fun during finals. yes, it is possible.

i've learned from last semester's spanish finals experience and have therefore decided to make fun a priority in the midst of stressful times. so far, so good.
first mission in living up to my new mantra was realized by enjoying the 'La Día de los Cruces' (the day of the crosses). this holiday is unique to the city of granada and consists of displayed crosses all over the city decorated in red carnations with spaniards of all ages dressed in flamenco attire (aka huge dresses of ever color fruit-loop with ruffles and fluff spilling out everywhere) dancing around them and/or eating ice cream. the culture of southern spain sparkled through each aspect of the holiday: the families out on parade, school cancelled, drinking beer and eating ice cream at 4:00pm on a tuesday, literally every spaniard breaking out their flamenco moves (it must be required in grammar school), chicks walking around in heels on cobblestone like it's no big deal, and all ages enjoying any reason to party. i absolutely love stuff like this--cultural events that remind me that i am somewhere DIFFERENT and get to be an intimate spectator of something that is in their blood, apart of who they are. here are some pics of the event:

this is an example of one of the 10 or more crosses just in my tiny neighborhood.

as i said, all ages :)

one of the main squares had an open stage for any brave souls wanting to get their flamenco face on...some were more into it than others.

that following weekend, i figured that i might as well roll with the fun i was having and headed off on a weekend jaunt to Bologna, Italy :) my main travel partner and i took bus, after bus, to plane, to the next bus to make it into several bear hugs from some italian friends and kristen's california girlies in italia before midnight on friday. the best part about traveling to places where you can hang with the locals is getting to see the insiders scoop of the place (and the best food spots!). bologna is a college town and therefore geared towards the younger crowd. fun, fun, fun :) here are some pic highlights:

california girls taken over bologna! or at least the eco breakfast cafe :)

bologna is also called the red city...this picture explains why. most all the buildings are some shade of this color.

sunday park fun with water guns. those things never get old.

the dog's cafe :) love it.

now it is back to granada and the time crunch has started. the crunch time for studying and crunch time for soaking up as much as i can in these last two months living in the south of spain. there is no time to waste.

danish love

hey all!
that time of the semester has come again...assignment due dates approaching, copious amounts of coffee consumed, panic in the pit of my stomach with thoughts of upcoming exams, and the need for deep breathes/some solid time for reflection. plus, i must share with you my completely soul warming 10 days spent with the one and only Julie Streton. as many of you know, julie is my other half--my tall, beautiful, silly, blonde other half. after growing together for a memorable year in california we became sisters of sorts. she knows my california world quite completely, from family to favorite spots to weird habits. yet, up until mid-april, i had yet to see her world--her family, her favorite danish spots, her home.
all that has now changed! after years of hearing about julie's people and places, i finally was there to physically meet and see them all. our adventures were numerous: exploring copenhagen, bike riding around town, swimming (and screaming) in the danish ocean in april, going to sweden, and eating breakfast in the forrest. yet, when thinking back on my time in the north what brings the biggest smile to my face are the memories eating dinners with julie's family in her home, feeling that homey comfort, and just feeling so loved. here are some pics that i think say it all:

the whole atmosphere along the water in copenhagen was stunning--the sun sparkled off the water and hit the colorful buildings, street performers sang that Titanic song, people of all ages lounged in the sun and chatted with friends all consuming a delicious beer or sweet ice cream, and naturally, there were smiles all around.

danish castle exploring with Michael, julie's fabulous dad. this is Shakespeare's Hamlet's castle with the fog and mist surrounding the gothic castle.

back to julie's hometown. we rode our bikes to this gorgeous lake surrounded by big, beautiful trees.

bird houses in "Freetown Christiania" the hippie, arsty part of Copenhagen.

julie and i climbed up one of the many towers to see the view. copenhagen rocks from above and at ground level.

on my last morning, julie and i first rode our bikes to the local, bomb bakery, then to the forrest covered with little white flowers indicating the coming of spring. listening to adele in the danish forrest, giggling and smiling...it was one of those 'life is good' moments.
now, let's head north and visit one of my homelands...sweden!

here's the story. julie's aunt bought a summer home in southern sweden as the perfect weekend get away and family time spot. although it is just three hours by train from copenhagen, it is another world--a place of moose, wild boars, chopping wood, and that inner peace that only nature can bring.

talking a walk around with julie, her grandma, and younger cousin.

the lake on our early morning quest to try and see a moose. although our wildlife sighting wasn't as successful as we hoped, the stillness and beauty of the morning was stunning.

although it is never easy to say goodbye to my danish sister, especially knowing it will be over a year before we are together again, i know without a drop of doubt that we have a lifetime of 'hello's and 'see ya later's.' in our future there will be world exploring, more freezing bodies of water to jump in, family reunions, weddings, hard times, love, and one of a kind moments. while we are definitely different people who have known different lives, we are forever connected and both take comfort in knowing that the next adventure of vanilla and chocolate is never too far away <3

dreams to be dreamed and dreams to be lived

i just can't stay away. paris, you have caught my heart so completely...if only my wallet and language skills could keep up! a while back when i realized my time was winding down, kristen and i booked tickets to go to paris for the weekend to be able to sing the classic verse "i love paris in the springtime" and visit her friend from santa barbara who is studying there. although we were only there for two and a half days, we covered a lot of ground and ate at the majority of pastry/bread shops in the center districts :) each day started with a pan chocolat, map in hand, and discussion of future plans for how we are going to live in this city some day. the changes in seasons were incredible--the sun was out, flowers were blooming, and everyone was out and about to get a taste of life without the winter layers. what is there to really say, except that paris is magical in every season. with some sense of direction, it is easy to stroll from one national monument to another, discovering picturesque alley ways and unexpected treasures. the city seems to never stop and be in some balance between extremely old and startlingly modern. there is an energy that is distinctly it's own, sparking curiosity in its visitors and continuing cooly through the daily lives of the locals. it is hard for me to believe that the novelty of it all could be warn away quickly.
here are some pics of the beautiful city and a taste of a dream come to life:

this captures one aspect of the parisian essence--adorable bikes parked near little cafes where beautiful people chat and watch the world go by.

notre dame from the back-side

we stumbled upon a local market with gorgeous produce (and to-die-for baked goods of all kinds)

taking an eating/walking break on the bridge

spring flowers in bloom

getting ready to climb to the top...obviously a little loopy from the sugar and cinnamon crepe eaten directly before this picture

here, with the view of the city below and all different languages being spoken around us, the performer started singing 'Hotel California.' i couldn't be happier being in that moment, exactly where i was with an incredible friend by my side, both of us smiling with contentment that our home is with us where ever we may go.

granada reunion in belgium

adventures await everywhere. i was reminded of this once again as i packed my bag on a sunny tuesday to take my first ryanair flight to the little country of Belgium with my flat-mates from last semester. speaking rapid spanish, Yoyo (French), Agnes (German), and I (Californian) may have looked like an odd group to other travelers, but to us, our many differences were small compared to our connection created at a little flat off a cobblestone street in Granada, Spain. we arrived in Belgium to be greeted by Aurélie, our old belgium flat-mate (and tour guide) along with Pascal, the honorary male of our home. after exchanging big hugs, we jumped in the car headed straight for a brass band concert. belgium beers in hand we danced the night away, feeling far away from Spain, but strangely comfortable and at home.
now, how to sum up the trip without boring you with all those little 'you had to be there' details?
i guess i'll start off with the highlights:
-- Aurélie lives in a huge home with 10 other students in a co-op kind of deal. it's pretty incredible. dinner is eaten together every night (the chef rotating on a schedule in the kitchen), all food and house responsibilities are shared, eggs are collected from the chicken coop, musical instruments are scattered in each room, and nights are frequently ended all around the firepit in the front yard chatting about days events and stories of when we discovered the truth about santa clause. (pic of breakfast on the patio)
-- the weather was incredible. sun. blue sky. t-shirts. i am convinced that what they say about the country have 300 days of cloudy skies and the majority with some sort of precipitation is a grand conspiracy.
-- it must also be noted that everyone in the house (and our travel group) spoke french...except me. there was a lot of listening, trying to interpret body language, and trying to contribute as much as possible with smiles. just another facet of the adventure.
--our second day there we took the train to a little town called, Bruges. it is in the Flemish part of the country (no french spoken here) and is seriously something out of a storybook (and is referred to as the Venice of the North). a canal connects the majority of the town and runs along brick buildings with potted plants and charming moss covered roofs. in addition, almost every street contains at least one chocolate shop with a window display begging to be eaten. it was a magical day of strolling the streets, riding a small boat along the canal, and being together--a group of young people, appreciating a beautiful city.

this is the main square in Bruges--horse drawn carriages run everywhere and those triangle shaped roofs are everywhere. love them!

the city from the oldest bell tower in the town.

a garden of daffodils in a park made for the nuns of Bruges to enjoy.
-- one night, it was MEXICAN FOOD night. Aurélie had promised the house my cali-mex cooking specialty a while before we got there, so fajita style burritos it was! cooking for 18 people was an adventure (along with giving several lessons in how to properly fold a tortilla...a skill that must be practiced i learned).
--next big adventure was Brussels, "the capital of Europe" and home to all the official EU buildings. i must say i enjoyed the city, but found it very different from any place i'd visited before. maybe it's the combo of the Flemish and Franco parts of the small country or the clash of modern and gothic architecture...regardless, it was a cool place. here are some pics to prove it.

the spanish flat together in Belgium!

buildings in the main plaza

maybe it's just me, but sitting on the ground in a main plaza felt odd..yet, here it's all the rage and a completely normal way to enjoy the architecture.

i was a little out of the monuments loop when i was told we on our way to see one of the main monuments in Belgium...the statue of Brussels, the dignified 30 cm statue of a little boy peeing into a fountain commemorating an old tale of a young boy saving the city by putting out a fire with his bodily fluids. i was told it's Belgium humor. (they even dress the statue up on holidays and for random occasions)

those five days in Belgium are ones i will never forget--it was a trip unlike any other on many accounts. now on to the next adventure :) cheers!

signs of spring

after weeks of rainy, gloomy, less than enjoyable weather, granada decided to remind me of the warm, good ol' days this past weekend. it's amazing how a little sun can change a city--out of nowhere came spaniards of every age scarfing down a gelato (yet, still too afraid to shed their winter jackets...what's the deal people?), groups of dazed but happy tourists wandered the cobblestone streets, smiles appeared on even the grumpiest of frutería ladies, and an overall energetic buzz blasted from tapas bars that spring has finally arrived.
naturally, an event such as this could not be wasted inside my dark and damp piso doing homework or procrastinating doing homework by knitting scarves in my toasty bed--no, no, no. instead i joined kristen and an australian friend, tim to indulge in some Los Italianos cassata (gelato cake mixed with dried fruit and nuts) and explore our beautiful city. what started out as a tour of the neighborhood and the epic graffiti art that is housed there, ended up being a long awaited hike above the city and among the "cuevas de los gitanos" (caves of the gypsies). it is exactly as it's named: caves dug into the side of the hill that have been occupied by gypsies...quite fascinating actually. as we hiked by in my dress and kristen's flats (clearly not so prepared for hiking) we yelled "hola" to the residents as we trotted by their homes on the dirt trail and and feel in love with the views.




it was a wonderful way to celebrate the beginning of spring and see the city from above. plus, i forgot how soul cleansing hiking in some nature is. i will be visiting my gypsy friends again soon.
till then, i will be off to Belgium to visit an old flat-mate and check out that chocolate and waffle filled country :) update to come in a week or so.

meet the flat-mates

why, hello there. in an effort to keep up with my little blog here, i shall introduce you to the new lovely ladies living in my little 'piso' or flat. sadly, after three of my flat-mates from first semester headed back to their prospective countries, their rooms were left empty and freakishly clean awaiting the new arrivals. unlike my california living situations in which roommates are planned a year ahead of time, not knowing who would be living in the room next me was strange, but kinda thrilling.
well, i lucked out once again, with two wonderful italian chicas. (the third room, once the guest room, will be occupied by a sweet french girl this upcoming friday)

starting from left to right: Valentina is a sweetheart from Genoa, Italy who loves to sing Tracy Chapman as she cooks in the kitchen and debate about consumerism and socialism. next is Jenny, also Italian but who studies outside of London. she is a complete movie buff and is determined to catch me up on the american classics i have missed...the irony. second from the right is our old neighbor from England visiting for a catch up session on life in granada. and lastly, farthest right is Joanna, my French roommate from last semester. our flat is constantly filled with people from all over--it's amazing how living and interacting with people from dozens of countries daily has become extremely normal.

while i truly love the international experience i am living, sometimes it is necessary to return to my roots and hang with my california girls. this past weekend was my good friend Laura's 21st birthday celebration. theme: Leisure Suit (song by Fiest--40s glam) menu: mushroom and pea risotto, noodle shells stuffed with spinach and ricotta, chocolate covered strawberries, and yummy drinks of all sorts. execution: success. celebrating together that friday made me realize how being abroad has brought us all together in a special way. while we all want to meet people from exotic countries, practice our spanish with locals, and live our experience outside of california to its fullest, i think we have all come to understand the deep connection we have as americans and how we have become each other's support systems--a family of sorts.

feliz cumpleaños, laura!

a little love kick

i believe all students who have studied abroad can fully relate to the surprising emotional roller-coaster that this adventure entails. even the most stable of people are warranted to experience the ups and downs, elation and frustration, as well as the travel fever spurts and homesick lulls. each day is met with new discoveries and inherent challenges that make living in another country special. now, while i consider myself to be a fairly positive and happy person, this roller-coaster ride tends to catch me off guard once and awhile, leaving me a tad out of sorts from the unforeseen loop. so, as semester study abroad students headed back to the states, the first week of classes rolled around, and it came time to plan out the next five months of this adventure, this roller-coaster through me a little loop. well, let's be honest, i am not the best at transitions--something i'm working on :)
although my usual go-to 'mood funk' remedies are sweat (a good work-out), skype (thank goodness for technology), chai (tea and chatting with friends), and chili dark chocolate (if your taste buds have yet to be dazzled by this flavor of Lindt Excellence, i strongly encourage you run to the nearest grocery store asap), granada decided to do me one better and show me the most glorious weekend i have experienced in a little while.
no matter where i am, whether it's sunny santa barbara, charming small town davis, or in glorious granada, sometimes a 'little love kick' is necessary to remind me to soak this up, live in the moment, and smile because this is my life--and frankly, it rocks. this weekend was just what i need to remind me that i am in love with this ancient southern spanish city.

two of kristen's friends came to visit granada and where did we immediately take them--san mirador san nicolas. this 'mirador' or viewing spot is a square with a view of the Alhambra and Sierra Nevada mountains covered in snow. With such a breathtaking view, it is always filled with excited tourists, locals selling jewelery, and musicians (please notice his flaming red pants tucked into his white socks...really? what has style come to these days? haha)--basically the perfect people watching spot and place to remind me where i'm at//what kind of life we lead.

one of my favorite things about granada is the funky earthy community. as we were walking back from the mirador bongo drums filled the air. naturally, we went searching, quickly finding a mixture of granada hippies, dogs jumping in fountains, artists, and wandering passer-bys all singing dancing and enjoying the sun together. so fabulous!

sunday was the first of our weekend picnic tradition. here's part of the crew.



this is the view of the stairs leading down to my neighborhood. sometimes i curse these steps as i run up and down trying to manage the tapa and tinto intake, but the view from the top is most certainly worth the climb.