Barcelona, Spain to Avignon, France

I am currently in Avignon, France and on the way to Nice and Monte Carlo tomorrow. Since Barcelona offered no free internet, I am a little behind. Barcelona has a lot to offer for visitors, there is so much to see and do that we were go go go the entire two days we were there. After a bus tour around the entire city, we went on a small tour of the Gaudi apartments that are around the city. We just looked at the outside the first day and walked around the city. Then we set off up the mountain to see Park Guell, Gaudi’s shining star in Barcelona. This park is even better than I remembered it. We walked up to the tip top of the park and saw an amazing start of a sunset and a nice view of the entire city.



The next day, since Casa Mila is closed this one week out of the entire year, we could not go into it. While I have been to this apartment building before, I was particularly excited to see the incredibly unique roof and view of the city. So instead we saw the other apartment building, Casa Batllo which comes in a close second. We then moved onto the Sagrada Familia that has been being built for over 100 years. There was a lot more done from the last time I was there 6 years ago and I enjoyed the exhibit underneath that tells visitors about the history of the building and Gaudi’s contribution to it.
I particularly like Gaudi’s designs simply because he used nature as an inspiration and is primo at extracting meaning and putting it into his designs. I like his use of color with mosaics and play on shadow and light. It makes for an incredibly design that is very dynamic.







The next morning we headed on a long train ride into France where I am currently. We took a bus to see the longest stretch of the Roman Aqueduct and I did an amazing sketch, if I do say so myself.








Next, we went to the city of Avignon to stay two nights. We managed to scrounge up some dinner and some wine to take back to the hotel and relax. This morning, we went out on an early start after an amazing open breakfast and toured around the city. Since the city is so small, you would think that this wouldn’t take too long. I have seen a significant pattern of our group touring one building or complex for HOURS. While we stand listening to our guide, freezing because it’s meant to be cool in the summers, and trying to entertain ourselves. I do believe that the architecture students are interested and grumble when we hike up a mountain to see one park that you had the ability to leave immediately if so desired. And we do not grumble… out loud…. in front of them. Hahaha.
So for the rest of the day, we walked around the city, casually looking in stores then went back to the hotel early and I took an AMAZING 2 hour nap, I felt so much better after that, a new woman really. While on this walk around the city we encountered much dog poop and a particularly surly woman that spit at us and, we think, cursed at us in French. She looked quite in intimidating so we all turned around in unison as if practiced and walked the other way. I didn’t feel like getting my ass beat up in France today.
So don’t worry all, I am still alive after my almost fatal nose bleed and I have not had another one…yet. According to my mom that means that I might not get another one… right. Haha. So tomorrow we head to Nice and Monte Carlo to experience a hopefully more exciting part of France. Avignon did not provide much amusement unfortunately but the aqueduct was quite marvelous. I will continue when internet is available, until then, au revoir!

Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda, Here I am at Spain, Granada

The day started off easily enough, a sad breakfast of cereal and a couple hard boiled eggs. I managed to get two apples from the vicinity without being caught and asked to pay. We went on a short tour of Granada on our way to the Alhambra, which I had never been to before. We walked around the amazing grounds for a few hours until we were set to go inside the Alhambra itself. We stepped inside the Sultan's room where he spent most of his time, stood while the excellent guide described a few things and then I felt something running out of my nose.
I had an epic bloody nose for the next 30 minutes or so. As soon as I felt it, I knew what was going on. Napkins and tissues came out of nowhere and were handed to me. The guide made me sit down, pinch my nose and tilt my head back. Which I know from first-aide training only makes the blood go down the throat...its true. I got a nice throat full of my own blood. It just wouldn't stop and I still cannot figure out what the cause of it could be. The morning had been rainy so the air had plenty of moisture in it. This is the third bloody nose I have had in a week, the first being the day I left in the shower, the second being in Madrid on day 3. Blood clots galore on this one. After I thought it was over and was bent down washing the dried blood off of my hands and face, an extra little blood clot slid out of my nostril... wicked.

We spent the rest of the day walking around Granada individually, found a 2Liter of water for 0,26 euro (about 45 cents) and relaxed at the hotel periodically. On the spur of the moment we decided to go to a flamenco show in a gave given by gypsies. The show was good enough, maybe a little dull at times but we were sitting so incredibly close to each other and the area where they were dancing, me and the people sitting next to me almost got a cane to the face a few times. Don't need anymore blood coming out of my face, thank you. hahaha. At the end of the show, the dancers got some of our group up out of their seats to dance...if you can call it that.

One of the two professors, Ted Wolner got up and showed his stuff... so hilarious. I wish I had video but the word octopus comes to mind. Ted is quite tall and the gypsies or the cave was not. It was great to have such a fun moment with the group, seeing people attempt to dance and wonder what I would have done had I been picked to get off my seat. Oh my.

Currently the internet is not cooperating, pictures to come.

Sevilla

Me in my pack, looking....well you can use your imagination.

Sevilla is an amazing city. It was a beautiful day yesterday (Saturday) and we enjoyed walking around in the cool sunshine. Although I have been here before, the perspective is incredibly different. Coming here in high school was great but I doubt I got much out of it. Seeing the city, and other cities we have been to in the past few days in the eyes of a designer or architect has greatly increased my understanding of the meaning and depth of Spanish culture and history.

One challenge set forth by my professors is to include a narrative or story of the history of New Castle into my design that I will soon be developing. Once I started to look for the narrative, it is all I see. The Spaniards have carved, molded all of these details that tells the story of the transformation of the building and country throughout centuries. Its incredibly inspiring to follow suit and include the story of New Castle in my design in something more than a copper statue or plaque.

My favorite place that we visited today was the Plaza de Espana. This place has amazing architecture and includes an artistic story of the major cities in the country. The sunny day made it look even better. This is the setting of Princess Amidalla (sp?) in one of the newer Star Wars Episodes, so its famous in America too!


Narrative for one city. Doubles as a seating area which is great for bathing in the sun and sketching


This view was a popular one for my fellow sketchers. I chose a different route, looking for inspiration from different outlets


Sorry about the blurriness, at the liberty of my camera and the battery was about to die. A Spanish gentleman saw me doing this sketch as asked to take a picture of me holding it for him. Then Les, my professor proceeded to take a picture of this man taking my picture...classic Les.


After half an hour of sitting there looking for inspiration, I forced myself to draw the building that I had been avoiding, but was able to use the water as a mask over half of it...brilliant I know.


Along the way of getting lost to find the plaza again after we were let loose for the day, we found an amazing playground that had some very fun equipment that could be quite dangerous for children but very entertaining to young professionals like ourselves.


These things spun incredibly fast, well at least it seemed that way to me. There was a zip line as well nearby.

After being caught making sandwiches a breakfast the next morning, we left to go to the train station where the train we were taking was supposed to leave at 12. 17 of the 42 were able to get on the train because of lack of seats while the rest of us waited for our train at 4:15. Four hours in a train station that was easily 40 degrees. We could see our breath as we attempted to do homework with layers and layers of clothes, gloves and hats. We did have a choice of going out and seeing more of the city, if you like to get soaking wet and even colder. One guy changed his complete outfit with dry clothes because he was soaked through. So we suffered through the day trying to stay warm and got to Granada safe and sound this evening and I ate an AMAZING and kind of expensive dinner, but I have been eating quite cheap for the past few days, only paying for a cheap dinner and stealing lunch from my hotels. So I decided I wanted a nice meal...steak it is! So delicious and totally worth it.

Tomorrow we tour Granada and we are on to Barcelona the next morning. We are all nervous for when the time comes that none of us know how to speak the language or understand any of the words. Soon we be seeing symbols instead of western letters, oh what an adventure that will be...I hope there are pictures next to the names! Hasta Luego!