A Broad Perspective

Spring Break Part 3: The Canary Islands and Madrid

2008-05-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

TENERIFE

I should start off by saying this is a special, guest, post. Vera hasn't been able to use her blog much of late because of the computer mishap, so I (Ryan) am going to fill in the last remaining gaps in our Spring Break adventure.

We arrived in Tenerife on a red eye flight at 1am, both exhausted, a little out of it, and ready for a vacation. Now you might argue that we had a vacation in Barcelona, and touché to you...but our trip there was full of running back and forth, visiting every sight on the map, and just generally living life to the max. Tenerife was going to be our chance to rest and recuperate before we had to face the real world upon our return home. It was also a place where I would get to celebrate my 22^nd birthday with the love of my life.

When we got in the cab and took off for our hotel from the airport, we were rather surprised at how fast they drive on the island. We must have been traveling upwards of 100 miles per hour, which of course is awesome. When we got to our hotel, we were somewhat surprised to find we were the only ones in the lobby with the exception of a rather peculiar clerk and a young, disgruntled bell hop. The clerk had one of those faces that can’t help but smile, and a humble, Spanish reserve that I found in many Spaniards we encountered. He turned out to be our friend: offering us champagne, chatting with us about his life, complimenting Vera’s rapidly improving Spanish, and much more as we would soon find out. We were unsure at first, as often is the case with foreign people in new places, and asked which way our room faced, what the view was like, how many beds, etc…He gestured towards the street we had come in on, and said it should be fine for us, and that if we had a problem we could come talk to the manager the next morning at 10am. Alright we thought, we weren’t in the mood to complain or discuss the matter further since we were on a desert island off of the coast of Morocco after all.

When we were finally ready to depart for our room, the bell hop grabbed our bags and told us he would meet us on the fourth floor at our room. Ready to get there and prepare for a day at the beach, we began to move towards the elevator when the clerk ran up and wished me happy birthday, handing us a chilled bottle of champagne. Wow, that was nice! After we got upstairs and opened the door to our room, our first reaction to was one of shock, it was huge! It was about twice the size of our room in Barcelona, and there was a sliding door next to the bed that led onto the patio. The patio was actually huge too, it even had a small pool, tables, and lounge chairs. To make things even better, there was a view of the beach on our left and Mt. Tiede, the tallest point in Spain, on our right. Thank you, humble clerk! What a birthday, we rode a high the entire time we were there that nothing could put out.

Our entire trip was marked with friendly service, long days at the beach, and romantic dining adventures. We were the only Americans on the entire island it seemed, the Canary Islands being primarily a European vacation destination. We spent the night of my birthday at a poolside restaurant at the hotel, the only two patrons in attendance with two waiters and two local musicians playing songs we both recognized. It was an incredible experience, and Vera even surprised me with a birthday dessert.

We spent our days on the beach, in the pool, and walking the island. One day we ate pizza and drank sangria while staring out at the vast Atlantic Ocean. It was a great trip.

MADRID

We were both pretty sad to leave, knowing that another month apart lurked around the corner. Before we were to be ripped apart unwillingly, though, we spent a night and an afternoon in Madrid together

Vera booked a beautiful hotel, and that night I got to meet some of her friends also spending a semester in Spain. We ate at a cool restaurant where you lay on beds while eating, I think Vera described it in one of her earlier posts. And afterwards we went out for--you guessed it--Hookah. Twice! The night was great, and the next day even better. We got up and had crepes with Maya, and then made our way over to Retiro to spend our last few hours together in the grass and under the sun.

It was a great way to end the break, and I often think about it when I need a little mental escape.

-Ryan

Robbed the Wrong Way

2008-04-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

Robbed the Wrong Way

Hello all,

So, although I will not be blogging about my recent trips because of lack of a computer (and lack of pictures.) I have some interesting stories about some recent unfortunate events that I hope to turn into quality entertainment!

First unfortunate event, my MIA Macbook:

As we were checking in for our 1 euro cent flight to Paris, Maya and I were told that we could not carry on our bags and that we had to check them. Even though I had carried that same bag on multiple times, I caved in and parted ways with my suitcase, laptop and all inside. When we got to Paris, I was happy to see my suitcase arrive on the flimsy baggage claim belt at the tiny airport. Once we got to our hostel, I opened up my suitcase to find my laptop and charger missing. :( at least they didn´t take my marc jacobs clutch - sitting right on the top :)

Upon contacting the airline, we were informed that if you leave the airport, the airline is not responsible for anything...I guess the flight ended up costing 1 euro cent + a computer (not to mention my connection with home and everything I have written, photographed, and listened to for the last three and a half years). Lesson learned...

Second unfortunate event, read on...

A couple weeks later, embracing technology-free fun, I went out with a group of friends but decided to head home early. Before hopping in a cab, I decided to hit up the ATM as I only had 5 euro, which wasn´t quite enough to get me home. Although it was about 130am, the numerous couples and groups of friends and the well lit street assured me that it was safe to take out some money. When my card got rejected, I called the debit card company internationally to find out that I was in the red (a LOT) on my account...oops. Since that news was not exactly comforting, I was feeling pretty agitated as I sat down at a nearby doorstep to collect my thoughts and calm down. Just then, some guy comes up to me and asks me if I have a cigarette in spanish. I say no. He leans in really close and asks again, and I say no once more. All of a sudden he grabs me by my shoulders and picks me up off the ground, holding me so that I can´t really move my arms. I start screaming in English "Don´t touch me!" and "Let go of me!" I see another man come up to the step and I look at him desperately for help. Unfortunately, he was a friend of the first guy, and they both grab me from each side. All of a sudden, they grab my wallet and run! In a pretty stupid but super-woman-esque move, I decided I would NOT be robbed again. I began to chase them down (in my heels) and caught up to the guy with my wallet. I grabbed him by his jacket collar and turned him around. We start to scuffle for my wallet, each pulling it our own way, while I yelled "Somebody help me!" at the top of my lungs. Finally, I pull my wallet out of his hands, and the two run away. I look around me and see people looking at me as they walk by. "Nobody was going to help me?!?" I ask, throwing my arms up in the air. I was amazed that nobody walking by, including groups of guys, even tried to help out. However, I was pretty impressed by my personal victory, as stupid as it may be.

So, not the best past couple of weeks. However, I guess this is part of the bigger experience I will never forget. : )

Love,

Vera

:(

2008-04-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

Bummed Blogger
Hello all,

Just wanted to let you know that my computer was stolen on the way to paris, and I won´t be updating for a little bit :( Love you!

Vera

Spring Break Part 2: Barcelona

2008-04-05T07:51:00.000-07:00

BARCELONA

Hello all,

Ryan and I had an incredible time in Barcelona. For me, it was the second time around after a once rainy, hurried weekend in the city. For Ryan, it was his introduction to Spain. Armed with an extensive itinerary we created on the plane, we were ready to make Barcelona our own!

We arrived to a blue sky and a great energy in the city, as we drove through in our cab, taking in the sights. We arrived at our hotel - the Ayre Gran Via, a small, hip place located just outside of the tourist masses but a couple blocks from Placa Espanya, a fairly central location and a crossing of several metro lines. We strolled through the crowded Las Ramblas and went to a fantastic restaurant called Agua, in the beachside Barceloneta area. The restaurant was creatively decorated with fish and water themes. Ryan and I both ordered fish. I felt pretty good about my adventurous order of crayfish, until I saw three belly-up creatures, who still had their legs, tails, heads and eyes, laying helplessly with cooked insides. Yikes!

Thankfully, they were delicious enough for me to get over my fear, and I did a great job breaking their through the shells and retrieving the delectable insides, lobster style. Afterwards, Ryan and I were handed a flier for Catwalk, just down the street, also beach side. We decided to give it a try and ended up having one of our most fun nights in Barcelona. The club is stylishly decorated and is conveniently equipped with two floors, one hip-hop and one techno, and a cool vibe. While the club was empty when we got there around 12:30, after about an hour, we were dancing with a crowd of break-dancers, couples and other Barcelona party-goers. Before we knew it, 3:30 rolled around and we made our way to bed.

During the day, our activities were varied and well balanced. We explored the shore by the Colon monument and shopped in the popular Mare Magnum area. We had a relaxing time sipping cava sangria and writing postcards. I had to buy another jacket, as I did not anticipate the Barcelona winds, and I couldn't help but feel a bit homeless-looking in the baggy gray coat.
We also ventured to the Museo de Cera, a cool wax museum on Las Ramblas. Some of the sighting were pretty impressive, including Bill Clinton, Albert Einstein, Picasso and Prince Charles. We had fun sneaking pictures and walking through the oddly structured museum. We also paid a visit to the nearby erotic museum, which was, shall I say...anticlimactic? The "museum" was badly organized, none of the art or sculpture was explained or introduced in any way, and the couple rooms made the "museum" embarrassingly small. We also ventured to the awesome Barcelona aquarium, where the fish and sharks awed the crowds of curious kids and couples alike.

Ryan insisted that we find Vienna, a restaurant that boasts "the best ham sandwich in the world." After a bit of a search, we sat down at the bar and ordered the highly advertised sandwich. Skeptical, I ordered a small version of the sandwich (flautiz!) which was indeed good (best sandwich in the world? I'm not sure.) Once Ryan's belly was happy, we continued with our sightseeing itinerary. We visited Barcelona's big, beautiful cathedral with blue stained glass windows and bursts of red candles energizing the space. We lit a candle, had some fun with our cameras and wondered if it was bad to make out in a cathedral.
Walking distance from our hotel was the historic Montjuic, meaning "Jewish mountain," boasting beautiful Barcelona views as well as one of the biggest museums in the city, Museo Nacional d'Art de Catalunya, housing art from the Romanesque period to the mid-twentieth century. We had fun watching the progression of art, although at one point I got restless with religious paintings and had to fast forward to some more modern works. Some of the art was indeed disturbing, violent decapitations and all! I liked the modern works a lot more, especially the nudes, but Ryan and my eyes were probably the most interesting of all :)

We went on a search to once again satisfy Ryan's grumbling stomach. He was determined to find Quimet y Quimet, a restaurant he found in his guidebook which promised great cheese and wine. Unfortunately, after an hour of being lost in the very domestic Barcelona neighborhood (and taking some jumping pictures along the way) we stumbled upon the address, only to find no restaurant there. Disappointed, we tried another place for lunch that was more than disappointing - it almost made us sick. Better stick to my guide book! :)

At night, Montjuic's famous magic fountain comes to life with an array of colors and dances to the sound of classical music. We joined hundreds of other people in the evening to take in the romantic scenery of the unique water show. This was one of my favorite places and my favorite nights in Barcelona. We also had a delicious dinner at another beach side restaurant!

In my true nature, I insisted that we attempt to find a hookah bar in Barcelona. Our first attempt took us to a cute cafe with crappy service and even crappier hookahs :( Our second attempt led us to Cafe India, which housed an eerily friendly bartender, a smoky group of hippie "musicians," rusty couches, and us. The only thing they had to drink was beer, and the hookah was, once more, a disaster. Everyone in the place was smoking much more than hookah, and, creeped out, Ryan and I escaped back to our hotel for the night. Note to self and all other hookah lovers - don't try to find hookah in Barcelona. We did find another good beach-side restaurant though!

On our last day in Barcelona, Ryan and I decided to go to the top of Mount Tibidabo, the highest point in Barcelona, to get one last look at the city. On top of the mountain there is a breathtaking church and a theme park - a perfect combination!

We took tons of pictures of the INCREDIBLE views, and decided to ride the ferris wheel. I was terrified and clung to my flimsy seatbelt for dear life as the wind shook our little cabin, dangling above all of Barcelona. Once we survived, I grabbed some ice cream and we said goodbye to Barcelona and were excited to head to Tenerife in the Canary Islands!

Stay tuned!

Love, Vera

Spring Break Part 1: New York

2008-03-30T16:02:00.000-07:00

Spring Break Pt. 1
New York

My incredible spring break began as I hauled my HUGE suitcase to the airport with a sneaky suspicion that I would have some problems with it. Just so you don't judge too quickly, I packed warm clothes for New York weather, spring clothes for Barcelona, and summer clothes for the canary islands along with a bunch of clothes for my parents to bring home...which left very little in my left-behind closet in Madrid. When I got to the airport, they informed me that my suitcase was too heavy to be on the plane at all! I asked if I could pay more, they said no. I asked if there was a place I could buy another suitcase to even out the weight, they said only past security, where I couldn't go until I checked my bag. I asked if there was a way I could buy a box, they said no. I asked what I could possibly do to board the plane. They suggested I call someone and have her bring me another suitcase! I did not understand why 1) it matters how much my one suitcase weighs if I can have multiple that add up to the same weight per passenger and 2) if that is the rule, why they don't have boxes there I could buy or anything else I could do.

So, I wandered around, lugging my suitcase, trying to figure out what to do when I realized that my suitcase had broken. The long handle was detaching on one side and would not insert back in at all. Discouraged, I made my way to a newsstand for my last try at some kind of success before I would admit defeat and curl up in a ball on the linoleum floor to weep. Thankfully, the newsstand worker suggested that I use an old box from a snickers shipment to unload some stuff. She went to the back and handed me the slightly torn up box, which I had wrapped in plastic and sent away to New York. yay! :)

I then spent a night alone in Zurich in a small, strange hotel. I was impressed with the friendliness of the people and almost wished I could have stayed longer, but I had family to kiss and the Big Apple to taste! While I was waiting for my Swiss Air flight (P.S. Best airline EVER) I filled out a slip of paper that all U.S. citizens had to complete and took my seat at the brightly lit terminal. The man next to me strikes up conversation and decides to let me know that the piece of paper is meant to see which American citizens were on board if the plane happens to go down (!!!) I nod unsteadily and mumble "interesting," which fails to deter his morbid, badly-timed small talk. "Yeah, because these plane crashes have become more likely with terrorism and all, they don't want to spend a lot of money on identifying the bodies. I mean, if the plane goes down, there isn't really anything left of you anyway. At least this way they can know who got on board cheaper. You know if the plane crashes while taking off...." ... :( Who talks that way right before a flight? Traveling alone, with baggage woes, and hours from seeing family, I couldn't help but be moved by his dim-witted chit-chat.

Thankfully, the plane ride went smoothly, and I stepped on US soil once more to wait for Ryan, who would take me to another terminal to meet up with the rest of my family. Since nobody was there to greet my at the gate, I decided to surprise Ryan, whose flight arrived a little bit later. Once he called me I told him that I was still waiting for my luggage and to go through customs and that he should wait by the international arrivals sign with all the people waiting. "I mean...I THINK there should be a sign and people should be waiting....I don't know yet because I still haven't gotten out there." D'oh! I ducked behind an information counter when I saw him approach the crowd and pounced on him from behind for the ultimate surprise :) We finally met up with the rest of my family in another terminal, and rode in style in a limo to our Time Square adjacent hotel to begin our trip. (sorry, long intro!)

The time in New York was a dream. Blessed with good weather, we strolled through central park, where we took a horse and carriage around in true cliche, awesome fashion (see above.) We went to see Lion King, which was fun and beautifully crafted, and Ryan bought my family tickets to see Mama Mia! My own mama was in tears, as Abba (the band whose music the musical is centered around) was very popular when she and my dad were our age and they both absolutely loved the show. We ate some awesome dinners, went to The Rainbow Room overlooking the whole city (thanks Ry!) went ice skating at Rockefeller Center, and I did some major department store damage on 5th Avenue with my mom. I adopted a bright pink Marc Jacobs "frog clutch" that is now my second love. The boys and I went to a famous bagel shop, magnolia bakery for some cupcakes and amazing banana pudding (thanks Amanda!) and had a great time with a couple silly disputes in between (sorry for being a meanie Ilya!)

We also attended a beautiful wedding in Long Island where we ate, drank, danced and were very very merry! :) The entire trip was an incredible reunion. Parting with my family was tough, but I was excited to embark on the next part of my journey, back to Spain with Ryan to have a honeymoon-worthy, all-out adventure with lots of perks along the way!

Stay tuned for Barcelona and Tenerife!

Love,
Vera

Flying in Amsterdam!

2008-03-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

Escape to Amsterdam!Hello there,

Yes, that is tiny me in the I Amsterdam sign (by the am) and yes you are jealous that I was in Holland this past weekend in the land of wooden shoes, tulips, crooked buildings, and um, coffee shops? I had an amazing time overall and was surprised and taken to new heights by all that Amsterdam had to offer :)

First, the city is way more beautiful than I imagined! Slanted buildings line the wide streets parted with water from the rivers and canals, welcoming bicyclists that run through the city like blood pumping through its veins. The buildings were built slanted to prevent mold from building up, as Amsterdam is often rattled with rain - which we did experience. Overall, I was charmed and intrigued by the city's architecture and the energetic, steady pace of the people.

We had a few cultural ventures and went to the Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank's House. The Van Gogh Museum was really awesome. In my opinion, his style tops any religious work with the same figures and stories. Van Gogh's outlet speaks to me more because of his depiction of nature with exaggerated colors and his subtle messages about humanity, which are largely open to personalization for every onlooker.

Almond Blossom, 1890

Anne Frank's house was a much different experience. Having read the book in middle school, I walked in with a vague recollection of her story and an engraved knowledge of the Jewish hisotry behind it. However, walking past the bookcase that doubled as the door into the families' hideout, the story flooded back to me, especially the part about how Anne fell in love and the eventual betrayal that led to the family's capture. The house had quotes from the book etched on the walls and artifacts from the time, such as the yellow star that Jewish citizens had to wear on their clothing. Wow! To me, the house felt full with the sad spirit of the families, and it was shocking to think that the street looks the same now. Just a reminder that the Holocaust was not really that long ago.

Anne Frank's House

On a very different note, one of my favorite parts of the trip was the food - another surprise. I did not think that Amsterdam is known for their cuisine, however, when I saw the freshness of the fruit and the delicate texture of the crepes, I began to think otherwise. Jenny showed us some amazing places , including a gourmet-buffet-style location for lunch, where I had great fruit and a smoothie with some delicious potatoes. The following day, we went to a great pancake house where Maya and I split one savory crepe (ham and cheese with spinach) and one sweet one (nutella, ice cream, strawberry sauce, mmmm!) Maya and I also encountered a great hotel restaurant where the bartender made us custom champagne cocktails with strawberries and pinnapple slices at the bottom. On the last day, we went to a cafe to hang out and were surprised by some great live music and a casual vibe. Amazing!

My other favorite part of the trip was the markets. We ventured to a food market where I bought some chocolate fudge (which ended up being very handy.) The market also boasted tiny trinkets: dream-catchers, coin purses, necklaces, graphic art, you name it! I bought some pins to put on my blazer and took a bunch of pictures of the market's many treasures.

We went to a floating flower market with colorful daisies, roses and of course, Holland's signature tulips.

At times, Amsterdam was a bit of a culture shock! All of the coffee(aka smoke) shops out in the open radiated an open-minded feel. But, I would imagine that aura may get overwhelming past the let-loose vacation time. However, we had a blast and went to a really great bar/dance club called CoCo's - thanks to Jenny's guidance. We settled in on leather couches and danced the night away with some truly yummy drinks!

The red light district was also a bit shocking and walking past windows with young women in underwear felt so different than anything I am used to. I felt lucky to see this part of Amsterdam because it made me appreciate my luck in life that much more. Among the many highs of the trip, the lows were also not lows per-say, as they were just as important to see, and really made the highs take off among great appreciation.

Tomorrow, I am going to board a plane to Zurich, where I will be just one day away from seeing my family in NY

Love you all,
Vera

Still in love with Madrid!

2008-03-11T04:25:00.000-07:00

True love! Sealed with a kiss!

Hello there everybody,

So, having spent more time in Madrid, I keep becoming more enamored with this city and all of its amazing gifts. The girls and I have been exploring, guided my lonely planet and a sense of adventure, and have found some great restaurants, one of which was a bomb sushi place (rare in Madrid) and another was this awesome spot called Lay Down and Rest.

Maya and me in our bed at Lay Down and Rest Club

This restaurant has beds for tables (and not crappy, thin mattresses, but tempur-pedic style comfort!) with a sleek, minimalist decor and red candle highlights. I made friends with the bouncer, and we got a table despite the line for two rounds of amazing mojitos "por casa" (on the house :D ) When we walked in, a dj pumped a high energy beat, and a woman with a wild costume was singing her heart out to the amusement of all the resting guests. She had this amazing voice, and as the tempo escalated, the diners got up and started dancing on the beds in their socks. It was such an awesome vibe!

View from our bed - note my socks!

Maya and I also went to an awesome Flamenco dance show this week called Sangre. Flamenco is incredible!! I did not know that it involved so much tap dancing. The show was passionate, mostly energetic, and featured LIVE flamenco music and singing. The show also reminded me again why I love Madrid so much. The tickets were inexpensive and the sizeable theatre was extremely easy to find and gt to, just a 30 second walk from the main metro stop. Making culture accessible is a priority here and the lack of traffic, parking, heavy crowds, and buried hidden treasure tickets is so refreshing. What a great night!

Awesome, accessible talent!

On Sunday, Amanda, Maya, Jess and I wandered to a statue exhibit outside of Retiro Park that I had wanted to see. The statues were larger than life-size pieces of different parts of the body, with deluded color and a "broken"look. Very cool!

My favorite piece!

Afterwards, we headed over to Amanda and Maya's to watch Amalie, this amazing movie Amanda introduced us to. The movie is originally in French, and the dvd did not have english subtitles, so we watched with Spanish ones. Although it was a bit confusing at times, I was glad to get Spanish practice in such an enjoyable way - considering our time here is not forever! :(

MADRID BLOOMING :)

I am also so happy that Madrid is starting to bloom a lil. The city is bright, clear, fresh and warming up! I am loving cado minuto!

Now we are off to Amsterdam! Stay TUNED!

Love,
Vera

Cutting Loose!

2008-02-29T23:17:00.001-08:00

Cutting Loose...

Hello there loved ones,

So these last two weekends have been a change of pace in that I have cut back on the country-hopping without stopping and have remained here in lovely Madrid. This has been a great change because I have been able to fully appreciate this great city as I realize that we do not have that many weeks here left - and only a couple more weekends will be spent in town. So, what's a nostalgic Madrileño to do?
Go out, naturalmente.

So, we have been going out a lot, eating a ton of yummy food, and dancing all of our home-cooked calories (well, at least some of them) away! In my search for a nice sit down place, I found this awesome restaurant called Mezklum High Tech Restaurant (not sure what the high tech is about) This place had delicious wine, great food and a relaxed overall feel. They also had beds in the main room to take relaxed dining to a whole new level (Maybe by high tech they mean really comfy?)

The restaurant had these lit walls
that subtly changed colors while you ate.

Like I said, the food was really good.
Sophia got a really great tomato and basil salad !

I got the best meal of the night - duck with mango sauce! Yumm...

One other thing I have been enjoying in Madrid is the shopping! I have shopped so much, trying to venture out of my fashion comfort zone - with plenty of hits and some unfortunate misses. More unfortunately, the second I have a "miss" on, I desperately itch to go shopping that instant, and come home satisfied in a different outfit. (Hello! Intervention? If this isn't a cry for help, I don't know what is!) But, the hits have been heavenly so far. I bought this awesome pink pair of shoes (that I can't walk in, but that's not the point) and then bought the SAME pair in a bright blue. (Heeeelpppp!)

ADDICTION...

By cutting loose, I also meant literally, as I, once again, chopped off my hair and what's left is a pretty cute cut that makes me feel pretty and boyish at the same time (my dream!) I was pretty scared as my hairdresser mumbled "no entiendo" and had to get an associate to come and help "consult" on my desired hairdo. "Is gonna be short a lot, yes?" she says. I say yes, and death grip the chair the entire time. However, I was pleasantly surprised:

Haircut!

The big but in the situation is that I still haven't mastered the styling of it myself, and when I wake up I have major cow-licks and over-combs and all sorts of other stuff I NEVER had to deal with - I never had to do anything to my hair, and now, I am freaking lost. HELP!? I guess I need to buy a hairdryer now that I have short hair (I thought it would be low maintenance) Suggestions welcome :)

So that night, I went to my favorite hookah place, where I go to chill, have amazing tea, write postcards and study. I love this place, and it is really chill on weeknights and buzzing on weekends - it's perfect for my life. One of the workers now knows me (I'm a regular somewhere in Madrid!?!) and he always brings me extra fruit and baklava and I have gotten all of my very few homework assignments done there. PLUS, last time I was there, a little dog came out of nowhere (I have no clue whose he is!!!) and followed me to my table and hung out with me the entire time. He would wander to the table next to mine, chill for a bit, come back and lay with me as I studied my flashcards!

what a dream study buddy

Afterwards, we all went out for a night of dancing at Palacio, one of my favorite clubs. Maya and I were the only ones left standing and grooving at 5 am. I am happy that I get some of my exercise (okay who am I kidding ALL of my exercise) this way!

Troopers!

At 5 am, we made our way over to our lovely chocolateria for some churros and hydration while we waited for the metro to open up. Any night that ends here is a good one!

Churros at 5 with my lil churro Maya

So, as you can see, I am having a great and exciting time. I know this was long, and if you are still with me, thanks for reading!

Your reward is this amazing picture I found of
some guy who really loves his dog:

(sorry Ry, but I LOVE this pic)

Love,
Vera

Sevilla and Sleep - or lack thereof

2008-02-22T22:47:00.000-08:00

SEVILLA

Hello all!

I have been having a bunch of adventures lately, with some ups, some downs and no zzz's in between. Here I go!

We took a trip with our program to Sevilla - which was so beautiful, calming and warm! The weather was just perfect - warm in the sun with a cool gentle breeze...amazing. Sevilla also has a river running through it with tons of restaurants running alongside the picturesque water!

I felt like I was on vacation as I lazily sipped sangria and ate bread and cheese in the sunshine with some great friends as a guitarist roamed the riverbank, serenading the diners with some tunes--seriously!
Sevilla was also amazing because of all the little cobblestone streets AND all of the horse-drawn carriages! How cool is that? They literally lined the streets. I wish I could have taken a ride with someone special!
Now I am back in Madrid, and it is weird to finally spend a weekend at "home" and not go euro-tripping around! And, weird definitely has its ups and downs. Down: I had a bit of a tiff with my senora about keeping my room a little cleaner (I swear, it is not that messy!) I was upset because it is the ONLY place in Madrid that is my own (I guess not really my own, but you know!) and I don't want to have to worry about pleasing someone else when I am there. I have to worry about that ALL the time - if my manners suit the Spanish masses, if I am using "ser" or "estar" and in the right tense, if I am going down the right street--But my room is the only place I don't have to worry about anything! Also, I go in and out of the house several times a day during which I get in bed for some sleep or internet time (will discuss this later) and change my clothes before leaving once more. I don't think I should have to put away the clothes from my bed that I was hurriedly trying on before I left and make my bed 4 times per day. If I am in a hurry, I'm sorry but tidying up is not going to be my top priority. Plus, I know this is her house, but I am not one of her 9 year olds, and I am paying to live here too! Phew!

Up: I realized after talking to my mom that my senora is simply treating me like a part of the family. I can't expect her to bring me every meal and a bell to ring if I needed her (AW!) when I was sick, and not expect her to discipline me a little. Plus, she has been so sweet since I have been in town for more than 4 days at a time and she keeps bringing random little snacks to my room! She randomly came in and brought me strawberries with chocolate milk and crackers :D
Down: I am totally an insomniac! I guess I have really delved into escapism as I have watched the entire show of Grey's Anatomy - start to finish. I don't really have the time to do it, so I have just been not sleeping to watch it (crazy) and then sleeping during the day in pieces when I can! It has become such a problem that I am blogging at 9 am (have not gone to bed yet) instead of sleeping :( But I hope to solve this problem somehow...I will keep you posted!
Pro: Everything with me and Ry is going so great, and spring break is really really close!! Ryan sent me some beautiful roses for Valentines Day that have lived for over a week - sign of real love :) I can't believe spring break is so close! Before that, I still have a trip to Amsterdam to look forward to as well as a possible day trip to morocco?

Love and Besos,

Vera

Roaming in Roma!

2008-02-13T16:50:00.000-08:00

ROMA!Hello there,

It has been a while since I last posted and a lot has happened! I got better after a trip to the doctor and some much needed meds :) and last weekend, Maya and I took a weekend trip to Rome! Thanks to Maya and our little friend, Rick Steves, the trip was a big success!
When we first arrived at the airport, we took a bus to the metro, and then to the main station in Rome. We asked around if we could walk to our hostel and everybody said that it was too far and too dangerous to walk. So, we took a cab and after about 10 turns and 15 minutes, we were relieved that we didn't walk and forked over our 20 euro for the ride. The next morning, however, when we asked what the best way to get to the station was, the guy at the front desk of our hostel replied "it's just around that corner!" It was literally a 4 minute walk, and in a cab we should not have been charged more than 10 euro max! Lesson learned :(

That night, we met our roommates in the hostel - 2 girls and a guy. They seemed pretty friendly and we went to bed feeling comfortable. I was up late with my love of the moment - Grey's Anatomy, plugged in to my laptop intently watching in the bed. Everyone else was asleep...or so I thought. Suddenly, the guy we were rooming with comes up to my bed and asks me what I was watching. I whisper that it is a show from the United States and he goes away. Ten minutes later, he comes back and tells me he cannot sleep (?) and asks if he can watch the show with me!! Now, I am not sure what he means by this because 1) I don't know him 2) I am wearing my headphones and he won't understand what is going on and 3) does he expect to just get into bed with me?? I uncomfortably turn the computer towards him so he can see what it is I'm watching and then he asks if he can have one of the headphones to listen! I replied that I was off to bed soon and he left my bedside...kind of awkward!
The next day, Maya and I went to the Coliseum, which was really awesome! We paid for a very unnecessary tour (another lesson learned) and abandoned our guide to venture on our own. It was so cool to check out the Coliseum that ours at school was based on. I also love the look of ruins that most Roman sights have - a testament to the strength and power of the architecture yet reveals the passing of time and the historical value of the building and culture it represents. You will never see something like this in Los Angeles.
Maya and I also saw the Roman Forum, the birthplace of Rome, and Paletino. Then, we ventured to find some food near the Pantheon, which boasted these huge Egyptian columns in the front, spilling out into a Plaza with a fountain and countless cafes. We ate some lunch and got some great Gelato, the most famous in Rome! It was a great day.
As evening approached, Maya and I decided to go on a night walk of all th sites in Rome that would look great lit up. We had dinner at a great cafe, also in a big plaza with outdoor seating and a great vibe.
We then ventured to the Trevi Fountain - my favorite place in Rome. The fountain is massive, romantic and full of light and life. Even around midnight, the site was crowded with cuddling couples and families enjoying the one of a kind view.
The next day, we ventured to Vatican City, where we started with St. Peter's Basilica. It was a gorgeous day and the huge plaza with fountains and columns were breathtaking! At one point in the plaza, you can see a view of the city, framed by two fountains and a tall, striking statue.
Once inside, we were overwhelmed by the height of the ceilings, the detail of the artwork and the tranquil energy of the space. There was actually some religious ceremony going on, and at one point, everybody started singing and their voices echoed throughout the building. I could not stop taking pictures, but I don't really think they do justice to the space.
Next, we went to the Sistine Chapel, which was the culmination of a long, crowded walk through the Vatican Museum. We were disappointed that we could not take picture of Michaelangelo's famous work and there were guards walking around making sure that people followed that rule. However, I was feeling brave and got a snap of the famous creation part on the ceiling :) although it is a little blury.
The second night we had another interesting hostel roommate, who showed up completely drunk and stumbled around the room. He asked me my name about 3 times before crashing in his bed, and once everyone was asleep and I was cuddled up with Grey's again, I hear him call out from his bed "Zera! Zera!" I knew he meant me, but everyone else was asleep and I pretended to not hear him through my headphones (What could he have wanted from me in the middle of the night?) Maybe he also wanted to watch Grey's with me!...I guess hostels are pretty hit or miss sometimes.

Overall, we had a splendid time! I cannot believe that I get to do so much awesome traveling. Tonight I booked a flight to Paris for April that cost me 2 euro cents roundtrip! It was incredible! The whole flight, including taxes and fees, cost 15 euro! I will keep you posted on more adventures. This weekend, we are off to Sevilla with the program!

Love,
Vera
p.s. your comments make me :)

Barcelona was sick & so was I

2008-02-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

HOLA FROM BARCELONA!Wow, it has been a crazy couple of weeks. I just spent a great weekend in Barcelona! The trip started out great as our plane descended into Barcelona as the sun rose above the clouds :) It was really breathtaking and set the tone for our 3 day visit.

We arrived at our awesome little hostel and didn't waste any time getting out there and seeing the sights. One of my favorite parts of the trip was seeing all of the Gaudi architecture, especially La Sagrada Familia, a huge structure with an awesome spiral staircase that boasts great views of the entire city. Did you know that the word "gaudy" is based on him? Pretty cool! :)
After seeing all of the Gaudi sights, we had dinner at this great sushi restaurant (man, if Madrid is missing one thing, it's definitely sushi!) We also went to this great night club called Pacha, where we had a blast. The next night, we went to a really cool bar called Chupitos where they have hundreds of really interesting drinks for under 2 euro! My favorite one was called the boy scout and it involved the bartender lighting the bar on fire and giving us marshmallows to roast and eat with our shot :) Maya's friend recommended that we try the Monica Lewinsky shot, which turned out to be a pretty traumatic experience for both of us--if you are in Barcelona DO NOT TRY IT!
Another awesome part of Barcelona was this famous market called La Boqueria, which had amazing fresh fruit, juices, flowers, nuts and chocolate. I have never seen such a selection. I had some fresh cut mango as well as strawberry coconut juice :) Mmmmm!

We also went to the Picasso Museum, which was really cool, especially because they had an exhibit of art Picasso himself owned that inspired him by other artists. Barcelona would have been perfect if it wasn't for two things: (1) The rain (2) I got really sick :(

On the second day in Barcelona I got a cold that lasted me 5 days. I spent the last 3 days in bed, but now I finally feel better after a quick bilingual doctor's visit and some much needed medication :) Thankfully, my senora was so sweet and took great care of me. She brought me all of my meals in bed and made me hot chocolate and even gave me a little bell to ring if I needed her. She's the best.

When I finally wandered out of my room today, the twins were so excited to see me, which made me feel really great :) We spent an hour playing with a balloon (kids are amazing sometimes!) and one of the boys sat next to me, put his arm around me and gave me a kiss on the cheek :D I really felt like part of the family.
Having gotten through my first weekend trip and my first serious abroad sickness, I feel ready to go see and do more of everything - a positive attitude and antibiotics close at hand!

P.S. Tomorrow, Maya and I are off to Rome!

Taledo and Toledon't

2008-01-27T06:42:00.000-08:00

TOLEDO

Hello there everybody!

This week has been really incredible! This Friday, the entire program went to visit Toledo, a historic city with a lot of Muslim, Christian and Jewish history and boasting a rich art collection. The views of the city itself are so beautiful they don't really look real.
I've never seen a town that looks quite like this from afar. The program leaders took us to this gorgeous cathedral and then this awesome looking church.
After that, they decided to give us three hours of free time (during siesta) when we did not have much to do except wander and go shopping - which could easily be done in Madrid. This frustrated us, and we wandered until we ended up seeing this really cool contemporary art museum! After the three hours were up, we went to a synagogue which was also a Jewish history museum - pretty cool!

The next couple of months are going to be so busy for me in terms of traveling. Here are my upcoming plans --Don't be jealous! ! !

Feb 1 - Feb 3: Barcelona
Feb 7 - Feb 10: Rome
Feb 15 - Feb 16: Sevilla
Feb 23 - Feb 24: A break from traveling for midterms :)
Feb 29 - March 2: Lisbon
March 7 - March 10: Amsterdam
***then the following weekend is the start of SPRING BREAK!***
March 13 - 14: Zürich
March 14 - 19: New York (where I will see my FAMILY!)
March 19 - 20: Zürich x 2
March 20 - 24: Barcelona
March 24 - 28: Canary Islands!

I am so excited for all this traveling :D I can't wait to see different parts of the world and see myself change and grow as I am exposed to new images, people and cultures! After spring break we are working on plans to go to Prague and Morocco tambien!
I truly feel like the happiest girl in the world! -- and being that I will be seeing a huge chunk of the world, I can say that with confidence! :D

Love you all,
Vera

Rants and Raves

2008-01-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Hello there,

I am experiencing a bit of cultural shock/frustration/admiration, so I decided to rave some and rant some!

RANT: Apparently, everyone here sees me as a disrespectful, arrogant American.
So, I decided to venture out of my Starbucks comfort zone and go to a cafe to read. I get to an empty, small, dive-bar type of place where I settled at a table in the corner to continue my Gabriel Garcia Marquez affair. My back has been killing me because, apparently, wearing a backpack is horribly unfashionable here and I am lugging my computer and books on one shoulder. Anyway, I put my feet up on my bag on the chair across from me because my back didn't hurt that way and I wanted to feel more comfortable. The bartender guy yells at me to put my feet down even though there is nobody in the place and my feet are on my own bag. My entire mood was ruined.

So, I ventured back to Starbucks where I knew they would love and understand me. I sat in one of those big comfortable chairs and put my feet, once more, on the wooden chair across from me on top of my bag. The barista looks over, does this side smile thing, and points at my feet and shakes her head "no." I felt scolded like a little child and my entire mood was ruined once more. Why is it that when I try to make myself comfortable and relax, it is seen as so rude that the employees have to intervene with my ghastly behavior, yet other people's rudeness goes unnoticed? For instance, everybody leaves all of their trash on the starbucks tables, leaving the baristas to come and clean up after them like maids (hello? the trashcan is RIGHT THERE!) Also, couples are free to publicly make-out, grope, hold each other with no repercussions. On the metro, I saw a guy holding two far apart rails above his head, legs spread, while his girlfriend clung on to his waist, arms, lips and butt! I almost see babies being made all over Madrid, but I am clearly the disrespectful one. :/

Rave: Madrid is so versatile, gorgeous and fun!

I am so in love with this city! Every place I go is different and amazing. I went to this great Argentinian restaurant with the best red wine and dulce de leche crepes I have EVER had! Last night, we went to this bar where there are a ton of board games that you play over pitchers of sangria. We played Taboo in Spanish and everyone had such a blast! Also, the hookah bar here is incredible! They bring you fruit with your hookah. :)

Today, I went a couple metro stops, got off and turned the corner to run into the Royal Palace, which was breathtaking--right in the middle of the city. We went inside, and it was extravagant and unreal! A few more metro stops, and I was sipping a coconut hot chocolate in my favorite area to shop called Goya. I can't say enough about this city. I am so lucky to be here and I am loving every second of it...except when I put my feet up, but lesson learned!

Love,
Vera

Madrid Nightlife...Re-Defining the All-Nighter

2008-01-19T04:21:00.000-08:00

Hola!

So this weekend has started out with a major bang! On Thursday night, we went out at about midnight and took the metro to this club called Joy - an old mansion/theatre that was converted into a club. We danced for hours to the awesome techno music mix reminiscent of those in Cabo. The club was awesome

because although there were a ton of people there, it did not feel overstuffed and cramped like some L.A. clubs often do. We danced and danced until about 5 am. Since the metro closed at 1:30 a.m. and reopened at 6:00 a.m. the idea was to stay out until the metro reopened and ride home with all the people going to work :)

After the club, we made our way to this 24-hour chocolateria, where we ate churros con chocolate with a bunch of of the

people who had just left the clubs. It was a really great night, which was followed by an entire day of napping, naturally. While I could not party in this manner every weekend (or could I?), it's nice to know that the opportunity is always there for Madrid's version of an all-nighter.

I also went to this amazing Andy Warhol exhibit, which was free and really great. They had some of his work featuring Jackie O and a huge series of Mick Jagger pieces. My favorites were ones of shadows, in which he used diamond extracts spread over black and gray images to make them sparkle, but in a somber way. Madrid has so much to offer, I still cannot believe I live here. More to come soon!

Love,

Vera

Feeling pensive...

2008-01-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

Today I went shopping and was in line to buy this beautiful sheer black blouse that I thought was really sexy. Usually, I love to wear clothes that are cinched under the bust and flow out from there - "umpire waist"style. But, since coming here I really wanted to buy something a bit more chic and European-esque This top seemed perfect. Standing in line, I decided to read the tag which said "SILK a special line designed for mum." I was a bit offended that I apparently have the taste of a slightly older woman. On second look, however, I saw the slight outline of a PREGNANT WOMAN. Turns out, I was buying maternity wear. :/ not the greatest day for my European fashion development...

Today, the metro was even more crowded than before. Nobody even had to hold on to the rails because we collectively cushioned one another from the twists of the metro with out warmly clothed, snugly packed in bodies. On one of the stops, the doors actually closed on one man's belly! eek! One thing I don't understand about Madrid is that it is really cold outside, but burning hot inside. Everybody wears warm coats, scarves and gloves outside, but nobody takes them off or seems to mind them inside. Meanwhile, I am burning up and sweating in my coat the second I get indoors and am dying for a chance to take something off. While shopping, I HAD to take off my coat, but everyone else in the store was fully clothed for winter weather - I did not even see one scarf unwrapped or one coat unzipped. I don't understand why they turn on the heater sooo high indoors when nobody even seems to notice. I'm hoping my body will adjust soon.

I am still pretty up and down emotionally, but am feeling better. To cure my latest dose of homesickness, yet still venture out a little, I am going to a hookah bar tonight!!! Even typing these words made me smile big :D

Love and miss you all,
Vera

2008-01-16T00:53:00.001-08:00

I put some pictures below --Check em out!

REALIDAD!

2008-01-15T12:45:00.000-08:00

Today, real reality actually set in. I experienced my first wave of people-back-at-homesickness. I felt pretty lost in the realization that no place feels totally comfortable (as of yet). Especially with the language element, I am having difficulty finding a space of my own where I can truly unwind and kick back. Therefore, I went to the a close second --STARBUCKS! What a way to make me feel at home! :) So, I spent a large part of the day under the safe haven of the green emblem lost in a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel--not a bad place to be, but I could not help but feel the sting of blatant escapism splashed all over my reading session. Thankfully, I did not feel sad for long, and a quick Skype session made me feel like myself again.

I also learned first hand the infamous European lack of personal space. In the morning, as I sunk into one of the coveted seats in the metro, a fairly large man came over and stood directly in front of me in the uncrowded cabin, holding on the the handle above my head. He was so close that I spent the entire ride holding my breath and looking either to the side or straight down out of sheer discomfort. I could not tell which one of us was being inappropriate - him standing so close, or me looking away in shock. This morning, however, the metro was so crowded that I experienced full body contact with three people at once and had to frantically swim my way through the sea of business suits to exit the cabin in time.

While today was not the best of days for comfort, I feel that the struggle represents an abrupt broadening of boundaries and an awkward growth period that will ultimately result in a swan-like transformation of my sense of self...at least this is what I keep telling myself. On the bright side, Madrid is as beautiful as always!

Miss you all.

First day of reality!

2008-01-14T01:20:00.000-08:00

Hola all,

So life has officially started in Madrid as today is the first day of classes. This realization is bittersweet because while the structure and interesting topics will be great, classes are still classes. Today my Senora packed me a lunch to go :D and wanted to walk me to the metro. She is very sweet and caring. While we do have a few communication snafus, the stay is going very well. She is patient and speaks slowly and clearly. The one thing I wish for is a steady wireless internet connection, but oh well, you can't have it all.

Yesterday, we went to Retiro Park, which is only a 5 minute walk from my home. The park is huge and lively, with gardens (that have yet to bloom) gorgeous statues, and a lake in the center. You can rent row boats for free and relax on the lake. :) The park is right across from the Prado and is a perfect compliment to the buzzing city. I can't wait to transition from a newcomer to a citizen and begin daily life. :)

Hope everyone is doing well back in Los Estados Unidos.

Hasta luego,

Vera

Moving in with my family

2008-01-12T04:32:00.000-08:00

Hello there,

So today I moved in with my family with whom I will be living for the next four months! Oddly enough, the couple has TWINS! They have two eight-year-old twin boys who are adorable and have spent the whole day playing video games. :) They are learning to speak English, so I figure I can help them out if they will help me fix my broken Spanish.

It has been pretty stressful speaking Spanish in the home. It takes more energy than usual to simply communicate, and I feel pretty low when I don't understand what they are saying. However, the entire family is extremely sweet and they are being pretty patient with me. I hope the strain simply means that I will learn that much faster.

I miss home a lot, but am enthusiastically feasting on every aspect of Madrid. The city is so beautiful that it is hard for me to believe I will actually be living here. My home More later! :D

Love,

Vera

P.S. PLEASE COMMENT. I am a lonely blogger over here!

Bienvenidos a Madrid

2008-01-10T01:23:00.000-08:00

Hola all,

I am finally here. I have learned a bunch of things from my trip already.

(1) I ooooover packed and have the most luggage on the trip :(

(2) Everything in Europe is muy expensive!

(3) It costs more to eat outside!! (???)

(4) Thanks to my first spanish teacher Srta Catalan, I have a pretty close accent to those of madrilenos.

I´m having an amazing time. Miss you all.

Ciao!

Introduction

2008-01-02T00:32:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

I leave for Madrid in one week (woah!) and I am starting this blog to keep everybody I love posted about my ventures and adventures. With so-so Spanish and a hesitance towards change, the transition should go smoothly. :)

Honestly though, I cannot wait. A completely fresh environment, unique experiences, and siestas - what more could somebody ask for? I hope that you will occasionally stop by and check out what I'm up to. I will post picture and anecdotes.

Madrid, here I come!

Take care,

Vera