Paris is simply unbelievable. I feel like I've walked down all the streets of this city with my mouth half-open, amazed by the buildings and incredible architecture that line the streets, as well as the unique feeling of ambience the city gives off. I've taken tons of pictures here (and as I edited in a post a few back, I won't post anymore until I return home - don't want to waste my last days here uploading photos), but even when I take them I feel its almost pointless - photographs cannot do this city justice.
After taking my walk that first night, I've revisited the things I saw - went up the Eiffel tower, into the Louvre, into Notre Dame and around the Arc du Triomph. All were incredible - the inside of Notre Dame was stunning, and the Eiffel tower is simply brilliant - so intricate that it's insane to think of the construction process. The Louvre, I did see the Mona Lisa, but thats more like seeing people take pictures of the Mona Lisa. I was only inside the museum for about an hour, and one day will return to it (as well as many other things in the city). I think the outside is just as brilliant as the inside. I always knew it was big but it is REALLY big - it just keeps going and going.
On Friday, I met up with my friend Lisa from back home, who had just finished a study abroad program. We went about with some peop;le from her program - took a boat trip down the River Seine, went to a photography museum, then the Louvre for a bit, and finally had a picnic dinner with her program directors and all the kids in the program (12 or so) right on the Seine - there were loads of other people doing the same thing. A really good time, relaxing, eating bad food we bought (well not too bad), and drinking good wine.
Bottom line, I feel comfortable saying that Paris is the most amazing place I've ever visited (I think I previously said the same thing about Barcelona, but have obviously now changed my mind). Every step you take when walking around the city is not to be taken for granted. Gorgeous buildings and parks everywhere. Everyone lounging out at cafes - many times just how you imagine Paris. I hope to return sooner than later.
-Matt
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Southern Spain and onto Paris
So after Barcelona, I headed down south with my parents to the Andalusia region to check out Granada and Seville. First we went to Granada, the smaller of the two cities - it was great - had a real good ambience to it, was a nice change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Barcelona, yet had plenty going on in its own right. We went to see the Alhambra, an former Moorish palace/fortress that is incredible. Gorgeous structure, pleasant gardens, intriguing history, and so on - the trip to Granada was worth it just for this.
Next up was Seville - I knew it was going to be scorching hot, but I underestimated the heat. Its not too bad up until about two o'clock, but just about then, once the sun has been roasting the city for so long, it becomes nasty. Very rarely in the afternoon was it under 40 degrees Celsius (104 fahrenheit), and there wasn't too much shade to be found. But aside from me complaining about the heat, the city was great - bigger than Granada, but not Barcelona or Madrid big. To me Seville defines what most people think of when they think of Spain - Flamenco, Bull Fighting, and strict adherence to the siesta. We saw two flamenco shows, both were unbelievable. I saw one in Barcelona too, but knew that Seville was the place to really see flamenco. The guitar players grace and elegance, the dancers' insane abilities and speed - everything about it really appeals to me. I wish I had brought my camera both times.
Moving on, The Seville Cathedral (which has the largest alter-piece in the world) is incredible. Massive in size, it also has kept the tower from the Mosque that stood there before it, and adapted it into its own item (yet you can still see the Islam-influenced archways up and down the tower).
On our last full day, we took a day trip to Córdoba - a 45 minute train ride away. Córdoba is famous for its Mezquita - a former mosque that has a cathedral built inside it. I took plenty of pictures, for it is incredible. The way the Islamic arches blend in with the art and style of Christianity is gorgeous, and works quite well.
Our last day in Seville was when we went to the Cathedral, but shortly thereafter took a train to Madrid - parents flying back home the next day, me flying to Paris. We decided that rather than just going to the hotel and staying there, we would venture into the city for the short time we had. I'm glad we did - the weather was great this time (as opposed to the rainy weekend I spent there in June), and because of that I think I enjoyed being there more this time around. I really want to go back to Madrid sometime and see more of it - it really is something else.
Now, I sit in an internet cafe in Paris, taking a break from walking around the city. If Madrid is "something else," then I don't know what to call Paris. City to end all cities? Its amazing, simply put. I walked around last night from Notre Dame, past the Louvre, onto the Arc de Triomph, and finally to the Eiffel Tower - the whole time I had my mouth wide open I'm sure, just amazed by the feel of the city. I'm glad I have three more days to enjoy it.
Until next time,
Matt
Next up was Seville - I knew it was going to be scorching hot, but I underestimated the heat. Its not too bad up until about two o'clock, but just about then, once the sun has been roasting the city for so long, it becomes nasty. Very rarely in the afternoon was it under 40 degrees Celsius (104 fahrenheit), and there wasn't too much shade to be found. But aside from me complaining about the heat, the city was great - bigger than Granada, but not Barcelona or Madrid big. To me Seville defines what most people think of when they think of Spain - Flamenco, Bull Fighting, and strict adherence to the siesta. We saw two flamenco shows, both were unbelievable. I saw one in Barcelona too, but knew that Seville was the place to really see flamenco. The guitar players grace and elegance, the dancers' insane abilities and speed - everything about it really appeals to me. I wish I had brought my camera both times.
Moving on, The Seville Cathedral (which has the largest alter-piece in the world) is incredible. Massive in size, it also has kept the tower from the Mosque that stood there before it, and adapted it into its own item (yet you can still see the Islam-influenced archways up and down the tower).
On our last full day, we took a day trip to Córdoba - a 45 minute train ride away. Córdoba is famous for its Mezquita - a former mosque that has a cathedral built inside it. I took plenty of pictures, for it is incredible. The way the Islamic arches blend in with the art and style of Christianity is gorgeous, and works quite well.
Our last day in Seville was when we went to the Cathedral, but shortly thereafter took a train to Madrid - parents flying back home the next day, me flying to Paris. We decided that rather than just going to the hotel and staying there, we would venture into the city for the short time we had. I'm glad we did - the weather was great this time (as opposed to the rainy weekend I spent there in June), and because of that I think I enjoyed being there more this time around. I really want to go back to Madrid sometime and see more of it - it really is something else.
Now, I sit in an internet cafe in Paris, taking a break from walking around the city. If Madrid is "something else," then I don't know what to call Paris. City to end all cities? Its amazing, simply put. I walked around last night from Notre Dame, past the Louvre, onto the Arc de Triomph, and finally to the Eiffel Tower - the whole time I had my mouth wide open I'm sure, just amazed by the feel of the city. I'm glad I have three more days to enjoy it.
Until next time,
Matt
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
a few new pictures
so my camera died in Granada while posting pictures. i'm in a hotel with little time to put them up, and the connection is slow. I have however put some up from the sagrada familia, and will add more maybe in the next two days. check the webshots page. UPDATE - I am going to wait until I return home to post the rest of all my pictures - i have so many, and don't want to waste my last few days uploading photos.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Farewell Barcelona
My travels to Barcelona are over. ouch. I can't say enough how awesome my stay was in that city - probably my favorite place that I've ever visited - the people, the city setup, access to the mediterranean, amazing architecture, etc. etc. I stayed almost a week after my program concluded, met up with my parents and did some of the touristy things I missed during school. Also went up north a bit on the coast and did an amazing hike along the water - photos coming soon (today). Also hit up the Barcelona Cathedral (again), Camp Nou - FC Barcelona's stadium, the Palau de la Música Catalana, and the Magic Fountain show at Montjuic - all were amazing. It was really weird doing all these things during the day - it seemed much more like my first week than my last week in the city. I had gotten so used to just living in the city, and not seeing the sights, that it was shocking when each day was packed full of things to do and see - though I'm not complaining. Also got to hang out for a day with my spanish friends Eric and Andrea - two of those Guardian Angels I was talking about.
I am now sitting in an internet cafe in Granada - today we checked out the Alhambra - an incredible fortress/palace - for those who aren't familiar, it was a compound of the Moors - one of the last srongholds in southern Spain before the Catholics conquered it. Beautiful gardens, intricate designs - so much to see there, I took plenty of pictures. Anyway, I'm going to post those pictures while I'm at this cafe, and then maybe check out the cathedral in the city - however, the air conditioning in this cafe is quite refreshing - its 40 degrees outside (104 fahrenheit)...southern spain is hot.
Oh and one last thing, if I learned one important thing while in Barcelona, it is this:
Catalonia is not Spain. Look into the history, the culture, and you'll see what I mean if you don't already know.
-Matt
I am now sitting in an internet cafe in Granada - today we checked out the Alhambra - an incredible fortress/palace - for those who aren't familiar, it was a compound of the Moors - one of the last srongholds in southern Spain before the Catholics conquered it. Beautiful gardens, intricate designs - so much to see there, I took plenty of pictures. Anyway, I'm going to post those pictures while I'm at this cafe, and then maybe check out the cathedral in the city - however, the air conditioning in this cafe is quite refreshing - its 40 degrees outside (104 fahrenheit)...southern spain is hot.
Oh and one last thing, if I learned one important thing while in Barcelona, it is this:
Catalonia is not Spain. Look into the history, the culture, and you'll see what I mean if you don't already know.
-Matt
Friday, July 6, 2007
done with school...bittersweet....
So I just finished a take-home final exam (how convenient) and am unoffically done with my summer "semester" in Barcelona - its nice to be done with academics for awhile, but I am going to miss this city. I still have a week of hanging around here in Barcelona, but lots of people from the program are going elsewhere or back home. Thankfully we all have this last weekend together to go out in style.
Since Sant Joan, I've been quite busy - the whole school part of studying abroad really kicked in, and I had a lot less time to do what I pleased. I did however in that time get to see the Temple de la Sagrada Familia, which might be the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Seeing as its construction has now gone on for over a hundred years (and there's still tons left to do) its amazing to think what the completed project will look like.
Socially, weekends have continued to be incredible- I keep thinking how much I am starting to dislike the idea of returning home to the 2 am bar closing time - like I've told many of you, 2 am here on a Friday or Saturday is when people really get things going - clubs don't fill in until 3 or 3:30. But one can always hope that there will be drastic improvements/changes to the nightlife back home...or probably not.
I am however looking forward to checking out southern Spain as well as Paris and the southwestern part of Germany - I still have three weeks of travel left, and will have much more to tell you then. Also, I have a good amount of pictures to post yet, so keep an eye open for those.
-Matt
Since Sant Joan, I've been quite busy - the whole school part of studying abroad really kicked in, and I had a lot less time to do what I pleased. I did however in that time get to see the Temple de la Sagrada Familia, which might be the most amazing thing I've ever seen. Seeing as its construction has now gone on for over a hundred years (and there's still tons left to do) its amazing to think what the completed project will look like.
Socially, weekends have continued to be incredible- I keep thinking how much I am starting to dislike the idea of returning home to the 2 am bar closing time - like I've told many of you, 2 am here on a Friday or Saturday is when people really get things going - clubs don't fill in until 3 or 3:30. But one can always hope that there will be drastic improvements/changes to the nightlife back home...or probably not.
I am however looking forward to checking out southern Spain as well as Paris and the southwestern part of Germany - I still have three weeks of travel left, and will have much more to tell you then. Also, I have a good amount of pictures to post yet, so keep an eye open for those.
-Matt
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