story of my shoes

...this is something i have put together ages ago and just found it in my picture folder. i think it deserves a place on my blog:)

discovery of polyvore web and my first quick test...

on the train from work...

reception at the my new workplace...

iPhone snapper...

...from the London Underground

Colours of Barcelona.

July 2009

I wish I can go back soon to do proper picture report on the Barcelona street ART.

last of my picture reports from Barca.

Today - coffee with Laura, walk around el Raval, la escuela y la cena con mis amigas! Dinner was much pricier than expected but I think we enjoyed it a lot. The sangria was certainly the best one I have tasted in Barca. Muy bien!

Getting closer to the end...

and there it is - Tuesday & Wednesday together... as on Wednesday I did nothing - apart from a test at school that examined how much I have learned.

Tuesday I walked around the Barrio Gotico and its calles estrechas. I just love it there so much.

Evening sangria on Plaza Real with mis amigas. I like!

new week, same city.

this has been another one of those lot of walking days. i went around modernish side of Barca, around district Poblenou. It was an interesting exploration to not at all tourist place. Lot of distinct architecture. Definitely a place to visit again - with a proper map though!

Not to forget - we had a LOVELY 'tapas' dinner in our not so lovely residence. Nice sangria tambien.

sunday

- and yes the SUN finally got out!

weekend in Barca.

...was full of events. I mean, not actual events but we went to see a lot. The day started at metro station Lesseps where we met around 11.30AM. We saw the beauties of Gaudi's Park Guell, tried to have lunch in a local bar/ restaurant - without a success, had some fun in an old amusement park Tibidabo. Walked, walked and walked. We finished so tired that we could only think of Sunday. And the prospect of spending an afternoon on the beach.

Sun please please come out!!! It's essential!

the first week is over.

Can't believe it went SO fast! Anyway, woke up latish today, so packed my stuff for school with me for the whole day. What a terrible IDEA! Did I mention that I carry a book, notepad and some other stuff to school everyday. Then add a camera, two lenses, bottle of water and you may get the idea of how (***) heavy my bag was. However this shall not ruin my day.

As I left the residence and headed for the metro, I was stopped by crowds and crowds of mad people with yellow bags. Then I remembered, Tour De France is in Barcelona! I was not able to cross the road to get to the metro, so waited for the cyclists too. Not overly exciting though. Once it was over, I got a metro to Plaza Espana. Place I wanted to visit since my bus journey from the airport when we drove pass it. It looked so monumental then. It didn't let me down - although escalators to get up the hill? Seriously?!

On the top, I enjoyed walk around the parks surrounding the National Art Museum of Catalunya. Passed the Miro museum but didn't go in. Yet again I chose outside exploring, over the inside one. Got a teleferic de Monjuic, took lot of pictures of Barcelona from above, walked down around the (boring) Olympic stadium. Got to school. Pretty straightforward I think. This time in no rush and without getting lost.

Friday evening is asking for some action, isn't it? We went to see a flamenco show - a let down. Had a sangria next door to the show place - not a let down.

Plan for tomorrow - park Guell and Tibidabo! Oh Yeah!

Buen Fin De Semana!

rain rain go away,

come again some other day.

and that is pretty much it for today. alright then, not really. but it rained - i mean RAINED! - all day.

Another plan to visit some galleries and stuff was shuttered as the rain was too heavy to walk anywhere. So just went down to a supermercado and did some groceries shopping. Got home, got lunch, got metro, got la clase de espanol and it STOPped raining.

Yes, so the evening was upon us and guess where we went. And the answer is just too easy. Surely we went to Gracia. My new found love. It was very nice, we had some pan con tomate, queso y jamon. And possibly some other tapas like food.

...so yet another enjoyable day despite the not so enjoyable weather...

already mid-week

Yes. Wednesday it is. Morning looked really dull and better said, quite rain like. So the initial thoughts were to go to see some inside. Like museums or galleries... However by the time I got out and met with a friend Vera (11.30AM), the sky showed a nicer side which sort of ruined the 'inside' plans. Our journeys separated then as I went to do more streets exploring.

After leaving Jaume I, I strolled down the streets of La Ribera and ended up by the Park De La Ciutadella - something like Barca's Central Park. They have parliament, Zoo and lake inside there. The only things is that it's not a 'walk-through' park. So I haven't spend much time there as I kind of had to walk back to the entrance...

I then walked down towards the beach via Ciutadella-Villa Olimpica metro station. Walk by the beach was as lovely as the weather. Shame my time was so limited by the afternoon classes - which I by the way almost missed as I got totally lost at the seafront. All is well that end's well and I found a metro station and rushed to the class.

Evening was quiet and involved lots and lots and lots and lots of walking. Well, that was not really an intention. But this city made me walk a lot. Small walk to Sagrada Familia turned to a 2,5 hour walk around the west part of Barca (if you are looking from the sea). Mainly I saw the residential parts though. The trip concluded by walking through - what became instantly my favourite part of the town - GRACIA. The barrio that is full of life and not full of tourist.

I will be back there...

El segundo dia...

...was all about exploring the close neighbourhood of L'Eixample, the barrio the student residence is in. Walked on Passeig de Gracia, passed the famous Casa Mila (La Pedrera). I wish I had gone inside but too many people around just discouraged me from it. I have also been by the Casa Batllo (Casa Dels Ossos) but neither was I inside there. At least I have something to plan for my next visit as it all looks soooo good on pictures. I will have to arm myself with patience. It surely is worth it.

I've also met my friend Sandra who is actually from Barca but was half way on her journey back to Londres.

And also not to forget, I went for my second day to school to learn some more espanol. Still no real results though...

the beginning of my 2 week study

holiday in Barcelona.

So hey, it's Monday and my first day at Barca and at school. Morning was all about meeting my future new mates. It turned out really well. But more will follow.

We went to La Rambla to experience the kind of weird pet shop market and then had some from fruit from the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria.

The day was finished by Cena Bienvenida with all the new Don Quijote people. By the time it all finished I was too knackered to follow others to the beach bar Opium.