Twittespañol?

Logged onto twitter today, which I do rarely, but regularly. Saw that a trending topic right now is #twitteandoenlaprimaria.

Took me a moment to realize that the hash tag was in Spanish! "Twitteando en la primaria" aka "Twittering in primary school." I can't believe "twittear" is the Spanish verb for "to tweet"....hysterical!

Anyway, some of my faves:

D_arellano Daniel Arellano

Buenos días niños... BUUEENOOS DIIIAAS MAESTRAA CLARAA!!#twitteandoenlaprimaria

Expansiver_ Miguel Fuentes

Comprando el álbum de dragon ball y jugando con los tazos de pokemon #twitteandoenlaprimaria

cristiespinito Cristina Espino

by EdelweissTJ

#twitteandoenlaprimaria zapatito blanco, zapatito azul, dime cuantos años tienes tú

Ayy, Espanya, como te extraño!

Hugs and tweets,

Angela

citybeat

Walking so fast I can't feel my feet,

Keeping pace with this city beat.

Catch your breath, pick up, and move on.

Before you know it, a New York minute--gone.

You know, I can't remember the last time I was bored...Even with all my extracurricular commitments, I'd get bored in high school all the time. Since my plane landed August 29th...I don't even know what boredom MEANS anymore!

Hugs and powerwalking,

Angela

PHILadelphia: The city of brotherly LOVE

Spent last weekend on a much-needed vacation in Philly, and it was lovely! What a nice city, not too big, not too small, not too quiet, not too noisy. Great weather, great company, and a great time! To be honest, aside from a short stint at the Liberty Bell, all we did was eat! So, you can read all about that here...

Hugs and cheese steaks,

Angela

GLOW

I met Regine Basha in the meatpacking district this weekend! These clutches are so awesome!

www.2enlight10.com

Hugs and the high life,

Angela

Improvisational Impulses: The mp3 Experiment

I participated in the mp3 Experiment today! Basically, the premise of this event is:

1. Download the mp3 track

2. Meet in the predetermined location at the specified time with the requested supplemental items (in this case: 2 sheets of paper with one letter on each, a marker, a wrapped item that you no longer want but someone else might enjoy, a roll of toilet paper)

3. Hit play and follow the instructions!

We exercised a variety of our artistic faculties: we danced with clothing in retail stores, froze on the street, played hide-and-seek in the park, human scrabble, sketched portraits and world maps, and lastly a mummified disco dance party. See the footage here: http://improveverywhere.com/2010/10/02/mp3-experiment-seven-thanks/

Hugs and improv,

Angela

BARCELONA ~ Click & drag the map to see some of the places I've been and places I want to go!

[click here to see my map in full size!]

Backlash

This morning when I was packing/in the taxi/in the airport, the only thought that kept running thru my mind was: "WHY am I leaving??? I want to stay here!" My mind was truly incapable of grasping the concept of leaving. I couldn't handle that I was getting on a plane to take me away from Spain for a very long time.

As much as I can't wait to see everyone this week, and as much as I can't wait to eat Mexican food and use our electric dryer, I already miss Barcelona dearly, and I wish very much right now, that I was stumbling into A1 apartments after yet another a fantastic evening on the town, rather than laying on my bed, jetlagged, debating whether I should watch a movie or a tv show...

I have been trying to brace myself for this reverse culture shock. Having to drive several minutes just to grab a bite to eat (rather than popping downstairs and grabbing a bocadillo at the bar next door), people pushing checks at me immediately after my meal (I've grown highly accustomed to the Spanish pace of life), and just not speaking or reading Spanish seems strange. And when I return to the city, I'll have to wait more than 2 minutes for a metro?! preposterous. Even the fact that it's always a mystery whether the train is coming in 10 seconds or 10 minutes. Not to mention, the NYC subway is filthy in comparison to any other city's metro that I've experienced. And the buildings in NYC can't compare to Paris or Barcelona. I always thought fire escapes were so romantically 'New York,' now they strike me as somewhat ugly. I now prefer my quaint cobblestone European streets with beautifully railed balconies to my neon lights and paved sidewalks. Even not having a beach within a 20-minute train ride is highly annoying to me...

It was easy for me to keep an open mind when venturing forward into a new culture, yet I'm struggling with opening my mind for the return to the world I always have known...

Adéu, Barcelona. Ya te extraño mucho...

Abrazos and besos,
Angela

Same Difference...

Ciutat Comtal

Rambla Catalunya, 18

&
Cervercería Catalana

C/ Mallorca, 236

During my time in Barcelona, both of these tapas restaurants came highly recommended to me. I finally got around to trying them, and it was only a few moments after I sat down at Cervecería Catalana to realize that the two restaurants are exactly the same. The cuisine is completely identical! I was highly intrigued. In the US, we're crazy about branding. So, it's such an interesting choice, to do the exact reverse: to create a masked chain, multiple restaurants which are the same caliber of service, same menu, but disguise each individual property as an independent. Really, in a place like Europe, it's totally brilliant, isn't it? Anyway, enough dorky talk about branding...let's talk food.

An avocado salad (ensalada de aguacates) and also patatas bravas.

This mini hamburger sliders are AMAZING. They sort of melt in your mouth a little. Cheese & onions inside.

Salmon w/ onions & peppers. Also a pineapple-pine nut cream cheese tapa.

Hugs and pan,

Angela

Bike Tour of Paris!

I just went on a bike tour of Paris and it was wonderful! Even though I spent most of the tour trying to remember how to ride a bike...I still had a great time :)

I always cringe at the sound of such blatantly touristy things, but I've finally come to accept that planned tours are a great way to fully experience a city in a short amount of time.

Click to see all my pictures from Paris!

Hugs and fat tires,

Angela

Magic Fountain

Tonight we went to the Magic fountain in Montjuïc, it was quite beautiful.

Click to see the whole album on Facebook

Hugs and colorful splashes,
Angela <3

OMG: Oh My Gaudí

This man is a complete genius. He gets full credit for inspiring me to travel to Barcelona in the first place, and I couldn't be more thankful.

Casa Milá

This was the original Gaudí work which I studied and immediately caught my interest. Ever since I learned about it, I've wanted to go to Barcelona to see it in real life. Dream=fulfilled.

Casa Batlló

This turned out to be my favorite Gaudí piece. The symbolism and forward-thinking, thorough design just completely blew me away, inside and out.

Sagrada Familia

When will they ever complete it? 2030? 2050? I've heard a multitude of projections...This building makes me quite sad for Gaudí. He was hit by a tram while this work was in construction and was mistaken for a hobo. Three days later..."Oh shit, that's Gaudí." Highly intricate, wish I'd seen the inside!

Parc Güell

Like living on another planet. This was originally a housing project intended for the upper classes of Barcelona. Fell through financially, and eventually was donated to the city to be a park. There's a museum in the guard house.

Hugs and modernism,

Angela

Dow Jones & Elephant

Last night we went to this really cool bar called Dow Jones! It's exactly what it sounds like, the prices for the drinks fluctuate. When more people start to buy a drink, the price starts shooting up, and the drinks that aren't selling gradually get cheaper. Every once in a while, the market would 'crash' and all the drink prices would drop. It was really fun, and the shots were DELICIOUS.

After the bar, we went to a club called Elephant. It was a sort of loungey place, the ambiance is really nice. Lots of colored lights and nice nooks of couches and canopied areas. And since it's relatively far out of the tourist bubble it's not too crowded.

Hugs and rice cakes,
Angela <3

Life in a Day: June 24th, 2010

I think this is an incredible project, and I can't wait to see the end result!

http://www.youtube.com/lifeinaday

"A world-wide project to create a user-generated feature film." They want people to submit raw, unedited clips from daily life. Basically it's up to the world to generate and capture incredible moments, and then they' be compiled into a movie to be debuted at the Sundance Film Festival. Such an incredible idea, I can't wait to see the movie!

Nicely done, YouTube.

Hugs and UGC,
Angela <3

The ABC's of Tossa del Mar: Adorable kids, Bachelorettes Barbequeing on Boats, Castles & Caves, Delicious men...

Spent a relaxing weekend in Tossa del Mar...a small coastal town a couple hours north of Barcelona.

Tossa del Mar is a coastal fortified city. It was really cool to walk around in the old town and imagine what it was like back in the days to actually need protection from outsiders, and what was even weirder, was to imagine living your whole life within stone walls! Nonetheless, it's a very quaint town, and despite being overrun by tourists, I really enjoyed it!

so many bachelor and bachelorette parties...


"cave" exploring


a view of the city from inside the fort.


snorkeling!



the old town...


Hugs and bachelor parties,
Angela <3

An Asian-American, a Canadian Muslim, a Swiss girl, a Scottish-Australian, and a black sheep

Just got home from an incredibly fun night! A few solo travelers from the hostel and I went out together tonight. First we went to La Oveja Negra, a rustic-looking bar on a tiny street, and just talked and talked (and drank) for hours. We were sort of a motley crew, all four of us having grown up in completely different areas of the world. Then we headed down to the beach and got into Sotavento! (I love when I get to cut in line, it makes me feel important haha) We were too late for free sushi, but we still had a good time dancing (and sweating). Also, the inside of the bathroom was like a house of mirrors, which looked really cool, but probably isn't so great for drunk people. Afterward we went down to the beach to go skinny-dipping...a night to remember, as always.

Things I learned today:

1. Switzerland is NOT in the EU. I feel stupid for not knowing that, but I honestly didn't.
   
2. Switzerland just passed some sort of new petition which prohibits the construction of minarets on mosques.
3. University is MUCH more expensive in the states than in Europe.
   
4. College dorms are not prevalent in Switzerland, most students rent apartments/flats.
5. EVERYONE uses the metric system. Except the US.
6. The UK uses pounds as a unit of measuring weight, but their pounds are different than ours. 1 US pound is about .45 kilograms, but 1 UK pound is about .5 kilograms.
   
7. Driving age in Switzerland is 18.
8. In Switzerland, wine & beer drinking age is 16, hard liquor is 18.
9. In Switzerland, the cuisine is mostly breads, potatoes, cheeses, simple stuff.
   
10. People drive on the left side of the road in Scotland and Australia.
11. Montreal is about 7 hours from New York

Hugs and black sheep,
Angela <3

Historia de Uno

I bought this book today at a children's book store, and I LOVE it. I bought it in Castellano, but I think it was originally published in Catalán. Such a great addition to my children's book collection! :)

Hugs and librerias,
Angela <3

YO SOY ESPAÑOL ESPAÑOL ESPAÑOL! OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ!

WE WON THE WORLD CUP!!! NOSOTROS GANAMOS EL MUNDIAL!!!

Watched the game in Plaza Espanya, one of the most incredible experiences EVER it was completely wild!

I would say I've never seen so many people gathered in one place all wearing the same thing, but I just went to Pamplona last week haha. But the energy there was INSANE. The whole game was so nerve-wrecking, 0-0 the whole time, so many close moments. And finally in overtime when Iniesta scored that goal, I instantly started screaming and jumping, I really thought I was going to DIE of excitement. Everyone around me was just about the same. Moments later, thanks to Nic, it rained champagne and Kindall, Jenna, and I were soaked. But that was no matter, because as soon as the game officially ended we jumped into the fountains. Screaming the chants and the tops of our lungs: ESPAÑA [CLAP CLAP CLAP], CAMPEONES! SI SI SI, LA COPA ESTÁ AQUÍ! OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ! YO SOY ESPAÑOL ESPAÑOL ESPAÑOL! It was by far one of the most exciting moments of my life and I will remember it forever. It took me several moments to wrap my mind around what had happened and to realize how lucky I am to have lived this night in the country that won the World Cup. A truly once in a lifetime experience.

The Aftermath: We stuck around in Plaza Espanya for a bit after the game. The police had barricaded the monument and were standing with big glass shields. People [Nic & Miguel included] were jumping on the bus shelters. There were explosives going off everywhere. I learned that there's a thin line between party and riot. Us girls skipped out on the scene a bit early, but we later found out that after we left people had actually pushed through the barricades and jumped onto the monument. Then the police took our their air guns and started clearing people out. Insane. Anyway, when we decided to leave the chaos, which was around 12:20am the metro had just closed and there were NO TAXIS. By some stroke of mad luck, after wandering around miserably, we ran into the boys again. By the time we had wandered back to Plaza Espanya at 1:45am, the entire plaza was completely blocked off (which inconveniently blocked our path to home). Moral of the story: we walked ALL the way home (and did not see a single empty taxi the whole way back). On route we saw lots of stuff on fire...people running through traffic and screaming...cars honking to the beat of the chants...flags hanging out car windows...most certainly a night to remember all my life.


FOTOS:FOTOS:FOTOS:FOTOS:FOTOS:

Everyone gathered in Plaza Espanya, pumped for the game!


Poppin' our first champagne after the start of the game


Montjuic is beautiful...


We win!!!!!


Jumped in the fountain! After already being drenched in champagne...


EPIC.


Jumping on the bus shelters...not safe!


Explosives...people were being crazy, someone threw one into the grate we were standing on top of, literally 6 feet behind us, completely scared the begeezies out of me.


Running in the streets, stopping traffic


Hugs and WORLDCUPCHAMPIONS!!!!!
Angela <3

Pamplona: Too few bulls, too many bocadillos, just the right amount of booze

Disclaimer: To prevent the anti-climacticism of this post, I will have to disclose that I have NO pictures of the actual bulls...yeah I know, it's sad.

Travel Itinerary:
Friday, 7/9- 3:30pm depart Barcelona/arrive Pamplona 10:30ish
Saturday, 7/10- 4:50pm depart Pamplona/arrive Pamplona 11:50ish

Top 5 Things you need when spending a night in Pamplona:
1. White clothes, red scarf.
2. Facial wipes. So you can wipe your face when you feel gross, and you can wipe after you pee in some of the grossest bathrooms of all time.
3. Phone. It's like Where's Waldo, except everyone is wearing the SAME THING.
4. Close-toed shoes with a strong bottom. Lots of broken glass and grossness
5. Waterbottle. To wash down the bocadillos. I ate 3 within a 20-hour span. Trust me, that's too many, especially if you are already eating them regularly as it is.

So we took a 7-ish-hour bus ride from Barca to Pamplona

---fun fact: "Pamplona" in euskara is "Iruña," as in, "I run, yaaa!"---

I slept most of the way...woke up to some interesting rock formations...lots of windmills and solar panels along the way...here's the middle-of-nowhere rest stop that we stopped at on the way there.


Finally arrived! Around 10:20pm...And shortly afterward, the fireworks began. The best fireworks show I've ever seen, Pamplona knows what's up! Look at ALL the people!!!



Kicking off our night with boxes of sangria. Almost everything that wasn't a bar was closed. Lucky for us, asians never know when to close up shop, so we were able to get everything we needed :)


We wandered around all night. Made a few new friends. This girl is super cute, I wish we hadn't lost her! And she loves high-fives. CHOCALA!

After an eventful evening, we prepare to see what we all came to see! Bulls run! The boys putting on their game faces for the run. EPIC.



Basically, we got kicked out from where we were standing by the police and were forced to stand behind a wooden fence that was behind another wooden fence and we didn't see a thing, minus 3 straggler bulls catching up to the rest. I caught a shot of a bull's ass. That's about as good as it gets.


We made it over to the bull fighting stadium afterward, all the runners who made it were in the middle. I wonder if I caught Miguel and Nic in the picture...

All in all an incredible experience, and the best night ever!

Hugs, bulls, booze, and bocadillos
Angela