painter. The look on his face told me this definitely is not the norm. Great. Just my luck to have the crazy painter crashing on my couch. Luckily, he seemed to be gone by the time I came home today.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Vamos de comprar.... shopping!
No great update for today. Met up with Heike and a Brazilian girl, Marina, for shopping in Grácia which is a quaint neighborhood just above the touristy Las Ramblas. The shops are much more reasonable and have a better selection.
As for the Grácia area, it was actually its own city until it was incorporated (with protest) into Barcelona in 1898. The neighborhood attracts many artists and you can find tons of boutiques throughout its winding streets. Hmmm.... I should write for a travel magazine!
Back to Patagonia for drinks later that night.
I know... a productive day ;)
As for the Grácia area, it was actually its own city until it was incorporated (with protest) into Barcelona in 1898. The neighborhood attracts many artists and you can find tons of boutiques throughout its winding streets. Hmmm.... I should write for a travel magazine!
Back to Patagonia for drinks later that night.
I know... a productive day ;)
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Tibidabo, Pedralbes y the unexpected visitor
After a lovely menú del día, Heiki, Rudolfo and I trekked our way to the highest point in Barcelona - Tibidabo. In Latin, it means ´this to you I give´ as spoken by the Devil when tempting Christ.
At the top there is a gorgeous cathedral which actually houses 3 churches as well as a very rare black Virgin Mary.
Also, there is a small amusement park which has amazing views.
After Tibidabo, we made our way across the city to the neighborhood of Pedralbes to see the Monestir de Pedralbes (monastery) which was built in the 14th century.
We ended the day with a walk through a lovely park which houses the Palau (palace) Reial de Pedralbes. There is supposed to be a fountain designed by Gaudí but we couldn´t find it :p
Later that night I´m working on homework when suddenly the doorbell rings. What the heck?? I go to answer the door but the door opens and in walks a man. Uhh....ok. Hola - who the hell are you?? Turns out he´s the painter hired by the school to paint one of the rooms in the apartment. Ok fine. But then through my limited Spanish and his broken English, I realize he´s going to spend the night. Hmmm... But he promises he won´t bug me, but then proceeds to sit down on the couch right next to me and talk my ear off for the next 40 minutes. Then he starts saying how pretty he thinks I am. Uh, yeah, time to go. Told him I needed to go to bed and then locked myself in my room. Note to self - ask the school if its customary for painters to spend the night.
At the top there is a gorgeous cathedral which actually houses 3 churches as well as a very rare black Virgin Mary.
Also, there is a small amusement park which has amazing views.
After Tibidabo, we made our way across the city to the neighborhood of Pedralbes to see the Monestir de Pedralbes (monastery) which was built in the 14th century.
We ended the day with a walk through a lovely park which houses the Palau (palace) Reial de Pedralbes. There is supposed to be a fountain designed by Gaudí but we couldn´t find it :p
Later that night I´m working on homework when suddenly the doorbell rings. What the heck?? I go to answer the door but the door opens and in walks a man. Uhh....ok. Hola - who the hell are you?? Turns out he´s the painter hired by the school to paint one of the rooms in the apartment. Ok fine. But then through my limited Spanish and his broken English, I realize he´s going to spend the night. Hmmm... But he promises he won´t bug me, but then proceeds to sit down on the couch right next to me and talk my ear off for the next 40 minutes. Then he starts saying how pretty he thinks I am. Uh, yeah, time to go. Told him I needed to go to bed and then locked myself in my room. Note to self - ask the school if its customary for painters to spend the night.
Monday, May 14, 2007
The day of rain and shopping
Monday it rained for the first time. A good, solid downpour. Half our class didn´t show up. The rest looked like drowned rats by the time they got there.
Heike and I decided it would be a good day for the museo, though by the time class was over the sun was shining again. We hiked about 500 stairs (sheesh!!) to get to the Museo d´Arte Catalunya only to discover its closed on Mondays. So we went shopping instead. haha!! Found great deals on C. de Sants and C. d´Angels.
Also discovered a GREAT little tapas restaurant called Bar Lobo. Right off Las Ramblas, you wouldn´t know it unless you knew it. And what do you know? Our favorite little lounge bar, Patagonia was just across the way. And all just a short distance from the Liceu metro. Perfect!!
Heike and I decided it would be a good day for the museo, though by the time class was over the sun was shining again. We hiked about 500 stairs (sheesh!!) to get to the Museo d´Arte Catalunya only to discover its closed on Mondays. So we went shopping instead. haha!! Found great deals on C. de Sants and C. d´Angels.
Also discovered a GREAT little tapas restaurant called Bar Lobo. Right off Las Ramblas, you wouldn´t know it unless you knew it. And what do you know? Our favorite little lounge bar, Patagonia was just across the way. And all just a short distance from the Liceu metro. Perfect!!
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Vamos a Girona
Sunday Rosa and I took the train north to Girona. Beautiful, medieval town in the countryside. Of course my allergies let me know about it :p
They have a flower festival there every year with amazing displays that are placed throughout the city. So you basically are taken on a giant walking tour of Girona as you check out daisies grouped to look like butterflies, or orchids suspended from the air by balloons. Really amazing.
They have a flower festival there every year with amazing displays that are placed throughout the city. So you basically are taken on a giant walking tour of Girona as you check out daisies grouped to look like butterflies, or orchids suspended from the air by balloons. Really amazing.
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