I am back in Barcelona! And thanks to my amazing friends, I feel at home thousands of miles away from Abilene. Love yall!
Today, I joined a gym!!! After an hour on the eliptical, I finally feel like myself. The world seems much brighter now...haha... Also, I think this will be the perfect place to meet Spanish people and practice the language. Yes!!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Today
Today has been a normal but wonderful day. I woke up late and got ready to hit the city. My first stop was Estacio Norte (North Station)--the train station. (I love the city of Valencia, but I am having a harder time making friends. Since my friends are so amazing in Barcelona, I will go back on Saturday.) While at the ticket counter, the cashier flirted with me relentlessly! Before I received my ticket, I had to give him my phone number. haha... He wants to take me out for coffee--what a great opportunity to practice my Spanish!! After that wonderful experience, I bought a trashy romance novel just so I could practice reading Spanish in my alone time...this should be hilarious...I can´t understand a third of the words. Next...lunch...class...and who knows what else...
Overall, my state of mind is good. My friend and I are on a mission to get fit and eat well. So far so good. Also, I am really excited about returning to Barcelona--I plan on joining a gym for a month and learning salsa at a nearby club. In addition, I am going to become a regular at one of the cafes so that I can practice Spanish with the locals. It is time to step up and learn this language.
Sorry that my posts are so infrequent and that I have been bad at communicating with everyone...I rarely have access to the internet...
By the way...I am always trying to think in Spanish..as a result...my English is terrible!!!
Overall, my state of mind is good. My friend and I are on a mission to get fit and eat well. So far so good. Also, I am really excited about returning to Barcelona--I plan on joining a gym for a month and learning salsa at a nearby club. In addition, I am going to become a regular at one of the cafes so that I can practice Spanish with the locals. It is time to step up and learn this language.
Sorry that my posts are so infrequent and that I have been bad at communicating with everyone...I rarely have access to the internet...
By the way...I am always trying to think in Spanish..as a result...my English is terrible!!!
Vitamin D
I must say...the beach here is beautiful!! Several mornings I have had the luxury of passing time on the shores of the Mediterranean! Gorgeous! Thanks to the warm breeze, I feel at peace with everything. Thanks to the sun, I am receiving my daily dose of vitamin D. Thanks to the grandeur of the ocean, I understand the power of my God.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
War Zone
So...
I am now in Valencia!! It is always kinda hard to switch cities...new friends...new home...new metro system! Fortunately, I have a good feeling about this city...
Right now, I am living with a precious woman, Carmen! She lives in a beautiful, spacious apartment near the city center! Muy bien! The school is 20 minutes (by metro) from my house...that is kinda far...oh well...
I have classes from 3-7pm. No me gusta. Hopefully I can switch to morning classes next week.
So far I have made some new friends and have plans to go out tonight! Yeah! By the way...this week is Las Fallas here in Valencia. You should google it... So far, my understanding is that this is a week long celebration where different clubs within the city build massive floats, parade them around the city, and burn them to the ground on Friday. This is such a BIG deal...the city has over 2 million visitors...and, as you can imagine, the city is swarming with activity 24hrs a day. Also...Valencia is well known for their fireworks...these fireworks are appreciated for their sound...not necessarily their looks....so they go off three times a day...6am, 2pm, and 1am!! I feel like I am in a war zone. haha...
I am now in Valencia!! It is always kinda hard to switch cities...new friends...new home...new metro system! Fortunately, I have a good feeling about this city...
Right now, I am living with a precious woman, Carmen! She lives in a beautiful, spacious apartment near the city center! Muy bien! The school is 20 minutes (by metro) from my house...that is kinda far...oh well...
I have classes from 3-7pm. No me gusta. Hopefully I can switch to morning classes next week.
So far I have made some new friends and have plans to go out tonight! Yeah! By the way...this week is Las Fallas here in Valencia. You should google it... So far, my understanding is that this is a week long celebration where different clubs within the city build massive floats, parade them around the city, and burn them to the ground on Friday. This is such a BIG deal...the city has over 2 million visitors...and, as you can imagine, the city is swarming with activity 24hrs a day. Also...Valencia is well known for their fireworks...these fireworks are appreciated for their sound...not necessarily their looks....so they go off three times a day...6am, 2pm, and 1am!! I feel like I am in a war zone. haha...
Monday, March 8, 2010
Montserrat
So I visited Montserrat on Saturday with my friends from Barcelona. It is one of my favorite places so far. I found this info on the web:
"Montserrat is a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat about one hour North West from Barcelona by train.
Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breathtaking.
The history of Montserrat is fascinating and started in 880 when a small group of shepherd children saw a bright light descending from the sky in the Montserrat mountains. In the same moment the children heard angels singing and the music filled their hearts with a radiant joy.
Overwhelmed by the experience the children ran home to frantically recall the experience to their parents. The parents were sceptical but knew their children were trustworthy and honest and so they went to where the children had experienced the visions to see if they could see what all the fuss was about.
For the whole month following the first visitation the parents were also witness to the same heavenly experiences and were left with only one conclusion. The visions were a sign from God.
A local vicar was brought to the scene and witnessed the same experiences as the children and parents. The visions occurred in the same location in a cave on Montserrat mountain. When this cave was explored by the religious elders of the community they found an image of the Virgin Mary. And from that moment on the cave became a holy sanctuary for religious pilgrims.":
"Montserrat is a spectacularly beautiful Benedictine monk mountain retreat about one hour North West from Barcelona by train.
Not only is Montserrat Monastery of significant religious importance but the natural beauty surrounding the monastery is simply breathtaking.
The history of Montserrat is fascinating and started in 880 when a small group of shepherd children saw a bright light descending from the sky in the Montserrat mountains. In the same moment the children heard angels singing and the music filled their hearts with a radiant joy.
Overwhelmed by the experience the children ran home to frantically recall the experience to their parents. The parents were sceptical but knew their children were trustworthy and honest and so they went to where the children had experienced the visions to see if they could see what all the fuss was about.
For the whole month following the first visitation the parents were also witness to the same heavenly experiences and were left with only one conclusion. The visions were a sign from God.
A local vicar was brought to the scene and witnessed the same experiences as the children and parents. The visions occurred in the same location in a cave on Montserrat mountain. When this cave was explored by the religious elders of the community they found an image of the Virgin Mary. And from that moment on the cave became a holy sanctuary for religious pilgrims.":
7 March 2010--Cute Italian Waiter
Last Friday night, my friend Eubee and I went to The Attic, my favorite restaurant here in BCN. Our waiter was a cute Italian boy who waited on us hand and foot. Later he presented us with the bill...and his number. No big deal right?
After the marathon this morning, we went to The Attic once again to celebrate...Our waiter was there! This time, he surprised each of us with a glass of champagne. So Sweet!! Before we left, he dropped a note off at my place...he wanted to get a drink with us after work. Good deal!
We met up with him later this eveing and had a lovely time talking about life, Italy, BCN, and everythign else in between...
P.S. His name was Fabio...
After the marathon this morning, we went to The Attic once again to celebrate...Our waiter was there! This time, he surprised each of us with a glass of champagne. So Sweet!! Before we left, he dropped a note off at my place...he wanted to get a drink with us after work. Good deal!
We met up with him later this eveing and had a lovely time talking about life, Italy, BCN, and everythign else in between...
P.S. His name was Fabio...
7 March 2010--The Barcelona Marathon
Wow...can't believe I did it! Over 42 kilometers...26.2 miles...
To be completely honest...my heart and mind were not in the right place for the race. I was feeling insecure and inadequate the entire week before; I really, truly doubted myself. But, as always, God carried me through. Everytime I thought about quiting or catching the metro back home, He would give me a downhill stent, a water station, friends cheering me on, or random people calling out my name...the message was the same...don't quit. I kept telling myself...you are too strong to give up...but I didn't believe it. Instead, the truth was...sometimes the best you can do is just not quit.
At mile 8, my knees started to hurt, but I could ignore it. At mile 13, I felt strong and energized!! I was pacing under 4 hours and was very encouraged by my progress. By 15, I was in severe pain. By 18, I was ready to quit. This was the moment where my mind gave up...for fifteen seconds my feet slowed and I drew closer to the metro entrance...my exit. I don't know why I kept going...I guess I just didn't know how to quit. At 19, I knew I had come too far to stop--I was practically there. (HA!!! I couldn't have been more wrong!) Mile 21 held a sweet surprise for my...my friends were in front of the Arc de Trimof screaming my name. Ok...I could do this. The next couple miles were miserable...so much pain...so much doubt...and a bit of fear. When there was 0.8 miles left to go, I set my eyes on the goal, turned off my mind, and ran. As I entered Placa Espanya (the 0.1 mile mark from the finish line), something inside me snapped. I began to pick up speed...and the plaguing pain in my knees fled...at 4hrs. 38 mins., I finished my first marathon. My time was slower than I wanted...but I did not train for the race...and the pain was so great...
I still can't believe I finished...
A HUGE thanks to God for being with me every step of the way. And to my friends, Eubee, Krystal, Jewels, Kelly, and Magnus... I could not have done it without your cheers, signs and support...you guys are the greatest!!!!
To be completely honest...my heart and mind were not in the right place for the race. I was feeling insecure and inadequate the entire week before; I really, truly doubted myself. But, as always, God carried me through. Everytime I thought about quiting or catching the metro back home, He would give me a downhill stent, a water station, friends cheering me on, or random people calling out my name...the message was the same...don't quit. I kept telling myself...you are too strong to give up...but I didn't believe it. Instead, the truth was...sometimes the best you can do is just not quit.
At mile 8, my knees started to hurt, but I could ignore it. At mile 13, I felt strong and energized!! I was pacing under 4 hours and was very encouraged by my progress. By 15, I was in severe pain. By 18, I was ready to quit. This was the moment where my mind gave up...for fifteen seconds my feet slowed and I drew closer to the metro entrance...my exit. I don't know why I kept going...I guess I just didn't know how to quit. At 19, I knew I had come too far to stop--I was practically there. (HA!!! I couldn't have been more wrong!) Mile 21 held a sweet surprise for my...my friends were in front of the Arc de Trimof screaming my name. Ok...I could do this. The next couple miles were miserable...so much pain...so much doubt...and a bit of fear. When there was 0.8 miles left to go, I set my eyes on the goal, turned off my mind, and ran. As I entered Placa Espanya (the 0.1 mile mark from the finish line), something inside me snapped. I began to pick up speed...and the plaguing pain in my knees fled...at 4hrs. 38 mins., I finished my first marathon. My time was slower than I wanted...but I did not train for the race...and the pain was so great...
I still can't believe I finished...
A HUGE thanks to God for being with me every step of the way. And to my friends, Eubee, Krystal, Jewels, Kelly, and Magnus... I could not have done it without your cheers, signs and support...you guys are the greatest!!!!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Barca 2 : Malaga 1---We WON!!!
Wow! Europeans know how to do futbol!! Barca plays in the largest stadium in Europe, and they fill it each game! (About 100,000 people!) The game itself was closer than expected; no one scored in the first half, and during the second, the score was tied 1 to 1. AY! With two minutes left in the game, Barca scored for the win!! YEAH! You should have seen the fans! They go crazy! (I will post pictures as soon as I get my computer fixed.)
Last night I went to La Ovella Negra, the most popular bar for foreigners in BCN. I met SO MANY people including a very handsome aerospace engineer from Luxembourg! I LOVE BCN...haha
Here in Spain, it is not uncommon to sit at the dinner table and have Spanish, English, French, German, and Dutch being spoken at the same time! I really wish I could speak four or five languages!!!
Ok...pictures to come...
Last night I went to La Ovella Negra, the most popular bar for foreigners in BCN. I met SO MANY people including a very handsome aerospace engineer from Luxembourg! I LOVE BCN...haha
Here in Spain, it is not uncommon to sit at the dinner table and have Spanish, English, French, German, and Dutch being spoken at the same time! I really wish I could speak four or five languages!!!
Ok...pictures to come...
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