BARTH-A-LONA

After Croatia, Noel, Chris, Zach, Ben and I continued on to Barcelona.  If there's one thing I got out of Barcelona, it's that the party never stops in Barcelona (oh, and also that Sangria is really strange tasting -- so, two things, then).

Our first night in Barcelona we kept pretty low key.  We got food from the grocery store (SO MUCH MORE AFFORDABLE) and went to this one bar with people from our hostel.  We had to rejuvenate from Croatia's amazing-ness.

Day two (Thursday) we started off by visiting La Sagrada Familia.  This is probably the most famous site in Barcelona.  It is a church designed by Antoni Gaudi that has been under construction since 1882.  It's magnificent.  To see a cathedral in the process of construction lasting more than 200 years (and it is still only about 60% done today) made me aware of how people from the past might have experienced the formation of great religious buildings.  In a sense, it inspires religion.  To think that something this magnificent probably won't be finished in your lifetime is an intimidating thought.  It makes belief in an afterlife appealing based merely on the possibility to see the completed structure.  At least, that's what came to mind when I was there.

From afar (see the cranes?)

Inside. Unbelievable.

Sculpture work on one of the entrances.  All of his designs are inspired from nature -- the designs, patterns and relationships found in plants.

Then, we made our way out to Parc Guell -- a part of which was also designed and inspired by Gaudi.  It was kind of like a magic playland, only built out of seriousness.  His architecture is unlike any I've ever seen.

Parc Guell.

Me and a fountain!

More trippy park.

We had dinner on the beach (TAPAS AND PAELLA YUMMM) and went to a bar later in the evening.  We discovered that you don't go out to eat until 10pm, bars don't open until midnight or one, and clubs don't close until 5am.  With work the next day, the party would never stop.

And now, a story.

Before planning our trip to Barcelona, Zach had wanted to see a band called Of Montreal play live (they're touring Europe).  He found out they'd be playing in Barcelona when we went so, as everyone enjoys a concert, we all got tickets (cheap -- only 13 Euro).  When we got to Barcelona, though, we found out when the concert started -- 3am.  So, after visiting the Picasso museum (which was wonderful, he when through so many transitions in his artistic career -- it was great to see) we headed back to our hostel to nap (7pm to midnight) before waking up, dressing up, and going to the concert.

It was well worth it, though.  The show was amazing.

Zach said we should.

Of Montreal.

We slept for a few hours, checked out, went to train station (this is Saturday morning), had to take the 2pm train to Madrid, arrived after 7pm, and had barely enough energy to get dinner before crashing.  Then, we got to wake up around 3:30am on Sunday to catch our flight back.  Sunday is kind of a blur.

Madrid. Yep, that's it.

So, while Madrid doesn't really count, Barcelona was certainly an experience.  All I remember upon arriving back at the castle is being tired.  Very, very tired.

CROATIA'S WHERE IT'S AT.

Over the course of my "studies" here at Kasteel Well, the entire student population takes two required travel breaks with faculty members.  The first of these breaks was to Croatia.

We left on Thursday, October 9th and flew into Split (which is about a third of the way up the coast).  For the first two nights we stayed in a Hotel near Trogir which is about half an hour from Split.  On Friday we ventured into the picturesque city of Trogir, which was added to UNESCO's list of historic places in 1997.  Much of the original architecture of the city, dating back from Venetian to Roman influence, still remains intact inside the city walls.  I could literally point my camera anywhere and get a good picture.

Togir.

Trogir's bell tower.

Dilapidated monastery in Trogir.

On Saturday morning we visited the Roman ruins at Salona outside of Split before driving down the Dalmatian Coast to Dubrovnik (very southern tip of Croatia).  We made a stop in Split (to see the ruins of the Palace of Diocletian -- phenomenal) before continuing down.  The drive itself was spectacular.  Views of various islands in the Adriatic Sea as the sun was setting was unlike anything I've ever seen.  As you can see from the map, Bosnia gets a little bit of coast and while there we made a pit stop (everything was ridiculously cheap).

Ruins of a colosseum-like structure in Salona.

Part of the Diocletian ruins in Split.

More.

A view from Bosnia.

We arrived in Dubrovnik on Saturday night. The next three days would blow my mind.  

Sunday we took a walking tour of the city, getting an overview of all of the buildings.  We also went up onto the city's ancient walls, taking a tour from above.  Dulcia (Director of the program) was my tour guide and she's magical.  I wish everyone got to meet her.  In the afternoon we were left to do whatever and found a perfect bar on the cliffs to take a dip in the Adriatic.

Outside the city walls of Dubrovnik.

Fortress detached from Dubrovnik (I didn't get to visit, though I heard it was amazing).

View from atop the walls.

Monday included a tour of a monastery, a look into several of the churches of old Dubrovnik, and an abbreviated tour of the Rector's Palace (the rector was like a governor for Dubrovnik and the surrounding area when it was its own sovereign state).

Tuesday was da bomb, though.  Several of us had to stay in Dubrovnik an extra night (the academic program finished on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the Independent Travel Break) because our planes or boats didn't leave until Wednesday.  So, twelve of us got together and rented a boat for the afternoon.  We got five hours on the boat, time at two different islands, and dinner all for 200 Kuna (about 40 Euros).  God bless the exchange rate.  It was an amazing afternoon.

Dubrovnik from the sea.

Island #2.

Sun setting over the Adriatic.

That night, five of us (who were continuing on to Barcelona for the Travel Break together) spent the night in a homey little hostel situated up quite a hill.  The bed springs were poking through, but Marie was so sweet that there wasn't anything to complain about.  Wednesday we got driven to the airport (this drive was more nerve-racking than it was amazingly beautiful -- Petra's sister isn't afraid to pass on windy, mountainy roads going well over the speed limit) and took our flight to Barcelona.  See the next installment.

As a general note, I reread what I've written about Croatia and it doesn't even come close to doing it justice.  And while pictures honestly can't either, they're probably able to give you a better idea of its beauty.  Here they are:

Trogir/Salona

Split/Ride to Dubrovnik (Bosnia)

Dubrovnik

BELGIUM

I know, it's been awhile.  I have a lot to catch you up on.

During the first weekend in October I took a trip to the lovely Belgian cities of Brussels and Bruges.  Chris and I arrived in Brussels in the afternoon, checked into our hostel, and took the train to Bruges (about an hour) to meet Vanessa and her parents for dinner.

When we got to Bruges, it was pouring.  And as Murphy would have it, I left my umbrella in Brussels.  Here Chris and I are, roaming around the quaint brick streets of Bruges trying to keep our map dry as we look for the center of town.  And, what do we hear but an emphatic, "NO WAY!" from across the street.  Noel, who was supposed to be half way to Bordeaux at this point, is standing opposite us, soaked to bone.  Apparently, he hadn't been able to get a train to Paris and decided to go to Bruges on a whim instead of returning to the Castle.  Then, he found us.

Somehow (after asking at a bar), we made it Vanessa's hotel a mere seven minutes late (but don't quote me on that, my memory is a little cloudy from being so wet).  Chris, Noel, Dana (who was staying with Vanessa and her parents), Vanessa and I killed a little bit of time at a bar before going out to a little Italian place for dinner.  It was wonderful to be treated to a nice meal (THANKS VANESSA'S MOM AND DAD) and to sit and enjoy everyone as we continued to dry off.  

Then, Noel, Chris and I wondered back to the train station (only getting a little lost) and made it back to Brussels before midnight.  We decided we'd should at least try to sneak Noel into our room (we had so much valuable floor space that would have gone to waste) and found ourselves to be successful.

Saturday we explored Brussels a little more, visited a Flea Market, stopped into a wonderful children's toy store, enjoyed a Belgian waffle, stumbled upon an installation art exhibit, strolled through the Parc van Brussel, saw the Palais Royal, bought tickets for a play, ran around the coolest playground situated on an island between two major roads, had trouble (and fun) trying to understand what was going on during L'Aiglon, went to Delirium Bar with over 2000 beers on tap, and had a good late night walk back to our hostel. 

Sunday was simple. Train station, train, home, homework.

Since it was raining in Bruges when we went, I'm going to try and get back during the week sometime.  I hear it's perfectly picturesque.  

Some PICTURES!

Soon to come: Croatia and Spain.

ALSO...

I have a working internet phone now, through Skype.  

My number is: (623) 242-2534

If you call and I'm online, it will ring.  If I'm not online, it will go to voicemail and you can leave me a message and I will get back to you!