Girls Night Out

Hello Everyone :)

Wow ! Today was a nice day..........................................

I would first like to start off by saying that I am losing weight !! I can't really afford to eat as much as I used to so I've cut back a little. I went to the store today to try on pants and I fit into a size 4 !! I am just thrilled that my love handles are gone. I was normally a 6 back in the US when I ate as much as I wanted. I also practically walk everywhere, which means that I am getting some exercise.

After my Spanish class I met up with some girls in that class, as you can see in the picture above. Besides me being from the US, the others were from China, Japan, Germany and Brazil. We went out for tapas. We all speak different langauges, but we managed to communicate in our broken Spanish. Normally I don't go out because I am broke. But today I made an exception. I also got a picture of the food. VERY good stuff !!! I was full after, which was nice for a change.

After I got back from having tapas, one of my old students from my TEFL school called me and invited me to go with him and a friend to Las Fiestas de Gracia. Every year in August there are parties on the streets in some neighborhoods. I wasn't going to go at first, but I figured I should experience something new and get out of the house.

Boy am I glad I did !! There were so many creative decorations on the street, and a helluva lot of music. There was salsa, slow songs and rock. One band even played "Jump" by Van Halen. Many people were jumping up and down during the song, including myself. Pretty much everyone in the streets partying seemed to be in a good mood and enjoying themselves. People were laughing, dancing, sitting, chillin'..................... It was cool to see. It's not like the parties back in the US where people get drunk for the hell of it and listen to awful ghetto music. I am gonna try and go back tommorow. I am just sad that I didn't bring my camera with me.

Anywho, it's late now and I better get to bed so I don't sleep my whole day away tommorow.

Tooteloo....................

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My afternoon of cheap entertainment

Hello Everyone :)

Today was an interesting day. I had three language exchanges. The first guy was cool. We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe.

I have been really homesick lately, and the Hard Rock Cafe made me feel a little better. I felt like I never even left the US. We split a huge cobb salad and talked about jobs, languages and Barcelona in general. I had a really good time. After lunch, we went to another place and had Horchata drink. It was good.

My second language exchange partner was cool. I met him again for the second time. He was the one that I went to Park Guell with last week. We went to Port Vell. Last time I went there I saw jellyfish. This time there were none.

But I did see a couple feed the seagulls. While they fed the birds, the fish wanted some of the bread too. It was so fun to watch !! So I decided to buy some bread and spend some time creating a little war. And I got pictures too ! Yay !

While we were at Port Vell I got to witness a beautiful sunset. It was a magical moment to behold !!

After that, I met my third language exchange. I didn't like him too much. But I did like the fact that I had a nice cold glass of iced tea in a beautiful open terraced cafe. So, not all was lost.

And now I am back here putting this entry together. The weekend surely went by quickly. Hell, in fact my whole summer flew by and I am moving soon to another city in 2 weeks.

As I was watching the sunset I thought about how short life is. The sun went down so fast and I realized that I can't stay here in Spain forever and that I will have to go back home soon. It's so sad.

Anyways, I better go.

Ciao

Dali Museum in Figueres. Be sure to click to make them larger !

Hello Everyone,

Last night I was at the beach till 3am doing a language exchange. It was beautiful !! We chilled out on the sand, and we were almost the only ones left. During the day the beaches are always packed. I hope to do that again.

I got up early (7:30) to catch a train to Figueres to see the Dali Museum. I was sooooo tired. I almost just wanted to stay in bed, but I am glad that I took the trip. The train ride was 2 hours and I slept pretty much the whole trip. I went alone. I would have liked to have company, but I think that it was best to be alone because I was able to really focus on the art in the museum.

When I got to the Museum there was a line wrapped around the courtyard with hot weather. This museum is popular !! Luckily it went fast.

This museum is a head trip. There is art in almost every corner. I walked through the museum twice and I know that I still missed some stuff. I tried to take it all in, but it's impossible. Dali was a very complex artist with different styles. I also noticed that he painted a lot of portraits of his wife, which was lovely to see. She was a beautiful person.

Dali's art is very complex with a lot of details. I honestly think that I could study a single picture for a while and discover something new each time I look at it. Because I've never studied Dali's art before, I really don't know what some of his art symbolizes. I can only imagine what it means. I guess that there can be different interpretations. There were a lot of people discussing their interpretations of the art with each other. I listened in and got a better understanding about some of the pieces from listening to others speaking amongst themselves. Here is a quote from Dali that I really like:

"Without an audience, without the presence of spectators, these jewels would not fulfill the function for which they came into being. The viewer, then, is the ultimate artist. His sight, heart and mind- fusing with and grasping with greater or lesser understanding the intent of the creator- gives them life."  - Salvador Dali

The train back to Barcelona left at 7:45pm, and I finished looking at everything at around 3pm. Therefore, I had about 4 hours to kill in Figueres. I also paid a visit to the cathedral. I went inside and did a lot of thinking and some praying. I thought that the cathedral was very beautiful and peaceful. Almost no one was there, probably because everyone wastoo busy at the Dali Museum.

Besides the Dali Museum and the cathedral, there wasn't anything else that was exciting. After visiting the Dali museum and the cathedral I was bored. I walked around the town, but I was too broke to buy anything. I was exstatic when the train back to Barcelona finally arrived.

The trainride home was beautiful. The sun was setting and I got to see a lot of scenery. Too bad I didn't take any pictures. I was seated next to a bunch of obnoxious French boys. They just wouldn't shut up and were horsing around the whole time. They were going to Barcelona to party and asked me where the hottest party spots are. Hell if I know !!! I am too broke to go out.

Over the past few days, I've acquired a lot of mosquito bites. The problem with this is that they all bite me on my feet. At least they could bite my arms so that I can scratch them easier. Gahh !!!

Anyways, I better go now. Hope you enjoyed the little art show. Thank God I am not making any money off this website. Otherwise I couldn't show you.

Ciao.

 

Sorry, still no pictures.............

Hello Everyone :)

I feel kinda bad because I haven't posted up any new pictures. I should be going to Figueres tommorow morning to see the Dali museum ( if I don't sleep in) so hopefully I will have more images.

ANOTHER language exchanged got cancelled on me. I was pissed, especially I since I could have made other plans for tonight. And thankfully I was lucky enough to find something else to do. It is after all Friday night. This is the THIRD time this has happened to me !!!

I live by a movie theater so almost every time I walk home there is man that begs for money. He stands right next to the box office and holds out his hand. So while you you are talking to the cashier, you get pestered for money by this guy.

There are so many people that beg for money around here. Soooooo many people that sleep on the street. Barcelona is a tourist city and it is full of tourists and there are many people that take advantage of that by begging and and selling cheap useless things. It's so depressing to see. You have to wonder what their stories are.

Anyways, gotta go !!