Spain

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

I remember some famous chef, or maybe it was Anthony Bourdain, saying that the most satisfying food in the world is a really good piece of bread. That's been stuck in my head since hearing it because I've never even liked bread that much or thought it was all that special-- it's not very tasty, it's not all that healthy, and I generally treat it as nothing more than a mop for my leftover sauces on my plate. Yet after a delicious lunch in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, I walked past an organic Forn (bakery/bread shop), and had to go in. It wasn't the bread that drew me in, but the fact that finding anything organic in Barcelona is a huge rarity... buying organic foods is of no concern in Catalunya. So, accordingly, I had to go in and buy a loaf to see what it was all about.
Well, lesson finally learned that I should always ask the price of an item before I buy it... because it was a $13 loaf of bread. Then again, I don't think I did learn my lesson because it was the best bread I have ever tasted in my entire life... by so so far. And I would buy it a million times over...until I was therefore tens of millions in debt, because it was so good. Luckily it's in a far-away barrio from my house. But I finally understand why a good piece of bread can be the most euphoric eating experience: all your life, you think you know what bread is-- that it's very plain-- until you have your first bite of real artisan bread. It makes me wonder what the possibilities are for all average foods to be simply extraordinary.

For my photography class, we had to turn in some portraits of people we'd met in Barcelona. I'm terrible at portraits-- I think it's really uncomfortable to make people pose for you because they're usually really uncomfortable. I'd rather be at a real scene, quietly observing and creepily snapping shots without being noticed. But I gave this all a go and here's what I came out with. It's not that awful, I don't think.

There's a theme. I asked people to tell me the color they think they emanate, and then I edited their photo using that color.

First up, Vidal from southern Spain, who described himself as the electric blue painted by that German post-modern artist... I've forgotten his name. But you know, it was that painting that marked the point in modern art when people started making millions off of painting a canvas a single solid color.

Fernando from Barcelona, whom I had lunch with for four hours. He said brown, which made sense since he's a wood carver.

Davey from Belgium, who said that green was his color. Spent the day at Ciutadella Park with him and his friends.

This is the brother of one of my compañeros de cuarto from Ibiza, Spain. His name is Elias and he's really sweet. He's always hanging around the house and he's in a picture or two from previous entries.

Me, with the happy, sunny color yellow. I'm shooting for the sun, anyway.

And last but not least, Megan and the color purple.

What do you think? Do the colors seem to match up with the people? For those you don't know, that's solely based on the pictures, of course... but I want to know your opinion. Dime!
Besitos,
Emily

This was taken inside the Museum of National Art of Catalunya, which I think is my favorite museum I've ever been to. It's situated in a huge, beautiful park on "Montjuic," a hill on the side of Barcelona overlooking the city.

Also at Montjuic. And I'd like to know, which do you prefer? The above, or the one below?

Una angelita que mira sobre la ciudad...
This was on a little plaza in front of the museum where an hombre was playing really pretty and relaxing classical guitar. It was one of those perfectly pleasant moments of overlooking a beautiful European city in the sunset light, accompanied by a romantic acoustic guitar soundtrack.

Below is a shot of the Romanesque exhibit... this is art that was peeled off of ancient church walls in Barcelona and plastered onto the museum walls. It's from the 11th century and as you can see, the characters look like cartoons because artists of that time hadn't really gotten the depth concept down yet. This isn't the greatest picture, but you're not supposed to take pictures in museums so I had to be sneaky and quick.

Megan casting her shadow in the Museum atrium...

So that's a good summary of my quiet, wintry afternoon of last Friday in Barcelona. Qué corazón que esta ciudad tiene!
Amor,
Emily

Ciutadella Park has become my favorite park in Barcelona... it's really big and lush, and last weekend Megan and I encountered our first Barcelona hippy cult there! For an afternoon, it was as though I'd never left Santa Cruz.

Hippies:

There are also "The Wild Parrots of Ciutadella Park," as I like to call them after the documentary called "The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" (which, if you haven't seen, you haven't lived!).

Megan and I:

Make sure to see my next blog entry, because it's going to contain my favorite pictures I've taken so far. Hasta pronto...

Emily