The things I find Sensual:

Just going to quickly show you some more photos from the sights of Barcelona.  Sorry I'm not writing more today.  I have gone and lost my voice and can't talk.  Giggle...

Seriously.  I have lost my voice!

If I think about it, these photos encompass a good majority of who I am and what I feel strongly about: the fresh air and nature, spirituality and esthetics, and some damn good hedonism.  You decide what's missing.  :)

Arc de Triomf y Parc de La Cuitadella (very enjoyable for a Sunday picnic, stroll, hang with friends...)

Trixis - three-wheeled cycle taxis (just thought I'd show you this picture for the fun of it!)

Night out at DBOY for La Madame - totally crazy.  The music was really hard trance, and the place was packed with very young 20-something year olds... Mark it on your calendar folks: I can honestly say that I CAN NOT KEEP UP ANY LONGER! 

Who can stop themselves from taking a picture of the seeexy dancing boy?  not me!

Jessie and I got to practice our Spanish - these two devils spoke no English whatsoever.

La Sagrada Familia - After weeks of walking right by it every day, I finally went inside!  Darn, my battery died half way through my tour, but let me just say that if you only have time for one sight while visiting Barcelona, THIS IS IT!  It is Fan-Friggin'-Tastic!  Love it, love it, love it!

The construction of one of the columns from the inside (18 in total to be constructed)

The columns branch out like trees, creating a forest-like effect.  This church was completely and thoroughly thought through.  Gaudi's finest and final work, La Sagrada Familia is still under construction and set to be completed within 20 years.

 

Hope you enjoyed the pics!  Now, back to memorizing the Indefinido tense ... Yo dije, tu dijiste, el dijo... etc etc etc.... ugh.

Charleen xo

Warm Days, Cold Days

I notice that the tree outside my balcony has fewer leaves on it now.  Fall has definitely arrived in Catalunya.  Mornings are chilly, but by mid day it's warm again, and you have to pull out the sunglasses, stuff your jacket in your back pack, and find a nice bench to sit on to soak up the rays.  Yesterday for sure was a beach day, as it got up to 24 degrees here.  At the beginning of the week we had thunder showers, and one evening a beautiful rainbow appeared over the city, and Barcelona twinkled in the setting sun. 

When fall arrives, I think we all turn inside a little more to regenerate after the long, heated summers, and we start preparing ourselves for a winter hibernation.  We distinctly notice the balance between summer's longer days and autumn's shorter ones.  In the Wiccan tradition, they say that autumn is a deeply powerful and mystical time of year, a time where the veil between the worlds is thin.  It is a time where we can take a deeper look at the accomplishments of the year.  Its like the Celtic spiral of death - and rebirth.  We all feel this cycle, whether we regard it from a spiritual stand point or not.  Some of us suddently gain more energy and decide to get back to the gym, while others decide it's a great time to focus on a goal and enroll in a class or training of somesort.  The business world also feels this time of death and rebirth, and prosper from it by putting out great deals to grab our attention to enroll at a gym or some other institute.  Community colleges send out their flyers advising of their new autumn courses.  We all read those flyers when they come out, don't we?  "Oh yes, I'm finally going to try Pottery!  Now is the time!", or "I've always wanted to learn Pilates, its a perfect time to do it..."  Sound familiar?  

With the course that I registerd for last week, and my new gym membership, I can definitely attest to the changing of energies.  So then why do I still feel so unsettled?  Yesterday I spent the day looking at different accommodation, as I wanted to get a feel for what's out there in Barcelona.  It's difficult, especially at 41 years of age, to live with people.  I don't think it's possible to find a perfect situation unless you and a really close friend decide to take a lease out on a place yourselves, and I am certainly in no position to do that.  So I'm trying to find the best possible living arrangement for me, and that will have to be a shared accommodation with one or two others.  They have to be tidy and share in keeping the house clean, they have to be mature, they have to be non-smokers, and they have to have similar lifestyles to mine (ie: if one of my roommates is a Vampire and is up all night watching tv or hanging with friends or whatever, that just won't work for me!).  You would think that these are very standard requirements, but you'd actually be surprised at what's out there.  And to be honest, I feel a little stuck  I don't know for certain that moving would be the best option for me, and I don't know for certain that I'm even going to stay here in this city long enough to make another move worthwhile.  At the same time, I have to look at the very concrete fact that I am not enjoying my current living arrangement at all.  While I honestly adore both Pam and Lucas, I can't find any peace with sharing this tiny apartment with them.  It's like a constant jab in the ribs.  Ouch!  Quit that, can you??  All it takes is one step in one certain direction.  I've made these steps in all other aspects of my life.  For this step however, I am still waiting for an intuitive signal, the tweak or adjustment that fine tunes my insight into which direction to go in, and the little voice that whispers loudly in my ear "YES!  THAT'S IT!!".  So I am waiting.  And, at the same time, I am putting my feelers out in numerous directions.  It never hurts to be curious, does it?

Tonight Jessie is coming over for dinner (and I don't know where my two roommates are going to sit, because we're gonna have a monopoly on the couch!), and then we are going to DBoy again, but this time for an evening called "La Madame", which is the only heterosexual night the club puts on, and it's supposed to be great.  I've changed tomorrow morning's class to tomorrow afternoon to accommodate my friend's wish that we head out on a Sunday night, as she is leaving next weekend and after that I won't have a dancing buddy any longer.  I am going to cook a very heart-warming, autumn style dinner - roasted chicken and vegetables with rosemary. 

Sunday is a quiet day in Barcelona.  The majority of shops and supermarkets are closed, except for the ones right in the middle of town around Placa Catalunya.  I think I'm going to head out for a walk, this time in the direction of Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella.  See what I can learn.

And at 23 degrees on this autumn day in Barcelona, October 25, 2009, I won't be needing my jacket.  :)

Charleen xo

One month in...

So I've been overseas for over a month now.  It seems like longer, doesn't it?  I'd say it was definitely a hard month for me.  Getting used to everything, feeling emotional a lot of the time, getting acquainted with my barri and the rest of Barcelona, starting classes, hearing and speaking the language daily, feeling unsettled but not really sure why.... I chalk it all up to being homesick.  But today as I was walking home from the gym, the warm autumn air through my hair and a clip in my step, I realized that the worst part is over.  I am settling in.  I'm sure there are still more bumps and glitches to come, but I'm feeling good. 

And talking about the gym, it's high time I got myself a membership at one!  It's been a few months since I worked out and except for the few hot yoga classes I was able to squeeze in before I left Vancouver, I haven't done too much in the way of actual exercise.  Yes, I've been walking a ton, but not really sweating too hard.  I found an awesome gym just a couple of blocks west of my Spanish classes, called Metropolitan. It is DE-LUX!  check it out at: http://www.clubmetropolitan.net/

Wow.  The Metropolitan Familia Sagrada is split into about 4 or 5 different levels, and the interior design is very modern with lots of natural light.  There is a sundeck up top.  The piscinas are divine, and I truly feel like I've been to the spa after every workout.  Different types of therapeutic showers to rinse yourself in, the warm pools with various types of jets you can sit under for an invigorating aqua massage, not to mention the be-eautiful little aqua beds that you lie down on, run your finger over a scanner, and all of a sudden little jets blow warm bubbles all over your body from your head to your toes!  Then there's the sauna, the aromatherapy turkish bath, the designer restaurant serving delicious, healthy meals and smoothies, and all the other additions like towel service, cushy leather sofas in the change rooms, free WiFi, a secure and spacious locker area, a dimly lit chill out space with massage chairs, a huge spinning room and workout room, all brand new equipment and cardio machines, an actual day spa on one of the levels.... and the list goes on and on and on.  I spend three hours there every time I go.  The classes and instructors are all excellent, of course, and there is a cleaning lady attending the change room all day long.  A four star boutique hotel adjoins it.  Hmmm... now where do I find something like THIS in Vancouver? 

What else is going on?  Well, because teaching English has been a topic that's been hanging over my head ever since I decided to come to Spain, and because I know it's a good practical way to earn an income (ie: live here longer), I decided to register for an on-line TESL Foundations Course which is being offered through International House and starts this Monday.  After taking this 8 week course, I'll know for sure whether or not I want to pursue teaching English, and put out the E1,550 to take the CELTA Certification Course in January.  The Foundations course is a short introductory course for people with some interest in the English language teaching profession and who want to discover more fully what is involved in language teaching before committing to a fuller qualification.  So it's perfect for me.  Over the next 8 weeks, I'll learn the general principles in learning and teaching, how to teach grammar and vocabulary, and how to design a lesson plan.  Cool, huh?  If TESL isn't for me, then I'll know very soon.

Hey all, I want you to take a few minutes out of your day to watch this cute YouTube video that my nephew Jaicen and his friend put together.  They are pretty funny, and I think it's a job well done by two twelve year olds.  I hope you enjoy it!  You'll know who Jaicen is.  He looks like his aunt.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZOOUn_opVk

Charleen xo

A Day in The Park

...Park Guell, that is. 

But before I start, just a brief recap of last night's shenanigan's with Jessie.  After meeting at a bar in the barrio of El Raval at about 1:00 a.m., we finally found our way to D-Boy at about 3:00 a.m.  You'll never believe this, but being that D-Boy is a gay club, they would not let us two single, heterosexual ladies in!  We were choked.  As can be expected for two Aquarians to do, we did not like taking no for an answer and argued with the two bouncers, disputing their obvious sexist positions and unjust rules on the door for such a well-advertised Saturday night!  Especially being that Matinee is an IBIZA type party and promoter, and they sure don't discriminate there!  What the &*^!?  Que Cono??  We are going to write a complaint... but in the meantime, we couldn't let that ruin our party mood.  No way!  So we hailed a cab and went down to the Porto Olimpico, to Opium Mar.  It was packed!  Jessie, being the bright, blonde, bubbily babe that she is, had to get me to help fend off all the swarms of men who swooped down on top of her almost as soon as we walked in.  Being the pal that she is, she also did her share of assisting me too.  Because we all know that I can't stand a guy who is all hands, and last night THEY WERE ALL HANDS!  After some juggling and some sifting, we luckily found a couple of good ones in the lot - namely the Italian brand of gent (imagine this!), all decked out in slim fitting, pin-striped black jeans and fancy leather shoes, navy blue/black form fitting dress shirt with a sheen to it, a black, tight fighting button-up vest, saaawweet burgundy tie, and topped off with designer glasses...all smooth and sleek and looking so fine (at first we actually wondered if they'd stumbled in from D-Boy... rest assured ladies, they are only from ROME!).  And there were three of 'em like that, all standing by their lonesomes....well leave it to the friendly Canadian girls to make 'em feel at home, right?  Yum Yum Bubblegum!  The Italians saved the night!  Molto Bene!

Since I didn't get home till the wee hours, I woke up around noon, threw on my New Balance Running shoes, and headed for the hills of Gracia in search of Park Guell.  Another one of Gaudi's creations, he was hired by Count Eusebi Guell who bought the hillside in 1900.  Guell originally wanted Gaudi to create a miniature city of houses in landscaped grounds for the filthy rich.  However, the project dive-bombed in and around 1914 and was never completed.  The City of Barcelona bought the estate to use as a public park, but not before Gaudi had created 3km of roads, walks, steps, and also a plaza.

Although I had my guidebook with me, I decided not to use it as a reference and instead went with the flow, aimlessly walking down side streets, taking turns wherever I felt like it.  I knew I'd find it somewhere.  I'm not sure how I did it exactly, but I actually came up one street to find an escalator going all the way up a hill and into the entrance of Park Guell.  An escalator, right in the middle of a block squeezed between two buildings.  Go figure!  Whoever thought of it was a genius though.  It was perfectly placed!  The climb up was steep!

A very fine day was spent sitting quietly by myself in the warm, warm sunshine, writing in my journal and getting clear.  Getting out to nature always clears my head.  I really needed to write everything down, because things have just been going around and around and around and around in my head, getting no where and driving me crazy.  Keeping a journal is such good therapy, I highly recommend it!  Combine it with fresh air, sunshine, and a natural setting, and you have the makings of a one hour session with your counsellor!  :)

And besides that, Park Guell was so cool!  You really have to go sometime.  I hope you enjoy the pics!

 

Charleen xoxo

The View from Above

I've spent the last couple of days going up to mountains. It's quieter up there, less traffic, less people.  It's a nice little getaway from the everyday.

My first day trip was only up to Tibidabo, one of two mountains in Barcelona (the other being Montjuic).  It's pretty easy to get to, and there is a funicular (special tram) you have to take at the end of the bus line to get up the mountain the rest of the way.  A ferris wheel and amusement park wait at the top, as well as a cathedral whose towers you can see from Placa Catalunya.  Luckily, the amusement park was closed.  Great views of all of Barcelona and the Mediterranean.  It was pretty easy to get to and didn't take much time at all.

My second day trip which I took today was up to Montserrat,(Serrated Mountain) a Benedictine monastery about an hour out of Barcelona by train and which is located in the mountains. 

You have to take the metro, train, and finally a cremallera (rack train) to get there. It's not as quite straight forward as going to Tibidabo was.  It was actually kindof confusing, considering it's such a popular tourist/day trip from Barcelona.  You have to buy tickets from Placa Espana, but those were even difficult to find.  I had to go outside the metro station and then back down another set of stairs on the other side of the metro station just to find the booth that sold the tickets.  There were no signs anywhere except for one that indicates "railway line" in a funny squiggle that you get accustomed to seeing here in Barcelona.  Then you buy a ticket which is supposed to get you all the way up to Montserrat via all these various methods of transportation, but that's not clear either cause I got off at the wrong stop (along with about a dozen other people) and ended up having to take yet another form of transporation up to the mountain - a GONDOLA.  While that was very nice and all, it was an additional E5 over and above what I'd already paid!  I'm glad though that others were confused as well, because it shows me that I'm not just another silly tourist!  Poorly marked signage and very short and sweet verbal directions from the over-worked/under-paid Tourist Information personnel almost caused me to get off at the wrong train station AGAIN on the way home... good grief!  You know, I guess maybe to those who work in the tourist industry here it might seem very straightforward.  They are most likely very tired of giving the same directions over and over and over again.  But my point is that they wouldn't have to if there were better marked directions!  At the end of the day, Montserrat is really worth the little bit of trouble it takes to get there.  I highly recomend this day trip!

I totally enjoyed sitting in the sunshine up there in the fresh air, away from the traffic.  Even though I like living in the city, I am the type of gal who very much enjoys (and needs!) to get out to the wilderness and be in touch with nature as often as I can.  The fresh air and quiet really help to ground me and still my mind.  I am definitely a tree-hugger.

So this evening here I am back in Barcelona.  I've bought my groceries for the next few days and am just settling down to take a late siesta.  It's now 7:00 pm.  When I wake up, I'm going to make a light dinner and get ready to go out, because TONIGHT FOR SURE I am heading out on the town.  No more sleeping through it, either!  My friend Jessie is going to meet me, and we are going to hit "Matinee" at D-Boy, a very popular gay club in the centre.  Matinee is very well known in Ibiza, so I'm really looking forward to the music tonight.  It's going to be good, and I so need some good hard dancing!  And as it's one of Jessie's last weekends in town before she heads back to Vancity, I am definitely taking advantage of her company!

Someone said to me recently: "You haven't changed a bit!  You're still partying hard, you're still into the clubs...." and my response to that is:

1) no, I'm not partying hard at all, and

2) of course I'm still into clubs!  I love to dance! 

Grab a clue, will ya?  What's with this mentality that suggests that once a person hits a certain age then they should no longer like to go have fun?  For me, dancing is a release and that will never change.  Ever.  I hope to shake my bootie till I'm 90!  But I won't go out every single night just to dance, nor will I hang around in a sloppy club, NOR will I stick around a really nice club if the music is bad!  Bad music can ruin my mood in about two minutes, and so can grubby youngsters trying to stick their tongue down my throat.  So pah-lease, project your crap onto someone else.

And besides, how many nights can one mature gal take of sitting around in her room?  The roommate situation is, well... how shall I say this?  Becoming pathetic?  I do like both Pam and Lucas very much, and I even like that fur ball cat, Sammy.  But Lucas is a one-time professional basketball player, hence the only thing he watches on television is sports.  And I guess he can do that because he seems to have dibs on the couch/living room area more than anyone else in this household.  Right now for example, he is both watching sports AND listening to bad electro music.  So on a Saturday night I think it is quite appropriate for this Cougar to get out of the house and hit the city, don't you?  Meeeeooow!!

Other than that, it is starting to get chilly in the evenings here.  I'm considering buying additional bedding soon, and a new jacket or coat, or having these items sent to me from Canada.  Either way I'll have to do something about it by November for sure.  I've been watching the weather in Vancouver, and I know its been unseasonably cold lately.  I can't complain too loudly about our weather here in Catalonia yet, but I know we aren't too far behind you all because I had to wear a pair of SOCKS to bed last night.  oh no!

At least I still wear my sunglasses every day.  :)

Charleen xo

Fiesta de Otono – Celebration of Fall

What does a fairy do when it’s a long weekend in Spain and she can't think of what she'd like to do? Well, she hops on a plane bound for Ibiza, of course.

It was a beautiful, quiet, and hot October weekend, and Atzaro Agroturismo
(http://www.atzaro.com/home.html) was having their closing party. (it's a Country Hotel/Restaurant/Spa/Lounge all rolled into one!)

Alok and Dominic - the Jaa-mans

What a lively and sensual party it was! Tons of people who live on the island came out for the event, and I really enjoyed lounging around in the sunshine, people watching, drinking (strong) mojitos, and dancing with Alok to the funky tunes that the various guest DJ’s were mixing up. I loved the spirit and style of the people (truly Ibicenco), and how the colours and layout of Atzaro truly set the tone for this much anticipated annual Fiesta.

Lots of little chill-out loungy furnishings and spaces, with candles and lanterns to add to the sensual mood of the place. Notably impressive was how all ages came out to celebrate together, from newborns to senior citizens.  This is so typical of Ibiza and one of the reasons I love the place even more.  Everyone had a great time!

Made in the "Cute Factory".

Ibiza. The place I can’t seem to stay away from, get enough of, or make decisions about. It’s like being pulled by a mystical, invisible cord. It only lets me get so far and then it draws me back again. Ah, the sweet, sweet pleasure I feel when I set my feet on the ground there. And oh, the pain and agony that I feel at the same time. The only pain associated with Ibiza is my indecision to finally just laugh caution in the face and throw it into the wind, and just friggin’ go there once and for all. Can I just make a firm decision and commitment to do it? Nooooo! That would be far too easy. Instead, I have to analyze it so raw and red that all I see are flaws in my position. So I keep it at arm’s length. I’m the one that’s causing all this anguish – everything is being controlled by me. Why can’t I just make the decision?? What the heck is my problem anyways?

My friend Alok assures me that it’s simply because, as a woman, I use my intuition to make decisions, to feel my way into a situation, and also of course because of that constant, deep belief that I need to be safe and secure. (I also think it has a lot to do with my upbringing, and the familial belief that I "should" be practical about life, forget about dreams, and save for my retirement.  Touche.  Point taken).  The majority of women, or actually anyone who is connected with their female side, will take their time about these things. And one would think it should be easy to “just do it”. Well after this weekend I am one step closer, let me tell you. I am really starting to get clear on it. The main issue for me really is of course time and money. That I really don’t have much time left, that I really don’t have a lot of cash, and that I shouldn’t waste my time and money just hanging around being indecisive about this “Ibiza” thing. Well who the hell created the word “should”? And how dare they?

I’ve been told that whatever emotions I’m feeling at any given time will be three-fold on Ibiza. There is definitely a force there that makes people go to extremes – that is why so many hard-core party animals enjoy it so much. Thankfully, my body tells me exactly when I’ve done too much partying, so I don’t have those kinds of addictive traits (Chocolate, ok.  Alcohol and Drugs - no way!).  But I am still drawn to the power of that island, and it is the same energy that anyone who goes there will feel. But I’ve also been warned about how quiet the island is during the winter months. Do these warnings detract from the allure of the place? Not at all. So how do I find some peace in all of this? What is “peace”, exactly? Is it something that we’re always looking for? Is it a fantasy? Or is it inside all of us all the time, and really all we have to do is remind ourselves every day that it exists and that it’s our right to have it?

I said to Alok: “my own shadow is chasing me…” So he replied: “then turn on the light”.

So I am now creatively exploring ways to get there.  At the same time, I feel a little guilty about possibly leaving my roommate here in Barcelona. But I ask you: what good will guilt do me a few years down the road when I’m kicking myself in the ass for not having taken the opportunity when I had it?? I have already paid for my Spanish classes for October.  For now I am here in Barcelona and I am safe. 

And just while we’re on the topic of Spanish classes, I just have to tell you all that yesterday I thought I was doing so well with my comprehension of the language. But today, maybe because I have all this other crap on my mind, I just about had a meltdown right there in front of my teacher. My “new” teacher, mind you. Mid class my first instructor, Alejandra, just up and said, “well, I’m taking another class so someone else is going to teach you now….”. I didn’t even catch the chick’s name. Who is teaching me exactly? Uh, what is happening? And you know, being so sensitive, I definitely felt the shift in energy when my new “teacher” came into the room. It was a completely different electric current. So here I am trying to adjust to this sudden shift, THEN my new teacher starts telling me that some of the things that I thought I had understood from last week’s classes were incorrect! Not all of them, but enough to confuse the hell out of me! Anyone who has studied Spanish will tell you how frustrating it is to learn the past tenses (no, there isn’t just one!), because they are used in different situations and for different reasons. Among only some of the considerations are the time of day/weeks/years you are talking about, and if it was a routine action in the past, or an explanation of an action in the past, or a feeling you had about something in the past, or…. Like how a person can actually stop and ask themselves all those friggin’ questions before they even start to talk is beyond me! For example (you’re really going to like this next bit): if I want to say “this morning I went to the park”, I actually have to use a past tense called “Perfecto”, in which I’m actually saying “this morning I have gone to the park”. Let me be clear now. In Spanish, if it happened earlier today, there is absolutely no other grammatically correct way you can say it!  You have to use Perfecto. Now, in English we would just say “this morning I went to the park”, and there’s hardly any way you could screw that up, right? You’ve gone, it’s done, and it’s in the past, right? Seems pretty clear to me. Well apparently in Spanish it can be very easy to screw that up.  So get this: if I want to say “last week I went to the park”, I have to use another form of the past tense called “Indefinido”, which not only indicates that it’s in the past, but indicates that it’s an action that is absolutely COMPLETE in the past. (Like, who really cares about these types of details???)  Oh but of course the confusion doesn’t stop there. Oh no! If I then wanted to add to that by saying “last week I went to the park, and while I was there I saw my friend”, then I have to pull in yet ANOTHER past tense called “Imperfecto”.  And then there’s even another past tense form, like saying “I had done _____”, which is called “Pluscuamperfecto”.  Let's not even go there!  So go ahead, you all just TRY wrapping your head around all those tenses, conjugate your verbs properly, conjugate your irregular verb properly (and those don't stay the same, they change for every tense!!), and then throw in a future tense or even a conditional tense just for good measure, and hey don’t forget to make sure your nouns and pronouns are properly masculine or feminine, and that your adverbs have the proper spelling, and tell me HOW THE HECK YOU’RE EVEN GOING TO GET ONE FRIGGIN’ SENTENCE OUT OF YOUR MOUTH WITHOUT SLAMMING A SHOT OF TEQUILA FIRST???

Are you totally confused? I know I am. And I hope vodka will suffice, because it’s all I’ve got in the house.

And I haven't even touched on the subjunctive yet.  After today I'm not sure I want to!  The crazy thing is that I started learning these tenses last year and I still don’t have them down pat. Considering though that most of this past year was a write-off in terms of classes because…. well, you know why… I can see why I don’t have it down pat. But it is going to be one bitch of a hard lesson.

Today in Barcelona there is a new chill in the air. While it is still sunny and warm mid-day, I definitely could have worn a sweater or a light jacket while walking to my class this morning. There are fewer leaves on the trees. So Otono has arrived in Catalonia. And just as a new season brings changes, so we all must go with it and continue to transform ourselves. Nothing ever stays the same, and nothing was ever meant to. We are here to evolve.

Love, Charleen xo

Modernism in L'Eixample

Okay, seriously now.  I am definitely going to take the metro EVERYWHERE I GO TOMORROW, because this is getting ridiculous.  Not only do I walk a lot to begin with, but today Jessie and I finally got around to doing the Modernism in L'Eixample walking tour that we had talked about a week ago. 

And then, after we were finished with that, I went ahead and walked some more!! Pass the Ibuprofen pah-leese! 

What a wonderful city Barcelona is though!  For those of you who have visited here, these photos will remind you of how much you also love this city. For those who haven't yet had the chance, I hope you can get a better feel for Barna by looking at the photos I'm attaching.

In the late 1800's, urban development plans to expand the city were drawn up, creating grids of wide streets with diamond-shaped intersections that linked the city of Barcelona with the town of Gracia.  This is how city "blocks" in L'Eixample became known as "manzanas" (apples).  I've read that originally these "manzanas" were to have houses built on just two sides, leaving lots of space for greenery and parkland on the other two sides.  Nice try with that!  Everyone and their dog wanted to live in L'Eixample and real estate was at a prime!  Wealthy bourgeois families bought up all the property along the Passeig de Gracia and around, (remember the photos and previous blog of Gaudi's Casa Batllo, for example?  Filthy rich that family!) and, in a nutshell, this is how the barrio of L'Eixample (the Enlargement) was built. 

Modernism marked a huge period of development for Barcelona, but it was also a time for the freedom of the arts (think: Picasso, Gaudi, to name only a couple...), and that is really apparent in the city's architecture.  The majority of the Modernista's were erected somewhere between 1880 and 1910.  They say as many as 2000 buildings in Barcelona show traits of the Modernista influence.  To me, the buildings seem really playful and fantasy like, a little eclectic, and very eccentric!  Especially those of Gaudi or those of the architects who were influenced by Gaudi. 

One of the only problems with keeping your eyes in the sky and checking out all the wonderful scenery is that, well, you can't see where you're walking.  Or more precisely, what you're walking in!  Dog doo everywhere I tell ya!!  It's a typical European city.  Well, where would you do your thing if you were a dog in this city?  It's not like everyone has a yard... it's not even like every second house has a yard!  Grass?  What's that?  ha!

Jessie and I never had to ask for directions once! Nope, we figured it out all on our own! :)

Week 1 of Spanish lessons completed!  My vocabulary is expanding by at least a couple of words every day.  I'm happy about that! 

Have a happy long weekend everyone!  Que tengas un buen fin de semana largo!  And eat some turkey for me, can you? 

Besos,

Charleen xo

Day In and Day Out

Some of you have been sending me emails, asking me to fill you in and tell you how life is going for me.  In short I can say there are good days and there are bad days.  Those of you who have felt the end of a marriage know that ol' saying too well, and I admit it does sound cliche.  Yet it is definitely true.  You think you're going strong, and then all of a sudden and out of the blue one day you're just down.  Down for the count.  And you don't know why or what triggered you, but it's just a shitty day.  Honestly, that aspect of my life hasn't changed, but I didn't expect it to right away.  No, some things are meant to take a good long while to work through, to ponder, and to self-reflect for growth to happen.  And thank God for that!  Imagine how shallow life would be if we never stopped to look at ourselves!  There are days that I feel right at home here in Espana, and other days where I have no idea what "home" is, and what it's supposed to even look like for me.  So instead I focus on what I do know:  I know I feel great when I'm taking my Spanish classes every day.  I know I feel great when I'm wandering through this city without a watch on my wrist or anyone else's agenda to heed.  I know I love the sunshine and we definitely get a lot of it here.  I know that the Mediterranean is warm and clear, and soooo salty when I swam in it the other day.  So my life is pretty simple right now.  Infact the only thing that is still hard is when I'm fighting with myself.  And that is still a struggle that I'm actually trying NOT to win!  No, I haven't found that sweet spot yet.  That balance, that absolute acceptance in all things.  You know?

Today I found myself in a part of town that I'd never tromped through: a very wonderful little corner of Barceloneta.  It was awesome!  I had to find a repair shop to fix my new Delsey duffle/trolley bag that ripped during the journey over here.  Never having been good with directions, I have to stop and look at the map in my guidebook frequently, and normally I can do quite well on my own. Once in a while I have to ask someone for clarification.... like today.  Two men (on two separate occasions) sent me off in the exact opposite direction that I should have gone in!!  Instead of admitting that they also didn't have a clue where the repair shop was, they sent me off, all macho like, saying "oh yeah, yeah, it's that way.... keep going!"  Someone please tell me how a man actually believes he's being helpful when he does that??   F-Sharp, F-Sharp, F-Sharp! 

But hey!  Its all good because I realized that I had never been to this part of town before, and I was actually really digging the energy there.  I looked it up and saw that there is an actual walking tour of the exact area I found myself standing in called "The Sins of Gluttony in La Riberia" (La Riberia/El Borne/Barceloneta.... all the same area basically). 

And I have to agree that there are some serious yummy distractions in this part of town!  The barrio is jam-packed of colouful restaurants and tapas bars, and there's even a chocolate museum!  Thank goodness I'm walking a lot...my new favourite drink is called a "Clara" (beer with lemonade, I think).  Totally deeeelicious and goes down way too fast!

This weekend is a long weekend, with Monday being a day off for everyone.  It's some sort of a civic holiday I think, so it's not one of those holiday weekends full of festivals and parades.  Instead Monday will simply be a free day, and everyone is glad for it.  People here normally work from about 8:00 or 9:00 in the morning, till 1 or 2 in the afternoon, and then they have three hours off in the middle of the day, and then they go back to work around 4:30 or 5:00, and keep on working till 8:00 or 9:00 pm!  Then they go out for dinner, then they go home, and then they start it all over again the next day.  The majority of people work 6 days/week.  So I think I can speak for everyone in Barcelona when I say that the upcoming long-weekend is desperately being looked forward to!

Myself, I'm not sure yet what my "long-weekend" will entail, but I don't have to go to school on Monday.  I am toying with the idea of getting out of town, but since I really just found out that it's a long weekend, I'm going to have to get on it right away if I want to figure something out.  I'm thinking of going somewhere close by, maybe Sitges or the Costa Brava.  Something easily accessible by train.  Or a day trip somewhere maybe?  A cheap flight to Ibiza?  hmmmm.....

On another note, several construction workers whistled and drooled all over themselves when I walked by the other day.  I was wearing a pair of shorts.  Can you friggin' believe that??  I gave them the finger.  They seemed to approve even more after that.

The days are long here, and now it's almost midnight.  In Vancouver I would have been in bed long before this.  My internal clock is slowly turning towards Catalonian time. 

Charleen xo

The Artists of Barcelona

Today was an awesome day!

I walked all the way into the MACBA (Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art) to meet my friend, Jessie, who is a thriving Artist herself.  Many museums and galleries are free on the first Sunday of each month, so we thought we'd take advantage of it.  It took me over an hour to walk there, and when I finally arrived we were told that they don't host those freebies any longer, so we said "hmph!" and proceeded through the Barri Gotico to the area known as La Ribera, to the Picasso Museum.  That was free today and you could tell by the loooong line-up we had to wait in to get in.  Don't fret!  Two Aquarian pixies waiting in a line-up for an art gallery can find A LOT to talk about.  :)

I learned a lot about Picasso today.  No, he's not just some weird guy who was made famous by his paintings of distorted figures with dislocated facial parts and features.  NO!  He was so much more than that and I had no idea until today!  I am so glad I went, because I have a new found respect for Picasso.  Myself, I am more interested in realism art (so Jessie tells me), and was never much into Picasso's movement for cubism.  Personally, I thought his paintings were ugly.  But after today I have a whole other take on his work - for instance, did you know that Picasso created 58 works of art influenced solely by Diego Valazquez's "Las Meninas"?  After seeing how he re-created this painting, I realized the guy was a bloody genius!  And you know what they say: genius and insanity are one in the same.  Before I thought Picasso was probably insane.  Now I know he was a genius. Check out:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Las_Meninas.  Then take a look at this picture below.  See?

Jessie and I were enjoying our afternoon together, but time slipped away and she had to run home for a pre-arranged Skype date with her sister.  It was about 3:00 in the afternoon and the sun was shining full bore, and as I started heading north along Calle de Lleido, I thought "Forget it, I'm not going home yet!", and I turned on my heels southward towards Port Vell and La Barceloneta.  Port Vell/La Barceloneta is an area which I had walked through once a couple of years ago, but couldn't really remember too much of.  I'm glad I went.  The sun was shining, I sat and ate my lunch in the sunshine against a marble wall, with views of the harbour on one side of me, and the old town on the other side of me.

I watched the tourists come and go.  Everyone seemed so happy and alive, and thrilled to be in Barcelona, but I personally think the sun puts everyone in a good mood no matter where in the world you are!  In my Lonely Planet "Barcelona City Guide" that I carry with me, there is a walking tour of Port Vell/La Barceloneta, and I decided that this afternoon must surely be as good a time as any to do it.  So I started in good faith, but I didn't get very far before I saw a number of artists in an outdoor exhibition in front of the Maremagnum and Aquarium.  One artist's work in particular caught my eye.  I loved his use of bright, bold colours, and his perspective of the Catalan countryside. 

The artist himself was busy working away at a new creation, using a tiny spatula to apply big gobs of glorious colours onto his canvas, using swiping motions of his wrist, wiping his spatula off on a cloth after every stroke, and then adding just the perfect amount of paint to his spatula again to lightly add depth and texture with even deeper colours.  He'd push his long hair out of his eyes and haunch over in his chair, focussed, seemingly unaware that anyone was watching him at all, and that anyone who was watching him was absolutely captivated by his creations.  Being the Canadian I am, I felt I might be disturbing him if I stopped to commend him on his work.  So I started to walk away.  But then something stopped me.  I don't know what it was, but I just could not bring myself to move away from that area, from those paintings, from the bubble of energy he was creating there.  It was just that little whisper you know?  That little nudge, that presence that told me that it wasn't right to leave just yet.  So I turned around again and this time I bent down to take a closer look at the paintings, kneeling in front of them to admire his work, trying to get a sense of his angle, his vision.  There was one painting in particular that I just could not keep my eyes off of.   It was a painting of the tree covered Las Ramblas, with vibrant flowers and figurines walking down the road, seemingly fully enjoying their lives here in Barcelona.  All of a sudden I was inside the painting, walking down Las Ramblas with those faceless figurines, feeling the sun on my back and hearing both Catalan and Spanish, laughing... and it was at that moment that I fell in love with that painting, right then and there.  Oh, but then I became AFRAID!  Afraid to ask how much this beautiful painting must be worth!  I figured it would be way too much for this student, and felt apprehensive about even suggesting that I was interested.  But they say you are supposed to do one thing that frightens you each day.  And if thats as scary as it gets, then certainly I can tackle that, right?  So I approached this seemingly happy artist and popped the question.  And when I did, his reaction was very positive!  Oh, he was extremely happy to tell me all about his work and his life and his joy of painting, and that the very picture I was interested in was only 230 euros!  I thought he was joking, or that I'd heard wrong, so I asked him to repeat himself.  He gladly repeated himself... yep, I heard right.  E230 for an original painting that I'd absolutely fallen in love with, and here I was, talking to the artist himself!  GET OUTTA TOWN!  That's it??  I said:

I'LL BUY IT!!

The artist, Vincent Miro, is a very jovial, youthful, energetic, boisterous Elemental himself, and what fun we had getting to know one another!  He was very thrilled to find that I am Canadian, and proceeded to tell me that three other Canadians had also bought paintings from him, how wonderful we all were, etc etc... and I loved listening to him!  Such a life!  Such happiness pouring out of this man who is so obviously living his dream, and living in his element.  He speaks no English, but he does speak French, Catalan and of course Spanish.  I was so happy to be talking with him, and so relieved that I hadn't ended up bothering him at all!  We giggled and laughed, and I listened to his stories about how his parents didn't want him to be a painter... but he persevered and is now living his life to the fullest!  He is an excellent artist.  I'm enthralled with his work.  He even signed the back of my painting, and inscribed a personal dedication, too!  Awesome, huh?  At one point during our lively conversation he said to me (in Spanish):

VINCENT:  Ahhh, it's such a wonderful day!  So, what are you doing?  Let's go for a drink, whatdayasay?
ME: (not sure I heard him properly) uhhhh... now?
VINCENT: (flapping his arms rambunctiously) DO YOU WANT TO GO FOR A DRINK RIGHT NOW WITH ME?  YES or NO?!
ME: (gulp) uhhhh..... yes??
VINCENT: Great!  Let's go!

And with that he literally dropped everything and walked over to the nearby outdoor bar, pulled up a seat at the closest table that was in the sunshine and from where he could also watch his post, and then proceeded to order up Bombay Sapphires for each of us.  Can you imagine me, the confused Canadian, stumbling along behind him going "uh... uh, but... uh.....?"  God, Bombay Sapphire, the sunshine, a bubbily artist... I could not believe I was actually experiencing this.  He gave me the whole run-down of his life, his parents, his daughter (who is my age!), her two children, his lovers, his time at fine art school in France, his time in Madrid with the clientele who have TONS of money and just contract him to paint just about anything... and his love of life here in Catalonia.  His view is that people are way too distracted by the media, he thinks its awful how we think we have to have "things" and need to spend our money on superficial lifestyles just to be happy, when in the end no one really is happy at all!  He ensures me that his life is full and wonderful, and that no, he doesn't have a lot of money, but what does he really need?  Personally, I thought he was absolutely wonderful!  I was tickled to be sitting with him, flattered that he had even invited me to join him just out of the blue like that.  On two occassions while we were sitting there at our sunny table, "clients" of his came up to talk with him, and they'd made the treck down to Port Vell just to visit with him and see his latest works... one such couple he actually invited to sit down with us, and we all had a great time chatting and laughing, listening to Vincent's animated stories, and getting to know one another.  I think it's such a compliment that Vincent thought highly enough of me to introduce me to his clients, a beautiful couple by the names of Elena and Joseph, who in turn invited me to come out to their place one day very soon.  I'm thrilled, and extremely grateful that I've met this very fine artist, that he isn't just some guy I'm buying a painting from, and that he is so friendly and personable, and so easily spreads the joy he feels about his life and his work to everyone he meets.  And when I saw the way he interacted with clients and the public alike, I realized that he is very well liked and admired by many, infact all who meet him. 

Good thing I finally started walking home when I did.  Those Bombay Sapphires were starting to make me giggle just a liiiiiitle too much!  ha ha!  Such fun!  (I will go back on Saturday to pick up my painting, as he had literally just finished painting it {it took him only 3 hours to complete! can you friggin' believe that??}, and it was still a bit moist).  So it took me about an hour and a half of brisk walking to get home from Port Vell.  phew!  I should really be stretching.  My calves are sore!  I figure I probably walked in total about 4 hours today... now that's some exercise!

When I got home both my roommates were home and starting to prepare their dinner in the kitchen, and of course Sammy the cat was hanging around checking out the action.  I told them my story in choppy Spanish - I don't know why, but I always feel so embarrassed to speak Spanish in front of Pam and Lucas.  I'm going to have to get over that, as they do nothing but encourage me to speak Spanish, and they help correct me when I need it, too.  We were all three, for once, standing in the kitchen together preparing our own meals, and chatting about our day and sharing ourselves with one another.  And I realized that there is space here.  There is freedom.  And there is a lot to be happy about.  :)

Charleen xo

Three Cheers for Gracia!

Hip Hip Hooray!

Last night I decided to wander into Gracia, the area of town where my girlfriend Rosa Amuedo lives.  I was so enchanted by its distinct difference from the busy streets of Barcelona, that I fell in love with the area instantly.  So I once again found myself visiting the "barri", in search of a movie theatre that Rosa had told me about.  Gracia is a maze of little side streets and squares where very few cars can drive, and where pedestrians can walk in clusters down the middle of the street.  I love that!  Swarms of people obviously feel similarly, and go to check out the tons of little bars, cafes, and cool restaurants that absolutely pepper the entire area.  Gracia has a very lively and bohemiam energy to it, and the best part is that you don't have to deal with the constant flow of traffic that you normally would in Barcelona.  Actually, Gracia used to be its own separate little pueblo (village) north of Barna, and some of the squares were used for public executions back in the day.  While maybe that thought isn't too heart-warming, today Gracia is a lively stomping ground for tourists and residents alike.   Myself, I'm totally fascinated by the tree-lined, cobblestone streets, funky shops and choices of bars in the area.  All within 30 minutes walk from my place, too!

Yes, if you haven't already noticed, I'm walking a ton!  Maybe too much even as my knees are starting to hurt.  Last night I donned my New Balance running shoes for the hoof into Gracia, and located the 5 room movie theatre that Rosa told me about, the Cinemes Verdi.  Well, 5 rooms on one side of the block, and then on the other side there are an additional 4 rooms.  You know I enjoy a good movie probably more than the regular person.  Most of the movies at this theatre are in English with Spanish subtitles.  There are some foreign flicks too.  I watched "The Informant" with Matt Damon.  While I was chuckling and guffawing, everyone else was silent.  It was muy estrango.  Every now and then I'd read the subtitles to see if I could understand the translation.  From what I could make out, the translated subtitles come no where near to doing the original script justice.  It's too bad really.  Wonderful acting, direction, writing, and subtle god knows what else are all totally wasted on the Spanish because, really, some things you just can't translate!  It's no wonder they just didn't understand it.  Me, I'm accustomed to going to a movie on my own.  It's one of the things I enjoy most - no trying to find a show that everyone wants to see, or a time and location that suits all.  Just me picking up at the last minute and taking myself to any movie of my choice, any time, anywhere.  Priding myself on being quite the "Critic", some just don't want to see the same shows I do, nor do they appreciate the artistic value in some of the movies I choose to watch.  And that's totally fine.  But going to a movie on my own last night was bizarre... like this time I really WAS the only one who understood it.  Great show, by the way.  You know Matt Damon never fails to impress...

So I'm a little bored here, I admit.  I know you're asking "how the hell can you be bored??", but it's true.  Here's the thing: I don't have any friends!  I have met one or two people (such as Jessie McNeil from Vancouver, who is a total doll and we're going to go dancing together very soon!  See pic below!), and another friend, Jordi Garcia from Tarrassa, but that's all.  My roommate and her boyfriend basically hang out together, like, all the time, and the two seater couch doesn't exactly leave much room for a fifth-wheel sitting in for a family tv night, now does it?   So I walk and walk and walk and walk... and my knees get sore, so I pop ibuprofen or tylenol, I take siestas, and then walk and walk and walk some more... then, like the other night, I go out really late looking for something different to amuse myself with.  But really.  There's only so much a girl can or wants to do on her own.  I'm enjoying my freedom, don't get me wrong.  And I'm totally enjoying discovering this city.  But I admit that I miss even having my own tv to sit in front of if I choose to stay in for an evening, you know?  I'm going to check out a yoga studio next week, and I have yet to start my search for a good gym... those two social options will definitely take some of the edge off my pent-up energy and mounting loneliness.  But sometimes I'll find myself thinking too much, and all of a sudden I'm choking back the tears again.  "Quick Char! Pull out the breathing exercises and positive affirmations!", is what my guides tell me.  Always by my side, they don't let me get too far into the depths of self-pity any longer.  And I have to pat my own back here too: I'm getting good with those exercises!  I've come a long way, baby!

I am continuing to recieve bits and pieces of information from various people, so there's lots to explore in this fantastic city.  For example, I know the area of Riberia (another barrie in Barcelona) is having a music festival this month, and in Sitges, just outside of Barcelona, there is a film festival.  And you know, I guess I knew I'd be lonely and possibly bored at times, but I didn't expect it to hit me only two weeks in.  Always looking around the corner to curb my curious appetite, I never have been able to sit still for long.  So tonight I called my twin sister, my best friend, and my dad.  Dad is already inviting me to come home for Christmas, which I don't think I'll be able to do unless I make it a full move back to Canada.  It's way too early for me to say that I'd be into that.  Yes, I'm lonely.  Yes, I'm a little bored.  But no, I'm not ready to come home.  

My classes start on Monday and I'm really looking forward to them.  I will stop feeling like I'm on vacation, and start feeling like I'm really working towards moving in the direction I want to go in.  Something concrete.  And I will hopefully also get into some sort of routine, whether it's a couple of yoga classes a week and/or a run around Montjuic in the evenings, I will soon really start feeling like I'm a part of this town.  I know it's only a matter of time.  In the meantime, I might treat myself to another night out again (which is kindof weird on my own, but I'm getting used to it now), but this time I'll sleep until 4:00 a.m or 5:00 a.m., then see if I can find an after-hours or something.  Apparently that's how it's done here.  And why not, right?

Charleen xo