EmSlice

I went to Tossa del Mar and Girona (two beautiful ancient cities) and Figueres (has the Dalí museum) with my program the weekend before going to San Sebastian. Both Girona and Tossa del Mar were gorgeous, and the Dalí museum made me realize that he is the artist I most understand and appreciate. He had such a variety of ideas and most importantly, was the greatest dreamer there ever was.
These are two of his bronze and gold sculptures...


The museum was really interactive, and this was a room he created that you could see through a looking glass:

Epic tapestry...

This was in the inner courtyard.

All of these places were North of Barcelona, and within twenty minutes of driving in this direction everything turned into the most vibrantly green landscapes I've ever seen.
Girona:




Me, Erica, and Kathleen:

Tossa del Mar, a beautiful beach town that was apparently made famous by Frank Sinatra's and Ava Gardner's visits there:

Work in Tossa del Mar:

On a hill off to the side is an old, old Roman town and castle.


This street in Tossa del Mar appeared to me to be a very typical Spanish calle... white buildings and wisteria.

La Luna y el Pájaro en Tossa del Mar:

Finally, a pretty picture of the deep blue Mediterranean sea:

Un abrazo y un beso...
Emily

San Sebastian
I think San Sebastian is probably the loveliest place to live on Earth. It seems like the perfect medium between Santa Cruz and Paris, with the culture of Spain. It's located in the Basque region Northeast of Barcelona, about an eight hour drive away.
If you go to Spain, make sure you go there. Here’s some pictures to further prove this point… though I think the most telling thing about a city is the feel you have while you’re there—the extent to which the city charms you.
Nonetheless, here’s a sampling:




Cute picture of Traci and Erica hugging.... they're my friends that I traveled with (I met them in my program).

Erica about to enter a "secret passageway"



There was a nosegay of roses swimming around in the ocean...

This structure is one of a very famous group done by some Chilean man. They all stick out of the oceanside cliffs.

Coincidental Resemblance...

Kathleen, Traci, Erica, and Me

Traci's hair as she looks over what resembled a mini-Seine.

Sunset


Night Falls

I've decided that I will live in San Sebastian someday. I want to return and teach English for at least a little while. Living in Barcelona has made me realize I can’t handle big cities for long periods of time—they’re so noisy and dirty and an overload for the senses and there’s so much consumerism and jaded, mean people and everyone becomes so deluded with synthetic things and ideas.
For those reasons, San Sebastian seems like the perfect place to live. Bigger than Santa Cruz, but still with a “small town” feel, relaxed surfer culture, lots of history, on the coast, lots of rain= lots of green, nice people, etc. etc. Maybe you can come visit me in the future and see for yourself someday!

Until then, besitos y abrazos

I spent Spring Break or "Semana Santa" in Paris with the parents. It was REALLY AMAZING. My most favorite city in the world. Yet, anyway. And it's hard to explain why it's my fave, other than that it comes from a general feeling of comfort I had while there. And I'm still figuring out what makes me comfortable. But it may be a combination of the following:
- beauty and cuteness everywhere. All the buildings, churches, parks, even the people and the clothes they wear are all so pretty and "quaint." You know, just French.
- clean streets. For a city, it's really well-kept (the parts I was in anyway).
- good food.
- hearing the soft hum of the French language everywhere.
- the history
- the grandiose-ness of all the buildings
- a refreshing, fat body of water running right through the middle of it
- you may not believe me, but.... kind people.
- the best museums, sites, all that stuff

And like I said, what this all adds up to, for me is a feeling of being at home and cozy. I think I can't help wanting to be surrounded by pretty things.

We stayed in the Marais (4th) district, which has got to be the best. It was so cute and central with narrow alley-streets and cobblestones. We were also about a block from the Seine.
Let me explain the "French being nice" thing: from the moment I got off the plane.... wait, no, even from before getting off the plane, every French person I encountered was really sweet to me. I corrected myself because of Jean-Marc, a Parisian man I met on the flight over who was really cool and gave me lots of suggestions for restaurants and helped me find the train station. And my whole stay there, I didn't encounter anyone who was cold.
However, what was cold, was the weather. Paris in March is not necessarily the best time to go. I think I was colder than I've ever been in my life at some points.
Now for pictures!

The Seine at day.

Seine at night.

My mom, in a cafe at Versailles.

We went to Versailles to see Louis the XVI's and Marie Antoinette's palace. It was totally insane.
Here is a glimpse of how over-the-top it was:
Marie's bedroom:

This was a bit of the gardens... as you can see from that long river thing in the back, it covers a lot of ground.

Inside Notre Dame:

Outside Notre Dame, dusk:

The cemetery (where Jim Morrison is at, and a ton of other people). I forget the name....

I suppose I shouldn't end on the topic of cemeteries, but I have no more pictures....

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Emily

Emslice in. Just wanted to make a quick note that I have seen quite a few "Santa Cruz" sweatshirts, stickers, hats, etc. here in Barcelona. My parents were just here to visit me and while we were walking down a Barcelona street, a young guy walked past us wearing a Santa Cruz sweatshirt. We were in the midst of talking about how odd it was, when my mom saw another young guy with a Santa Cruz wallet. Then, the following day I was walking to my parent's apartment and saw a VW bus (of course) with an SC sticker on it. And finally, yesterday I saw another SC sweatshirt while waiting in line in the photo shop. But maybe it isn't all that surprising since Barcelona is supposed to be the "skateboaring capital of the world."
Also, thanks to all the birthday wishes from everyone! Very sweet. I had an awesome day in Paris with the 'rents. More to tell later. And if I haven't responded to anything sent to me on my birthday, it's because I was hosting the parents and now I'm frantically catching up on school.... but know that I do very much appreciate them!
Hasta pronto y mucho amor....
Emily

La Boquería is a world-famous market in Barcelona. It's the most colorful place I've ever seen. Have a look for yourself (though it's nothing like actually being there... sorry)!

This is a dying crab that was foaming from the mouth... yeah, most of the seafood is still alive. Pretty morbid.

Besitos,
Emilia