Barcelona And Gaudi

The first time I visited Barcelona, I was mesmerized with the La Sagrada Familia. My second visit to this city proved the same especially that it is a growing building and that work will continue for at least another decade.

A prime example of Gaudi's modernist style - based on forms found in nature.

The first time I visited, I only remember the darker part of the building, but look at how much it has grown. It's like a living organism that continues to grow.

A view from the Plaza de la Sagrada Familia.  When we visited, there were Christmas shops there selling Christmas items and sweets.

After Sagrada Familia, we took the bus to Park Guell, another of Gaudi's work and design.

A mosaic design on the ceiling at Park Guell.

Pillars that look like trees.

Mosaic tiles are used around the park.

This is a rock fountain above the famous "gecko" at the park.

I love how playful this window is.

This park is worth the visit.

A welcoming sight as you enter the park.

Seats adorned with mosaic tiles.

I like to remember this as the gingerbread house.

Just playing around the park - me, wearing a big hat.

First Night In Barcelona

On the day we arrived in Barcelona, we were so worn out from the 8-hour flight that we checked-in at our hostel and slept for about four hours.  It was around 6 pm when we woke up due to hunger, so we decided to walk around Las Ramblas to look for a place to eat.  Not far from out hostel is the Guell Tapas, and since we weren't picky that night, we decided to chance it.

For starter, Kepi and I shared a plate of crispy, deep fried baby squids.  We were happy with this choice as the baby squids were crispy and tasty.  I highly recommend this as a starter or appetizer.  Even Kepi, who's a bit picky with some types of food, loved this dish.

 For our entree, we shared a plate of Seafood Paella.  This was ok and there was nothing spectacular about it; I've had better Paella before.  This dish was good and satisfying.

While enjoying our dinner, I was learning the maps and points of interests in Barcelona when I glanced upon this short description of Placa Reial.  I thought it was hilarious.  Kepi and I had a good laugh.

After our dinner, we walked around the famous La Rambla.  That night, the Christmas lights were on, there was a chill in the Barcelona air, and the Christmas markets nearby attracted people like flies.

La Rambla was full of life...just as I remembered when I visited during my college days.  It felt great to be in Barcelona again.

Madrid...My Quick Thoughts

Hmmm...Madrid.  What can I say about Madrid? I can only speak of the city center of Madrid, as I have not experienced the entirety of the place.  In the areas where I've been, I found them: noisy, frustrating, dog feces scattered on the sidewalks (The sidewalks are washed every night though.), and crowded (It actually feels like New York.). The lack of personal space here makes me miss the narrow yet quiet streets of Seville. Heck, I'd rather deal with the hourly ringing of Seville's church bells than listen to the madness of Fuencarral or Gran Via at night.

Are you disappointed yet? I hope not because Madrid has a LOT to offer. It is just that when I travel, I try to present the places I have seen as accurately as I can. Sugar coating my posts won't help anyone.

Madrid is rich with history.  Experience the beauty of this city with a good stroll at Plaza Mayor, mingle and chow down tapas at Mercado de San Miguel, enjoy a breakfast of chocolate con churros at Chocolateria de San Gines, wander down Calle Mayor, or get lost in the beauty of Palacio Real.  For those into the arts, Madrid has great museums to boast for. One of them is the Museo del Prado that houses Goya, Van Dyck, Rico, Velazquez, Raphael, Murillo and Rembrandt paintings. I was surprised to find a copy of Da Vinci's Mona Lisa here.

Madrid is a great place to shop. I was amazed that their shops are not inundated with foreignly mass produced items. I found it easy to find products made in Spain, and that is a delight for any traveler who wants to bring home souvenirs. I am a firm believer that souvenirs should be made from the country you're visiting. Otherwise, the idea of a travel souvenir is lost.

According to my Spain guide book, "[n]o city on earth is more alive than Madrid, a beguiling place whose sheer energy carries a simple message: this city knows how to live." This city truly knows how to live, but it proved to be too much for me. Perhaps it is old age or that my idea of a vacation does not involve being pushed and shoved while crossing a street; I can experience that in New York anytime.

Madrid was not for me, but it doesn't mean it is not for you.

Hola Seville!

We temporarily bid goodbye to Barcelona, as we took the train this morning to the capital of Andalucia. Seville is a charming city filled with the remnants of the old world and loaded with gastronomic adventures. It is so easy to find traditional Andalucian cooking here. The tapas are by far tastier and filling than the ones I have tasted in Barcelona.

Tonight, we visited the Alcazar and Seville's Cathedral, ate at a traditional Andalucian restaurant where we feasted on seafood, bought sweets made by nuns, and got lost on the narrow, maze-like streets of Seville.

Tomorrow, I look forward to seeing more by foot, take more photos, eat more seafood, drink more cafe con leche which I find addicting, watch a Flamenco performance or just perch at one of the numerous plazas and watch Seville open like pages of a book.

Goodnight Barcelona

I am finally done with Fall semester.  All along I thought I wouldn't make it.  A few hours after I submitted my final paper yesterday, we were on our way to the airport to catch our flight to Barcelona.  After a couple of weeks of stress and no decent sleep, I can finally catch up on some much needed rest and relaxation here in Spain.

Our first day was spent relaxing, napping, a little night stroll at Las Ramblas, and a sumptuous dinner of Galatian fried Calamari and seafood Paella.  I am glad we picked a hostel in the Las Ramblas area. It is a great location as there are so many places to shop and eat here.

Also, I am excited to visit the Filipino restaurant I used to frequent when I visited here in my college days.

Our Christmas Tree Is Up

We have so many things going on at the moment, so we stayed up late on Friday to make time putting up our Christmas Tree.  Having the tree up really makes the house cheery.  It also signifies the beginning of the exciting wait for the birthday of Jesus Christ.

Although most of my Christmas shopping is done, I can't celebrate yet as I am still preoccupied writing my second 15-page semester paper.  It's getting harder and harder to focus on school as everything - from brightly lighted houses to Christmas sales at the mall - seems to be on Christmas break already.

Are you ready for Christmas?  I think I am. I just think it is coming too fast and I'll surely miss it when it's over.  This is my favorite time of the year.

A Zzzzzz Post

This is how I feel these days...

Source

I am now in the final two weeks of Fall semester, and I find it hard to find inspiration to finish my two semester papers.  It's hard to function when you have so many things in your mind - health, lab tests, fear, pain, anxiety and more.  I keep asking myself how I got here.  My health is my number one source of frustration, and sometimes it is tearing my inside apart.  I know I am whining, but my personality that is impatient and spontaneous does not fit the challenges of Aplastic Anemia (AA).  AA requires a lot of sit, wait and observe, and I can't stand it any longer.  I want to get well...NOW!

Thanksgiving In New Jersey

Source here.

 Happy Thanksgiving to all!

We're only working four hours today, and since the year is winding down, work is slowing down as well.  I still have two final papers waiting for me, but I'm taking this little break to update my blog.

I am THANKFUL that my bone-marrow biopsy went well even though I suffered some sort of anesthesia withdrawal afterwards.  I was too sick to do anything after the procedure.  My hip still hurts from time-to-time, and I am hoping it will go away soon.

We will be doing something nontraditional for Thanksgiving.  Since it's just the two of us, Kepi and I will be spending our Thanksgiving at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City, NJ.  I've been to the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas so this is my first time visiting this sister casino in AC (not sure if they're managed by one company).  I'm actually excited because they offer a special Thanksgiving buffet at a very good price.  I'll blog on that when I come back.

Another exciting news, we'll put up the tree this weekend.  This is one of the things I look forward to every Christmas season.  Also, the countdown has begun for our trip to Spain next month. I am excited.

Christmas Exchange Gift Party

Photo Source here.

Here's my Christmas Wish List Guide

• Something you use everyday: cosmetic case and scented pens
• Something soft: cute fluffy ear warmers
• Something sweet: milk chocolate or any hard candies
• Something you need for work: desk calendar
• Favorite colors: pink, blue and red
• Favorite flavors: strawberry and mango
• Something you collect: Sanrio or Rilakkuma stationeries
• Something you need:a bento style lunch box that I can take to work
• Share you most important wish this year: Health for me and my family.

Please note that this list is just a guideline. It's Christmas and whatever you put into that box will surely make me happy as long as it's packed with cheer and kindness.

If you'd like to exchange gifts with me, leave a comment on this entry, post your Christmas Wish List by November 21 and leave me a link of your blog post.

Where Did Autumn Go?

November comes

And November goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows

- Elizabeth Coatsworth -

I think we skipped autumn and went straight to winter.  Or, I have simply not paid attention to the changing colors of trees that when I finally woke up, they're all bare and brown.  In addition to this time lapse, hurricane Sandy left us with a parting gift - chilly temperatures.  Hurricane Sandy brought wind, rain and fury, but we're glad that she left us unscathed in my area.  Nearby farms were flooded and the quiet Monocacy River swelled up making the bridge impassable.  But such is life, after the storm, we pick up where we left off.  Slowly, the mid-Atlantic is starting to feel normal again; I send my prayers to those who have lost so much most especially in the New Jersey and New York areas.

Due to the storm, my bone marrow biopsy was postponed. I wasn't really happy with that, as I wanted it done the soonest.  My rescheduled date is this Thursday, and I had to stay in a hotel for 2 nights during my tests at NIH. I have to summon my strength to get through all these.  I can't wait when all of these tests are over.  Gosh, I can't wait when I no longer have bone marrow failure.

School is coming to a close.  I have been busy writing my final papers; I've got two.  My brain feels dull and sometimes I am plagued with run-on sentences and guilty of incoherent thoughts.  I sometimes wonder how I'm going to survive this semester.

I keep wondering if I'm keeping myself too busy or spreading myself too thin.  These days, I prefer cuddling with Dizzy or imagining the first sight of snow.  Perhaps idle thoughts aren't so bad and are a welcome relief to a stressed mind.