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London_Oxford

Last stop in my adventures. Walked my feet off the first day (from Canada Water to Hyde Park and back) because I didn't feel like paying for the Underground and the weather was so nice. Visited Oxford and the University the second day. Markets and more Harry Potter scenes on the drizzly last morning.

May 13, 2008

Photos: 133

Stockholm

A train from Gothenburg to Stockholm brought me another one of my (third) cousins. Since she lives and works outside of the city, we stayed in a hostal that was literally a boat-restuarant with cabins underneath that were rented out. The city was one of the dirtiest I had seen. The weather continued to be un-typically warm. Visits to the first IKEA and one of the islands of the city (like NYC has islands).

May 10, 2008

Photos: 31

Gothenburg

Visiting my Swedish 3rd cousin in the university town of Gothenburg. It was nice comparing the two university experiences, including their academic societies (that are more like our Greek organizations) and course load/timing for taking courses. Sweden is the country I found to be most like the US, in terms of lifestyle but they do have some interesting foods (tubes of caviar, salty candy, good grains/bread).

May 8, 2008

Photos: 15

Random_Sights

Typical Spain things to remember; shot without a care in mind so do not expect excellent quality pictures. Most images require a story, so you'll have to ask!

May 7, 2008

Photos: 21

Bullfight

Every possible scenario that could happen in a bullfight happened. Thanks to the help of the Spanish man I sat next to, I was able to understand a lot more. That, and studying the tradition with all its corresponding controversies, made me really appreciate the event. I wasn't expecting I would like it and only went because my dad encouraged me to do so, but at the end of the day (well, semester) I would go back.

May 4, 2008

Photos: 40

Real_Madrid

A 3-0 victory for Real Madrid (Beckham's former team), currently ranked No. 1 in La Liga. If Villareal hadn't won, this would have secured Real Madrid's spot in the Championship game and brought on a huge celebration in Plaza de Cibeles. There was no big-screen with the replays (we looked behind us to the booths with the TVs), either.

Apr 27, 2008

Photos: 13

Munich_Dachau

My successful attempt at being mistaken as a member of a culture of which I am not in Germany. Not knowing any German and a complex public transportation system set me off a bit, but my wanderings and the fact that many people speak some English (sounding-out German you can get English translations, too) saved me. I filled my trip with visits to 2 palaces, platzs galore, another market, 2 museums (despite my typical aversion--BMWs and science/technology/hands-on stuff are hard to resist), Olympic park, and, I decided at the last minute, a trip to the Dachau concentration camp.

Apr 25, 2008

Photos: 109

London

One-day trip to London from Ashridge with my mom. We were able to see the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace and its surrounding park, the National Gallery, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tate Modern, and Covent Garden (plus Big Ben and Westminster Abby at night that I didn't take any pictures of). Weather held out for us and I did my best to not worry about parting from her again on Monday and ignore the looming work I have in order to finish off the semester.

Apr 20, 2008

Photos: 19

Ashridge

Luxurious few days with Mom at her used-to-be Medieval Monastary converted Royal summer home now business university/conference center and national park. Oh, the shades of green.

Apr 19, 2008

Photos: 17

Barcelona

What was supposed to be a rainy, cool two days in Barcelona turned out to be quite the opposite. I fell in love with the architecture and design of Gaudi. Also visited the Olympic campus (Summer 1992). The city is over-flowing with tourists; it's been called Europe's playground and my experience would most certainly agree.

Apr 11, 2008

Photos: 198

Plaza_de_Oriente

A few sights from a stroll through the plaza outside Palacio Real.

Apr 5, 2008

Photos: 8

Belgium

A lovely, luxurious long-weekend at the home of my friends' family in the "country-side" outside Brussels. I visited Brugge and Waterloo, as well as the EU's hometown. Lots of chocolate, waffles, fries, and--as it always happens when I leave Spain--cool, drizzly weather.

Mar 28, 2008

Photos: 55

Tamborrada

Not traditionally associated with Easter, but a concert none-the-less with drums and ratchets in Plaza Mayor. We caught the procession just as it entered the square and then we were in the back of a huge crowd of people trying to watch, so we got to see a lot of backs of heads. When it passed by, though, you were completely engulfed in the beating drum sound. They didn't wear earplugs and the synchronization of the hands is so beautiful.

Mar 23, 2008

Photos: 13

Cuenca

Cuenca is a small town that is known for its "casas colgadas" or hanging houses, as they are literally built into the side of the hill. My professor drove a few of us down to see the pasos and processions for Good Friday of Semana Santa. The real point was to hear Gregorian chant in the cathedral, but we managed to miss it.

Mar 21, 2008

Photos: 91

Oviedo_Ribadesella_Leon

Second class trip with History of Spain group to Northern Spain to visit the preromancic monuments--including the prehistoric cave paintings. We also did a 14km canoeing trip through the Picos de Europa. I loved the town we stayed in and being by the Cantabarian Sea was a real treat.

Mar 14, 2008

Photos: 86

Ferrara

Really small town about half an hour away from Bologna by train. It was nice and quiet and I think I saw half a dozen tourists the afternoon I was there. I went in their castle and had a blast taking pictures of the ceiling because of the huge mirrors they thoughtfully had to keep you from craning your neck for so long.

Mar 7, 2008

Photos: 23

Bologna

My homebase for the week. It's a university-town with lots of pubs, shops (some way out of the budget of the student), museums, and restaurants. I found it to be a realistic town that people actually work and study in, rather than the touristy or quaint cities I vistited throughout the week. From here I took trains to other cities for easy day trips. Thank goodness for the hospitality of my friend Caro!

Mar 6, 2008

Photos: 15

Venice

They say that Venice has more tourists than citizens, which I would believe after visiting. There are actually a bunch of small islands nearby each other, though I only visited Venice. The atmosphere reminded me of Mackinac Island, actually, but with lots of churches and bridges everywhere you look. I was lost the entire time, thinking I was going one direction until I got to a landmark and realized that I was actually going the opposite direction. Oops.

Mar 5, 2008

Photos: 40

Verona

The town about an hour and a half away from Bologna with 1000 years of churches. Also the setting of Romeo and Juliet. If only it wasn't raining and cold but it forced me to buy a pass for the whole town and go inside some of these buildings. Totally worth it.

Mar 4, 2008

Photos: 63

Ravenna

Small, unbelievably quaint town not far from Caro's place in Bologna. Last day of nice weather.

Mar 3, 2008

Photos: 8

Florence

I hopped on a train from Roma to Florence to meet Caro and we walked around the city. The weather was excellent and since int was a Sunday we went to service in the Medici-funded (like everything else in the city) Duomo. We also managed to pick-up some high school aged boys from Florence (no way were they the 19 they claimed...'age is just a number' ha!) and Caro convinced them that we were Muslim with the mere response to their question 'Who's your prophet?'

Mar 2, 2008

Photos: 48

Roma

I was super-efficient here in terms of money spent and sites seen. I almost saved 20 euros when the woman at the B&B forgot how much I owed her. Darn. The city where crosswalks are optional (lights are rare) and you feel like you're in Tourists-R-Us. I could definitely see how Paris was inspired by Rome, though I think Paris was much cleaner (less graffiti and better kept), but Roma has a few hundred years on Paris. I found baby carrots!

Feb 29, 2008

Photos: 147

Avila

A daytrip to a small town an hour-and-a-half outside of Madrid to see the historic walls surrounding the town and learn why UNESCO (committee of the UN) declared it one of the most historic cities of the world.

Feb 22, 2008

Photos: 43

Paris

An aweome introduction to Paris. We covered the museums, a few cathedrals (including Notre-Dame) and did a bunch of walking tours of assorted neighborhoods. Great location for our hotel and I loved all the fresh markets.

Feb 14, 2008

Photos: 117

Cordoba_Granada

Another trip to Southern Spain (Andalucia) but this time with my Spanish Culture and Civilizations class. We were exploring the Arabic roots of Spain in Cordoba with the Mezquita-Catedral (it was a mosque for a number of centuries but the Reconquest resulted in it becoming a Cathedral, so there's a very interesting mix of styles and symbolism) and then a 2 hour bus ride brought us to Granada for flamenco and the infamous Alhambra.

Feb 1, 2008

Photos: 102

Retiro_et_al

It was supposed to be a short Sunday stroll, but ended up much longer than that...Banca de Espana. Retiro Park. Assorted Plazas (incuding Plaza Mayor). Sunset at Palacio Real.

Jan 27, 2008

Photos: 42

Segovia

Old Romanesque Church. Aqueduct. Cathedral. Castle. Plaza.

Jan 26, 2008

Photos: 24

El_Rastro

The Sunday morning flea market in Madrid with my housemate, host mom, and host daughter.

Jan 20, 2008

Photos: 17

Toledo

Day trip with SLU to Toledo, about an hour southwest of Madrid. It's a city full of history, especially with respect to relgion and the famous Spanish painter El Greco.