Well, last night I fell asleep before blogging, but I happen to be up now, so I'll do it.
Yesterday was Friday... I woke up and got dressed, getting a waffle in the metro. I took the tram over to where the Kosher grocery store was, only to find it closed. But there was a big normal grocery store next door, so I did my shopping there. They had matzo meal, so I did end up getting what I was looking for, which made me happy. I'm going to make matzo balls sometime this weekend and then again for Wednesday night dinner.
On the way to and from, I stopped at several pharmacies. At the first one, I tried to mime having an ear infection/sinus pressure. I brought my Delsym and Mucinex to show them what I was taking because I didn't want to mix meds, and they found substitutes, but couldn't understand I needed Sudafed. And my Google Translate paper didn't help. They didn't pay attention to it. Finally I left, tried three more pharmacists, none of whom spoke English, and then gave up for good. If anyone has any tips on how to get Sudafed, please let me know. My ears hurt like the dickens.
After the grocery store, I came home, watched several movies and a couple of episodes of Lie to Me, ate lunch and then dinner at their respectful times and went to bed.
Then I randomly woke up again, wrote this, and am now going back to bed.
Goodnight, (or is it good morning?) world.
The musings of a twenty-something currently studying in Missouri.
Always loving the escape as much as the anchors.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Shortest Blog Ever =P
Today, I woke up at 9, read three chapters of marketing, watched Psych, went to class, came back, slept for three and a half hours, had noodles in chicken broth for dinner and watched the Bourne Identity while eating delicious popcorn and nutella. Now it's time to go back to bed.
I did look up a kosher grocery store, and I will hopefully go there tomorrow when I go to the regular store because I have no food. Sam is leaving in 30 minutes to go to Dublin and we don't know where Kristen is or when she's getting back. We think she's at a party, but she's also traveling this weekend. I'm looking forward to a quiet house and a relaxing weekend.
Goodnight, world.
Update: There are three or four new albums on Facebook. Madrid, Barcelona and Toledo. Enjoy!
I did look up a kosher grocery store, and I will hopefully go there tomorrow when I go to the regular store because I have no food. Sam is leaving in 30 minutes to go to Dublin and we don't know where Kristen is or when she's getting back. We think she's at a party, but she's also traveling this weekend. I'm looking forward to a quiet house and a relaxing weekend.
Goodnight, world.
Update: There are three or four new albums on Facebook. Madrid, Barcelona and Toledo. Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Being Sick Sucks
Even more in Europe. Mostly because there's no central heat and I don't speak French so I'm scared to go to the pharmacy. So I'm eating weird chicken noodle soup that came out of a foil envelope and actually isn't that bad.
So this morning, I slept from about 1:30 AM until 4 or so when we checked in. We went through security and chilled for about an hour before getting on the plane. I was the only one who slept all night, but then we all slept on the plane. We got back ahead of schedule and grabbed the train back to Brussels. I read my book while the others slept.
I really wanted a waffle when we got back, but they were closed. The others were thankful because it meant that they couldn't smell it - they all gave up waffles for lent.
So we got back, I read all but two and a half chapters of management and tried to watch the videos, but my internet fails so I missed most of them. I also passed out for two hours by accident, waking up just in time for my test. Made a B, but will plan better for the next one now that I know how they're formatted. Probably will drop this test with the make up at the end of the semester. We'll see.
Afterwards I took a shower and am now writing a paper for communications. And then bed for a very, very long time. Class at 1:30 tomorrow, and I have to go to the grocery store, but nothing else this weekend.
Goodnight, world.
So this morning, I slept from about 1:30 AM until 4 or so when we checked in. We went through security and chilled for about an hour before getting on the plane. I was the only one who slept all night, but then we all slept on the plane. We got back ahead of schedule and grabbed the train back to Brussels. I read my book while the others slept.
I really wanted a waffle when we got back, but they were closed. The others were thankful because it meant that they couldn't smell it - they all gave up waffles for lent.
So we got back, I read all but two and a half chapters of management and tried to watch the videos, but my internet fails so I missed most of them. I also passed out for two hours by accident, waking up just in time for my test. Made a B, but will plan better for the next one now that I know how they're formatted. Probably will drop this test with the make up at the end of the semester. We'll see.
Afterwards I took a shower and am now writing a paper for communications. And then bed for a very, very long time. Class at 1:30 tomorrow, and I have to go to the grocery store, but nothing else this weekend.
Goodnight, world.
Late Nights and Busy Airports
1AM Wednesday Morning... We'll call it Thursday night.
We've been at the airport for 30 minutes or so and we have 5.5 hours until our plane leaves... Should be a fun night.
This morning I got up and finished packing before going back to the market in Las Ramblas and getting juice for Jackie and me. I don't know if I mentioned it yesterday, but the juice was amazing. Jackie got coconut strawberry and I got pineapple raspberry yesterday and today I got kiwi coconut and strawberry pineapple for myself and coconut pineapple for Jackie. I got back just in time to go to the train station with Kristen.
They say it doesn't snow in Spain. Or at least where we were or where we were passing through. But they're wrong. Not only was it snowing, there was at least two feet on the ground. Thankfully it wasn't snowing in Madrid, just raining.
On the train I watched Confessions of a Shopaholic in Spanish and talked to this little Japanese woman in Spanish for a good while. It makes me so happy to know that I can speak the language even though I haven't used it in a while. I even understood most of the Catalan in Barcelona. They say that South American Spanish and European Spanish are different, but I felt I understood both and didn't have any problems. I was the only one out of our group who could actually speak it, but most everyone understood it.
When we got to Madrid, Kristen and I got kid meals from Burger King. (I know, I know, I shouldn't. But it was cheap and had chicken, fries, a drink, yogurt dessert and a toy for less than it costs to buy a drink in Brussels.) Kristin and Sam met us and got the same. We chilled with the turtles in the rainforest in the train station for a good while before heading out into the drizzle to walk around.
We randomly wound up at an arch that looked identical to one we saw last week when we were wandering, but didn't recognize the surroundings. There was a public library on the corner, so we stopped in and chilled there for an hour or so before asking for directions on where we were. They had free wifi and we all checked our emails and stuff.
Turned out we had walked off the map. But then got coffee and I had a hot chocolate. Well, what they call hot chocolate. It was nearly the consistency of pudding and was not drinkable. So I shared half and then had them pour milk in it to dilute it - and then it was very good.
We wandered back and met up with Kristin's friend Allie, with whom we went out to dinner. We all got paella, which was very good. I got chicken, which was delish, but so was the frankfurter one Kristen and Kristin shared. We hung out in the restaurant for over two hours, just talking and killing time (seems to be a recurring theme) before walking in a big circle to see Plaza Mayor. Then we caught the metro to the airport because they shut down at 1, and here we are. The internet costs 7.50 Euro an hour, so I'll post this when I get home.
I don't know whether I'm going to study or sleep because both are good options. Our flight leaves at 6:25 and we should be home by 11 at the latest (hour train from airport). Then a test at 7 pm... I think I'll play it by ear.
Goodnight, world.
We've been at the airport for 30 minutes or so and we have 5.5 hours until our plane leaves... Should be a fun night.
This morning I got up and finished packing before going back to the market in Las Ramblas and getting juice for Jackie and me. I don't know if I mentioned it yesterday, but the juice was amazing. Jackie got coconut strawberry and I got pineapple raspberry yesterday and today I got kiwi coconut and strawberry pineapple for myself and coconut pineapple for Jackie. I got back just in time to go to the train station with Kristen.
They say it doesn't snow in Spain. Or at least where we were or where we were passing through. But they're wrong. Not only was it snowing, there was at least two feet on the ground. Thankfully it wasn't snowing in Madrid, just raining.
On the train I watched Confessions of a Shopaholic in Spanish and talked to this little Japanese woman in Spanish for a good while. It makes me so happy to know that I can speak the language even though I haven't used it in a while. I even understood most of the Catalan in Barcelona. They say that South American Spanish and European Spanish are different, but I felt I understood both and didn't have any problems. I was the only one out of our group who could actually speak it, but most everyone understood it.
When we got to Madrid, Kristen and I got kid meals from Burger King. (I know, I know, I shouldn't. But it was cheap and had chicken, fries, a drink, yogurt dessert and a toy for less than it costs to buy a drink in Brussels.) Kristin and Sam met us and got the same. We chilled with the turtles in the rainforest in the train station for a good while before heading out into the drizzle to walk around.
We randomly wound up at an arch that looked identical to one we saw last week when we were wandering, but didn't recognize the surroundings. There was a public library on the corner, so we stopped in and chilled there for an hour or so before asking for directions on where we were. They had free wifi and we all checked our emails and stuff.
Turned out we had walked off the map. But then got coffee and I had a hot chocolate. Well, what they call hot chocolate. It was nearly the consistency of pudding and was not drinkable. So I shared half and then had them pour milk in it to dilute it - and then it was very good.
We wandered back and met up with Kristin's friend Allie, with whom we went out to dinner. We all got paella, which was very good. I got chicken, which was delish, but so was the frankfurter one Kristen and Kristin shared. We hung out in the restaurant for over two hours, just talking and killing time (seems to be a recurring theme) before walking in a big circle to see Plaza Mayor. Then we caught the metro to the airport because they shut down at 1, and here we are. The internet costs 7.50 Euro an hour, so I'll post this when I get home.
I don't know whether I'm going to study or sleep because both are good options. Our flight leaves at 6:25 and we should be home by 11 at the latest (hour train from airport). Then a test at 7 pm... I think I'll play it by ear.
Goodnight, world.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Better Day in Barcelona
This morning I had a weird nightmare, got up at 8, had a fantastic breakfast and was out the door by 8:15.
This hostel is awesome and breakfast was chocolate rice krispies, a piece of toast with apricot jam and tasty orange juice. I also made a nutella sandwich for the road.
I took the metro to Sangrada Familia, but didn't go in because it was 12 Euro. So I took pictures of the outside and walked over to Pasada Gracia by way of Diagon Avenue. I saw a lot of cool buildings and stopped in some interesting stores. I like wandering because I always stop in the random stores that have everything from cookware to sleepware and anything random you can think of. There was also an interesting grocery store or two, and I got some chocolate because it was so cheap. Oh, and I got a giant kinder egg and two chirimoya fruits. Ate one fruit so far; it was delicious. Spain has so far been the cheapest place, and the tastiest.
I feel like I skipped some things earlier, so I'll mention that on Friday I had a very interesting lunch of what seemed to be fettuccine alfredo with ham that was ok. The restaurant where we ate brought us bread and butter without us asking and then charged horrendously for it. But the water was free.
So after Diagon Ave, I walked down Pasada Gracia and saw the two houses by Gaudi. They were awesome but also very expensive to go in, so I took pictures from the street. Pasada Gracia is very much like 5th Avenue, I feel. All the pricey brands are there, with the same set up as every other store I've seen; Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Lacoste, Diesel (who I am officially boycotting even though I don't shop there anyways) all of them. Every store front in every store is the same for each company. Louis Vuitton has the same birdcages and same mannequins, everything.
After Pasada Gracia, I turned down Las Ramblas, which was basically the shopping district with street vendors and everything. The most incredible thing (not necessarily good) was the pet shop places. Name a bird, they had it. Bunnies, ferrets, turtles, everything except cats and dogs. It was really sad. But I rushed through because I was meeting everyone at the chocolate museum at 11:30.
What I didn't know was that they all came back around 5AM from going out. Apparently the metro stopped when they tried to come back and they walked for nearly two hours to get back. I'm glad I didn't go. They all slept until 2 or so today. Instead, I met Jackie about 12:30 or so because it was troublesome to get there and we both got lost. While waiting for her is when I ate my chirimoya. We talked for a long time then went in. Our tickets were really cheap (comparatively, at least - 3 euro) and was a chocolate bar - 73% cocoa. I haven't eaten mine yet, but they say it's pretty good. The chocolate museum was interesting because it was so different from the one I saw in Germany. While the one in Cologne outlined the process and the plant and the creation of chocolate with chocolate being made, the one here in Barcelona had mostly a history and had sculptures that were gorgeous but definitely inedible.
Then Jackie and I went and had the most awesome hamburgers (mine was mini) at Taverna Born before walking down the beach in Barceloneta (a little barrio - or neighborhood). We walked up the beach and then over to Las Ramblas, where we took our time and saw some fun places and got souvenirs. Then we stopped at a big market where they were selling fresh fruits and vegetables, candy, meat, and some other food items. It was called Boqueria de Sant Josep and Jackie and I got awesome juices. She got coconut strawberry and I got pineapple raspberry. They were definitely amazing. I'm getting one before I leave tomorrow.
After Las Ramblas, we headed back to the hostel to wait for the others to come back. I think they went to the chocolate museum, but only once we had left (we were at the beach when they woke). We hung out for a while and then went out to dinner. It was cool. I had salchipap, which wasn't as good as it was in Chile, but was still pretty good. We also shared two pitchers of sangria - one wine and one champagne. I had one glass of the latter and felt a little tipsy. It was strong.
We came back just about a half hour ago, which is how long it took to write this post, and I think they're going to go watch the Olympics and play cards. I hope to go to the market tomorrow to get more juice, so I think I'm going to bed soon.
All in all, exploring Barcelona today was a lot of fun and I think I prefer fewer people to travel with. Tomorrow Kristen and I are going back to Madrid and meeting Sam and Kristin to fly back. Then I have a management test Wednesday and a weekend at home. I think it's time to explore Brussels because I haven't really done that yet.
The standing right now is:
And it's time for bed.
Goodnight, world.
This hostel is awesome and breakfast was chocolate rice krispies, a piece of toast with apricot jam and tasty orange juice. I also made a nutella sandwich for the road.
I took the metro to Sangrada Familia, but didn't go in because it was 12 Euro. So I took pictures of the outside and walked over to Pasada Gracia by way of Diagon Avenue. I saw a lot of cool buildings and stopped in some interesting stores. I like wandering because I always stop in the random stores that have everything from cookware to sleepware and anything random you can think of. There was also an interesting grocery store or two, and I got some chocolate because it was so cheap. Oh, and I got a giant kinder egg and two chirimoya fruits. Ate one fruit so far; it was delicious. Spain has so far been the cheapest place, and the tastiest.
I feel like I skipped some things earlier, so I'll mention that on Friday I had a very interesting lunch of what seemed to be fettuccine alfredo with ham that was ok. The restaurant where we ate brought us bread and butter without us asking and then charged horrendously for it. But the water was free.
So after Diagon Ave, I walked down Pasada Gracia and saw the two houses by Gaudi. They were awesome but also very expensive to go in, so I took pictures from the street. Pasada Gracia is very much like 5th Avenue, I feel. All the pricey brands are there, with the same set up as every other store I've seen; Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Lacoste, Diesel (who I am officially boycotting even though I don't shop there anyways) all of them. Every store front in every store is the same for each company. Louis Vuitton has the same birdcages and same mannequins, everything.
After Pasada Gracia, I turned down Las Ramblas, which was basically the shopping district with street vendors and everything. The most incredible thing (not necessarily good) was the pet shop places. Name a bird, they had it. Bunnies, ferrets, turtles, everything except cats and dogs. It was really sad. But I rushed through because I was meeting everyone at the chocolate museum at 11:30.
What I didn't know was that they all came back around 5AM from going out. Apparently the metro stopped when they tried to come back and they walked for nearly two hours to get back. I'm glad I didn't go. They all slept until 2 or so today. Instead, I met Jackie about 12:30 or so because it was troublesome to get there and we both got lost. While waiting for her is when I ate my chirimoya. We talked for a long time then went in. Our tickets were really cheap (comparatively, at least - 3 euro) and was a chocolate bar - 73% cocoa. I haven't eaten mine yet, but they say it's pretty good. The chocolate museum was interesting because it was so different from the one I saw in Germany. While the one in Cologne outlined the process and the plant and the creation of chocolate with chocolate being made, the one here in Barcelona had mostly a history and had sculptures that were gorgeous but definitely inedible.
Then Jackie and I went and had the most awesome hamburgers (mine was mini) at Taverna Born before walking down the beach in Barceloneta (a little barrio - or neighborhood). We walked up the beach and then over to Las Ramblas, where we took our time and saw some fun places and got souvenirs. Then we stopped at a big market where they were selling fresh fruits and vegetables, candy, meat, and some other food items. It was called Boqueria de Sant Josep and Jackie and I got awesome juices. She got coconut strawberry and I got pineapple raspberry. They were definitely amazing. I'm getting one before I leave tomorrow.
After Las Ramblas, we headed back to the hostel to wait for the others to come back. I think they went to the chocolate museum, but only once we had left (we were at the beach when they woke). We hung out for a while and then went out to dinner. It was cool. I had salchipap, which wasn't as good as it was in Chile, but was still pretty good. We also shared two pitchers of sangria - one wine and one champagne. I had one glass of the latter and felt a little tipsy. It was strong.
We came back just about a half hour ago, which is how long it took to write this post, and I think they're going to go watch the Olympics and play cards. I hope to go to the market tomorrow to get more juice, so I think I'm going to bed soon.
All in all, exploring Barcelona today was a lot of fun and I think I prefer fewer people to travel with. Tomorrow Kristen and I are going back to Madrid and meeting Sam and Kristin to fly back. Then I have a management test Wednesday and a weekend at home. I think it's time to explore Brussels because I haven't really done that yet.
The standing right now is:
Venice > Charleston > Barcelona > Madrid > Zurich > New Orleans/Baton Rouge > Toledo > Brussels > Rockland > New York City > Dusseldorf > Cologne
And it's time for bed.
Goodnight, world.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Barcelona
Is different. I don't think I like it as much as Madrid; it's not as pretty or walkable, but it's got more stuff and I want to come back when I have more time.
I woke up early this morning to Kristen complaining about something James said I said and then went to the train station. I slept most of the way, and it was fairly comfortable. We got lost trying to find the hostel because of a failure to read a map, but finally arrived. It's awesome - the decorations and everything are really cool. We went and got lunch from Pans, which was a Spanish fast food place. The french fries were basically Arby's flavor in a waffle fry. They were very tasty. The chicken nuggets were... interesting.
Then we came back to the hostel about 1 so Kristen could take a shower and we chilled until 330 or so when Jackie, Katie and Michele showed up. Joel and Kirby also joined us. No one wanted to decide what to do, so we may have left about 4:30 or so, and then we walked all over, finally finding a place to eat about 5:30 because most people hadn't eaten anything all day. I had delicious 3 cheese pork ravioli. Most others got pizza, and they came with cool little hammer looking knife things. They literally were slightly sharpened chunks of metal on a stick. I didn't get a picture, but my facebook won't upload pics anyways. (Which is why I haven't put pictures up since Venice - sorry!)
Then we walked up Montjuic and looked at the cool buildings. There was a cell phone convention going on, with everything blocked off and a ton of people, but we finally got to the top and had a fantastic view as the sun was setting. We wandered for a long time and saw some cool things. We headed back, stopping at a grocery store for dinner. Once again, baguettes and deli meats and cheeses to make sandwiches and chips and dips, all split between us. It's not bad.
They also got a bottle of booze, like they have every night. This time it was a licorice flavor that was very potent and burned, but not too bad. I had a tablespoon and that was enough. They finished the bottle. (There are seven of them.) And they're going out tonite. I'm going to bed.
Goodnight, world.
I woke up early this morning to Kristen complaining about something James said I said and then went to the train station. I slept most of the way, and it was fairly comfortable. We got lost trying to find the hostel because of a failure to read a map, but finally arrived. It's awesome - the decorations and everything are really cool. We went and got lunch from Pans, which was a Spanish fast food place. The french fries were basically Arby's flavor in a waffle fry. They were very tasty. The chicken nuggets were... interesting.
Then we came back to the hostel about 1 so Kristen could take a shower and we chilled until 330 or so when Jackie, Katie and Michele showed up. Joel and Kirby also joined us. No one wanted to decide what to do, so we may have left about 4:30 or so, and then we walked all over, finally finding a place to eat about 5:30 because most people hadn't eaten anything all day. I had delicious 3 cheese pork ravioli. Most others got pizza, and they came with cool little hammer looking knife things. They literally were slightly sharpened chunks of metal on a stick. I didn't get a picture, but my facebook won't upload pics anyways. (Which is why I haven't put pictures up since Venice - sorry!)
Then we walked up Montjuic and looked at the cool buildings. There was a cell phone convention going on, with everything blocked off and a ton of people, but we finally got to the top and had a fantastic view as the sun was setting. We wandered for a long time and saw some cool things. We headed back, stopping at a grocery store for dinner. Once again, baguettes and deli meats and cheeses to make sandwiches and chips and dips, all split between us. It's not bad.
They also got a bottle of booze, like they have every night. This time it was a licorice flavor that was very potent and burned, but not too bad. I had a tablespoon and that was enough. They finished the bottle. (There are seven of them.) And they're going out tonite. I'm going to bed.
Goodnight, world.
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