The semester is finally coming to an end. Im excited to be done the never ending work of school and but depressed about leaving Barcelona. However, I am not leaving Europe though, Im going to be going on a two week backpacking tour with Metzler and Chris. We leave Barcelona the 2nd and fly to Milan, then were off to Venice and Switzerland. After we planning on heading up north towards Paris, Brussels, Germany, France and Finally back to Barcelona. It an ambious journey but it will be well worth the trouble.
Throughout the semester I've really enjoyed my stay in the city. It has been more then I could every imagine, I've meet alot of unique people and had some great experiences which I will never forget. The unique bar, clubs, adventures around the city, especially Go-Cars with Dev Dawg. We only managed to almost get hit a couple times as well as making a few illegal turns. I could nt of lucked out with a better group, thats probably the reason why I've enjoyed my stay.
Navigating around the cities I've visited has been a challenge in itself, Morrocco was by far the most difficult while Bilbao and Barcelona were the easiest. There are two ways to navigate around the city, well actually three. One, to have the natural talent to just go around the city;two, to be able to look at a map and navigate; and lastly, to navigate by landmarks. Of course, I'm in the last category, I never really attempted to look at a map. I hate to look like a tourist.
Anyways this four month vacation will be missed greatly as well as everyone that is spent time with. I have no regrets on from this semester. I hope that writting this blog a week early will not jinx myself, but well see.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Impossible Morocco...
Alright for our third field trip we went to Morocco, Africa. I first imagined Morocco to be like every other city in Africa that I have seen in a movie, run down, without order and scary, but Morocco was very different. It wasnt a third world country, like I thought. They had electricity, plumbing, etc. it may of not been the best but they still had it. What fascinated me most about Morocco was the craft of the goods. Everything was still made by hand, all fabrics, luggage, jewelry, clothing, I mean everything. It was really unique to still see a community that still used the two best tools on earth, hands.
The Moroccan cuisine was very interesting, I'd say. At first it was amazing but by the end you got sick of the same food for breakfast lunch and dinner. Now dont get me wrong it was very good but I just got tired of the food.
The city itself was by far the most interesting city I'd probably ever experience. No because of the architecture, sure it was beautiful, but it was an addition to the fascinating urban spraw of the city as a whole. There really isnt any order to the city but this is what makes the city so beautiful. The only dissapointment are the amount of satallite dishes on the roof tops, that the only criticism as a whole. It just distracted from the picturesque view, but you have to have your tv somehow.
The city is beautiful but impossible to navigate, and when I say impossible I mean IMPOSSIBLE. Do not try to navigate your way around the city, you should always have a guide that is a native of the area take you around the city. When our tour guide's newphew took a few of us for last minute shopping, he went off the run an errand while we were negociating for some blankets, when we came out he wasnt there. I have never felt so lost in my life but he eventually came back to resucue us.
It wouldnt be hard to negociate around the city but there isnt really any maps to give. There are too many turns, tunnels, and endless roads to navigate without being a native. But if your feeling adventourious, I believe there is a way to do but I never tried. Chris, Clemson's crit, says their is a way to navigate the city but youll have to ask him how to do it cause I have no idea. If you let me go wonder off in the city for 2 minutes, you would never find me and I would probably be living in a corner or something.
All in all Morocco is a truely eye opening city and if you can ever visit the city I would but just make sure you have a trustworthy and reliable guide, not saying we had a bad one. Mo Mo was the best, he always looked out for us and helped us whenever we needed it. He showed us some great places, where alot of us got some really cheap gifts, and he really helped to open our eyes to see how beautiful the city is for what is can offer.
Our hotel, well more of a palace to us, was tremendous. We had heigh ceilings, mosaic tiles, fountains, interior courtyards, lavish beds and baths to name a few. We had this massive complex for only 20 of us. I wish I could remember the name by I cant, it was a joy to stay at this hotel, all the staff and food was great.
The Moroccan cuisine was very interesting, I'd say. At first it was amazing but by the end you got sick of the same food for breakfast lunch and dinner. Now dont get me wrong it was very good but I just got tired of the food.
The city itself was by far the most interesting city I'd probably ever experience. No because of the architecture, sure it was beautiful, but it was an addition to the fascinating urban spraw of the city as a whole. There really isnt any order to the city but this is what makes the city so beautiful. The only dissapointment are the amount of satallite dishes on the roof tops, that the only criticism as a whole. It just distracted from the picturesque view, but you have to have your tv somehow.
The city is beautiful but impossible to navigate, and when I say impossible I mean IMPOSSIBLE. Do not try to navigate your way around the city, you should always have a guide that is a native of the area take you around the city. When our tour guide's newphew took a few of us for last minute shopping, he went off the run an errand while we were negociating for some blankets, when we came out he wasnt there. I have never felt so lost in my life but he eventually came back to resucue us.
It wouldnt be hard to negociate around the city but there isnt really any maps to give. There are too many turns, tunnels, and endless roads to navigate without being a native. But if your feeling adventourious, I believe there is a way to do but I never tried. Chris, Clemson's crit, says their is a way to navigate the city but youll have to ask him how to do it cause I have no idea. If you let me go wonder off in the city for 2 minutes, you would never find me and I would probably be living in a corner or something.
All in all Morocco is a truely eye opening city and if you can ever visit the city I would but just make sure you have a trustworthy and reliable guide, not saying we had a bad one. Mo Mo was the best, he always looked out for us and helped us whenever we needed it. He showed us some great places, where alot of us got some really cheap gifts, and he really helped to open our eyes to see how beautiful the city is for what is can offer.
Our hotel, well more of a palace to us, was tremendous. We had heigh ceilings, mosaic tiles, fountains, interior courtyards, lavish beds and baths to name a few. We had this massive complex for only 20 of us. I wish I could remember the name by I cant, it was a joy to stay at this hotel, all the staff and food was great.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Gerona field trip
For our history field trip we went to Gerona for the day, we really didnt have any specific goal for Gerona but its a city similar to Bilbao except it kind of faced away from the river and was focused more on the city then the actual river. Visiting the city was fun because we got to walk around the city and actually experience it and attempt to navigate through the city which was easy because the river was basically the center point of the city so you always knew where you were. The river was much more used verus Bilbao, there were more footbridges across the river so you experienced it alot more. As part of our trip we got to visit RCR's firm. Its an award winning firm located somewhere near Gerona, but the work they produce is amazing, they are currently renovating their office into a cultural center for the city. It was really interesting to visit a firm while they were working, everything is this building related to the past and was designed beautifully. It was consisted of mostly steel and they choose steel due to the past life of the site. It used to be an steel mill. Even the table were design beautifully, the cantalevered about 12 feet from the wall. I cant even explain the building, I dont want to butcher the master piece. But its an amazing building, it shows you that amazing architecture does nt have to be flashy, only thought out and well articulated.
Bilbino, and Rioja
For our mini field trip we went to Bilbao and Rioja. Both places were really unique and different from themselves. Of the two places Rioja was my favorite, not because we got to visit some incredible vineyards and drink wine at 10am but because we travel in a bus through the country. The views were tremendously beautiful, but I only remember parts of the views cuase I kept on passing out.
Bilbao was an amazing city, there was tremendous architecture like the Guggenheim, which Bilbao is known for and at the same time it had some amazing night life. The river that ran through the city was by far the most interesting thing about the city and the way people used it. Unlike Girona where the city kind of turn the back to the river, Bilbao enmphaises the river and really respects it.
Bilbao was also a relatively easy city to navigate around, there was alot of rememorable art and architecture in the city. Im a visual guy so when theres a lot of art and architecture around I can creat reference points around the city. Unlike Barcelona there really are these wavy crazy streets that can lead you to no where, it was pretty straight forward and organized on an almost grid pattern. For once in a city I knew where we were and other people didnt.
Guggenheim is an amazing building, I have never really been a fan of his work but I was really impressed with his design, but as for the art work being displayed I was not but thats another topic. This building basically put Bilbao on the map and thats partially why I respect the building so much in addition to the way the building functions and is organized with the art partions. One of my biggest issues with museum is that they always try to stick more art work per square feet then you can actually see and the way you look at the work creates this zig zag unorthodox pattern. However the Guggenheim really worked for me, I felt like there was enough art work that was properly positioned throughout the museum.
Rioja was a real treat for myself, I got to see the scenic views and some amazing vineyards. We visited Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava's vineyard. Each one was amazing in themselves but I think when compairing wine and the architecture Zaha Hadid's vineyard took first prize. Now dont get me wrong Gehry and Calatrava's vineyards were amazing but I felt that they were celebrating the architecture and not the wine.
Zaha Hadid's vineyard was this quant building hidden in the corner and the vineyard itself was this rustic old establishment that still does everything by hand which fascinated me the most. Gehry's vineyard was completely modernized and had no connection with the past except for the old buildings and one tiny historic part; which I didnt like too much because the door heights were only like 6 feet tall and me being over 6 feet tall drilled my head on the door which did not feel good. Calatrava's vineyard was a cross breed between the other two. The Zaha vineyard still used the same underground tunnels where the penicillin still grew on the walls, still made the barrels by hand, still used the old barrels as kiln for the fire and still had the traditional technique of making wine which you could taste in the wine. Both the red and white wines were amazing. Even the building Zaha Hadid design adhirred to the theme, it was a modern building that wrapped around the previous wine stand that they used in the old days. It was a truly unique vineyard.
Bilbao was an amazing city, there was tremendous architecture like the Guggenheim, which Bilbao is known for and at the same time it had some amazing night life. The river that ran through the city was by far the most interesting thing about the city and the way people used it. Unlike Girona where the city kind of turn the back to the river, Bilbao enmphaises the river and really respects it.
Bilbao was also a relatively easy city to navigate around, there was alot of rememorable art and architecture in the city. Im a visual guy so when theres a lot of art and architecture around I can creat reference points around the city. Unlike Barcelona there really are these wavy crazy streets that can lead you to no where, it was pretty straight forward and organized on an almost grid pattern. For once in a city I knew where we were and other people didnt.
Guggenheim is an amazing building, I have never really been a fan of his work but I was really impressed with his design, but as for the art work being displayed I was not but thats another topic. This building basically put Bilbao on the map and thats partially why I respect the building so much in addition to the way the building functions and is organized with the art partions. One of my biggest issues with museum is that they always try to stick more art work per square feet then you can actually see and the way you look at the work creates this zig zag unorthodox pattern. However the Guggenheim really worked for me, I felt like there was enough art work that was properly positioned throughout the museum.
Rioja was a real treat for myself, I got to see the scenic views and some amazing vineyards. We visited Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry and Santiago Calatrava's vineyard. Each one was amazing in themselves but I think when compairing wine and the architecture Zaha Hadid's vineyard took first prize. Now dont get me wrong Gehry and Calatrava's vineyards were amazing but I felt that they were celebrating the architecture and not the wine.
Zaha Hadid's vineyard was this quant building hidden in the corner and the vineyard itself was this rustic old establishment that still does everything by hand which fascinated me the most. Gehry's vineyard was completely modernized and had no connection with the past except for the old buildings and one tiny historic part; which I didnt like too much because the door heights were only like 6 feet tall and me being over 6 feet tall drilled my head on the door which did not feel good. Calatrava's vineyard was a cross breed between the other two. The Zaha vineyard still used the same underground tunnels where the penicillin still grew on the walls, still made the barrels by hand, still used the old barrels as kiln for the fire and still had the traditional technique of making wine which you could taste in the wine. Both the red and white wines were amazing. Even the building Zaha Hadid design adhirred to the theme, it was a modern building that wrapped around the previous wine stand that they used in the old days. It was a truly unique vineyard.
My wrong turn........
Alright, getting lost is alot harder now, so unfortunately unless I start to get lost more my blog's theme is going to change to navigation around cities and my adventures in general. But I forgot that I did manage to get lost in Prague but it was only for a split second. Mad Cow, henna, tuna, rican and myself were walking along the river back to our hostel and we all bet metzler that we could get home in 15 minutes, so metzler was walking at a quick pase and the rest of just were walking at a leisurely pase, and for some reason I was leading the group. Metzler decided to walk on this narrow sidewalk that was probable 2 feet wide with people walking both ways on it. I thought Id take the safe root and walk through this coutyard or well I thought it was a courtyard but it wasnt it was just a dead end and since I was leading the other 3 followed. We looked like a real bunch of tourist we walked into this area and two second later we walked right out. It just shows you that a street that looks like it could go through, may indeed not be a road that goes through.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Spring Break, Prague
Prague.......what can I say about it. Nothing but a truly amazing city, I dont think theres one person who cannot have fun in this city even if your not in the city center. I knew this trip was going to be amazing when out of the blue Ryan, Matt and Dean appeared out of no where [these are my friends from Rome], in addition Mary, Anna and Shelia were also staying in the same hostel. In this hostel there were 11 Catholic students. With all our friends in Prague, this trip would be amazing.
One of the best moves we made as a group [Henna, Tuna, Rican, Mad Cow and myself] was to stay in an 8 person room, now this may sounds stupid but if you end up having cool roomates then you wont forget the experience. When we arrived our roommate, who we had no idea was, wasnt in the room so we could meet him. We ended up going to bed before he got home and got up before him but when we got up we all didnt know what to think of him, we thought he was in the military or something because he had neatly folded clothes on the bed in an uniform fashion, he also had tattoos and was a bigger guy, so we didnt know what to think. But he turned out to be a great friend and will be visiting this easter break.
Prague has two amazing features: The architecture and Pubs. During our stay we managed to see the Royal Palace Complex, which houses some amazing churches and complexes, in addition to the ceremonial guard changing, its very similar to the British soliders. We also saw the Fred and Ginger by Frank Gehry, Charles Bridge and alot of other unique architecture which are unknown but are truly unique.
One of the most interesting events that we took place in was the Straupromen brewery tour. Not to mention that this beer is amazing but exploring the brewery was really a pleasure and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Straupromen has a truly unique collection of beer and they ship it nationwide.
Just being around my friends from Rome really made Prague more enjoyable, drinking with the boys and going to a few other places I should not mention, like hot pe pes made this journey amazing. Spring break couldnt of been any better.
One of the best moves we made as a group [Henna, Tuna, Rican, Mad Cow and myself] was to stay in an 8 person room, now this may sounds stupid but if you end up having cool roomates then you wont forget the experience. When we arrived our roommate, who we had no idea was, wasnt in the room so we could meet him. We ended up going to bed before he got home and got up before him but when we got up we all didnt know what to think of him, we thought he was in the military or something because he had neatly folded clothes on the bed in an uniform fashion, he also had tattoos and was a bigger guy, so we didnt know what to think. But he turned out to be a great friend and will be visiting this easter break.
Prague has two amazing features: The architecture and Pubs. During our stay we managed to see the Royal Palace Complex, which houses some amazing churches and complexes, in addition to the ceremonial guard changing, its very similar to the British soliders. We also saw the Fred and Ginger by Frank Gehry, Charles Bridge and alot of other unique architecture which are unknown but are truly unique.
One of the most interesting events that we took place in was the Straupromen brewery tour. Not to mention that this beer is amazing but exploring the brewery was really a pleasure and I would do it again in a heartbeat. Straupromen has a truly unique collection of beer and they ship it nationwide.
Just being around my friends from Rome really made Prague more enjoyable, drinking with the boys and going to a few other places I should not mention, like hot pe pes made this journey amazing. Spring break couldnt of been any better.
Spring Break, Istanbul
Let me just start out by saying spring break was amazing, Istanbul and Prague are two incredible places you should try to visit if your in Europe. For our first journey Henna, Tuna, Rican, Mad Cow and myself ventured off to Istanbul at 4:30 in the morning. Getting to the Istanbul airport wasnt a problem but actually stepping onto Turkish soil was little difficult. Upon handing my passport to customs, and the custom agent telling me I need a visa, scared the living daylights out of me. Now after going through a gruesome, lengthy process of getting a spanish visa I thought I was going to have to buy another ticket back to Barcelona and spend spring break there but lucky their visa is a little different then Barcelona, you can buy one for 15 euros. Unfortunately, our bad luck strike didnt end, Henna or as some people call her Jenna lost her bag, but she was actually really calm and ok with this.
Once we finally got to our hostel things started to turn around. The hostel personel was very nice and spoke fluent english which helped alot and it wasnt that bad of a hostel. Istanbul had some magnificant architecture, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, etc. but the most interesting and unique place to experience while in Istanbul are the Bizzare Markets.
These markets are incredible, you can buy anything you could ever want from spices, jewerly, handbags, clothing etc. and the best part about these markets is there are no fixed prices so you have to hangle the prices down and if you are really got at hangling you can get some amazing stuff for a great price.
In addition to the markets the culture in general is really unique, I felt alot safer and welcomed in Istanbul then in Barcelona. I didnt feel like I was going to robbed just for walking down the street alone. However because Turkey is a Islamic country its really not social accepted to get piss drunk and stumple home, so unfortuantely we werent able to do this is Istanbul but we did drink. However, Prague is a different story...
Once we finally got to our hostel things started to turn around. The hostel personel was very nice and spoke fluent english which helped alot and it wasnt that bad of a hostel. Istanbul had some magnificant architecture, the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, etc. but the most interesting and unique place to experience while in Istanbul are the Bizzare Markets.
These markets are incredible, you can buy anything you could ever want from spices, jewerly, handbags, clothing etc. and the best part about these markets is there are no fixed prices so you have to hangle the prices down and if you are really got at hangling you can get some amazing stuff for a great price.
In addition to the markets the culture in general is really unique, I felt alot safer and welcomed in Istanbul then in Barcelona. I didnt feel like I was going to robbed just for walking down the street alone. However because Turkey is a Islamic country its really not social accepted to get piss drunk and stumple home, so unfortuantely we werent able to do this is Istanbul but we did drink. However, Prague is a different story...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)