After 3 weeks of flight uncertainty I think that I'll be flying back to the states in 6 days. All of sudden everything seems to have sped up. I have a sudden urgency to do everything I haven't done, see people I haven't seen, and enjoy every last second I have in this city. But truthfully I think what I should do is the exact opposite. Slow down and live the life I have been living for almost a year and appreciate each moment.

Change is a fickle friend. Leaving Barcelona will break my heart, but so will staying. If I stay, I would continue to miss my family and friends dearly, but if I leave I will become just another study abroad student returning back to the states. I don't think any choice is necessarily more correct. The word bittersweet suddenly has  more personal relevance. 

James Beard, is that you?

I think Ana finally did it, she killed me with her cooking.
but in the most unexpected way.
I thought for sure I'd be going to microwave cooking hell.
But here I am in culinary heaven sitting next to Julia Child.
Who knew?

I walked in the door after uni today, exhausted, only to be greeted by the most pleasantness of smells. Are the neighbors cooking again? I thought to myself. But long behold, there in Dave (my toaster oven, because lawd knows our oven has been out of commission for months, maybe even years who can say), sat a beautiful dish of pure deliciousness. Two baby whole red snapper fish sat baking in a bed of potatoes, spanish olive oil (the BEST olive oil in the world, I'm convinced), parsley, a bit of saffron, and caramelized onions.

Three hours later after Ana Sr., Ana Jr. and the niñas returned home from the park, I finally sat down to eat this bit of happiness and,
I died.
I died, I died, I died.
and went to heaven.
YUMMMMMMM.

I will be trying out this dish my self in the weeks coming (complete with photos and instructions for you all) but until then you may find me floating about with Fernand Point, Auguste Escoffier, and other culinary genius' just beyond the pearly gates.

Om nom nom nom

About 20 minutes ago a student came into the library with his backpack, books, etc. Sat down in front of me, and proceeded to do nothing. Unless you consider biting nails a studious activity.

Why would you go to the library with nothing to do?! Is he waiting for someone? Is he nervous about studying? Or do his roommates just not enjoy when he goes to town on his nails in their apartment? These are the questions popping up in my head as I try to write about the reign of Maria Cristina de Nápoles, proof that anything can and will completely derail any thoughts of doing work.

I'll keep you updated, it's just a waiting game now.

cositas de la semana

1. Went to spanish court to testify, incredibly scary experience but my ability to successfully give testimony and be questioned extensively feels like a testament to how much my spanish language skills have developed.  

2. Finally completely figured out how to use the public busses and have become a regular bus taker! 

3. BCA dinner at El Cangrejo Loco Wednesday night - seated practically on the ocean, amazing food and more importantly free flowing red wine.  

4. Successful phone interview with a import/export brokerage firm in Philly, dedos cruzados that I get a second interview!

5. Began the making my own photo paper on which to develop photos for my photography class, and realized how nerve-wracking it is to mix your own chemicals when you have no chemistry experience and are in a darkroom.  

6. Celebrated El Día de San Jordi, spanish valentine's day and day of Catalan independence, with lots of books and roses and happy people.

7. Picnic lunch in Parc Cuidatdella with my favorita amigas, good food, games, and some spanish guitar (kudos to Kara).

8. Had the best BEST churros of my life.

off to move my workspace to the terrace to catch a bit of sun!

sartorialist style

La Rambla, Barcelona

Looking for participants in my 'get a stranger to smile for you' photo assignment, I spotted this guy on La Rambla. His pants are kind of dirty and I think his fly is down, but the skateboard, sweater, and hair are a great combo. And luckily Dani made him laugh as I photographed him, which makes the picture. 

just when you thought life couldn't get any crazier...

....today I received a official summons to testify in court against that guy who mugged me. This should be interesting.

Sorry for the terrible quality of the photo, but sin camera I had to make due with photo booth :)

riding the broke train to spring break

First, I apologize this has been a crazy past couple weeks and I have sorely neglected this lovely little rambling I call a blog.  As I sit drinking café con leche, listening to Madeleine Peyroux [can anyone speak to me like Madeleine, I just don't think so] I am ready to share.

Same streets, same classes, same stresses, two weeks ago I desperately needed a break!  This boredom paralleled nicely with my weeping bank account and so spring break in BCN was born.  Luckily (for me, not them) Dani and Becca were riding the broke train as well, so the three of us decided to stay put in Barna for the holiday and explore.  

Mother Nature provided us with a week full of beautiful spring days in which to exercise our refreshed curiosity and off we went to re-discover Barcelona. Among others, here are some places that you should check out if you ever find yourself in Barca:

Parc d' Laberinth ...I can not believe in all my months in Barcelona, I had not visited this natural woodland park! Dani and I took the metro up to the top of the city to picnic here and it was simply beautiful. Not only does it allow you to see gorgeous views of the city and the mediterrean, it even has a Harry Potter-esque maze! Added bonus, most visitors of the park are local families and to my knowledge it doesn't have a huge tourist following.

Montjuic ...Although I had taken the cable car to the top of Montjuic before, Jordan and I had  purchased the wrong ticket so we couldn't get off at the top to explore. After making sure we did it right this time, Dani, Becca, and I took the funicular to the top of the mountain and spent the afternoon exploring the fortress, and ate lunch in the moat where grass now grows.  

a view from the top of Montjuic - the port and far to the left the world trade center

Barri Gracia ...Another day the three of us went to explore Dani's neighborhood [where we are possibly thinking of living when we move back to bcn] and had a great afternoon. Gracia is a typical spanish neighborhood full of tiny art galleries, fair trade boutiques, chino stores with everything you could possibly want, picturesque plaças, and even a privately owned Gaudi house.  

Becca and I strolling through el barrio

In other news, I was lucky enough to celebrate my 21st in Barcelona this past weekend :) And to make it even sweeter, Silvia came to visit from France with one of her friends from the States, Kevin. We had an amazing night of tapas, strawberry daiquiris, estrella, chupitos, great friends, ole-ing, and party hats. Dani and Becs also gave me the best present - a small owl figurine which in the Catalan culture gives the receiver good luck, and also a small handmade money pouch made with fabric from Japan that they purchased from a local market. Do I have amazing friends or what? 

I submit that I do.

oh and F.C. Barca beat Real Madrid 2-0 last night. ¡Puta Madrid! ¡Visça Barca!