Bologna

Well, after hearing that Bologna is one of the culinary capitals of the world, we decided to take a brief detour from Florence to Venice and stop by for a day. After walking around for a bit and stopping for some coffee, we found a restaurant and settled in for our typical 4 hour long lunch. I had a simple pasta cooked with broccoli and it was perfect. Apparently everyone else's fish/duck was excellent so it turned out being a trip worth taking. We walked around a little more, discovered AfroWorld, a little gem of a shop selling Afro friendly beauty products (COCOA BUTTER!), and took the afternoon train out to Venice.



Current Musik: "Be Here" Raphael Saadiq

Florence

We arrived in Florence via shady, midnight train and spent 3 cold and rainy days soaking up everything Firenze had to offer. While we made sure we saw Il Duomo, The Baptistery (with the famous bronze doors), Ponte Vecchio, and Santa Croce (so many famous people buried there, I posted Machiavelli's above), we had the pleasure of also visiting their famous Leather School, a few art galleries and museums and even hiked up a ways to see a view of the city by sunset. We were blessed to meet up with a couple of friends, do Tarot Readings in an Irish Pub and get chased through the streets by a bunch of dancing Hari Krishanas. But all in all it was one of my favorite spots in Italy. I will say I am a bit Jesused out and could do without seeing a Virgin Mary and anything gilded for awhile.



Current Musik: Julieta Venegas (con Anita Tijoux!) "Eres Para Mi"

Rome, Italy

Now this is where I sound like a total brat: I was underwhelmed by Rome. Did the cold, rainy, weather in January have something to do with it? Or the fact that we were staying in Ostia (a 30 minute train ride out of the city)? Maybe. But, to be honest, the Spanish Steps, Colosseum and Pantheon had been so hyped up for me before, that seeing them in person wasn't as 'magical' as anticipated. After six years of studying Latin and being a bit of a mythology geek I had seen more pictures, documentaries, films and books about Roman culture and history than I would care to admit. I will say, however, that our New Year's Eve was fabulous and the gelato throughout our Italian trip was spot on.

Maybe Italy is better seen in the sun? Who knows? If my imaginary, rich uncle ever shows up and decides to send me back and pay the way, I'll let you know.



Current Musik: Dessa's "Dixon's Girl"

Barcelona

Barça. Well, what to say? It was an amazing week of relaxing, walking around and getting our minds blown by Gaudí. Main highlights were La Sagrada Familia, La Pedrera and Parque Guëll. Our hostel was lovely, the paella was the best so far and we did quite a bit of shopping as well. Las Ramblas wasn't quite what I expected, but the market right by was incredible. Met some wonderful people and would love to visit again when it's actually warm out.


Current Musik: "Loca" - Shakira

Granada

Well, I've fallen in love. And it happens to be with a small Spanish city in Andalucía. After a 5 hour bus ride, hostel madness and a ridiculous, rum-filled night with Italians we were ready to conquer Granada. The first day was more relaxed, strolling (with all kinds of impulsive shopping) through the Albayzín. That night we returned to the hostel Makuto for some incredible Flamenco music (guitarra y cajón) and somehow managed to stumble our way home (all of 2 blocks away...). The next day (a couple of hours later) I miraculously woke up to make the early trek for Alhambra tickets around 7AM. After about 3 of waiting in the rain I emerged victoriously with 4 tickets and breakfast for my lovely friends back at the hostel. Unfoooooortunately, I somehow managed to get myself lost on the bus ride back and ended up wandering around Granada for a good hour and a half (which actually wasn't too bad). After breakfast and stirring up the victims of the previous night, we made our way to the Alhambra.

Amazing. Ridiculous. Marvelous. Words really don't describe. Half way through it started to rain and all of the elements incorporating water (pools, fountains, etc.) were highlighted even more. The landscaping and gardens of Generalife were beautiful and I would love to go back.

As night fell, we satisfied our craving for Italian food at the SHADIEST "restaurant" in Granada run by the same eccentric, Spanish lady (Tía Maria!) we bought our 10 euro bottle of rum from the night before. Taking a break from the normal 'festivities', we made hot chocolate, snuggled and watched Breakfast at Tiffany's. (Nothing like a nice dose of Audre Hepburn) Our final day in Granada was spent roaming around their Gran Vía and seeing the Cathedral. The 5 hour bus ride back to Madrid became 7 hours of trudging through a flooded highway with a demonic child throwing a 4 hour temper tantrum DIRECTLY behind us. Buuuuut we survived an incredible weekend and even managed to catch the last metro.

I wouldn't hesitate to go back as we weren't able to fit in Sacramonte, a trip into the Sierra Nevada and seeing the works of El Niño de las Pinturas.



Current Musik: Arziyan (Maula Maula) - A.R. Rahman
I guess all the Islamic architecture got me in the mood for some good good Suffi music.