rramos Blog on RealTravel

Madrid journal: Madrid, Carnaval, the works

Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:15:55 GMT

So among the other things I haven't yet recorded on this thing,--I went to Madrid with the CIEE clan.

I saw the famous statue of Quijote and Sancho which holds extra special meaning for me, given my Quijote "studies." I was cast in the show "Man of La Mancha" this summer. (I couldn't accept the part but it sparked my interest in Don Quijote.) And now I take a philosophy class that uses the story of Don Quijote as a base. I know, it sounds like a stretch, but you can actually find rather profound themes that reflect Kierkegaard's theories on existence. (You can also pick a bit further ...

Barcelona journal: To the Museums!

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:34:28 GMT

I've visited 3 main museums--that is, there are three that I remember where I was paying attention and not thinking about my adventures in Becca land, chocolate, or food, boys, or sleep.

The first was the Museum of the History of Catalunya. That was amazing. After we got past the introductory random crap on the first floor and the complimentary movie, we could then experience the real thing. We--myself and the rest of the CIEE clams--took the elevator down into the depths of ancient Roman architecture. The museum is structured so that one walks in the ruins without actually touching ...

Barcelona journal: Present

Sun, 11 Feb 2007 13:01:39 GMT

Greetings readers! I'm sitting in a sunspot in the living room at home, tricking my inept computer into performing simple tasks.

I still am not up to making a portfolio for every little mini-adventure I've had here, so I'll just take it from the present--for now. (One of these days a guilt trip will motivate me into sketching out all the details of everything.

I was a pendulum this week, but am now stable and in place. Impulse has a way of taking over everything here because there aren't consequences to actions in the same way there are during my life in the states.

I've ...

Barcelona journal: Beginnings

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 14:05:24 GMT

I live with a senora and her son in a rather expensive part of Barcelona. I am blessed with such commodities as wireless in the home, a big room with a couch and porch.

Granted, I live very very well, these people are extraordinarily careful not to waste anything. We never have lights on in any part of the house that is unoccupied. My senora cooks a full meal each night, but there aren't "extras." Nothing, I mean nothing is wasted. That's how it should be.

For the first two weeks, I only had one Spanish class from 2-5 in the middle of the day. These were the weeks where I ...

Spain journal: The Initial Ascent

Tue, 06 Feb 2007 14:05:24 GMT

This is a copied entry that I originally wrote Jan 13th

How do I start this thing? Rebecca wants to leave the country. Rebecca decides to leave the country. Rebecca gets on a plane and leaves the country.

I must say CIEE does its best to pamper us (the study abroad program through which I applied.) Upon our arrival at the airport, each CIEE, liberal arts student was assigned a "guardian angel," GA for short, because we're that cool. Our angels guided us to the bus to the hotel for our orientation... After some food, rest, and cliche unnecessary cliches, we were once again ...