Hi all,
This blog will most definitely be one of the hardest to write, as I was in Italy for a week, and visited so many historic and beautiful cities. The excursion started out pretty rough, as we had to be up at 4 AM on Thursday morning, and slept a total of ZERO hours due to some girls partying and laughing in our apartment. This was not easy, as travelling with no sleep is extremely difficult, and sleep is not easy to come by when you are travelling. We got to the airport on time, and realized that we were on the same flight as 2 of our girlfriends in our program, and would be in Rome and Florence on the same nights. We arrived in Rome and went straight to our friend Lindsay's apartment, who we go to Cal Poly with, as we were staying with her. After we put our stuff in the apartment, we reunited with Nicole and Kelly, and another friend named Taylor who studies in Rome. Taylor was awesome and took us around Rome, which made it possible to see as much as we did.
We started the day visiting the Colosseum, which was great to see, and very historical. We walked around the surrounding of the Colosseum, and refreshed are memories about the history behind the historic monument, which I will not get into via the blog. We then ate our first Italian meal, and a family owned restaurant nearby the Colosseum. Absolutely incredible pasta sampler, which was 4 different types of pasta, and of course, red wine. The meal was so amazing, and so fun. Although we were enjoying our meal, we needed to visit many more sites. We then went on a turbo mission around Rome, visiting sites such as the The Pantheon, the roman ruins, and Piazza novana. These sites were all very beautiful and amazing to see, and I would love to show you pictures of each and everyone of them.
After this long day of exploring Rome and all of its historical monuments, we needed a quick nap before heading out for a long night. We decided to pick up pizzas near Lindsay's house, which was a great midnight snack to come home to. The nightlife in other European cities does not compare to the nightlife in Barcelona, but is also a great change. We went to 2 different bars, one called Sloppy Sam's, and the other called Scholars. Scholars was a great Irish bar, in which we spent both nights there, singing and enjoying a live band as well as great music played by a DJ. Nate and I, were lucky enough to be accompanied by 2 young ladies, so the night was even that much more enjoyable. HAHAHAHA.
The next day, Friday, was one of my most favorite days of my experiences abroad thus far. We woke up in the morning, and met up with our friend Nicole (Kegley) who studies in Barcelona. One of the best purchases/investments we made throughout our trip was booking a private tour of the Vatican, in which a lady walked us around the museum and the Sisteen Chapel. For a total of 3 1/2 hours, we had an amazing and funny tour guide who talked through a headset, in which we all had sets as well. This was so funny, as the tour guides code name was Alpha, I was Beta, Nicole was Zeta, and Nate was Foxtrot. We made the tour of such a historical monument not only memorable, but a great time as well. After spending about 4 hours in the Vatican and the Sisteen chapel, we decided to treat our self to lunch, and Vino Tinto (Red Wine in Spanish.)
Unfortunately, the afternoon was altered as the weather drastically changed, and it began to pour outside. My friends and I made the most of the situation, and decided to watch movies and cuddle on the floor of Taylor's apartment, very funny pictures. For dinner, we went to Alfredo's restaurant, which is where Alfredo sauce was created. Very expensive meal for just Alfredo Pasta, but very authentic and an experience in itself. After dinner we went back to Scholar's bar for some drinks and company, but did not stay out late as we departed early in the morning.
Saturday morning, we departed at 7 AM for Florence. Florence was such a small but amazing city, in which I will definitely return and visit again. We stayed at one of the nicest hostels yet, with a pool and sauna, and great/new/clean facilities. After we checked into our hostel, we started on our excursions of Florence, as we only had 1 day. Following Nate's lead, we were able to visit many of the historic and artistic museums and cathedral's, and were also able to visit The David. NOTE TO ALL: DO not take a picture of the David. Of course, I did, and was nearly thrown out of the museum. I just played dumb, and said I did not speak English, Italian, or Spanish, so they did not do anything. Very funny. We ate a delicious lunch in Florence, and conversed with a few locals, which is always fun. After such a long and productive afternoon of walking around, we were in need of a Siesta (Nap in Spanish.) After our nap, we met up with our friend Nicole again, who was staying at the same hostel. We then went to one of the best restaurants I have ever been too, with the most delicious Italian food. All of us ordered starters, pastas, and one of the most amazing meat dishes I have ever tasted, which was covered in a Balsamic cream sauce. Absolutely amazing. One thing I will really miss about the European culture and my experiences abroad is the amount of time spent during meals, drinking wine, sharing stories, and just having a great time. It was one of my most favorite meals, and the name of the restaurant is Acqua 2. If your ever in Florence, you must pay that establishment a visit. At around 1 AM, we were forced to leave the restaurant due to the amount of public affection being exhibited by the couple sitting next to us, Europeans are not afraid to show their compassion and feelings in front of others....
Sunday, was by far one of the most memorable days of the entire European trip. With the help of my cousin Jana, who previously studied abroad in Barcelona, and a few other friends, I was recommended to visit a town in Italy by the name of Cinque Terre, which means Five Villages. This was absolutely one of the most beautiful places I have ever experienced, along with Fiji and Interlaken, Switzerland. The five villages are all coastal, and there is a 6 hour hike along the coastal mountain side in which takes you to all the villages. The villages are all extremely small, and not very touristic, and have the most breathtaking views ever. Throughout the coastal mountainside hike, Nate and I came across several obstacles: A rock slide that happened earlier that day (not very comforting), tons of mud, lots of fallen trees, and a lack of sleep/energy. Putting all obstacles aside, it was so nice to spend the whole day with such beautiful surrounding, stopping and taking in the views and reflecting on our experiences thus far. What an amazing day. After the 6 hour hike, which we had to finish in pure darkness (not smart), Nate and I returned to our "different hostel." When we arrived, the hostel owner said he would be there in 20 minutes, and made us stay in an apartment. Of course we get there, and there is absolutely no toilet paper, so we have to use a be day, very interesting..... yet European. So many funny pictures, and beautiful ones of our hike, so please be sure to ask me about them. Nate and I were extremely tired, so after a quick dinner we went to bed around 9PM and froze are butts of, with no heating in the abandon apartment building.
Monday morning, was not one of the smoothest days abroad. Thus far, our trip was flawless, but this day was full of mishaps, or as we like to say "TOUGH PILLS." We had to wake up around 6 AM in order to leave Cinque Terre on a 5 hour journey to Venice. However, our train to Venice including 2 stopovers, in which both of our trains were delayed, and we did not make it to Venice until 3 PM, with great weather. Unfortunately, in Europe, it is almost pure darkness by 5PM, which meant we were not going to have much of a day in Venice. Then, the mishaps would not stop, although turned out to be a great/hilarious story. Our original hotel, was damaged to the recent serious flooding, so our hotel was switched, which took us over an hour to find. To our dismay, our new hotel, was called Romeo and Juliet. Immediately upon hearing the name, I warned Nate and let him know I felt it was going to be an interesting experience. And that it was. Of course, Nate and I were placed in a very exclusive and elite couples only hotel, and were placed in one of the only 6 rooms in the hotel. Each room was designed in a different way, and ours was the mirror room, as mirrors surrounding the king sized bed, and were above the bed and in the shower.
This was absolutely hilarious, and depressing. We made the most of the afternoon, enjoying the only nice weather we would experience for the rest of our trip. We ate dinner at a very Venetian restaurant, which is not the Italian food we are used to. However, the local-ness of the restaurant was great, and we then headed back to our hotel. This was tough, as we were kept up by our fellow suitemates, who were expressing their love/compassion for one another. However, we made the most of the experience and just laughed it out.
On Tuesday, our final full day in Italy, we were blessed with incredibly foggy weather, in which 5 feet visibility was pushing it. We decided that we would take boats, the only mode of transportation in Venice as it is completely surrounded by water, to some of the surrounding islands. First, we visited Murano, where Venetian glass is created/made. This was extremely interesting and a great place to purchase gifts for the family. We were also able to witness an exhibition in which they were making glass right in front of us. We then visited another island, which was amazing, called Burano. This is the picturesque Italy, with the very closely connected colored houses. I have some great pictures of us in Burano. We then ate an Italian lunch, and enjoyed the company of an odd group of locals, who are have never travelled off the small island.
Tuesday night was odd, as we were kind of lonely. Venice is a great city, very surreal as it is completely surrounded by water, and you must take a boat anywhere. However, I would say that it was the most romantic city I visited, and not easy to be travelling with one guy friend, although I love him dearly. However, we ate dinner and crashed early, as this marked the end of journey, for good...
Wednesday we woke up early, toured around Venice, visited Saint Marks' square and the cathedral, and were able to witness the flooding. Although catastrophic, it was amazing to see, and I felt sorry for the shop owners. Venice was the most surreal city of the trip, but definitely not my favorite.
I arrived back in Barcelona on Wednesday night, and went straight into work mode, as Thursday marked one of the biggest academic projects of the semester. Although I did not dedicate as much time to the project as I normally would, we scored a 95%, the highest grade in the class. For the project, my partner Bryan Barth, who is my roommate and I, were consultants regarding investments in China. I learned a lot about the country of China, as well as important information regard foreign direct investments, which I really enjoy. Since Thursday, I have been living up my last weekend in Barcelona.
I have had the BEST TIME ever, and have extreme mixed feelings about coming home, but cannot wait to see my family and friends who I have missed throughout the last several months. This trip has been so life changing: Academically, Personally, and so full of fun. I was talking to one of my roommates last night before we went out to a club, and really reflected on my last several months. As much as I have travelled, partied, drank, ate, and such... I have learned a lot. Not only academically and through some of my classes, but about myself and who I am. Sorry for the long blog, I will update the last and final blog on Thursday night after my finals, which I am not too worried about. I believe I will end up with 3 A's and one B+, which is great, and keeps my GPA where I want it. Love everyone.
-B
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Back in Barcelona
Hey everyone,
I have gotten some e-mails wondering where the latest blog post about Italy is. Well, believe it or not, I just got home very late last night, as we extended our trip. It was by far the best/most amazing trip throughout Italy, but I do not have the time to post the blog right now. In a few hours, I have one of the biggest presentations of the quarters, in which I will be talking in front of group of 40 people, about potential investments in China. My roommate Brian Barth and I have been preparing this project for several months, and I hope it goes well. I will be sure to update you all later tonight about Italy as well as my feeling on our presentation.
B
I have gotten some e-mails wondering where the latest blog post about Italy is. Well, believe it or not, I just got home very late last night, as we extended our trip. It was by far the best/most amazing trip throughout Italy, but I do not have the time to post the blog right now. In a few hours, I have one of the biggest presentations of the quarters, in which I will be talking in front of group of 40 people, about potential investments in China. My roommate Brian Barth and I have been preparing this project for several months, and I hope it goes well. I will be sure to update you all later tonight about Italy as well as my feeling on our presentation.
B
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thanksgiving Week In Barcelona
Hey everyone,
Cannot believe I am writing this, and have less than 3 weeks less untill arrive back in Los Angeles. Surreal, with both negative and positive emotions. I am actually up early than ever in Barcelona, as I am trying to work on my final International Business project before I leave for Italia. As for my week/weekend in Barcelona, it was filled with both some academics, and a lot of time spending with friends and enjoying the company of the many amazing/cool people I have met abroad.
I spent the beginning of my week recovering from my long weekend in Paris, and began really preparing for one of my biggest assignments all quarter for my Comparitive Economics course. The project was on Corporate Social Responsibility, exploring its positive and negative consequences and implications. I was extremely impressed with the way the project turned out, and was told by several of my classmates that they enjoyed my presentation. However, this instructor is extremely critical and foreign, and I was unsure whether or not he enjoyed it after his comments. However, after class, he commented on my thorough research and told me that I did a great job, so that was a nice Thanksgiving gift.
Believe it or not, I have not been homesick once since leaving on the first of September. Thursday was definately weird, but I did not feel homesick at all. Of course I missed my family, but my roommates and I made the most of this once in a lifetime Thanksgiving in Barcelona, and decided to cook an eloborate meal at Aribau, which is the name of our flat. The roommates and I went to Corte Ingles, which is the one and only department store in Barcelona, which has everything, including a full service grocery store. We purchased a turkey, and goods in order to prepare stuffing and mashed potatos. Our meal, although our cooking space was limited, turned out fantastic, and was awesome to sit around our kitchen table and reminice about the last several months. I will have to say, I will seriously miss living with such a great group of guys, and always having the BEST TIME EVER.
The rest of the weekend was pretty mellow, except for Thursday night. After our Thanksgiving meal, we went to the most exclusive nightclub in Barcelona, on the house. One of my friends, has been on a few dates with the owners son, so we were able to sit VIP and drink for free at Sutton nightclub, which is unreal. I will definately share some stories with those interested. Friday, Jim, Clark, and I, showed a visitor many of the touristic spots around Barcelona, and then decided to take the night to relax, and went to our first movie in Barcelona, James Bond: Quantam of Solace. It was SO nice to be able to sit in a movie theater with popcorn and soda, and just relax. I cannot even tell you. This trip has been a trip of a lifetime, but the LEAST bit relaxing. Not complaining at all though.
Saturday, a few of the roommates and I went on a pub crawl, which was great because we were able to visit many of the historic bars around the city, and party with many people. I did not get out of hand, as we were meeting Jim's parents in the city, which was awesome. I will definately show you some pictures of the pub crawl, as my name was Pablo and you MUST see my outfit. Very funny. That night we went to a very unusual restaurant, which is based from the country Senegal, which is in Africa (Akon's hometown). This was very cool, and the atmosphere was unreal. So cool to explore local spots, when they are nice to you(not always.)
The weeks go by faster and faster, and the days seem to be 2 hours long. I need to focus on my China Project, in which I must talk to a group of 45 students as if they are potential investors in the Chinese economy, and give them a full picture of why/why not to invest, and which are the emerging and profitable markets/opportunities. Academically, I have been exposed to many different learning/educational tactics, which has been one of the highlights of my experience. Although much easier and less workload than Cal Poly, the perspectives from International professors has been unique, and I will forever remember some of the information and knowledge I have been exposed to.
Its already Tuesday, and I leave Thursday for Italia. I will be gone for a total of 6 days, which is my longest trip. I was supposed to end my Italy trip with one night in Venice, but they are experiencing one of the biggest floods in history (Check it out on the Internet,) so i think I am going to have to alter my trip. I will provide a long update upon my return. Untill then, have an awesome week/weekend and you are all in my thoughts. I hope each and everyone of you had an awesome Thanksgiving. See you in a couple of weeks(hopefully.)
-B
Cannot believe I am writing this, and have less than 3 weeks less untill arrive back in Los Angeles. Surreal, with both negative and positive emotions. I am actually up early than ever in Barcelona, as I am trying to work on my final International Business project before I leave for Italia. As for my week/weekend in Barcelona, it was filled with both some academics, and a lot of time spending with friends and enjoying the company of the many amazing/cool people I have met abroad.
I spent the beginning of my week recovering from my long weekend in Paris, and began really preparing for one of my biggest assignments all quarter for my Comparitive Economics course. The project was on Corporate Social Responsibility, exploring its positive and negative consequences and implications. I was extremely impressed with the way the project turned out, and was told by several of my classmates that they enjoyed my presentation. However, this instructor is extremely critical and foreign, and I was unsure whether or not he enjoyed it after his comments. However, after class, he commented on my thorough research and told me that I did a great job, so that was a nice Thanksgiving gift.
Believe it or not, I have not been homesick once since leaving on the first of September. Thursday was definately weird, but I did not feel homesick at all. Of course I missed my family, but my roommates and I made the most of this once in a lifetime Thanksgiving in Barcelona, and decided to cook an eloborate meal at Aribau, which is the name of our flat. The roommates and I went to Corte Ingles, which is the one and only department store in Barcelona, which has everything, including a full service grocery store. We purchased a turkey, and goods in order to prepare stuffing and mashed potatos. Our meal, although our cooking space was limited, turned out fantastic, and was awesome to sit around our kitchen table and reminice about the last several months. I will have to say, I will seriously miss living with such a great group of guys, and always having the BEST TIME EVER.
The rest of the weekend was pretty mellow, except for Thursday night. After our Thanksgiving meal, we went to the most exclusive nightclub in Barcelona, on the house. One of my friends, has been on a few dates with the owners son, so we were able to sit VIP and drink for free at Sutton nightclub, which is unreal. I will definately share some stories with those interested. Friday, Jim, Clark, and I, showed a visitor many of the touristic spots around Barcelona, and then decided to take the night to relax, and went to our first movie in Barcelona, James Bond: Quantam of Solace. It was SO nice to be able to sit in a movie theater with popcorn and soda, and just relax. I cannot even tell you. This trip has been a trip of a lifetime, but the LEAST bit relaxing. Not complaining at all though.
Saturday, a few of the roommates and I went on a pub crawl, which was great because we were able to visit many of the historic bars around the city, and party with many people. I did not get out of hand, as we were meeting Jim's parents in the city, which was awesome. I will definately show you some pictures of the pub crawl, as my name was Pablo and you MUST see my outfit. Very funny. That night we went to a very unusual restaurant, which is based from the country Senegal, which is in Africa (Akon's hometown). This was very cool, and the atmosphere was unreal. So cool to explore local spots, when they are nice to you(not always.)
The weeks go by faster and faster, and the days seem to be 2 hours long. I need to focus on my China Project, in which I must talk to a group of 45 students as if they are potential investors in the Chinese economy, and give them a full picture of why/why not to invest, and which are the emerging and profitable markets/opportunities. Academically, I have been exposed to many different learning/educational tactics, which has been one of the highlights of my experience. Although much easier and less workload than Cal Poly, the perspectives from International professors has been unique, and I will forever remember some of the information and knowledge I have been exposed to.
Its already Tuesday, and I leave Thursday for Italia. I will be gone for a total of 6 days, which is my longest trip. I was supposed to end my Italy trip with one night in Venice, but they are experiencing one of the biggest floods in history (Check it out on the Internet,) so i think I am going to have to alter my trip. I will provide a long update upon my return. Untill then, have an awesome week/weekend and you are all in my thoughts. I hope each and everyone of you had an awesome Thanksgiving. See you in a couple of weeks(hopefully.)
-B
Monday, November 24, 2008
Adventures in Paris
Hey everyone,
Hope all is well! Cannot believe I will be back in the States in less than a month. I can honestly say that these past few months have flown by, and I will forever remember the amount of great memories and amazing destinations I have been able to visit. My trip to Paris, France, was amazing, and Paris was definitely one of my favorite cities I have visited throughout Europe. The trip started interestingly, as I arrived in the Paris airport in search for my friend David, who studies in Copenhagen, Denmark. We decided to meet at the train line, inside the airport, once we arrived (on separate planes.) As I strolled through the airport terminal in route to the RER B train line, to get to the city center, I heard David screaming my name and demanding me to hurry. Without hesitation, we sprinted through hundreds of people in the airport, in hopes to get on the last train of the evening. Thankfully we made it, but only within seconds, as the doors were closing as we boarded the train. It was great to reunite with David, and this was the start of our adventures in Paris.
Once we reached our "hotel", by the name of Hotel Du Commerce, we reunited with our other traveling partner Nate. We dropped our stuff in the "hotel" room, and headed out for our first meal and beers in the city of Paris. I will explain the reason for the word "hotel" to be in quotations towards the end of the blog, as it was an unreal and horrifying experience, yet funny. Back to Thursday night, we all walked throughout the Latin quarter, in which our hotel was located, and found a restaurant by the name "Le Pont" which turned out to be one of our most favorite meals. We found a restaurant, in which overlooked the historical Notre Dame Cathedral, and was completely packed at 12:30 AM. We dined and drank beers, while conversing amongst each other and talking about our past few months. After a couple of hours, we decided to hit the hay, as we had a big couple of days ahead of us.
On Friday, we awoke around 9AM and decided to purchase a ticket for a double Decker tour bus, in hopes of saving time and being able to reach the touristic destinations quickly. Although the bus was helpful and we were able to use it for 2 days, it was not "great." The bus was in horrible shape, and took hours to get to stops, and was not "efficient." However, Europe in general is not as efficient as the United States, and we were able to freeze our butts off on the top level. Our first stop and destination on Friday was to the world famous museum, called The Louvre. I am not much of an art critic, but the design of the entire museum, which is enormous, and the quality of art work inside was amazing. I was able to see the Original Mona Lisa, as well as several other well known works. The entrance to the museum was one of the highlights, as it is a steel and glass pyramid, be sure to ask to see the pictures.
After spending several hours at the Louvre, we decided to jump back on our tour bus and head to the Opera Garnier, which is in the 9Th district. This Opera house was fantastic, and we were able to spend a few hours walking around the upscale district in which surrounds this historical monument. We then made a big mistake, and decided to eat a restaurant by the name of the "American Dream," in hopes of getting a little taste of American food. This was an extremely poor decision, as the food was almost inedible, the french fries tasted as though they were from 3 weeks prior, and the milkshakes were.... JUST MILK! However, it was a "funny" and costly experience, but nonetheless an experience to remember.
Later in the afternoon, we made our way to the Arc de Triomphe, which is an unbelievable monument, in which we were able to climb over 200 stairs and reach the top. This was unreal, as we were able to see the entire city, as the sunset. The views of the Eiffel Tower and the entire city were beautiful, although the wind and below O degree Celsius weather was not comfortable. I forgot too add that the entire weekend was filled with below 0 degree weather, which is approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Not too easy, but pretty fun to be able to dress warmly, and wear layers, something I rarely have to do. After this full day, we decided to head back to Hotel Du Commerce, and take a quick nap.
Where to start with Hotel Du Commerce... Well lets just say that it was possibly the worst establishment I have ever stayed in, and we later found out that it is a hotel with ZERO stars. Although located in a prime location, it is not easy to stay in a hotel in which has stains on the sheets, trash in the room, bugs in the corners of the rooms, and last but not least... a shower with a mind of its own. At any point, the water would be burning, or freezing... which i guess kept all of us on our toes. Whatever you do, don't ever stay at the Hotel Du Commerce.
Back to happy memories, Friday night we watched the Eiffel Tower spectacular, in which sparkles every hour on the hour. This is fabulous to see, and even more spectacular as the entire tower is lit up blue, with the stars representing the European Union. Because France is the President of the European Union at the present time, the Eiffel Tower is especially lit up, and I cannot stress how amazing it looks in person. After an amazing French/Italian dinner, we attempted to go to one of the Posh nightclubs by the name of "Showtime," but we were rejected because we were American Males. Not a great feeling to be judged and discriminated, but we were able to have a great night and get into another club.
Saturday was another filled day with one of the most exciting activities I have done while being abroad. After waiting in line for almost an hour and a half, we headed to the TOP of the Eiffel Tower, which is approximately 1,063 feet high. This was an unbelievably amazing view, although it was below freezing. It was awesome to be on the top of such a historical and famous structure. After our adventure to the top of the Tower, we explored the local farmers market, and spent the rest of the afternoon visiting several of the other monuments and historical destinations within Paris. Saturday night, we ate at a French restaurant, and attempted to get into another nightclub, by the name of Duplex. For some reason, the giant black french men who are the bouncers of the nightclubs do not like American men at all, and we went O/2 on our posh nightclub experiences. However, we were again able to have a great evening, and drink at a local bar.
Sunday, our last day in Paris, was freezing. It was again, 0 Degrees Celsius and snowed in the city for the first time this season. It was awesome to be out in the middle of Paris, and it snowing in the street. We purchased souvenirs, and walked around the extremely trendy main road of Paris. However, after several hours, it was too cold and time to head back to get on the RER line B train back to the airport, which was yet again a "interesting" experience.
All three of us were so tired, that we passed out as soon as we got on the train, and woke up to the train closing its doors on David and Nate's stop in the airport. Luckily, they were able to get there bags and exit the horrible smelling train in time, and I exited on the next stop. Overall, it was an amazing weekend and I enjoyed Paris very much. I definitely want to return sometime in the near future, and NOT stay at the Hotel Du Commerce.
As for this week in Barcelona, I have to start working on 2 presentations I have coming up. This coming weekend I will be in Barcelona, and will be visiting Tarrogona on Friday as an excursion with the program. Hope everyone has a wonderful week, and a very happy thanksgiving! Not sure what my plan is for Thanksgiving, but I do know I will definitely be missing home that day, and would love to hear from you guys. Love everyone.
-Brandon
Hope all is well! Cannot believe I will be back in the States in less than a month. I can honestly say that these past few months have flown by, and I will forever remember the amount of great memories and amazing destinations I have been able to visit. My trip to Paris, France, was amazing, and Paris was definitely one of my favorite cities I have visited throughout Europe. The trip started interestingly, as I arrived in the Paris airport in search for my friend David, who studies in Copenhagen, Denmark. We decided to meet at the train line, inside the airport, once we arrived (on separate planes.) As I strolled through the airport terminal in route to the RER B train line, to get to the city center, I heard David screaming my name and demanding me to hurry. Without hesitation, we sprinted through hundreds of people in the airport, in hopes to get on the last train of the evening. Thankfully we made it, but only within seconds, as the doors were closing as we boarded the train. It was great to reunite with David, and this was the start of our adventures in Paris.
Once we reached our "hotel", by the name of Hotel Du Commerce, we reunited with our other traveling partner Nate. We dropped our stuff in the "hotel" room, and headed out for our first meal and beers in the city of Paris. I will explain the reason for the word "hotel" to be in quotations towards the end of the blog, as it was an unreal and horrifying experience, yet funny. Back to Thursday night, we all walked throughout the Latin quarter, in which our hotel was located, and found a restaurant by the name "Le Pont" which turned out to be one of our most favorite meals. We found a restaurant, in which overlooked the historical Notre Dame Cathedral, and was completely packed at 12:30 AM. We dined and drank beers, while conversing amongst each other and talking about our past few months. After a couple of hours, we decided to hit the hay, as we had a big couple of days ahead of us.
On Friday, we awoke around 9AM and decided to purchase a ticket for a double Decker tour bus, in hopes of saving time and being able to reach the touristic destinations quickly. Although the bus was helpful and we were able to use it for 2 days, it was not "great." The bus was in horrible shape, and took hours to get to stops, and was not "efficient." However, Europe in general is not as efficient as the United States, and we were able to freeze our butts off on the top level. Our first stop and destination on Friday was to the world famous museum, called The Louvre. I am not much of an art critic, but the design of the entire museum, which is enormous, and the quality of art work inside was amazing. I was able to see the Original Mona Lisa, as well as several other well known works. The entrance to the museum was one of the highlights, as it is a steel and glass pyramid, be sure to ask to see the pictures.
After spending several hours at the Louvre, we decided to jump back on our tour bus and head to the Opera Garnier, which is in the 9Th district. This Opera house was fantastic, and we were able to spend a few hours walking around the upscale district in which surrounds this historical monument. We then made a big mistake, and decided to eat a restaurant by the name of the "American Dream," in hopes of getting a little taste of American food. This was an extremely poor decision, as the food was almost inedible, the french fries tasted as though they were from 3 weeks prior, and the milkshakes were.... JUST MILK! However, it was a "funny" and costly experience, but nonetheless an experience to remember.
Later in the afternoon, we made our way to the Arc de Triomphe, which is an unbelievable monument, in which we were able to climb over 200 stairs and reach the top. This was unreal, as we were able to see the entire city, as the sunset. The views of the Eiffel Tower and the entire city were beautiful, although the wind and below O degree Celsius weather was not comfortable. I forgot too add that the entire weekend was filled with below 0 degree weather, which is approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Not too easy, but pretty fun to be able to dress warmly, and wear layers, something I rarely have to do. After this full day, we decided to head back to Hotel Du Commerce, and take a quick nap.
Where to start with Hotel Du Commerce... Well lets just say that it was possibly the worst establishment I have ever stayed in, and we later found out that it is a hotel with ZERO stars. Although located in a prime location, it is not easy to stay in a hotel in which has stains on the sheets, trash in the room, bugs in the corners of the rooms, and last but not least... a shower with a mind of its own. At any point, the water would be burning, or freezing... which i guess kept all of us on our toes. Whatever you do, don't ever stay at the Hotel Du Commerce.
Back to happy memories, Friday night we watched the Eiffel Tower spectacular, in which sparkles every hour on the hour. This is fabulous to see, and even more spectacular as the entire tower is lit up blue, with the stars representing the European Union. Because France is the President of the European Union at the present time, the Eiffel Tower is especially lit up, and I cannot stress how amazing it looks in person. After an amazing French/Italian dinner, we attempted to go to one of the Posh nightclubs by the name of "Showtime," but we were rejected because we were American Males. Not a great feeling to be judged and discriminated, but we were able to have a great night and get into another club.
Saturday was another filled day with one of the most exciting activities I have done while being abroad. After waiting in line for almost an hour and a half, we headed to the TOP of the Eiffel Tower, which is approximately 1,063 feet high. This was an unbelievably amazing view, although it was below freezing. It was awesome to be on the top of such a historical and famous structure. After our adventure to the top of the Tower, we explored the local farmers market, and spent the rest of the afternoon visiting several of the other monuments and historical destinations within Paris. Saturday night, we ate at a French restaurant, and attempted to get into another nightclub, by the name of Duplex. For some reason, the giant black french men who are the bouncers of the nightclubs do not like American men at all, and we went O/2 on our posh nightclub experiences. However, we were again able to have a great evening, and drink at a local bar.
Sunday, our last day in Paris, was freezing. It was again, 0 Degrees Celsius and snowed in the city for the first time this season. It was awesome to be out in the middle of Paris, and it snowing in the street. We purchased souvenirs, and walked around the extremely trendy main road of Paris. However, after several hours, it was too cold and time to head back to get on the RER line B train back to the airport, which was yet again a "interesting" experience.
All three of us were so tired, that we passed out as soon as we got on the train, and woke up to the train closing its doors on David and Nate's stop in the airport. Luckily, they were able to get there bags and exit the horrible smelling train in time, and I exited on the next stop. Overall, it was an amazing weekend and I enjoyed Paris very much. I definitely want to return sometime in the near future, and NOT stay at the Hotel Du Commerce.
As for this week in Barcelona, I have to start working on 2 presentations I have coming up. This coming weekend I will be in Barcelona, and will be visiting Tarrogona on Friday as an excursion with the program. Hope everyone has a wonderful week, and a very happy thanksgiving! Not sure what my plan is for Thanksgiving, but I do know I will definitely be missing home that day, and would love to hear from you guys. Love everyone.
-Brandon
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Interlaken, Switzerland
Where to begin after such an exciting weekend in Interlaken, Switzerland. First and foremost, it was definately one of the most amazing places I have yet to visit, and had an amazing balance of relaxation combined with excitement. The only negative thing about my weekend in Interlaken, was getting there. Interlaken is a small town located in Switzerland, and is nestled very just below the Swiss alps, and surrounded by two of the most amazing blue water rivers I have ever seen.
On Friday morning, my roommate/best friend Nate and I left Barcelona very early in the morning, flying into Milan, Italy. Because of Interlaken's odd location, it is only accesible by train, so we had to take a 3 hour train from Milan, Italy. However, in order to get to the train station in Milan from the airport, we had to take a 1 hour bus ride, which led us to miss our train. This was extremely frusterating and annoying for both of us, but we had to embrace it and luckily could catch another train in 2 hours. We took this time to eat our first Italian meal, which was unreal. I cannot wait to spend 6 days in Italy in the beginning of December, and let you all know about our experiences there.
After a 10 hour day of travelling, we finally arrived in Interlaken, and headed straight to our hostel which is named Balmer's. This hostel is commonly known as the best place to stay in Interlaken, and for great reasons. It is the only "happening" bar in Interlaken, and has a great vibe throughout the entire hostel. On Friday night, we met up with our 2 friends, David and Alex, who study in Denmark, Copenhagen, and indulged in a great French meal. After our meal and great conversations, we headed back to Balmer's hostel to change and get ready for the night. We decided to take it "somewhat" easy, and just have a few beers. Believe it or not, I ran into a family friend from Kindergarten in the hostel bar who is studying in Rome, and will end up staying with her in Italy.
Saturday was a day never to forget. We awoke fairly early (10AM) to a beautiful day, and booked our Paraglyding adventures. This was fantastic, as we ran down a steep hill and off a cliff, and enjoy about 20 minutes of hangglyding over one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The views were breathtaking, with the combinations of the snowy mountains, the remainder of the fall colors in the greenery, and the gorgeous blue clear lakes surrounding the town. Again, I will be sure to post pictures on the website, and show you when I get home. After Paraglyding, we decided to rent scooters, which are basically slower motorcycles, and explore the town and surrounding towns of Interlaken. This was a great experience, however not the safest of decisions. We were actually driving on the main windy roads of a town, but I made it back in 1 piece(barely.) Saturday night was mellow, we ate at an Italian restaurant, and hung out at the hostel playing card games. However, we were almost forced to leave the hostel as we were too loud, but it all worked out. We ended up hanging out with people we met at the hostel, and meeting new friends. It was an awesome change of nightlife than Barcelona, and definately more low key.
Now to Sunday, one of the best days of the trip thus far, and possibly of my entire life. I decided to part ways with my friends, and go on a solo excursion to Yungfrau, the highest point in Europe, which is completely snow filled and contains glaciers upon glaciers. In order to reach Yungfrau, I had to take a 2 1/2 hour train ride EACH WAY, which was not easy to do by myself. However, upon arrival I knew it was the best decision. I have never experienced such beautiful scenic views, and felt so peaceful. I can honestly say that it was the first time in which I was able to reflect on my journies abroad thus far, and of my life. PLEASE be sure to ask me to see the pictures of my adventures to Yungfrau, and it was one of the most meaningful/special moments of the trip, and I would love to show you the scenic views. Also, it was the first alone time I have had since living abroad, and GOD did it feel good.
Sunday night, we ate our one and only traditional Swiss meal, which consisted of cheese fondue. I can say that it was not one of my favorite meals, but we HAD to try it. Sunday night, Nate, Alex, and I, spent the entire night drinking beers and sharing stories and experiences thus far, and it was great to relive some of the best moments of my lives. Monday morning was spent spending lots of money on gifts for my family/friends, and then off to our 10 hour journey back to Barcelona.
Tonight, Tuesday, was our final soccer game, in which we lost 4-3. Our team, LOS MARTILLOS, came in second place. It was great being able to compete in a sport in which is so important to the culture here in Spain, and all of Europe. Believe it or not, this week is extremely short here in Barcelona, as I head to Paris, France on Thursday night for the weekend. I am really excited to travel to Paris, as I will meet up with several friends I have met throughout my travels and hear in Barcelona. I will be sure to write another update after my weekend.
On a scholastic note, I am doing FANTASTIC in school here, which is surprising due to the minimal effort I have had to put forth thus far. However, I am always an active participator in class, and my teachers know that I put the work in when needed.
Proud of Arianna for passing her driving test, wish I could be there with her. Miss everyone. See you all, or most of you, in almost a month.
-B
On Friday morning, my roommate/best friend Nate and I left Barcelona very early in the morning, flying into Milan, Italy. Because of Interlaken's odd location, it is only accesible by train, so we had to take a 3 hour train from Milan, Italy. However, in order to get to the train station in Milan from the airport, we had to take a 1 hour bus ride, which led us to miss our train. This was extremely frusterating and annoying for both of us, but we had to embrace it and luckily could catch another train in 2 hours. We took this time to eat our first Italian meal, which was unreal. I cannot wait to spend 6 days in Italy in the beginning of December, and let you all know about our experiences there.
After a 10 hour day of travelling, we finally arrived in Interlaken, and headed straight to our hostel which is named Balmer's. This hostel is commonly known as the best place to stay in Interlaken, and for great reasons. It is the only "happening" bar in Interlaken, and has a great vibe throughout the entire hostel. On Friday night, we met up with our 2 friends, David and Alex, who study in Denmark, Copenhagen, and indulged in a great French meal. After our meal and great conversations, we headed back to Balmer's hostel to change and get ready for the night. We decided to take it "somewhat" easy, and just have a few beers. Believe it or not, I ran into a family friend from Kindergarten in the hostel bar who is studying in Rome, and will end up staying with her in Italy.
Saturday was a day never to forget. We awoke fairly early (10AM) to a beautiful day, and booked our Paraglyding adventures. This was fantastic, as we ran down a steep hill and off a cliff, and enjoy about 20 minutes of hangglyding over one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The views were breathtaking, with the combinations of the snowy mountains, the remainder of the fall colors in the greenery, and the gorgeous blue clear lakes surrounding the town. Again, I will be sure to post pictures on the website, and show you when I get home. After Paraglyding, we decided to rent scooters, which are basically slower motorcycles, and explore the town and surrounding towns of Interlaken. This was a great experience, however not the safest of decisions. We were actually driving on the main windy roads of a town, but I made it back in 1 piece(barely.) Saturday night was mellow, we ate at an Italian restaurant, and hung out at the hostel playing card games. However, we were almost forced to leave the hostel as we were too loud, but it all worked out. We ended up hanging out with people we met at the hostel, and meeting new friends. It was an awesome change of nightlife than Barcelona, and definately more low key.
Now to Sunday, one of the best days of the trip thus far, and possibly of my entire life. I decided to part ways with my friends, and go on a solo excursion to Yungfrau, the highest point in Europe, which is completely snow filled and contains glaciers upon glaciers. In order to reach Yungfrau, I had to take a 2 1/2 hour train ride EACH WAY, which was not easy to do by myself. However, upon arrival I knew it was the best decision. I have never experienced such beautiful scenic views, and felt so peaceful. I can honestly say that it was the first time in which I was able to reflect on my journies abroad thus far, and of my life. PLEASE be sure to ask me to see the pictures of my adventures to Yungfrau, and it was one of the most meaningful/special moments of the trip, and I would love to show you the scenic views. Also, it was the first alone time I have had since living abroad, and GOD did it feel good.
Sunday night, we ate our one and only traditional Swiss meal, which consisted of cheese fondue. I can say that it was not one of my favorite meals, but we HAD to try it. Sunday night, Nate, Alex, and I, spent the entire night drinking beers and sharing stories and experiences thus far, and it was great to relive some of the best moments of my lives. Monday morning was spent spending lots of money on gifts for my family/friends, and then off to our 10 hour journey back to Barcelona.
Tonight, Tuesday, was our final soccer game, in which we lost 4-3. Our team, LOS MARTILLOS, came in second place. It was great being able to compete in a sport in which is so important to the culture here in Spain, and all of Europe. Believe it or not, this week is extremely short here in Barcelona, as I head to Paris, France on Thursday night for the weekend. I am really excited to travel to Paris, as I will meet up with several friends I have met throughout my travels and hear in Barcelona. I will be sure to write another update after my weekend.
On a scholastic note, I am doing FANTASTIC in school here, which is surprising due to the minimal effort I have had to put forth thus far. However, I am always an active participator in class, and my teachers know that I put the work in when needed.
Proud of Arianna for passing her driving test, wish I could be there with her. Miss everyone. See you all, or most of you, in almost a month.
-B
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Obama and Sevilla!
Hey all,
What an exciting week to miss as an American! Although watching the polls abroad in Barcelona was a once in a lifetime experience, it was definately not as exciting as it would have been in the United States! I guess I should say congradulations to everyone, as this should be an interesting and exciting point in history. I picked up one of the most important suvioneers possible on Tuesday, the front page of the local newspaper in which has a full picture of Martin Luther King Jr. and states, "Ya no es un sueno" which translates to "Now it is no longer a dream." Republican or Democrat, that is an awesome quote and something I will forever remember. Barcelona, and Europe as a whole, are very excited about Obama becoming President, as their current views of American's are not very high. This has actually been my number one complain and issue with living abroad in Europe, is the amount of tension and animosity Europeans have and deliberatly show to Americans. More stories will be told upon my return.
On another note, I just returned home from a great trip to Sevilla, which is located in the South of Spain. Another wonderful destination, and it is so amazing to me that I have been able to experience such wonderful destinations. This trip was planned by CEA, which is the study abroad program, so of course they booked us on 2 over night trians, one departing Barcelona to Sevilla on Thursday night, and the other won leaving Sevilla for Barcelona Saturday night. Let me start with the negatives, overnight trains are not fun. The rooms are so incredibly small and uncomfortable, but at least I got to have a room full of my roommates. I feel very stiff and uncomfortable now, and have just layed in bed all day upon my return.
When we arrived to Sevilla on Saturday morning, we ate a long anticapted breakfast and then embarked on a 3 hour walking tour around the city, and saw many local and historical destinations. I took some wonderful pictures of the Churchs and castles, and learned about the many historical cases in which took part in Sevilla. The town is much more slow paced than Barcelona, and I found that the people were a lot more openminded and nice (for the most part.) Later in the afternoon, we ate a Spanish restaurant and ordered Tapas (small bite size food) and Sangria( fruit wine.) This was really nice, as we were able to get a little snack in while taking in the atmosphere, and hanging out with cool people.
Saturday night was interesting, as Sevilla's nightlife was pretty dead. We all partied with other group members in the hotel, and tried to go to another bar but it was not much of a nightlife. We ended up back at the hotel around 3AM, which is the usual time you go out in Barcelona. However, it was nice to just hang out with people and not have to worry about being at a large discoteque, which limits conversation for obvious resons. Sunday was awesome, as we spent the ENTIRE day walking around the narrow streets, and seeing the rest of Sevilla. The waterways, are unreal, and reminded me of what I should see in Venice. We spent the afternoon watching the sunset over the lake, and took many breathtaking pictures. We then jumped on our 2nd overnight train, and arrived back in Barcelona today.
Tomorrow, Monday, is our championship soccer game. Our team, Los Martillos, has lost 1 game, and the other team is undeafeated. We lost to them in the beginning of the season, so it should be a really competitive and fun game. Lets hope for the best outcome. I will be sure to let everyone know who wins. Lastly, in regards to my academics, I have been doing incredibly well and exceeded on all of my midterms. I promise to continue the good hard work, and will update my blog soon. Love everyone.
Brandon
P.S. My best friend, Joey, who you all know, broke his arm while studying in South Africa. Please keep him in your thoughts, in hopes for a speedy and painless recovery(if thats possible.)
What an exciting week to miss as an American! Although watching the polls abroad in Barcelona was a once in a lifetime experience, it was definately not as exciting as it would have been in the United States! I guess I should say congradulations to everyone, as this should be an interesting and exciting point in history. I picked up one of the most important suvioneers possible on Tuesday, the front page of the local newspaper in which has a full picture of Martin Luther King Jr. and states, "Ya no es un sueno" which translates to "Now it is no longer a dream." Republican or Democrat, that is an awesome quote and something I will forever remember. Barcelona, and Europe as a whole, are very excited about Obama becoming President, as their current views of American's are not very high. This has actually been my number one complain and issue with living abroad in Europe, is the amount of tension and animosity Europeans have and deliberatly show to Americans. More stories will be told upon my return.
On another note, I just returned home from a great trip to Sevilla, which is located in the South of Spain. Another wonderful destination, and it is so amazing to me that I have been able to experience such wonderful destinations. This trip was planned by CEA, which is the study abroad program, so of course they booked us on 2 over night trians, one departing Barcelona to Sevilla on Thursday night, and the other won leaving Sevilla for Barcelona Saturday night. Let me start with the negatives, overnight trains are not fun. The rooms are so incredibly small and uncomfortable, but at least I got to have a room full of my roommates. I feel very stiff and uncomfortable now, and have just layed in bed all day upon my return.
When we arrived to Sevilla on Saturday morning, we ate a long anticapted breakfast and then embarked on a 3 hour walking tour around the city, and saw many local and historical destinations. I took some wonderful pictures of the Churchs and castles, and learned about the many historical cases in which took part in Sevilla. The town is much more slow paced than Barcelona, and I found that the people were a lot more openminded and nice (for the most part.) Later in the afternoon, we ate a Spanish restaurant and ordered Tapas (small bite size food) and Sangria( fruit wine.) This was really nice, as we were able to get a little snack in while taking in the atmosphere, and hanging out with cool people.
Saturday night was interesting, as Sevilla's nightlife was pretty dead. We all partied with other group members in the hotel, and tried to go to another bar but it was not much of a nightlife. We ended up back at the hotel around 3AM, which is the usual time you go out in Barcelona. However, it was nice to just hang out with people and not have to worry about being at a large discoteque, which limits conversation for obvious resons. Sunday was awesome, as we spent the ENTIRE day walking around the narrow streets, and seeing the rest of Sevilla. The waterways, are unreal, and reminded me of what I should see in Venice. We spent the afternoon watching the sunset over the lake, and took many breathtaking pictures. We then jumped on our 2nd overnight train, and arrived back in Barcelona today.
Tomorrow, Monday, is our championship soccer game. Our team, Los Martillos, has lost 1 game, and the other team is undeafeated. We lost to them in the beginning of the season, so it should be a really competitive and fun game. Lets hope for the best outcome. I will be sure to let everyone know who wins. Lastly, in regards to my academics, I have been doing incredibly well and exceeded on all of my midterms. I promise to continue the good hard work, and will update my blog soon. Love everyone.
Brandon
P.S. My best friend, Joey, who you all know, broke his arm while studying in South Africa. Please keep him in your thoughts, in hopes for a speedy and painless recovery(if thats possible.)
Monday, November 3, 2008
WOW
Hey Everyone,
I cannot believe how fast time is flying by. Its unreal, i cant count the weekends untill I depart Barcelona. Really weird/sad to think about. Anyways, I just got home from a final soccer match, and we are ranked number 2 in the league. Next monday night, we will play in the final game, so I will be sure to let all of you know the results. Go Martillos.
So last week ended after all of the midterms, in which I did excellent on. I received A's on all of my midterms, which always makes me feel good. I am glad that I am able to balance such an amazing city with all of the travelling, and maintain my academic work. As for the weekend, I don't even know where to begin. Lets just say it was full of the Barcelona nightlife, which is known as one of the best cities in the world. Thursday night we started off eating/drinking beers at our favorite Irish Pub, Flahertys. I then met up with Lindsay, my friend from Cal Poly who visited me from Rome, and one of her friends Megan. We went for a traditional spanish dinner, which is not my favoite. It was so nice to see Lindsay, and I cant wait to stay at her apartment in Rome.
Thursday night was unreal, we went to one of the nearby clubs called Otto Zutz. I can't wait to show everyone pictures of the nightclubs and discoteques, so big and beautiful. Friday, I spent the day hanging out with my friend Nicole Kegley and her parents, who are visiting from the US. They have been so nice to me, taking me out to several meals and drinks, and it makes me feel like I am somewhat closer to home. I definately wish that my parents could make it out here, but we will have to travel to Europe another time. Friday night, which was the night of Halloween, was amazing. I dressed up as a Peruvian Drug Lord, and had a full beard with shaved designs in it. It was definately an odd costume, and I will be sure to post pictures on the website soon. We went to one of the more famous nightclubs, Sutton, and the place was an absolute blast.
Saturday, Nov 1st, was Arianna's birthday. I really missed her this day, but was with her celebrating in spirit. I spent the day touring out with friends visiting, and then decided to stay in and relax on Saturday night. I definately needed a rest, although it is never fun to sit home in my apartment when I am in Europe. Sunday, I spent the entire day sleeping and watching TV, which most of you know is extremely rare for me. Sunday night I went out with my roommates Max and Nathan to a mexican restaurant, and then to a bar for Karoke and to watch American Football. I also ended up singing Karoke with some girls, TLC "No Scrubs."
Today was the start of the week, and we won our soccer game. This week I have to work on some projects, but it is much more relaxed than the past week. The next few weeks are packed with traveling. I am headed to Sevilla this coming weekend with my program, so I am really looking forward to travelling to another important and beautiful city in Spain. I promise to update in a week, and let you know how the weekend went.
Miss everyone, Happy BDAY ARI, and your all in my thoughts.
-B
I cannot believe how fast time is flying by. Its unreal, i cant count the weekends untill I depart Barcelona. Really weird/sad to think about. Anyways, I just got home from a final soccer match, and we are ranked number 2 in the league. Next monday night, we will play in the final game, so I will be sure to let all of you know the results. Go Martillos.
So last week ended after all of the midterms, in which I did excellent on. I received A's on all of my midterms, which always makes me feel good. I am glad that I am able to balance such an amazing city with all of the travelling, and maintain my academic work. As for the weekend, I don't even know where to begin. Lets just say it was full of the Barcelona nightlife, which is known as one of the best cities in the world. Thursday night we started off eating/drinking beers at our favorite Irish Pub, Flahertys. I then met up with Lindsay, my friend from Cal Poly who visited me from Rome, and one of her friends Megan. We went for a traditional spanish dinner, which is not my favoite. It was so nice to see Lindsay, and I cant wait to stay at her apartment in Rome.
Thursday night was unreal, we went to one of the nearby clubs called Otto Zutz. I can't wait to show everyone pictures of the nightclubs and discoteques, so big and beautiful. Friday, I spent the day hanging out with my friend Nicole Kegley and her parents, who are visiting from the US. They have been so nice to me, taking me out to several meals and drinks, and it makes me feel like I am somewhat closer to home. I definately wish that my parents could make it out here, but we will have to travel to Europe another time. Friday night, which was the night of Halloween, was amazing. I dressed up as a Peruvian Drug Lord, and had a full beard with shaved designs in it. It was definately an odd costume, and I will be sure to post pictures on the website soon. We went to one of the more famous nightclubs, Sutton, and the place was an absolute blast.
Saturday, Nov 1st, was Arianna's birthday. I really missed her this day, but was with her celebrating in spirit. I spent the day touring out with friends visiting, and then decided to stay in and relax on Saturday night. I definately needed a rest, although it is never fun to sit home in my apartment when I am in Europe. Sunday, I spent the entire day sleeping and watching TV, which most of you know is extremely rare for me. Sunday night I went out with my roommates Max and Nathan to a mexican restaurant, and then to a bar for Karoke and to watch American Football. I also ended up singing Karoke with some girls, TLC "No Scrubs."
Today was the start of the week, and we won our soccer game. This week I have to work on some projects, but it is much more relaxed than the past week. The next few weeks are packed with traveling. I am headed to Sevilla this coming weekend with my program, so I am really looking forward to travelling to another important and beautiful city in Spain. I promise to update in a week, and let you know how the weekend went.
Miss everyone, Happy BDAY ARI, and your all in my thoughts.
-B
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)