I'm Baaaaack!
I'm still going through close to 6GB of pictures and obviously haven't decided which to post. Just ask Andaya, Gabby, Rosabel and Benjor. There are just too many to choose from! Some are posted here. The rest will make it to my Multiply photo page at some point. Not everything I took turned out good, though. You'd think the discipline of using film would have helped, but noooo, I just kept clicking away!*****
Trip Highlights
Barcelona - all things Gaudi (the man was a genius!), the small unmarked private museum with the Dali collection, day trip to the Teatro Museo Dali in Figueres, daytrip to Montserrat, and the Feste de la Merce with it's all-night outdoor concerts and parties.
This is Casa Milla, an apartment building designed by Gaudi that people still work and live in.
There's a stupid story that goes with this particular shot taken from one of the towers of the La Sagrada Familia, but it's best acted out than told. Let's just say that I almost fell out a window and I cracked my Lumix's screen (better the screen than the lens!). And can I just tell you, there is nothing that can prepare you for the La Sagrada Familia. NOTHING!
This is a team of human castle builders. They can go up to 8 "layers" and it's only the little kid on top who wears a helmet. Watching them was just so cool!
Lisboa (pronounced "lish-bow-ah". Apparently, "Lisbon" is the city's English name) - EVERYTHING!!! Visiting Portugal was not part of the original plan, but it turned out to be the most interesting part of the trip. I've become a big fan of fado (Amalia Rodriguez, Mariza) and have a new appreciation for gazpacho and bacalao.
I used to think that the coolest thing about my family heritage was being Brazilian. Now it's being Portuguese! Incidentally, some of the locals thought I was from Brasil. Even the Brazilians thought I was Brazilian. Must be the hair and complexion. Anywho, as that MasterCard ad in the Lisbon airport said, "Exploring the country that discovered half of the world: priceless."
Lisboa was also the hardest city for me to leave....
Oporto (second largest city in Portugal) - the bridges! The view! The wine! Oh, that delicious wine! These are the boats on the River Duormo (?) bringing port to the wineries.
Santiago de Compostela - that cathartic experience at the catherdal during the Pilgrims' Mass. Ay yay yay. Such a Search-in Moment, I swear.
Segovia - the acqueduct, the cathedral, the Alcazar (Vince has a really cool shot of the armory. Ask him about it), and of course: the cuchinillo! Sobrang sarap!
Madrid - exploring the city; finding a Fernando Zobel painting at the Reina Sofia Museum; the Hard Rain Project exhibit at the Botanical Garden; the percussionists and dancers at the Retiro Park;
that colorful cathedral next to the Palacio Real (I forget the name. It's in my guidebook).
Another highlight of the entire Iberian peninsula was the fact that I actually fit in because almost everyone had curly hair! Practically all print ads featured women with curly hair; most hair products were for curly hair; straight hair is considered boring. Thank God!
The nicest, warmest people were definitely the Portuguese. Parang silang Pinoy, but much more helpful. They're very sweet. The Catalunyans were cool, but the Madrilenos were kinda masungit. Met a lot of Germans (as my roommates Vereena and Johann said, "We're everywhere!") and Swiss. I was amazed that almost everyone I met spoke at least 3 languages. Then there was Marie, Antonio and Sven who spoke something like 5 each.
Shopping Highlights
Desigual - my new favorite store; found in selected cities in Spain. Visit http://www.desigual.es/
Stradivarius - cool shop found only in Madrid (so they say)
Illegal Music Store in Lisboa, Portugal - I got to chat with one of the owners who happened to be a DJ. We had a great time talking about music and he helped me pick a couple of shirts which happened to have his favorite designs. He said, "DJ's rule the world".
FNAC - music/technology store all over Spain and Portugal
That espadrilles shop that Tita Shanta took me to in Madrid (somewhere on Calle Mayor) where we stayed in all morning. The shopkeeper was so sweet - she wrapped Layla's little red espadrilles in colorful paper and added a lollipop.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the world's best travel agent for helping me get my visa and air ticket: my Mom!
Many thanks to Mike Gars (official map reader) for meeting and putting up with me for 3 weeks (if I'm not mistaken, he's in Paris now);
everyone I met at the Lisbon Lounge Hostel for the grand time I had in that beautiful city (tou vais para Lux);
Vince "Starving Student" Liwanag for letting me crash in his "box" and acting like a tourist in Madrid; and his classmates Fernando, Julianna and Fabrizio for letting me tag along in Segovia;
and Tito Chema and Tita Shanta Estrada for being so very fond of my parents that they let a complete stranger stay over for a couple of days (they're absolutely fantastic hosts. It was almost like having both my parents in the same room during their happier days).
Thank you to everyone at work who covered for me and actually didn't call or text while I was away! Mark, thank you for letting me disappear for so long.
Thanks to my family for taking care of Max (how I missed my dog!).
And thank you to everyone who gave me tips, lent me stuff, and helped me prepare.
*****
Man, that was such a great trip. I can't wait to go back. I now know why some members of my family and some of my friends love Europe.
I stepped on Kilometer Zero in Madrid's Plaza de Puente del Sol. Legend has it that if you step on the Km 0 marker, you'll return to Spain (bakit walang ganyan sa Portugal?). Time to start saving up again...
posted by Calai @ 8:15 PM
5 Comments:
JEALOUS AKO!!!!!!!!!!
carla, you should have a viewing party. gusto mo sa AVR ng PATTS? heehee. can't wait to see the rest of the pics.
hmmmmm.. .where have I seen those pics before... hahahahahah! Welcome back calai!!!!
ganito nalang, kat: do you have a data projector? pahiram! sabay inuman at kwentuhan =)
carla, i actually have an LCD projector! choose a venue, contribute some drinks, sa yo ang kuwento and voila - its party time!
ano gab, bahay mo? sabay singsnap. hahaha!
Post a Comment
<< Home