Here I go

Girona, Temp de Flors

stacey_myst — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:38:00 GMT

Girona is a beautiful Catalan city about 1.5 hours north of Barcelona. Lindsey and I went there for the annual flower festival, so she could see and be seen by all the right people in her floral design school. During Temp de Flors, people open up their apartment buildings and decorate them with floral art. It was spectacular. At 5:30 pm we waited in line for a show (that we didn't even know what it was going to be.) It ended up being an avant-garde bridal flower show, and it was amazing. They had an opera singer who continually gave me shivers through the hour long show.

Barcelona

stacey_myst — Sun, 9 May 2010 19:50:00 GMT

I arrived in Barcelona a few days ago. This has been my favorite stop so far, partially because I am with my sister. She lives here, and is studying floral design. It is nice to stay at a place that is someone's home, rather than a youth hostel. Of course, Lindsey's apartment has a staircase of doom before you can arrive at her door, but it is a cute little place.

I love this city. It is big without seeming overwhelming, and cosmopolitan without being snobby or distant. The architecture is amazing. And of course, my favorite work is by the architect Gaudi. The exterior of House Battlo is amazing (although I am still determining whether or not to pay the 18 Euros to go inside) and I loooooooooove Park Guell. I even bought a tee shirt of Barcelona. I'll write more later...

Photos: Roma

stacey_myst — Tue, 4 May 2010 00:14:00 GMT

Vatican City

A brief stop in Rome

stacey_myst — Tue, 4 May 2010 00:09:00 GMT

So I arrived in Rome on May Day, which happens to be one of the most important holidays in Italy. The place was PACKED. I went to the Pantheon, and it was a sea of people. The streets everywhere were swarming. The day I went to the Vatican Museum, in the Sistine Chapel the people were literally shoulder to shoulder. My favorite piece in Rome was Michelangelo's Pieta. I stood in front of it for a good half hour. Unfortunately it is behind a protective barrier because at some point in the past some psycho attacked it with a hammer. Followed closely behind that piece, though, is Bernini's angel studies, which are made of iron, straw, twigs, and clay. I loved how you can see the structure of the pieces, since they are starting to fall apart.

Santorini and Paros

stacey_myst — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:50:00 GMT

I stayed on the island of Santorini for 4 nights, at the Santorini camping site.

The highlight of my stay on the island of Santorini was undoubtedly Ammoudhi Bay. It is at the base of the city of Oia. I visited it twice, once on the day that I rented an ATV, and again when I walked from Fira to Oia (which took 3.5 hours at a fairly slow pace.) I spent about 3 hours at one of the restaurants once again trying to figure out how to paint with water colors. On the day I rented the ATV, I spotted some hip scarecrows on their own vehicles.

I loved the island of Paros and didn't get to spend enough time on. I spent 2 nights there, staying at Rooms Mike, which I highly recommend. Mike is super friendly, and made me feel very welcome. Paros is all about the beaches and relaxing. I spent 4 hours or so just chillin in one of the cafes, watching people walk by. But my favorite excursion was to the Marathi ancient marble quarries which are caves in the side of the mountain. You have to bring your own flashlight, and since I was the only person there, I stayed in the main part of the tunnels. They were amazing.

Welcome to Greece

stacey_myst — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:43:00 GMT

Athens is amazing. It's a white city built in a large basin with the Acropolis rising from the center. It's not suprising that the ancient Greeks declared the Acropolis the city of the gods. It seems magical, the way the hill just rises from the floor of the basin. I'll have to come back to visit the Acropolis though...I walked up the hill this morning only to discover it closed due to a strike.

Greece's natural landscape is similar to home; the chapparal is beautiful, although there are many more trees in the parks, rather than scrub brush. (I'm not sure if that is natural, or planted, tbh.) Walking through the streets I hear the familiar sparrow; I'm not sure if it's the same species at home, but they sound the same. I see many doves as well. There are many birds of different species, which I would like to learn the names of. And of course the familiar pigeon.

One of my favorite things so far are the dogs. (of course.) Most of them look cared for but they seem to lounge around off leashes, laying in shady spots or on the cool stone walkways, in a way that would never be allowed back home. They're all polite though. :D

My favorite place so far is the rocky outcropping of the Areopagus. I spent most of my time looking at the shiny rocks glistening in the sun, and not the incredible view from the location (like everyone else, lol.) It was just amazing textures and colors that make me want to recreate it in some sculpture.

Tomorrow I head to the Island of Santorini (if the ferry strike ends) which I am looking forward to.