Carnaval Weekend

This weekend was a whirlwind. Jen G. made an appearance in Barcelona with two friends from Oxford as well as three Buenas amigas from my townhouse this past semester- Mica, Zoey and Brittany.

On Thursday night Mica arrived! Everyone in IES had a Spanish exam on Friday morning but we found the time to take her to the best pizza in Barcelona- located around the corner from my Melon home! Mica, who is studying abroad in Italy, thought it was “funny” that we took her to Italian food her first night in Spain. It’s the closest!

Friday I got up early and took the test! More on that later…. After the test Mica and I met up with some friends for Mexican food (getting closer….). This place is called Rosa Negra and I’ve been DYING to go because everyone who has studied here raves about it. I had a shrimp quesadilla and yes, it was amazing. Mica and I wandered around a costume shop (thinking ahead for Carnaval) and then met up with Zoey and Brittany! At this point, we had a whole horde of Colgate gals and we headed straight for Parc Guell. Interestingly, Parc Guell once hosted America’s next top model, there is a long path that served as the runway. Naturally, we had a contest. I feel confident.

Later that night… JEN ARRIVED!! Bringing with her a friend who knew a guy, who knew a guy, who knew a guy…. And we ended up on a YACHT! A very legitimate yacht party, with Barcelona’s elite. Very posh, very fun.

Despite the events of the night before, Jen and I popped up early (relatively) to start exploring the city. We started by walking up and down Las Ramblas, having Spanish coffee, stopping in la Boqueria and having the traditional chocolate and churros. Next, we hit up Sagrada Familia and then needed a quick siesta to get ready for the Gran Rua Parade!!!! Lucky, oh so lucky for us, the parade ran up and down paral.lel… a very long and well known street where the melon house resides!! WOO! It was raining so Jen watched from the window but I stood out there! Later, we had dinner with the whole Colgate clan!

The next morning we headed to Jaume Placa for the once a year castilles competition (aka human pyramids). The base is a ton of people crowded around, donned in the same color, and the team climbs on top of each other creating HIGH pyramids! The top is always a kid, in a helmet pheww, who races up! Seriously they can climb!!

After this monumental (ha-ha no pun intended) event, I took the oxford crowd to Parc Guell to see what they’ve been missing. They loved it!

To cap off the night, of course, back to Salsa lessons for the GASP Valentine’s Day Special- Rumba lessons. Very difficult. I miss the comfort of Salsa.

The Real Carnaval took place in Sitges on Tuesday (fat Tuesday) all night. Half hour train from Barcelona. Really, the details aren’t appropriate for my family-oriented blog. JK! I hate to say it to the "world famous" Sitges but, really, its kind of like college- everyone in the street, not caring much, going wild…. To sum it up there was a huge dance party on the beach, a parade of predominately men in drag (Marilyn Monroes that would suddenly flash a body part that didn’t seem just right…) and confetti and crowds in the street. FUN!

This weekend..... to Paris! Bon Voyage (to me!)

GGGGOOOOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL

On Friday, I visited Gaudi's La Pedrera. This was the last house he built during his lifetime, and the images are very famous and often associated with Barcelona. I really enjoyed the house and I learned a lot about Gaudi. I couldn't resist a headset!! I was also able to (finally) pick up my articket- an extremely discounted entrance to the top 7 museums. I am coming back cultured!

Montserrat, meaning jagged mountain. GORGEOUS! BREATHTAKING!

The pictures do not do justice.

I traveled to Montserrat, about an hour from Barcelona, this Saturday. Montserrat, as old as 880 AD, was known for being secluded. We hiked the mountain, and WOWEE was I winded. It felt like 80% grade. Seriously. But it was a fun adventure, the wind was whipping!

The hike lasted all morning, with a little light commentary from a guide and several “photo-ops.” We reached the top and had the option of the soft route or hard route back… I obviously took the hard way. Many mocked my choice of moccasins, but when I reminded them that moccasins are how the Native Americans whisper walked in the forest, the scoffs ceased.

After calamari and patatas bravas (my favorite!), we spent the afternoon in the art museum and finally had a chance to touch the Black Madonna! The black depiction of the Virgin Mary. Very cool- especially because all the Mounties had to read The Secret Life of Bees.

Saturday night…. My first FC Barca futbol game!! FC Barca vs. Getafe. I’ve never been more hyped for a sporting event! The stadium is the largest futbol stadium in Europe, and even though this wasn’t a “big name” game it was PACKED!! The crowd was roaring! There was not a dull moment. Barca won! 2-1. Getafe scored a last minute goal on a penalty, and the fans tend to get a little heated !

As you know, it was a sports filled weekend, with the Superbowl on Sunday night. I couldn’t forgo weekly salsa lessons so I reported to my lesson and ended up staying there for the game with the 8 or so people we had recruited for lessons. The bar was supposed to close at 3am… but since we were there for the game they kicked everyone out except the Americans! WOOWEE! Oh, and also the Spanish guy with a Saints Jersey who only yelled “GO SAINTS!” It was a VIP Superbowl party in Barcelona with salsa lessons on the side.

I have tons of pictures AND a cord!!! They are on the way, I promise. I have them on my computer but am having trouble uploading them. I think the internet might not be strong enough on my laptop? Does this make sense to anyone who knows anything about computers? I'm the wrong girl for that! No matter, I think I'll bring the photos to IES on my usb key and you can see me very soon :) (Don't be jealous, Colgate friends, but I sometimes wear JUST a t-shirt here! No jacket necessary!!!)

Life around Barcelona is really picking up speed! Soon enough I’ll have not a moment to spare, with Carnavale, Paris, and visiting friends next on the docket!

Tarragona

Tarragona: A southern city in Catalonia, was formerly the capital of the Hispanic Roman Empire (Tarraco). We went under the guise of seeing Roman ruins.. and we DID see Roman ruins- UNESCO World Heritage (yes more to my checklist!!!) Roman ruins. But other than the Roman ruins in Tarragona, it felt as though it was a bit of a “filler” trip.

All the tours were in Spanish. I loved this, I hated this. I felt my comprehension improving, but my mind would wander and it would be hard for me to pull it back.

What we saw:

Tarragona: Roman Amphitheatre

Roman Circus- underground tunnel for carriage races. COOL!

MNAT Museum

Old City walls

Tarragona Cathedral

And that was Tarragona. You could walk around it a few times in a day. All 460+ students stayed in Tarragona at night, divided in 4 hotels. We had alternating itineraries, and the groups were based on Spanish classes so the classes could “bond.” On the other 2 days we took trips outside of Tarragona.

We visited Torres Winery, very well known wine in Spain. We took a quick tram ride around the vineyard and offered a very modest sample. Very modest. The administrators were there…

We saw Medol, the old quarry site for the Romans. This was off of a highway, and we had to walk through a gas station parking lot to see it, and hence my jaw dropped when I saw it was flanked with a World Heritage marker (check!) The site has a central “needle” that shows how deep the Romans had dug into the rock. It is impressive to think about but the site was rather…. Bland.

On the other day we visited Poblet and ANOTHER UNESCO World Heritage Monastery, dedicated to incorporating the natural landscape. We hiked after the long monastery tour. We also visited Montblanc where legend has it St. Jordi slayed a dragon.

I feel I’m losing my fans getting into the nitty gritty of Tarragona so I will recount one of the best Tarragona surprises.

Complimentary breakfast was provided by the hotel. And I knew this going into the trip, and beforehand, it really wasn’t something I was looking forward too. Spanish people believe in coffee for breakfast, occasionally some bread, so I assumed the hotel breakfast would be skimpy. This was, without a doubt, best breakfast spread I’ve ever encountered! All different pastries, eggs made any which way, every type of breakfast meat, 7 bread choices, countless cheese options, every fruit, fish, yogurts, nuts… you name it. It was probably there. I made pan con tomaste both days and plopped an egg and cheese on top. Delish!

IES fed us well overall. We had 2 traditional lunches- one day of Paella on the beach and one day of Calcots in the monastery. Calcots are like long onions. Everyone is given a bib when entering. When eating calcots you peel the layers of the long onion, dip them in the special ramesco sauce, and hold it high above your head like a long piece of spaghetti. Very entertaining.

BAILAR!

Blog Fans- I have SO much to catch you up on after the study Trip in Tarragona. Grade: B+

But first, while its fresh in my mind, last night’s wild adventures at salsa class.

Last week Maria and Tracy stumbled upon this hole in the wall bar that offered salsa lessons on Sunday nights. It’s a pretty ingenious set up, really. For two hours the bar (owned by 3 Jordi’s—HAS to be the most common name in Catalan) serves very cheap drinks, to get the crowd loose for the salsa instructor.

Gianfranco teaches the salsa. He’s probably 24. He was born in Venezuela and has been living in Europe his whole life; he’s currently a student. Maria, Tracy, Gianfranco and I were fast friends. Actually, last Sunday they warned him about me. APPARENTLY everyone thought they’d have a real laugh at my salsa dancing ability but noooo siree. In the class of us three Americans and two women from Rome, I was definitely one of the fastest feet (like fastest hands in the West). If Maria and Tracy wanted me to come to Salsa for laughable entertainment, they were sorely disappointed. I have found my newest talent!

I learned the steps. Gianfranco stands in front and the women line up and mimic him. Women only this week, next week we can try to recruit men. Each week I'm available I will return and add some more pizzazz to my nearly flawless moves.

I had a sleepover at Tracy and Maria’s because we ended up staying til closing and they live just across the street. I had a friend request waiting from Gianfranco. This is the start of a weekly activity.

Add Sunday night salsa lessons to my list of Spain favorites