Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Ravel field trip

Raval Field Trip
Our final field trip of the semester was to the Raval Neighborhood.  Raval is located just on the left side of La Rambla, opposite of the Gothic Quarter.  This was an area greatly improved by the renovations to the city after the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona.Before the Olympics, this area used to be filled with sailors working on the port, prostitutes and drugs dealers.  Now it is a mix of students, families and all types of people.  It is also a neighborhood in Barcelona where you can see a lot of skateboards and young people hanging out in the plazas.  This was the first time during my stay in Barcelona that I had been to Raval, and I wish I had been more.  Friends who had studied here before had recommended restaurants and bars to me in this area, but I didn't know the area so I never came.  I actually came back to this area a day later to get a real European haircut, which turned out great.  

This is the Convent dels Ángels, an old convent that is now a church

 This is the sign outside of the Center of Contemporary Culture of Barcelona


The Museum of Contemporary Are of Barcelona

Just outside the campus of University of Barcelona, the largest public university in the city.  You can see young people lingering in the plaza outside of their classes.

University of Barcelona Campus from a distance



A Plaza near UB where you can usually find many people with their dogs or people skateboarding

A sign for the CNT-One of the Anarchist parties of Spain in Barcelona

Since the streets in Raval are too small for trash trucks to drive through, their garbage is dealt with underground.

One of the streets in the neighborhood

After the field trip, I decided to stop by La Boqueria Market because it was nearby just on la Rambla. This is the biggest market in Barcelona, and you can find any food you possibly need here.  They have fresh meat, fish, bread and pastries, fruits, vegetables, drinks and all kinds of ready to go snacks.






L'Eixample Esquerra- Entença Presentation

Entença

Arial view of Eixample.  We live in the top right corner near the intersection of Diagonal and Josep Taradellas

Google Maps View of where our Apartment is located

 
Hospital Clinic
Urgent Care Clinic
Emergency Room
Dermatology
Cardiology
Physical Therapy
Pharmacy

Bibliotecha Agustí Centelles
This is our nearest library and also serves as a civic center.  It has a large selection of books, music and movies.  There are many study areas to read or for students to study in, and there is a school just nearby.

Mercat de Ninot
This market is located right next to Hospital Clinic, but is currently under construction.  The original market is very large, but for now there is a temporary market under a large tent.

Piscina Sant Jordi
This facility hosts a full size Olympic pool and training facilities.  It has some free hours for the public but is mostly for members.

Dry Martini
We went to Dry Martini on Xavi's recommendation and really thought it was a cool lounge/bar place.  

Espit Chupitos Bar
This was one of our favorite bars, although very touristy.  It is within walking distance to our apartment so we go there pretty often.

3 News

Spanish National News:

Rajoy se abre a recibir a Mas aunque ya ve las posiciones fijadas

http://www.lavanguardia.com/politica/20131217/54398302293/rajoy-abre-recibir-mas-ve-posiciones-fijadas.html

Spanish President Mariano Rajoy said that he would meet and talk with Artur Mas, President of the Generalitat of Barcelona.  He does that that he doubts that anything productive will come of this meeting because the positions of Spain and Catalonia are fixed and can't be changed.



Local News:

Los servicios municipales de Barcelona subirán un 1,5% en 2014

http://www.lavanguardia.com/local/barcelona/20131217/54398302258/servicios-municipales-barcelona-subida-precios-2014.html

The cost of many municipal services of Barcelona are to increase 1.5% this next year.  Services included in this increase are bicing whose cost will rise 1.5%, and access to the Barcelona Zoo, which will also increase by 1.5%.  The admission to the Tibidabo theme park will not increase next year.


International News:

Snowden hace campaña para pedir asilo en Brasil


NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden is now looking for asylum in Brazil.  Brazil reportedly has no interest in the offer and will most likely deny his request.  Snowden is still currently in asylum in Moscow, Russia where he is awaiting potential asylum in another country.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Visit to Dublin

Visit to Dublin
November 6-10, 2013
I hadn't originally planned to visit Ireland while I was abroad, since I have already been 6 or 7 times, but when my roommate Alec won a free trip to Ireland with a company called Bus2Alps, I figured I might as well join.  It was my grandma's 92nd birthday in September and my uncle John's Birthday that weekend so I basically had to go.  I got to see my Aunt Elma, Uncles Paul and John and of course Granny Carey!  They were all so great organizing my hostel and taking great care of me, driving Alec and I around Dublin and Wicklow for a great tour and gave us some of the best meals of the semester.  Was a change of pace from Barcelona, but it was one of the best weekends I've had and was super glad to spend it with family!

 Alec and I at Powerscourt waterfall.  Hadn't been here since I was about 10 years old
 Paid a visit to Bono from U2's house in Dalkey
 Alec and I outside of the US embassy in Phoenix Park
 Stopped for a quick toasted special and beer in Dalkey with Granny
Stumbled upon the house we used to house swap for 10 years ago! Fun memories at this place 
Aunt Elma taking me bar hopping our first night in Dublin 
 Grafton Street-La Rambla of Dublin
 Front Entrance to Trinity College
 Trinity College
 Trinity Again
 And Again
And Again... 
 Street Performer on grafton street
St. Stephen's Green- a beautiful park in the center of Dublin, similar to Central park but just not as big
St. Stephen's Green 
 St. Stephen's Green
 St. Patrick's Cathedral
Guiness Storehouse-St James Gate 
Couldn't have spent a weekend in Ireland without authentic fish and chips! 
The Spyre 
Dublin Post Office 
 Distant View of the Spire, O'Connell Street
Statue of O'Connell on his street 
Ireland Museum of Architecture and History 
 And the view from the second floor
 This one is for you mom! Know you like these, and have no idea how I recognized this shop from the outside.
Paid a visit to the Book of Kells, a religious text from the year 800 and is one of Ireland's most famous artifacts, kept at the Trinity College Old library.  I got yelled at for taking this picture and it came out blurry anyways, but worth it!
 Trinity Long Library

Probably would have gone to college here if I lived in Ireland! 
 Dublin Castle-Didn't pay to go into the museum/other side but here is the outside!
 ChristChurch Cathedral-didn't pay to go inside here either, but great architecture!
Arthur Guinness' 9000, yes 9000, year lease on the Guinness Brewery Property
 Got to pour my own pint of Guinness...
...And a perfect one at that! 
 Views from the Gravity Bar at the top of the Storehouse, and my Guinness!
Another view of the St James gate 
 Not a bad view from my hostel! That's the River Liffy out in front, O'Connell Street to the left and Temple Bar directly across
 And this one is for you Dad, thought you'd be jealous of a nice pint of Smithwicks
 Papal Cross in Phoenix Park
Some nice greenery and a herd of deer in the middle of Phoenix Park, in the city of Dublin 
Aras an Uachtarain-the Irish President's house, and just like the White House
Great View from our scenic drive through county Wicklow to Powerscourt 
 Another shot of the Waterfall at powerscourt
 Coastline just outside of Dublin, water looked cold!
Another view of the coastline up by Dalkey 
River Liffy, taken from just outside of my Hostel 
Family+Alec dinner at Trocadero Restaurant, best meal I've had in Europe! Would definitely recommend. 
And last but not least, Granny Carey and I