Thursday, July 29, 2010
AMURRICA
TOUCHDOWN IN PHILADELPHIA! Stephen and I have finally arrived back in the good ole United States of America after a pretty smooth 7 hour flight from Dublin. My flight to DC is half an hour late, but I should be back at Georgetown soon! It still hasn't quite hit me that my time in Europe has come to a close for the next 2 weeks. Looking forward to seeing my friends at school tonight and arriving home tomorrow in Louisiana! Cheers!
The Cliffs of Moher
Today was our final day in Europe. SAD. I cannot believe my summer adventures are over already, and I am so grateful that I get to come back in just a few weeks to start my semester long adventures. We fly out of Dublin for Philadelphia at 11am on Thursday. From there, I will be spending one night in Washington to see my Georgetown friends and to collect the final paperwork from the Czech Embassy in DC for my student visa for the fall. By Friday night, I will be back home in New Orleans. Time really does fly when you're having fun.
Our trip today was really the perfect way to end our travels. We took a 2.5 hour bus ride across the entire island of Ireland to the western coast on the Atlantic. From the major city of Galway, Stephen and I joined a 8 hour tour bus group for a trip through the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.
Western Ireland is absolutely beautiful, and it is very hard to put into words or even pictures. Our day started with a view of a medieval castle in the Burren. The Burren is karst-landscape (dominated by bedrock) region in northwest County Clare, in Ireland on the Atlantic Coast. During the morning half of our drive, we passed ancient Stone Age and Celtic artifacts, including a 6300 year old stone fort and a burial monument for 23 hunter/gatherer adults and children (discovered in 1983 by archeologists). For lunch, we stopped at a little countryside restaurant in Doolin. After traditional chicken wrapped in bacon with veggies (including Irish potatoes), I finished lunch with a delicious Bailey's coffee.
After lunch, we spent 2 hours at the Cliffs of Moher. These gigantic and picturesque cliffs lie hundreds (if not more) feet above the Atlantic Ocean. It is a tourist mecca, and the views are indescribable. They have become iconic for the Republic of Ireland, and they have been used in many films, including Harry Potter 6 and the Princess Bride. After walking up and down the protected edges of the cliff, we boarded our tour bus again to finish our adventure in Western Ireland.
Before the 2.5 hour ride back on the N6 highway, we had dinner at a traditional pub in Galway. This city is one of the fastest growing cities in all of Europe, and it really is a fine example of the resilience of the Irish people, culture, and economy. It is a cultural and arts center, and this week is special because it is the annual week-long Galway Horse Races.
We are almost packed up for the last time (after 4 previous legs of our trip in Europe alone)! Still can't believe we've come this far, and it will be hard to leave Europe after getting used to being here. Looking forward to some time in the US to catch up on the things I missed. I will be sure to post a wrap up entry on the blog when I get home..before the blog continues on August 15 from Florence, Italy!!
Our trip today was really the perfect way to end our travels. We took a 2.5 hour bus ride across the entire island of Ireland to the western coast on the Atlantic. From the major city of Galway, Stephen and I joined a 8 hour tour bus group for a trip through the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher.
Western Ireland is absolutely beautiful, and it is very hard to put into words or even pictures. Our day started with a view of a medieval castle in the Burren. The Burren is karst-landscape (dominated by bedrock) region in northwest County Clare, in Ireland on the Atlantic Coast. During the morning half of our drive, we passed ancient Stone Age and Celtic artifacts, including a 6300 year old stone fort and a burial monument for 23 hunter/gatherer adults and children (discovered in 1983 by archeologists). For lunch, we stopped at a little countryside restaurant in Doolin. After traditional chicken wrapped in bacon with veggies (including Irish potatoes), I finished lunch with a delicious Bailey's coffee.
After lunch, we spent 2 hours at the Cliffs of Moher. These gigantic and picturesque cliffs lie hundreds (if not more) feet above the Atlantic Ocean. It is a tourist mecca, and the views are indescribable. They have become iconic for the Republic of Ireland, and they have been used in many films, including Harry Potter 6 and the Princess Bride. After walking up and down the protected edges of the cliff, we boarded our tour bus again to finish our adventure in Western Ireland.
Before the 2.5 hour ride back on the N6 highway, we had dinner at a traditional pub in Galway. This city is one of the fastest growing cities in all of Europe, and it really is a fine example of the resilience of the Irish people, culture, and economy. It is a cultural and arts center, and this week is special because it is the annual week-long Galway Horse Races.
We are almost packed up for the last time (after 4 previous legs of our trip in Europe alone)! Still can't believe we've come this far, and it will be hard to leave Europe after getting used to being here. Looking forward to some time in the US to catch up on the things I missed. I will be sure to post a wrap up entry on the blog when I get home..before the blog continues on August 15 from Florence, Italy!!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Guinness, Jameson, and Shamrocks
For the last two days, Stephen and I have been jetting around the last stop of our grand European tour: Dublin, Ireland. The city is the smallest we have visited so far, but it is certainly not short of things to see and do. After crossing back into the Schengen Space of European Union customs and receiving an Ireland stamp on our passports, we took a bus from the airport in the suburbs to the city center. Buses (double-decker) are the main source of public transportation in Dublin, the first city in which we have not used a subway rail system. Our hostel is centrally located, just steps from the gates of Trinity College (the most prestigious university in Ireland).
After settling into our last new accommodations on Monday, we took a bus out to Kilmainham Gaol. This prison, in operation from the 1700s until the mid 1920s, was home to many famous prisoners during British and Irish rule. Most importantly, it was the sight of the execution of 14 men in charge of the 1916 Easter Rising, which lead to the eventual freedom of the Irish State from the British Empire. The grounds are very haunting, and the tour was a great lesson about the prison and recent Irish history.
Next stop was the Guinness Storehouse, located in the city center where Guinness is still brewed after over 250 years. The ticket gets you a walking tour of how Guinness, the most famous Irish stout beer, is produced and the history of the brand. We learned new things about Guinness, including that it takes 119.5 seconds for the beer to be ready to drink from the tap. After 7 floors of exhibits, the tour culminates in the rooftop Gravity Bar. After cashing in on your complementary pint, you can take in the breathtaking views of Dublin and the surrounding counties from the windows. For lunch and dinner, we went to traditional Irish pubs and eat some famous Dublin pub grub. We finished the night out at The Quay Bar for a Guinness and some live music with the locals.
Today, we had another full day of sightseeing in Dublin. For 4 hours, we took a free walking tour of the city center with an Irish guide from Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. We saw all the famous places in the city including Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Leinster House (seat of the Irish Parliament), Christ Church Cathedral, River Leffe, and more. The tour was very thorough and exhausting, but the nice 60 degree some weather and constant gray cloud coverage really helps in Dublin.
After a lunch at the Stag's Head Pub, we went to the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery. The birthplace and production for over 200 years of Ireland's most famous whiskey, the John Jameson & Son experience was really interesting. On top of learning the history of the brand and the way it is made (over a 5-12 year period for each bottle!), we got to watch some "volunteers" taste test the difference between Jameson, Scotch, and Jack Daniel's. Needless to say, Jameson was the favorite. We also got a complementary mixed drink with Jameson Whiskey (I had it with ginger ale mmm).
Tonight is our last night in Dublin, so we will make the most of it with our dinner and pub hopping. Tomorrow its off to Western Ireland and Galway for the day, where we can see the Emerald Island and the Cliffs of Moher! Slainte!
After settling into our last new accommodations on Monday, we took a bus out to Kilmainham Gaol. This prison, in operation from the 1700s until the mid 1920s, was home to many famous prisoners during British and Irish rule. Most importantly, it was the sight of the execution of 14 men in charge of the 1916 Easter Rising, which lead to the eventual freedom of the Irish State from the British Empire. The grounds are very haunting, and the tour was a great lesson about the prison and recent Irish history.
Next stop was the Guinness Storehouse, located in the city center where Guinness is still brewed after over 250 years. The ticket gets you a walking tour of how Guinness, the most famous Irish stout beer, is produced and the history of the brand. We learned new things about Guinness, including that it takes 119.5 seconds for the beer to be ready to drink from the tap. After 7 floors of exhibits, the tour culminates in the rooftop Gravity Bar. After cashing in on your complementary pint, you can take in the breathtaking views of Dublin and the surrounding counties from the windows. For lunch and dinner, we went to traditional Irish pubs and eat some famous Dublin pub grub. We finished the night out at The Quay Bar for a Guinness and some live music with the locals.
Today, we had another full day of sightseeing in Dublin. For 4 hours, we took a free walking tour of the city center with an Irish guide from Donegal in the northwest of Ireland. We saw all the famous places in the city including Dublin Castle, Trinity College, Leinster House (seat of the Irish Parliament), Christ Church Cathedral, River Leffe, and more. The tour was very thorough and exhausting, but the nice 60 degree some weather and constant gray cloud coverage really helps in Dublin.
After a lunch at the Stag's Head Pub, we went to the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery. The birthplace and production for over 200 years of Ireland's most famous whiskey, the John Jameson & Son experience was really interesting. On top of learning the history of the brand and the way it is made (over a 5-12 year period for each bottle!), we got to watch some "volunteers" taste test the difference between Jameson, Scotch, and Jack Daniel's. Needless to say, Jameson was the favorite. We also got a complementary mixed drink with Jameson Whiskey (I had it with ginger ale mmm).
Tonight is our last night in Dublin, so we will make the most of it with our dinner and pub hopping. Tomorrow its off to Western Ireland and Galway for the day, where we can see the Emerald Island and the Cliffs of Moher! Slainte!
Oxford Style
Hello loyal followers! To begin my latest post, I received some good news today. I PASSED MY FRENCH PROFICIENCY EXAM. I can now rest in peace because, by some miracle, I can read and discuss a news article in French. What I came to Europe for the summer to accomplish finally has found its conclusion. YAY!!
Back to the present moment. On Sunday, we took the London national trains to Oxford, England for the day. Not only is this quaint city of 150,000 Brits home to one of the most prestigious universities in the whole world, it is also a center of culture and scenery. It was nice to spend some time outside of the major city of London, and this was the first time during our 2 week voyage that was outside of a major metropolitan area.
After stopping for a quick lunch, I quickly realized that many of the people in Oxford, England, were not speaking...English. It was evident that many young students were spending time in the city/university to learn English as a second language. One thing about the UK that is interesting is the fact that many people walk around the streets speaking languages other than English. It is a testament to the diverse cultural backgrounds of British citizens.
After lunch, we did a walking tour of the city (self-guided, of course, to save a a few pounds). It was very interesting to see the scene landscapes and medieval architecture of the more than 40 halls and colleges that cover Oxford's "campus." At the end of our day in the country, we took a stroll through the massive Hyde Park in London. Beyond the gardens, lakes, and various monuments (including one to Princess Diana of Wales), we finally ended up at Buckingham Palace. Seeing this majestic palace was the perfect close to our London experience...and it was a great one! Today, we arrived in Dublin, Ireland, after just a few hours of sleep but without any major travel delays. We've already had a busy day in Dublin, and I will be sure to update on my adventures here in a post soon! CHEERS.
Back to the present moment. On Sunday, we took the London national trains to Oxford, England for the day. Not only is this quaint city of 150,000 Brits home to one of the most prestigious universities in the whole world, it is also a center of culture and scenery. It was nice to spend some time outside of the major city of London, and this was the first time during our 2 week voyage that was outside of a major metropolitan area.
After stopping for a quick lunch, I quickly realized that many of the people in Oxford, England, were not speaking...English. It was evident that many young students were spending time in the city/university to learn English as a second language. One thing about the UK that is interesting is the fact that many people walk around the streets speaking languages other than English. It is a testament to the diverse cultural backgrounds of British citizens.
After lunch, we did a walking tour of the city (self-guided, of course, to save a a few pounds). It was very interesting to see the scene landscapes and medieval architecture of the more than 40 halls and colleges that cover Oxford's "campus." At the end of our day in the country, we took a stroll through the massive Hyde Park in London. Beyond the gardens, lakes, and various monuments (including one to Princess Diana of Wales), we finally ended up at Buckingham Palace. Seeing this majestic palace was the perfect close to our London experience...and it was a great one! Today, we arrived in Dublin, Ireland, after just a few hours of sleep but without any major travel delays. We've already had a busy day in Dublin, and I will be sure to update on my adventures here in a post soon! CHEERS.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
A Foggy Day in London Town
Friday was our first full day in London, and we really saw a lot of sights. After adjusting to our second new currency (the extremely valuable Sterling Pound), we hit the tube and the touristy places. We left our hostel in the posh Westminster section of the city for the opposite side of town to see the Tower of London. This structure and grounds were home to the British royals and city guards for over 500 years starting in the 11th century. Many famous kings and queens of Britain living here, and many royals and famous Brits were killed there (including Anne Boleyn and St. Thomas More) at the executioner's grounds. The Queen's Collection of Crown Jewels are located at the Tower of London as well. The famous Tower Bridge also borders the walls, which is often featured in films as London Bridge.
After stopping by St. Paul's Cathedral and grabbing lunch at a Pizza Express (we can finally read the menus and order in English again!), we toured two of Britain's famous and free-of-charge museums. The British Museum is home to many ancient artifacts, including the Rosetta Stone, Egyptian mummies, and pieces of the Greek Parthenon. Next, we went to the National Gallery of Art, which holds famous works like Van Gogh's Sunflowers and Van Eyck's Family Portrait. Trafalgar Square, the largest traffic circle in the city, lies at the base of this museum.
Towards the end of the day, we visited Piccadilly Circus in the heart of the city, which has large television screens and ads much like Times Square in NYC. After a quick detour to King's Cross to see Platform 9 3/4 of Harry Potter fame, we ate dinner at Leicester Square in a Mexican restaurant. Britain really does not have much of its own cuisine (though we ate dinner the night before at a pub with fish and chips), so it is nice to have a variety of cuisines to try here in the big city.
Today, we had another full day of tourist activities. We started our day at Westminster Abbey, sight of many coronations, marriages, and funerals of the British monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II was crowned here in 1953, and Lady Diana's funeral was held here in 1997 The structure is magnificent and full of history. The tombs of Queen Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots are in the center, with many other kings and queens surrounding them. Also buried at the Abbey are famous Brits such as Lewis Carroll, Lord Tennyson, Charles Darwin, and Isaac Newton.
A hop-skip-and-a-jump across town, we took advantage of another free Museum, the Tate Modern. It houses ultra modern works by many artists including Picasso and Lichtenstein. After stopping by the neighboring Globe Theatre of Shakespeare fame, we crossed the Millennium bridge to the other side of the Thames River. We concluded our day at Harrods, a gigantic luxury department store. It is hard to describe in words, but the fact that there is an "Egyptian Escalator" complete with a real live opera singer for entertainment to take you up and down the 6 floors may give you a hint. We purchased famous Harrods Whoopies macaroon treats and enjoyed them out in Hyde Park, the largest in the city.
Tonight, we are off to dinner and a pub crawl in the city. We've covered so much of the city already, so we will need to be creative in our plans for tomorrow. Monday morning it's off to Dublin! CHEERS!
Off the Old Continent
Hello loyal followers! I'm apologize for not updating in a few days, but it has certainly been busy here. We are now in London in the UK! I'll post a separate blog entry for London after this Madrid entry.
On our last day in Madrid, after our churros con chocolate (mmm), we went over to the Temple of Debob. This is a real Egyptian temple, exported to Spain for the country's assistance in a Nile River Flood in the late 20th century. After hopping on the metro through Plaza de España, we went to the Reina Sofia Museum. This former hospital holds many modern Spanish and European works, including Picasso's famous Guernica (pictured below). The museum is impressive in it's own architecture, and the glass walls and elevator banks provide spectacular views of the city.
We dined at a traditional Hispano-latin american restaurant for dinner and hit the town for just a small taste of Madrid night life. On Friday, we had a very early wakeup call for our flight to London. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed by more than 4 hours, and we did not land until 5pm in London. After arriving at Gatwick Airport, we had to go through customs (since the UK is not in the free European passport zone).
A long train ride and a few transfers on the tube (London underground subway) later, we arrived at our London hotel. Our room is 6 floors up without a lift (elevator), so it's a bit of a trek anytime we go up or down. Before doing a little laundry and catching up on some sleep after a long travel day, we went to Westminster at night to see Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey by moonlight. Read the next blog post for more of our British adventures!
On our last day in Madrid, after our churros con chocolate (mmm), we went over to the Temple of Debob. This is a real Egyptian temple, exported to Spain for the country's assistance in a Nile River Flood in the late 20th century. After hopping on the metro through Plaza de España, we went to the Reina Sofia Museum. This former hospital holds many modern Spanish and European works, including Picasso's famous Guernica (pictured below). The museum is impressive in it's own architecture, and the glass walls and elevator banks provide spectacular views of the city.
We dined at a traditional Hispano-latin american restaurant for dinner and hit the town for just a small taste of Madrid night life. On Friday, we had a very early wakeup call for our flight to London. Unfortunately, our flight was delayed by more than 4 hours, and we did not land until 5pm in London. After arriving at Gatwick Airport, we had to go through customs (since the UK is not in the free European passport zone).
A long train ride and a few transfers on the tube (London underground subway) later, we arrived at our London hotel. Our room is 6 floors up without a lift (elevator), so it's a bit of a trek anytime we go up or down. Before doing a little laundry and catching up on some sleep after a long travel day, we went to Westminster at night to see Big Ben, Parliament, and Westminster Abbey by moonlight. Read the next blog post for more of our British adventures!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
The New York City of Spain
With over 5 million people and lots of major streets full of traffic, some people refer to Madrid as the "New York City of Spain" (or Europe for that matter. The public transportation system is intricate, and the sidewalks are full of people in Madrid. It is a very different feeling than Barcelona here. There are older buildings with lots of history, and Madrid is much more of the Spain one would expect.
Our first full day in the city was full of tourist sights. We started our day at the Catedral de la Almudena, a large church that faces the Royal Palace. Construction lasted for almost 100 years, and it was only completed in the last 20. Next, we moved on to the Palacio Real, where many of the great kings of Spain lived up until the 20th century. Today it is a museum and open for tours. Luckily it was only 3.50 euros for students, and so far this is the only tourist sight that we have had to pay for in Madrid!
After lunch at a cervezeria (beer and food cafe), we went to Park El Retiro. This picturesque park in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city is home to a large lake where you can paddle boat. Stephen and I took a few laps around the lake, and below is a picture of a large monument at the center. In the evening, we took advantage of free entrance 2 hours before closing at the Museo del Prado, the Spanish Louvre. We saw some of the works of El Greco, Goya, and Velasquez...for free! After dinner, we we walked through some neighborhoods in Chechua before settling in at a pub for a few hours.
Today is our last day in Madrid. We started off the morning - or mid-afternoon I should say - with wonderful and inexpensive churros con chocolate. Off to see more sights of Madrid today!
Our first full day in the city was full of tourist sights. We started our day at the Catedral de la Almudena, a large church that faces the Royal Palace. Construction lasted for almost 100 years, and it was only completed in the last 20. Next, we moved on to the Palacio Real, where many of the great kings of Spain lived up until the 20th century. Today it is a museum and open for tours. Luckily it was only 3.50 euros for students, and so far this is the only tourist sight that we have had to pay for in Madrid!
After lunch at a cervezeria (beer and food cafe), we went to Park El Retiro. This picturesque park in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city is home to a large lake where you can paddle boat. Stephen and I took a few laps around the lake, and below is a picture of a large monument at the center. In the evening, we took advantage of free entrance 2 hours before closing at the Museo del Prado, the Spanish Louvre. We saw some of the works of El Greco, Goya, and Velasquez...for free! After dinner, we we walked through some neighborhoods in Chechua before settling in at a pub for a few hours.
Today is our last day in Madrid. We started off the morning - or mid-afternoon I should say - with wonderful and inexpensive churros con chocolate. Off to see more sights of Madrid today!
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
BCN --> MAD
On Sunday, we spent the whole day at the beach in Barcelona. The sun was bright, the water was blue, and the people were out vacationing in droves. It's not quite the same experience as a Florida beach, but the Mediterranean provides enough sun and sand for an entire day of fun. We had dinner at a small street café for a good price, and we had our first of two large Sangria pitchers for the night. If Spain had a national drink, it would be Sangria. If Sangria had a standard size, it would be pitcher at smallest.
Later that night, Stephen and I returned to the Plaça de Espanya to catch the light and water shower at the Font Màgica. This brilliant display of color and lights took place at the base of the National Art Museum, and it was very difficult to capture its awe in photos. See the pictures below for my best efforts.
On Monday, we trekked up a large hill in Barcelona to see another work of famous architect Gaudi, Park Güell. Situated with a great view of the city, the interesting architecture and design was definitely worth the 200 meter hill climb. Plus the park entrance was free. Later in the day, we stopped for lunch at, where else but, McDonald's. I was really happy because I used French to order my food because the cashier spoke it a little, so I did not have struggle in Catalan. After some light shopping (mostly for the air conditioning in the stores), we made our way to the airport. Our flight to Madrid was over an hour late, the second time so far we've had late departures!
After landing in Madrid, we took the city's clean and efficient metro to our hotel from the airport for just 2 euros. Our hostel is centrally located at the Puerto del Sol in the center of the city. Before calling it a night after a long day, we had a quick bite to eat at a turkish restaurant and finished off a 3 litro tube of sangria. mmm. Off to see the sights in Madrid today, ADIOS!
Later that night, Stephen and I returned to the Plaça de Espanya to catch the light and water shower at the Font Màgica. This brilliant display of color and lights took place at the base of the National Art Museum, and it was very difficult to capture its awe in photos. See the pictures below for my best efforts.
On Monday, we trekked up a large hill in Barcelona to see another work of famous architect Gaudi, Park Güell. Situated with a great view of the city, the interesting architecture and design was definitely worth the 200 meter hill climb. Plus the park entrance was free. Later in the day, we stopped for lunch at, where else but, McDonald's. I was really happy because I used French to order my food because the cashier spoke it a little, so I did not have struggle in Catalan. After some light shopping (mostly for the air conditioning in the stores), we made our way to the airport. Our flight to Madrid was over an hour late, the second time so far we've had late departures!
After landing in Madrid, we took the city's clean and efficient metro to our hotel from the airport for just 2 euros. Our hostel is centrally located at the Puerto del Sol in the center of the city. Before calling it a night after a long day, we had a quick bite to eat at a turkish restaurant and finished off a 3 litro tube of sangria. mmm. Off to see the sights in Madrid today, ADIOS!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Basilicas and Beaches
Our first full day in Barcelona was amazing to say the least. After sleeping in a little, we had a jam-packed tourist day.
After a quick visit to the National Cathedral that is under massive renovation, we started off at the Familia Sagrada, a church that has been under construction for over 100 years. The work of a famous Barcelonean architect by the name of Gaudi, the massive structure is still under construction today and should be completed by 2026. In fact, it is the world's most visited construction sight.
After seeing the interior and exterior of the massive art-deco church, we took an elevator ride to the top. The views of the 8 completed turrets (10 more to go!) and the skyline of Barcelona were breathtaking. It was a little frightening to walk all the way day from the towering heights, but the pictures were more than worth the stress.
Next, we went to the National Museum of Art of Barcelona. This castle-like building is on the top of a hill at the Plaça de Espanya. It was built in the 1920s for a world exposition and has been a museum since the 1930s. We saw a few Picasso and Dali paintings there, among the works of many Spanish artists. It has been a little tricky dealing with the language here. In Barcelona, they speak Catalan not Spanish. It is a strange mix of Spanish, Portuguese, Occitan, and French.
Finally, we ended up at the beach. The Mediterranean was beautiful, and we will be spending the entire day there today. We ate at a chic restaurant called Attic for dinner, with a mix of traditional and modern foods. We went to a very unique and interesting bar in the local Wax Museum, filled with dim lighting and cool decorations. Before calling it a night, we joined in a music festival outside our hotel. We really didn't have much of an option considering we could hear the loud music and people from our room anyways. Off to the beach, adéu!
After a quick visit to the National Cathedral that is under massive renovation, we started off at the Familia Sagrada, a church that has been under construction for over 100 years. The work of a famous Barcelonean architect by the name of Gaudi, the massive structure is still under construction today and should be completed by 2026. In fact, it is the world's most visited construction sight.
After seeing the interior and exterior of the massive art-deco church, we took an elevator ride to the top. The views of the 8 completed turrets (10 more to go!) and the skyline of Barcelona were breathtaking. It was a little frightening to walk all the way day from the towering heights, but the pictures were more than worth the stress.
Next, we went to the National Museum of Art of Barcelona. This castle-like building is on the top of a hill at the Plaça de Espanya. It was built in the 1920s for a world exposition and has been a museum since the 1930s. We saw a few Picasso and Dali paintings there, among the works of many Spanish artists. It has been a little tricky dealing with the language here. In Barcelona, they speak Catalan not Spanish. It is a strange mix of Spanish, Portuguese, Occitan, and French.
Finally, we ended up at the beach. The Mediterranean was beautiful, and we will be spending the entire day there today. We ate at a chic restaurant called Attic for dinner, with a mix of traditional and modern foods. We went to a very unique and interesting bar in the local Wax Museum, filled with dim lighting and cool decorations. Before calling it a night, we joined in a music festival outside our hotel. We really didn't have much of an option considering we could hear the loud music and people from our room anyways. Off to the beach, adéu!
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Au revoir, Paris. Hola, España!
So, Stephen finally arrived in Europe! It was a long trip coming, but now there is a little St. Catherine/Jesuit/New Orleans reunion on the old continent. We spent our first 3 days in Paris, and it was quite the whirlwind. Since I have grown used to living there, it was easy for me to show him the city in a very quick manner. We saw the Louvre (Mona Lisa included), Eiffel Tower (climbed it), Arc de Triomphe, Sacré Coeur, Montmartre, Concorde, Latin Quarter, Notre Dame, and had plenty of good eats (crepes, fondue, croque madames). Overall, it was a fun little tourist visit to Paris, but I was more than ready to leave the City of Lights behind.
After a long day on public transportation and airplanes, Stephen and I finally arrived in Spain! We landed in Barcelona about an hour behind schedule, but we eventually made our way through the city to our hostel. Thankfully, we have our own room and space, and we quickly settled in. Before we knew it, it was 11:30pm and we had not eaten dinner. No worries, because in Spain dinner has barely started by that time. We had a wonderful American dinner at, none other than, the Hard Rock Cafe. We are pretty exhausted, but we are spending a full day seeing the touristy sights tomorrow. Catalan and Spanish are difficult for us, but luckily lots of the locals know some English. Viva Barcelona!
After a long day on public transportation and airplanes, Stephen and I finally arrived in Spain! We landed in Barcelona about an hour behind schedule, but we eventually made our way through the city to our hostel. Thankfully, we have our own room and space, and we quickly settled in. Before we knew it, it was 11:30pm and we had not eaten dinner. No worries, because in Spain dinner has barely started by that time. We had a wonderful American dinner at, none other than, the Hard Rock Cafe. We are pretty exhausted, but we are spending a full day seeing the touristy sights tomorrow. Catalan and Spanish are difficult for us, but luckily lots of the locals know some English. Viva Barcelona!
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Chapter 2
Well, that's all folks. Yesterday, I took my proficiency exam in French. It was a really difficult article on the banning of the burqa and niqab in France, and there is nothing I can do except wait for the results in a week or two. Luckily, we also received our final presentation grades. I did pretty well, despite the harsh critique of my exposé depth and pronunciation skills. What's done is done, and last night the group celebrated in style. Many of the students are off to America today, and others like me will be traveling Europe with family or friends.
Stephen arrives from the United States tomorrow! It's going to absolutely amazing to experience Europe for 2 weeks from a traveler's perspective instead of from that of a busy and hard-working college student. It's 3 days in Paris, including Bastille Day tomorrow, and then we're off to the rest of our journey in Spain, London, and Dublin.
While this program in Paris was not exactly what I wanted or expected, I certainly can be proud of myself for how far I have come. I moved to a new country for six weeks. I lived with a host family and communicated with them in French. I made great strides in my language skills, and I feel that I can finally function in a foreign language. I meet some great people from Georgetown who I would not have had the chance to meet otherwise. I lived in a beautiful city with everything you could possibly want from the largest metropolitan area on continental Europe. Overall, it was a great experience in Paris, but I am ready to move on to the next chapter. First stop: a grand tour of Western Europe!
Stephen arrives from the United States tomorrow! It's going to absolutely amazing to experience Europe for 2 weeks from a traveler's perspective instead of from that of a busy and hard-working college student. It's 3 days in Paris, including Bastille Day tomorrow, and then we're off to the rest of our journey in Spain, London, and Dublin.
While this program in Paris was not exactly what I wanted or expected, I certainly can be proud of myself for how far I have come. I moved to a new country for six weeks. I lived with a host family and communicated with them in French. I made great strides in my language skills, and I feel that I can finally function in a foreign language. I meet some great people from Georgetown who I would not have had the chance to meet otherwise. I lived in a beautiful city with everything you could possibly want from the largest metropolitan area on continental Europe. Overall, it was a great experience in Paris, but I am ready to move on to the next chapter. First stop: a grand tour of Western Europe!
Friday, July 9, 2010
FINISHED!!
I just got back from my final presentation! It went really well for what I was expecting from myself. The panel of seven professors seemed to be very interested in what I had to say. I understood most of the questions they asked me after, and they were impressed with my french when I told them that I have only taken it since I have been at Georgetown. Also, they were interested in my roots in New Orleans/Louisiana as part of the Francophone world.
I can't believe classes are officially over in Paris! Off to celebrate on the Seine with our program coordinator (a young Parisian man who sets up our daily programming). I will be taking in as much of Paris this last weekend before my proficiency exam Monday. I will try to speak as much french as possible to get ready, but it really will just come down to the moment!
Paris, je t'aime!
I can't believe classes are officially over in Paris! Off to celebrate on the Seine with our program coordinator (a young Parisian man who sets up our daily programming). I will be taking in as much of Paris this last weekend before my proficiency exam Monday. I will try to speak as much french as possible to get ready, but it really will just come down to the moment!
Paris, je t'aime!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
La chaleur...
The heat wave is back in Paris, and it is unbearable once again. Tomorrow, during my final presentation, it will probably be about 90 degrees with no air conditioning. Since I am the second to last to present out of 19 students, maybe I will get lucky and the jury of professors will pass out before I have to take my turn.
Yesterday, after our final class, we went to the Musée d'Orsay. This former train station is home to 18th-19th century art and has millions of visitors annually. On our guided tour in French, we saw the likes of Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Claude Monet. The museum itself it a work of art with its high ceilings and early 20th century architecture. You are not allowed to take pictures inside, but luckily I snuck a view without getting caught.
At this time tomorrow, I will be starting my final exposition. I think that I am as ready as I can be, but I will be sure to work on the presentation some more over the next 24 hours. After this, classes will officially be finished, and then I have to weekend off to finally relax in Paris and prepare as much as possible for my French language proficiency exam Monday morning. Can't wait for the program to end and to start the next chapter of my European adventures in 2010!
Yesterday, after our final class, we went to the Musée d'Orsay. This former train station is home to 18th-19th century art and has millions of visitors annually. On our guided tour in French, we saw the likes of Edgar Degas, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Claude Monet. The museum itself it a work of art with its high ceilings and early 20th century architecture. You are not allowed to take pictures inside, but luckily I snuck a view without getting caught.
At this time tomorrow, I will be starting my final exposition. I think that I am as ready as I can be, but I will be sure to work on the presentation some more over the next 24 hours. After this, classes will officially be finished, and then I have to weekend off to finally relax in Paris and prepare as much as possible for my French language proficiency exam Monday morning. Can't wait for the program to end and to start the next chapter of my European adventures in 2010!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
The City of Lights
July 4th in France was an interesting experience. It was my first time out of the country for the celebration, but we did it in style. After American lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe - Paris (thank you Mom & Dad for footing the bill!), we gathered at a friends apartment to spend time together as a group. It was amazing to get to know my Georgetown - Paris friends more outside the confines of class, and what better day to do so than Independence Day.
I promise in my two days off from the blog that I have been very busy. Aside from working on two presentations, I had a politics quiz. Finally got a good grade on something in Paris. Wait, it's only the second assignment we've received back with a grade on it, oops. Anyways, my practice presentation of my final exposé went well considering, and I will be sure to practice it a lot more before my turn arrives on Friday afternoon. Tomorrow is my very last class (language in the morning) before we head to our last cultural visit at the Musée d'Orsay in the afternoon. It's hard to believe that my program will be over for real in less than just a week, but there is still a long way to go with the concluding tests.
For the past two days, some friends from Georgetown were in Paris after completing their intensive German language summer program in Trier on the German-French border. It was nice to have some fellow Hoyas in town to show around Paris without the stress of our French program. Last night, we explored the Bastille neighborhood. Tonight, we saw Sacre Coeur, watching the Netherlands-Uruguay game at a local bar with a great late happy hour (GO PAYS-BAS), and climbed the Eiffel Tower at night. There really is no experience quite like taking that elevator ride up at night to see the city. The best part is when the Tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour at night.
Things are finally starting to reach their end in Paris for my program and time here, and it will be strange to leave. I feel like I have become a resident of this beautiful place, but I am also ready for a new adventure. Less than a week until my best friend from too long to remember from New Orleans arrives, and I cannot wait to travel Europe without classes/work hanging over my head. Wish my luck in my presentations!
I promise in my two days off from the blog that I have been very busy. Aside from working on two presentations, I had a politics quiz. Finally got a good grade on something in Paris. Wait, it's only the second assignment we've received back with a grade on it, oops. Anyways, my practice presentation of my final exposé went well considering, and I will be sure to practice it a lot more before my turn arrives on Friday afternoon. Tomorrow is my very last class (language in the morning) before we head to our last cultural visit at the Musée d'Orsay in the afternoon. It's hard to believe that my program will be over for real in less than just a week, but there is still a long way to go with the concluding tests.
For the past two days, some friends from Georgetown were in Paris after completing their intensive German language summer program in Trier on the German-French border. It was nice to have some fellow Hoyas in town to show around Paris without the stress of our French program. Last night, we explored the Bastille neighborhood. Tonight, we saw Sacre Coeur, watching the Netherlands-Uruguay game at a local bar with a great late happy hour (GO PAYS-BAS), and climbed the Eiffel Tower at night. There really is no experience quite like taking that elevator ride up at night to see the city. The best part is when the Tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour on the hour at night.
Things are finally starting to reach their end in Paris for my program and time here, and it will be strange to leave. I feel like I have become a resident of this beautiful place, but I am also ready for a new adventure. Less than a week until my best friend from too long to remember from New Orleans arrives, and I cannot wait to travel Europe without classes/work hanging over my head. Wish my luck in my presentations!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
The Home Stretch
Other than the scorching Parisian heat, not much has happened the past two days. On Friday, we spent the whole day in class just trying to stay awake despite the 90+ degree classrooms. Today, I spent the majority of my day writing and working on my finale presentation topic. After typing over 4 pages of french in single-space and creating a powerpoint, I was too exhausted to function. It is very consuming to think and work in a language that is not your native tongue, and I definitely get tired of all the French sometimes. I did purchase the 7th Harry Potter book in French recently to work on my language skills and brush up on the book before the next movie comes out.
Tomorrow is July 4th! My first one outside of the United States, but I hope to celebrate with some friends by finding a restaurant with real American cuisine. Hard Rock, anyone? As we gear up for the end of the program, I am really going to make an effort stating on Monday to build up my French skills before my final presentation and proficiency exam. It is only to my detriment to use English while I am in France, so forgive me if I am a little slow to post on my blog. Plus, we actually have real work for my program this last week!
Happy 4th from Paris, and make sure to have a hot dog or three for me!
Tomorrow is July 4th! My first one outside of the United States, but I hope to celebrate with some friends by finding a restaurant with real American cuisine. Hard Rock, anyone? As we gear up for the end of the program, I am really going to make an effort stating on Monday to build up my French skills before my final presentation and proficiency exam. It is only to my detriment to use English while I am in France, so forgive me if I am a little slow to post on my blog. Plus, we actually have real work for my program this last week!
Happy 4th from Paris, and make sure to have a hot dog or three for me!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
AIR CONDITIONING, S'IL VOUS PLAÎT
The thing I miss the most about America (other than real cheeseburgers and french fries), AIR CONDITIONING. It has been in the high 80s and low 90s this entire week in Paris, and it is not excepted to let up until Saturday at the earliest. Almost nowhere in Paris is air conditioned indoors, and the few places that are have too many people inside to be enjoyable. Starting on June 30, Paris also descended into a crazy period of time known as the "Soldes" or sales. Almost every store slashes prices from 20-70% on almost every item. Imagine walking into a store or a mall with this kind of craziness...without climatisation (A/C). The next three week days, we have back-to-back classes from 10am-4:30pm, and the lack of air conditioning in the classrooms is sure to force a few students to faint.
In other news, yesterday our class took a field trip to the Louvre finally! It is an incredible building, which was converted to a museum from the royal palace during the French Revolution. There really is too much to see in one day, but we did our best to cover some ground during the evening from 6:30-9:30pm. We saw famous works of art such as the Venus de Milo, Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, and, of course, da Vinci's La Jaconde. The Mona Lisa is just as small and disappointing as everyone says it is, have no fear.
After the trip to the museum, we went to a café in the 1er (first) arrondissement, which is close to the Louve and the center of Paris. An authentic french onion soup and 10 euros later, we went to the Fête de Tuileries. This carnival in the large gardens adjacent to the Louvre lasts for two months in the summer, and it is very similar to an American fair. Plenty of little rides, ice cream stands, food carts, and boardwalk games. It was like a little piece of Americana in Paris.
Today, we had the morning off before our cultural visit to OECD. Out of exhaustion, I slept in instead of getting up, but I am certain that my body needed the rest after these last few busy days and all the sun/heat. OECD is an international organization that seeks to create fewer trade barriers and more economic cooperation among its 31 member states. It is located in a very posh neighborhood in the 16th, and its international headquarters are at the Château de la Muette in Paris. The headquarters were very modern, and we heard three different presenters on different international economic subjects. You can read more about the organization here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Development
Tomorrow, its double classes and then a long weekend to catch up on all my work! Also, we will be sure to remember to celebrate the Fourth of July on Sunday!
In other news, yesterday our class took a field trip to the Louvre finally! It is an incredible building, which was converted to a museum from the royal palace during the French Revolution. There really is too much to see in one day, but we did our best to cover some ground during the evening from 6:30-9:30pm. We saw famous works of art such as the Venus de Milo, Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, and, of course, da Vinci's La Jaconde. The Mona Lisa is just as small and disappointing as everyone says it is, have no fear.
After the trip to the museum, we went to a café in the 1er (first) arrondissement, which is close to the Louve and the center of Paris. An authentic french onion soup and 10 euros later, we went to the Fête de Tuileries. This carnival in the large gardens adjacent to the Louvre lasts for two months in the summer, and it is very similar to an American fair. Plenty of little rides, ice cream stands, food carts, and boardwalk games. It was like a little piece of Americana in Paris.
Today, we had the morning off before our cultural visit to OECD. Out of exhaustion, I slept in instead of getting up, but I am certain that my body needed the rest after these last few busy days and all the sun/heat. OECD is an international organization that seeks to create fewer trade barriers and more economic cooperation among its 31 member states. It is located in a very posh neighborhood in the 16th, and its international headquarters are at the Château de la Muette in Paris. The headquarters were very modern, and we heard three different presenters on different international economic subjects. You can read more about the organization here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_for_Economic_Co-operation_and_Development
Tomorrow, its double classes and then a long weekend to catch up on all my work! Also, we will be sure to remember to celebrate the Fourth of July on Sunday!
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