Practicing my Italiano in Milano!

Hola! or should I say Bonjourno?

REUNITED in Milan

For those of you who don't speak much Italian (i.e. me before this weekend)...that means hello! I spent this past weekend in Milan, Italy visiting one of my really good and only friends abroad -- Dorothy James! I've not been homesick at all, but it was still so nice to see a familiar face! Dot and I have been close since freshman year and it was so refreshing to be with someone who knows me as well as she does.

I arrived in Milan late Thursday night. After meeting up with Dorothy, we grabbed some authentic Italian pizza from this adorable pizzeria. I decided that since I was in Italy for the weekend I would indulge in all types of "authentic" Italian food. Therefore, after pizza we grabbed some gelato for dessert. Both were delicious!

Duomo di Milano

Friday I slept in, while Dorothy was off practicing Italian in class. Once class was over, Dorothy and I grabbed a bite to eat. We sat at a café and just caught up on life. It was a little surreal seeing each other in another country, but still things felt like we had never been apart. After lunch, we walked around Milan. We explored the shopping around the Duomo di Milano. After window shopping we headed back to her apartment to meet up with her roommates. This weekend Dorothy's apartment had quite a few visitors. Her roommate, Mary Frances, had two girls staying with her. Her other roommate, Ally, also had her friend, Jenna, visiting from Rome. Needless to say, the apartment was crowded, but that just made the weekend even more fun. There was never a dull moment! Friday night Dorothy, Ally, Jenna and I grabbed yet another typical Italian dinner...pizza. I don't know how people who study in Italy do it. The pizza was amazing, but after two days of cheesy, breaded goodness, I was definitely starting to crave a salad and vegetables. That night all the roommates and all of their guests headed to the club, Alcatraz. It was massive! So many people in one huge area. What was fun was that it wasn't all Americans like it is in Barcelona. There was a definite mix between the two, which is so different than what I'm used to.

Best calzone. EVER.

Saturday, Dorothy, myself, Ally (Dorothy's roommate) and Jenna (Ally's friend visiting from Rome) all headed over to grab lunch. We went to this place called Panzerotti Luini. This hole in the wall specialize in calzones. From the outside this place didn't look all that special, but the extremely long line outside the door, curving into the street said otherwise. The line moved much faster than expected. We each got a calzone, even though we were very tempted to buy two. I got a ricotta and spinach calzone and inhaled the thing. It was absolutely amazing. Writing about it now is making my mouth water! Thank god I'm not studying in Milan because those calzone's would definitely be my go-to hangover food. If you're ever in Milan you must visit this place! It's right around the corner from the Duomo. After lunch, the four of us climbed the Duomo. We took this time as our "exercise" of the weekend. Once at the top, we were able to see all of Milan. It was beautiful. After taking in the view, we headed down and toured inside the Duomo.

Getting artsy on top of the Duomo

Best part of the weekend: After the Duomo, Dorothy and I met up with our good friend, Angie, who is studying in Verona! She took the train in the morning to hang out with us all day! It was so good to see her. Once reunited, the three of us headed to a little café to grab some coffee..and of course some gelato. We literally just sat there and caught up on each other's lives. It was so good to see both of them. That night, none of us were really in the clubbing mood, so we kept it very mellow. We got dinner and drinks. Then after drinking a little wine in the apartment we all headed to a local bar. It was a great way to end a great weekend.

**CHECK THIS OUT!***

While abroad, one of the classes I'm taking is called Journalism 2.0. I'm learning about various forms of social media, blogging, and this new form of journalism and media. One of our assignments is to blog throughout the semester, but we have to use wordpress. My blog grade is based on the amount of hits my wordpress blog receives. My other blog is the exact same thing as this one, except every other post is about something I learned in my journalism class. Help me out by clicking the link and following it to my other blog. That will increase the hits I receive and give me a better grade! :)

http://alexarome.wordpress.com/

Thank you!

xo, AJ

Madrid for the Weekend

Hola!

I spent this past weekend exploring Madrid with a few friends! I had an amazing time. Madrid is so different than Barcelona and definitely not what I expected, but it was a good different. To me, Madrid seemed like an area for a much older demographic, while Barcelona seems to be for a much younger scene. Don't get me wrong, there are students who study in Madrid and absolutely love it. I've heard great things about the nightlife, I just could never imagine living there. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Barcelona was by far the best place for me to study!

We left for Madrid on the train early Friday morning so we could have the entire day to explore. Once in Madrid we we're absolutely starving, so we headed to a local restaurant called la Gloria de Montera. With all sorts of tapas, this restaurant is a fusion of local and international flavors. It's a very popular eatery for both locals and tourists because it offers good food for a cheap price. After lunch, we set out to explore Madrid. We walked up and down Gran Via (the main street in Madrid) looking for anything that would spark our interest. We walked around, popping in and out of clothing stores, but sooner or later we were absolutely exhausted. We had no energy to go out, so we grabbed a quick dinner and then called it a night.

Amanda and I at San Ginés

Saturday we decided would be our extremely touristy day. In the morning we took a three hour bus/walking tour around the city. Exploring every nook and cranny the city had to offer. I was able to take a ton of great pictures of the beautiful city. After the tour, my friends and I set out to find some churros con chocolate. My mom and sister visited Madrid last summer and found this great place called Chocolatería San Ginés. They told me I had to go there if I ever visited Madrid and who am I to disappoint them? We found the restaurant packed away in the back of an alley. Open 24 hours, this place didn't disappoint. The churros were freshly cooked to perfection. The "hot chocolate" wasn't exactly the type of hot chocolate you drink, rather the type to dip your churros in. Though you can drink the chocolate, San Ginés' version of hot chocolate was thick and creamy and possibly some of the yummiest chocolate I've ever tasted! If you are ever in Madrid you must visit this place!

After our mid-day snack, we had two more places to cross of our list. First, I had to stop by the Pedro Garcia shoe store. A Spanish shoe designer, Pedro Garcia is based in Madrid. His shoes are beautiful and I had to take a peak. After I fell in love with possibly every shoe in the store, we headed to the Museo Nacional del Prado. This massive museum is host to pieces by some of the greatest like Fra Anegelico, Velázquez, El Greco, Rubens, Rafael, and Bosch. After walking around the museum for a few hours we headed home to relax until we headed out that night. Our night started off at a bar called El Tigre. We got sangria and tapas here then after headed out to the club Kapital. This club has 7 floors each with a different theme and genre of music! 

After we checked out of the hotel on Sunday, we headed over to the very popular El Rastro Market. Held every sunday, this flea market offers everything! From all sorts of clothing and accessories, to paintings and drawings, to even old, rare, and collectible books. Another must see if you're ever in Madrid on a Sunday. This was the perfect way to end a great weekend.

Now, I'm off to make a Valentine's Day dinner with my roommates. Cheers to being single! 

Ciao!

Adventures through the Borne District and Gothic Quarters

Hola!

Yikes I didn't realize it's been almost two weeks since I last blogged...Sorry! Life in Barcelona is keeping me extremely busy, but don't worry I can easily catch you up in one long post.

Since Interlaken, I've not traveled out of Barcelona. Instead my friends and I have tried to become "locals" and explore various areas in Barcelona. One area I've become absolutely obsessed with is the Borne District. It's very euro-trendy and chic. There are boutiques on every corner. All of which carry so many things I'd love to own, yet none of which I can even afford. What's fun about wandering around the Borne District is that there are great local eateries that all have really yummy food. There's one place (that I recommend to anyone visiting Barcelona) called Pim Pam's Burgers. Amazing food and they even have a veggie burger! Next door to this burger joint is Pim Pam's Plats, which has a ton of pasta and vegetable salads, empanadas, and so much more! I'm hooked on this place and plan to take everyone who visits me here! (i.e. Alison, Chloe, Kermit, Hannah, Mom and Dad -- you're all going to love it!)

Tortilla* con verduras.
*New word. Tortilla in Español means omelet!

Another area I've explored recently is the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarters). I went with Shannon and her best friend visiting from Florence (side note: I met her in Interlaken. We canyon jumped together. Bonded for life). We started our adventure with brunch at Milk. This restaurant is a big hit among study abroad students because they offer an American style brunch on the weekends, but it's also popular among locals because the food itself is actually good. I got a vegetable omelet...and it was amazing! I can't wait to go back.

After brunch we wandered around. We had addresses for places we wanted to visit, but that didn't really help us. The streets are pretty confusing and everyone knows how great my sense of direction is. We stumbled across Parc de la Ciutadella. It's a beautiful, massive park that is at the end of a path that leads to the Arc de Triomf.

I went back to Barri Gotic with one of my roommates the next day. She's on a quest to find combat boots and of course I offered to come with. I can never turn up an opportunity to shop (thanks for that mom.) We checked out the candy store, Papabubble, which makes caramel, sweet candys where they make the candy right in front of you. These intricate treats are so cute, so I of course I bought a baby-sized case to have as a souvenir!

After Annie and continued to wander around the Gothic area. I've been in search of this famous espadrille store my mom told me about and somehow or another we randomly stumbled upon it! It's called La Manual Alparagatera and is family run. It's the type of place you would never know existed unless you knew about these specialty shoes. The store hand makes each espadrille and offers every style and color known to man! I bought a pair  of red and white flat espadrilles that tie up the leg and I also splurged and bought a pair of brown suede, high-heeled wedges! I can't wait for it to get warm so I can show of these beautiful finds!

Espadrilles galore!

Some exciting news! One of the excursion my study abroad program offers us is an opportunity to go to a FC Barcelona futból match! We went to the game last Saturday. It was against San Sebastian. Not a really exciting game, but our seats we're right on the goal line. We we're so close we could literally see every facial expression the players made. One of the coolest parts of the game was watching Messi score the second goal. The excitement in the crowd and the passion from all the fans was incredible to watch. Even though it was an uneventful game, it was still a really cool experience!

Vamos Barca!

This week hasn't been to exciting. I did venture (all by myself!) after class to a local café in the Borne District called Bubo. I got my everyday dopio espresso and treated myself to a macaroon! It was so yummy and I can't wait to go back! This weekend three of my roommates and I are off to explore Madrid! We're going with our study abroad program. I'm so excited to visit and explore this place! My mom and sister went last summer and told me how much they loved it...so I can't wait to see it!

Okay I'm off to eat dinner with my roommate!

Ciao!

First Weekend Trip of the Semester!

Hola!

Just hanging out in Geneva

It's been a crazy week/end and I've hardly had anytime to blog! I'll try to catch you up on my life in one post. Last week I had the urge to travel. I didn't know where, but I knew I wanted to explore a place I had never been. None of my roommates had planned any trips, but Taryn, a girl I met on one of my first days in Spain, told me she was going to Interlaken, Switzerland for the weekend. Switzerland was never a place on my list of places to visit, but I thought it could be fun to do something different and a great way to meet new people. So on a whim, I booked a flight to Switzerland.

We left Thursday morning at 8:45 am and arrived in Geneva, Switzerland around 12. There was a group of girls on our same flight and we all ended up hanging out the entire day together. We booked the weekend through a program called Bus2Alps and because of that we weren't set to leave Geneva until 11 pm that night! So, the 6 of us explored Geneva all day long. We got lunch at a local Italian restaurant. Grabbed an espresso and a Nutella/Banana crepe at another café. We visited the Cathedral of St. Peter and attempted to view the archeological site underneath, but tickets were costly. For anyone who's unaware of Switzerland's economy...let me tell you. They are doing very well over there. Everyone's happy all the time. And even though the Swiss Franc and the US dollar is almost 1:1, everything in Switzerland is practically double or even triple the cost of what it would normally be in the states.

Swiss Alps

Anyways, after our fun-filled day in Geneva, we finally left for Interlaken late Thursday night! On Friday, Taryn and I explored Interlaken. The town is so cute and such a snow-bum area. I took a lot of pictures, but honestly, pictures don't do this place justice. Walking around, I felt as if I was in a movie. My surroundings we're unbelievably beautiful. It was so surreal. Later that night, the same girls from Geneva and I went night sledding through the Swiss Alps! It was absolutely freezing, but it was a lot of fun. The mountain is pitch black and there are no lights anywhere. Each person wears a necklace with a glow stick attached to it so sledders can see people in front of them. Sledding lasted about an hour and after a cheese fondue dinner was included! The cheese was so yummy and a great way to end a great day!

Interlaken

For anyone who is not aware or not seen pictures on Facebook...Saturday Taryn and I went canyon jumping. Yes. Let me repeat. I signed up to free-fall through the canyons of Switzerland. It was the craziest experience of my life! Saturday morning a group of us, about 10-12 people, set out on a 20 minute drive to the mountains. Once here, we had to endure a 45 minute hike up the mountain to finally reach the canyons in which we would be soon jumping into. After we signed a bunch of waivers and forms confirming we were all well aware of what we were about to do, the "professionals" set us all up in our harnesses. Once harnessed, we were finally ready to jump. We stepped on the platform and the canyon jumping expert told us everything we needed to know and do before we jumped. And then one by one, people in our group began to jump.

The Jump

The CANYON

I was the 5th person in our group to jump. Pre-jump I was calm. Almost to calm. Once it was my turn and I was hooked up to the bungee cord it finally set in that I was about to jump into a canyon. I remember the guy saying "You ready? 1-2-3.." I looked at the guy then looked in front of me. I could only see the canyon and the massive drop I was about to jump into. And then I went for it. I knew after I signed up for this activity that I was determined to complete it. So as I was on the platform I had no hesitations. I just ran and jumped. The free-fall is about 4-5 seconds and about 250 feet. As I was falling I felt as if I was in a dream, waiting for a jolt to wake me up. After what felt like forever, the bungee cord caught me and I swung through the canyon. I looked up and couldn't believe I had just jumped. I remember feeling so proud of myself as I swung back and forth through the canyon. It was an incredible feeling and I'm so unbelievably happy I did it.

I headed back to Barcelona early Sunday morning. As much fun as Switzerland was, it was a relief to be back in Spain. I can speak the language, I have the correct form of currency, I know my way around (more or less)...and then it really hit me. I'm living in Barcelona, Spain. This place is my new home until April. I don't think I ever took the time to really realize that I'm actually living here and not vacationing here.

On Sunday Shannon, Dani and I explored the Borne District of Barcelona for a little bit. We headed out for a late lunch or early dinner at a restaurant called Pim Pam Plats. It was super yummy and just another place to cross off our super long lists of things to do while in Spain.

Shannon and I - Friends since kindergarten!

Phew. Okay I'm done for now. This Friday I may be headed to Montserrat with a group to explore that area of Barcelona. Even more exciting news -- Saturday I am going to a FC Barcelona fútbol match! We got tickets through our study abroad program...and words cannot describe how unbelievably excited I am!

Ciao!

Exploring Barcelona - Las Ramblas, La Boqeuría & Park Güell

Hola!

So I never made it to Las Ramblas on Tuesday like I expected. Instead, I siesta'd. But Wednesday after class, Shannon and I did go explore Las Ramblas y la boquería. We were a little overwhelmed, but soon we managed to figure out where everything was. We did a quick walk through of la boquería, which is a huge market that sells fresh fruits & vegetables and various types of meat and dairy, then needed a little pick me up. So we went across the street and enjoyed two very large glasses of sangria. Sangria is one of the best drinks ever created. Once we finished our sangria, we bought a few things for our apartments and then headed home. That night we went out to a local bar and watched the futból match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Barca won 2-1!!

Brittany and I at Park Güell

Thursday was a relatively quiet day. None of my roommates or I had enough energy to make it out that night. We did make it out for dinner. We originally planned to eat at Xampanyet, a local favorite in Barcelona, but the line was unbearable and we were starving. Instead, we ended up eating at a restaurant near it called Princesa 23. At the end of the meal our waiter brought us our check and we asked if he could split it 6 way. Worst decision ever. At lunch earlier in the week a waiter was able to split the check so we just assumed it would work out. WRONG. The waiter didn't really understand us (damn language barrier) so we had to spend a little time fixing this one.

Waking up Friday morning, not hungover with no class, was possibly the best feeling ever. I finally made it to the beach for my first run of the semester! It was amazing. The run on the boardwalk made me feel at home because it reminded me of the boardwalk in Newport. After the run, Brittany and I headed to Las Ramblas to try and meet up with the other roommates. That was a fail. Both of us are out of minutes on our go-phones and had no way to contact any of the girls. We wandered around la boquería. We bought some fresh & dried fruit, nuts, and even some garbanzo beans and lentils, since I'm a vegetarian and need all the protein I can get! After we walked down the street where all the shopping was. We hit up Sephora, Zara, H&M and Top Shop. We didn't buy anything, but I know I'll be back soon!

Today we headed to Park Güell, the park that Antoni Gaudí designed. I'm not really a huge artsy fartsy kind of girl, but I went along for the ride. I know being in Barcelona I should really sight see as much as possible. So we did that today. It was really pretty. We got a lot of great pictures, but now we're all exhausted. I don't think any of us realized how much walking was actually involved. For lunch we stopped at a café near the park. We ordered our first paella of the trip...but we don't think this place had very good paella. We are still searching for some authentic Catalonian paella.

We're headed out tonight to either Catwalk or Elephant Club! Either way...more stories soon to come!

Hasta luego!

In love with Barcaaa

Hola mis amigos!

After our bike tour around the city we took a much needed siesta. Then that night we went to a 'discoteca' called Catwalk. It has different floors that each play different genres of music. My friends and I mostly stayed on the main floor, which played all house! The clubs here are insane. The dance floors are filled to capacity with people from all over the world. You don't stop dancing until you leave the club, which is usually right about the time the sun begins to come up, and you can hardly hear a word anyone is saying, even when they are screaming in your ear.

Sunday we slept until 2:30 in the afternoon! I don't think I've ever slept that late in my entire life, yet I've also never stayed out until 6 am at a club. I guess there's a first for everything. My roommates and I planned out a semester worth of weekend trips, which might I add look incredible! Four months seems like a long time to be abroad and plenty of time to travel everywhere..but it's not at all! We have so many places we want to travel and don't have enough weekends. Such white girl problems, I know. But once I confirm my trips I'll let you all know the fun and cool places I get to visit!

Monday classes started. I take three classes on M/W and one class on T/Th. M/W I have Sports and Culture in Contemporary Spain, Spanish Civilization and Culture (in Spanish), and Cultural Visions through Spanish Cinema (in Spanish). T/TH I am taking Photography in Barcelona. I love all my classes and teachers. None of the classes seem difficult at all. They all seem super interesting and I actually feel like I'm going to really enjoy them. Both Spanish classes are taught in Spanish, so hopefully these both help my ability to speak Spanish fluently.

I feel like I'm starting to really become comfortable with speaking Spanish and I also feel like I'm able to navigate my way around this city. I've got the metro down. Now I just need to learn how to get around random streets without getting lost...which happened today. Today after my photography class, I took the metro home (all on my own) and then stopped at a random cafe. I grabbed a double espresso (so chic I know) and a quick bite to eat. I felt so European. While I was eating I began to think about why I haven't seen many Spanish people who are overweight. I feel like all they eat are breads, sweets, paella, and tapas (which are just some type of meat over more bread). I realized it's because they walk everywhere and because they eat really slowly. To be honest, the food over here isn't anything to write home about, but I'm learning that they really don't eat for the food. Their meals aren't about what they eat, but rather who they eat with. They don't rush through meals like us Americans because they enjoy the company they're with. Every time a group of us go out we also seem to eat so quickly. I think eating slower is one thing I'm going to try and borrow from the Spanish.


Now, I'm headed to go explore Las Ramblas with my fellow Newporter, Shannon McCroskey! And tonight my roommates and I registered for free sushi and free drinks at Shoko. AH I never want to leave this place (don't worry mom..I'm coming home.)

Hasta luego!