Ah people, I am so tired. So no one could drop me at the train station to go into barcelona today so I took the bike thinking oh this will be great. I can bike all around the city and say goodbye before I leave tomorrow. So I take the bike, we live on a high hill here just north of the city with a view of the ocean, very nice, but I am going downhill all the way which is nice but I get totally lost, well I didnt even really know how to get there in the first place, I was just like oh I will find it. So 20 easy minutes later I am at the station...i have to sneak my bike in because I am pretty sure you cant bring your bike through the little entry doors that open and close a little too quickly after you put your ticket in, then I ride around the city for 3 hours and leave at 4 just in enough time I think to be back at home for when the girls come at 5pm from school. By the way, the whole time I was dodging tourists, and with a little luck and yelling, I managed not to hit anyone! I am very proud. So 30 minutes on the train on the way back and of course the only seat available with my huge red bike is one that is broken so I manage to wedge myself against the seat and my bike to sit, already super tired and hot. Then I was like oh I give up, I will take a taxi back to the house and put my bike in it since the way back is allllll up hill. Nope, not happening, no taxis. So I ride for a couple minutes then have to walk because its too twisty and turny, but the uphill road kept going forever. It was good that it was curvy because if I had saw the end of the road where I had to go, I would have stopped at the beginning and said "NO way in hell!" So after 30 minutes of walking and trying to ride my bike uphill and putting it in the easiest gear I could, I finally made it and now I am writing this after gulping down water.
It was a good day and I think I burned sufficient calories to make up for the rainy days I stayed inside...
Goodbye Barcelona...
My adventures around the world on United... Spain to D.C., Nicaragua to USF, Ireland, the Ukraine, Kenya, Graduate school and Mexico and back to the Bay Area. Who knows where I will be next...
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Un Dia Llovioso
Rain, rain and more rain here in Barcelona...lucky that I LOVE it! I was inside my nice warm house while the girls were at school for the first day. I think all the mothers of Spain are rejoicing today since all kids all ages started today. I slept late, checked my email, watched the news, ate lunch and just waited for the girls to come home at 5. I know from 9 to 5 quite a day huh...but that´s what those trilingual schools are doing these days.
By the way, I decided for my birthday (Sunday September 20th) of having a small dinner party at a restraunt with some good friends: Steph, Cecily, Maile, Kelsey and Matty. Here is a little background. Steph and I lived together on the same floor freshman year and have been good friends since. She visited me in Spain when she was studying in Denmark and I have been to Jackson Hole Wyoming to visit her where she grew up. Cecily is from Maine, where I have gotten the chance to visit her, and we met freshman year, were very close sophomore year and then I was gone junior year in spain and DC then she was gone to egypt to study abroad first semester senior year but after that semester we met up in Paris (I was staying with my old roommate from DC Noemie) for New Years 2008. Then there is Maile who grew up with Cec and decided to come out to SF two years ago to go to Paul Mitchell Beauty school and she and I met up in London when I was in Spain, she had a school hair show, and I flew out for a weekend to see her and we always have a good time together, plus she always cuts my hair perfectly! And Kelsey and I met in Latin american perspectives Sophomore year and instantly became good friends, she is such a sweetheart and grew up in northern california. Then there is Matty...we studied in Spain together and he graduated a year ahead of me and now works in a PR firm in the city and is from Seattle- matt also came and visited me in DC adn is always up for fun.
So thats the bday party..I decided after my million parties I have had over the years I should keep it small, though I really had a hard time not inviting all my friends to dinner in Palo Alto.
But instead of gifts, I am asking my friends to hand over 22 dollars so I can donate it to the non profit of my choice. In light of recent events with my dog passing away, I am going to give the money to a dog rescue organization called Rocket Dog Rescue based here in the Bay Area. I really encourage adopting because like children, there are so many dogs out there in the world that need a home!
www.rocketdogrescue.org
Well back to my rainy day here...I love it!
By the way, I decided for my birthday (Sunday September 20th) of having a small dinner party at a restraunt with some good friends: Steph, Cecily, Maile, Kelsey and Matty. Here is a little background. Steph and I lived together on the same floor freshman year and have been good friends since. She visited me in Spain when she was studying in Denmark and I have been to Jackson Hole Wyoming to visit her where she grew up. Cecily is from Maine, where I have gotten the chance to visit her, and we met freshman year, were very close sophomore year and then I was gone junior year in spain and DC then she was gone to egypt to study abroad first semester senior year but after that semester we met up in Paris (I was staying with my old roommate from DC Noemie) for New Years 2008. Then there is Maile who grew up with Cec and decided to come out to SF two years ago to go to Paul Mitchell Beauty school and she and I met up in London when I was in Spain, she had a school hair show, and I flew out for a weekend to see her and we always have a good time together, plus she always cuts my hair perfectly! And Kelsey and I met in Latin american perspectives Sophomore year and instantly became good friends, she is such a sweetheart and grew up in northern california. Then there is Matty...we studied in Spain together and he graduated a year ahead of me and now works in a PR firm in the city and is from Seattle- matt also came and visited me in DC adn is always up for fun.
So thats the bday party..I decided after my million parties I have had over the years I should keep it small, though I really had a hard time not inviting all my friends to dinner in Palo Alto.
But instead of gifts, I am asking my friends to hand over 22 dollars so I can donate it to the non profit of my choice. In light of recent events with my dog passing away, I am going to give the money to a dog rescue organization called Rocket Dog Rescue based here in the Bay Area. I really encourage adopting because like children, there are so many dogs out there in the world that need a home!
www.rocketdogrescue.org
Well back to my rainy day here...I love it!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
September: Sat the 5th and Sun the 6th
Last weekend was great, after 50 plus hours alone with the girls during the day last week (while their parents worked and one day I had the 2 7year olds and the 2 10 year olds for a sleepover), I got 2 days off to go play myself in Barcelona.
Saturday I took the train to Plaza Catalunya, which is the main plaza int he city, and went to Barrio Gracía to walk around and find a second hand english bookstore opened by some Irish guys called Hibernia (which either Ireland or Dublin was once called). After finding a couple good books and an hour or so later, I walked around the neighborhood. Spain had great Oxfam stores that sell fair trade and environmentally friendly products while taking the money and putting it towards a good cause. Then I took the metro to Park GÜELL, designed by Guadí, in the northern part of the city. There are beautiful views from the top, but it is quite a climb. It was nice to walk around by myself and see more of the city.
Sunday I went into the city again and walked around a different neighborhood and the El Palau (palace) de Musica de Catalunya which was designed by Gaudí too with really neat designs in the modernism era. Then I walked to the Picasso Museum and saw a lot of his works throughout his lifetime...I really like his work around the turn of the century. Since the Parque Ciudatella was near by I walked a little around there and read and watched all the dogs and their owners running around the park...I miss Bailey....
By the way, it´s hard to say, but the 28th of August I got a call from my Dad saying that Bailey, my little terrier, got hit by a truck and died instantly. I havent seen him in 5 months and I really miss him. R.I.P.
Also, it is Catalunya´s independence day tomorrow, the 11th of September, so we will see all the exciting things that will happen in the city tomorrow. The Leris family, my family here, are going to their mountain house for the holiday so I will have some time to relax Friday and Saturday! I plan on soaking up the sun and swimming in the backyard and taking the bike to Barcelona and eating and that´s about it. The girls start their trilingual school (which I found out runs from 9-5pm every weekday where they learn Catalan, Spanish and English) on the 14th adn then on the 18th I leave for a 7:40am flight to London and then to SFO or LA or wherever United will let me on a flight to.
I am excited to be going home, sad to leave Spain, and also sad to be coming home to my Grandmother having surgery...but I am still counting down the days!! After almost 5 months being in Europe I am ready to see what CA has in store for me!
Saturday I took the train to Plaza Catalunya, which is the main plaza int he city, and went to Barrio Gracía to walk around and find a second hand english bookstore opened by some Irish guys called Hibernia (which either Ireland or Dublin was once called). After finding a couple good books and an hour or so later, I walked around the neighborhood. Spain had great Oxfam stores that sell fair trade and environmentally friendly products while taking the money and putting it towards a good cause. Then I took the metro to Park GÜELL, designed by Guadí, in the northern part of the city. There are beautiful views from the top, but it is quite a climb. It was nice to walk around by myself and see more of the city.
Sunday I went into the city again and walked around a different neighborhood and the El Palau (palace) de Musica de Catalunya which was designed by Gaudí too with really neat designs in the modernism era. Then I walked to the Picasso Museum and saw a lot of his works throughout his lifetime...I really like his work around the turn of the century. Since the Parque Ciudatella was near by I walked a little around there and read and watched all the dogs and their owners running around the park...I miss Bailey....
By the way, it´s hard to say, but the 28th of August I got a call from my Dad saying that Bailey, my little terrier, got hit by a truck and died instantly. I havent seen him in 5 months and I really miss him. R.I.P.
Also, it is Catalunya´s independence day tomorrow, the 11th of September, so we will see all the exciting things that will happen in the city tomorrow. The Leris family, my family here, are going to their mountain house for the holiday so I will have some time to relax Friday and Saturday! I plan on soaking up the sun and swimming in the backyard and taking the bike to Barcelona and eating and that´s about it. The girls start their trilingual school (which I found out runs from 9-5pm every weekday where they learn Catalan, Spanish and English) on the 14th adn then on the 18th I leave for a 7:40am flight to London and then to SFO or LA or wherever United will let me on a flight to.
I am excited to be going home, sad to leave Spain, and also sad to be coming home to my Grandmother having surgery...but I am still counting down the days!! After almost 5 months being in Europe I am ready to see what CA has in store for me!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Devon´s Summer Reading
These last two months I have not been with the girls I am either talking with the family or watching the news or exploring Barcelona...but mostly reading.
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
The Pilgramage by Paulo Coelho
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave
The Tales of the Beadle and Bard by JK Rowling
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Eclypse by Stephanie Meyer
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Emma by Jane Austen
I have to recommend the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. Its about a girl in high school and a young vampire adn their love story...its like 2,000 pages of suspense and I will totally loan it to you!
If you haev any books to recommend tell me!
The Reader by Bernhard Schlink
The Pilgramage by Paulo Coelho
Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
The Other Hand by Chris Cleave
The Tales of the Beadle and Bard by JK Rowling
New Moon by Stephanie Meyer
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Eclypse by Stephanie Meyer
In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan
Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Emma by Jane Austen
I have to recommend the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. Its about a girl in high school and a young vampire adn their love story...its like 2,000 pages of suspense and I will totally loan it to you!
If you haev any books to recommend tell me!
Happy September!
I can´t believe we are already in September, classes at USF have started without me and I am still on vacation..i love it!
This week I have been with Moni adn Claudia during the days whiel their parents work and its been super fun adn super tiring. Today the girls are having sleepovers with their friends, Claudia and Emma, so I am with 2 7year olds and 2 10 year olds. After experiements in the kitchen, tying the younger ones up, swimming, planting seeds and digging in the dirt, painting, drawing, playing on the computer, playing tag, and running and screaming all aroudn the house, I think today will be a long one, its only 4pm while i write this. We still have a couple more hours of play time, then at 8 we will eat dinner then getting 4 girls ready for bed, oh my!
Better go see what their doing...
Also, yesterday Moni and I had a nice day alone at the aquarium...mano a mano se dice.
This week I have been with Moni adn Claudia during the days whiel their parents work and its been super fun adn super tiring. Today the girls are having sleepovers with their friends, Claudia and Emma, so I am with 2 7year olds and 2 10 year olds. After experiements in the kitchen, tying the younger ones up, swimming, planting seeds and digging in the dirt, painting, drawing, playing on the computer, playing tag, and running and screaming all aroudn the house, I think today will be a long one, its only 4pm while i write this. We still have a couple more hours of play time, then at 8 we will eat dinner then getting 4 girls ready for bed, oh my!
Better go see what their doing...
Also, yesterday Moni and I had a nice day alone at the aquarium...mano a mano se dice.
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