Leaving Granada...

Leaving aside the fact that I fell ill yesterday, my time in Granada has been amazing! Alhambra seems a magic place from One Thousand and One Nights, with its curved ceilings, ornate interiors, scented gardens and mosaic fountains. I wish everyone on this planet could visit this place at least once in their lifetime.... At 10pm I returned to the gardens for a SPECTACULAR show of eclectic music and dance dedicated to the time spent by the world renown Spanish author Federico Garcia Lorca in New York. A mixture of capoeira, jazz, flamenco, and many other dance styles, the spectacle was a an absolute delight! In one act, about 10 male dancers performed while water was being poured from an installation mounted on the top of the stage - an amazing play of shadows and lights reflected in the water! I wish I could describe the effect but no words seem to do justice to the beauty of the act.

I am leaving to the airport in 5 minutes - destination: Palma de Mallorca!

Barcelona

The visit of the French track was the highlight of our time in Barcelona. We met for the first time at the Battlo House - a wonderful example of Gaudi´s original architectural style. 13 euros later, we found ourselves in a bizzarre building with interesting arches, unusual shapes, and millions of shades of blue and green alluding to an aquatic medium. The following day, Christian and I went to the beach in Sitges, a tourist town which overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and is located 40 minutes away from Barcelona by train. Lots of unisex pairs and topless women....

At 10pm, we took the last train back to Barcelona, to join the Spanish and French tracks on Playa La Mar Bella. The night was fabulous, despite the strong smell of marijuana which lay like a cloud over every hippy group on the beach. Everyone left at 1am, but I stayed for a long conversation with my very good friend Kirk. At 5am he walked me back to the apartment, only to end up being robbed by a street guy who had stopped me as I was trying to catch a taxi. We had no idea what had happened until the following day, when Kirk realized his wallet had dissapeared, and almost $2,000 had been charged to his 2 credit cards. Unbelievable!! Barcelona, packed with tourists and pickpocketers, feels very unsafe in summer. My expectations were definitely too high...

On Monday, we visited the historic center, which I loved, and several points of interest such as Sagrada Familia, Barcelona´s famous cathedral designed in the Gaudi style. The lights had been out since the morning, and as it was difficult to see the inside of the building, I decided to visit it at a later time. I ended up returning to the apartment and preparing the documents for my lawyer (apparently green cards are again available!). In the evening, I went to Gaudi´s Guell Park with Jeff. It was absolutely fabulous, Gaudi´s imagination seems to have no limits!!! On Tuesday we visited Vueling, a dynamic low cost airline carrier which I would love to do my internship with next summer :) That same day, we also visited the Freixenet winery - loved the trip!! Wednesday it was again beach day in Sitges - this time I went with Jeff as everyone else had left the city to visit other places. Ah the perfect temperature water and high, foamy waves were to die for! The day ended with our farewell party at Basilica, an amazing restaurant chosen by Liana. Fabulous food, great atmophere, lots of tears! Our time in Spain has almost come to an end, but we will never forget it!!

Wow wow wow I am in love with Granada!!!!

Darlings, I am in love! Granada is phenomenal!!! I arrived here earlier today and after a brief scare with my luggage, I made it to the hostel. Makuto is located in the middle of a labyrinth, and I am not joking! The tiny, stone paved streets are large enough to allow one minibus to pass. If one person and one minibus try to get by, one has to give the right of way to the other. I had to drag my luggage down numerous stone stairs, but somehow I survived the ordeal :) I am in what used to be the old Moorish quarter of Granada, which a few years ago UNESCO declared a World Heritage Site. I started my day relaxing in a hammock, as the unbearable heat had completely drained my body of energy. Then I had tea with my new Japanese friend Miho, in the gorgeous Arabic tent that lies in the center of the courtyard. I tried to figure out my wireless Internet connection, but after a few unsuccessful attempts I gave up and instead decided to wander a bit through Albayzin (the Arabic neighborhood) with Miho. We knew that no matter what street we took, it had to be slanted downwards in order to reach the center of the city. We made our way through the maze of streets, tea shops and Morroccan shops to finally arrive in Calle de los Reyes Catolicos. We felt relieved :) The first item on the agenda included a visit to the Capilla Real, where the former Spanish kings Ferdinand de Aragon y Isabella de Castilla are burried. They were the first to unite the Spanish territories into one political entity and to add Granada to the Kingdom of Castile. The cathedral is breathtaking, and so are the massive marble tombs and underground crypt. Following the visit to the royal chapel, we visited an exhibition of religious sculptures produced by the Spanish artist Antonio Campillo. The items presented are part of several private collections, so it was a rare occasion to be able to admire Campillo´s art. At 8:30pm, the Ave Maria band and choire presented a Paso Doble concert dedicated to the Day of the Elderly which is celebrated in Spain today. Held in a spacious plaza embracing Granada´s cathedral, the performance left me breathless! It was definitely the most beautiful experience I have lived in Spain so far! Once the concert ended, I walked back to Albayzin, in search of the Mirador of San Nicolas, which offers a spectacular night view of Alhambra. Miho had left the concert early because she was exhausted, so I found myself trying to figure out the maze of streets at night and with little light. After one hour of walking which should have really taken 10 minutes, I finally arrived at the Mirador. Tens of young people had gathered to enjoy the view of the Moorish palace. There were many hippy guys and girls with long, braided hair, some of them appeared to be Jamaican but I cannot be sure. The smell of Marijuana was omnipresent and it almost made me dizzy. Guitars were playing everywhere, and I loved the atmosphere just because I felt in another world. No one seemed to have any worries, they were living life at the fullest. After another half hour spent in the labyrinth, I arrived back at the hostel. I am exhausted and I am going to sleep. I share a room with 3 hippy Italian guys, this will be quite a night. I hope they are already asleep :) What can I say... the life of a poor student having to live in hostels! I´ll survive, no worries! Tomorrow.... Alhambra!!!!! All my love!

Hola!

Dearest friends, this is just a quick email from Barcelona - I am off to the beach in less than 5 minutes. I am having a fabulous time here, you will see pictures soon :) My camera stopped functioning because somehow sand got inside of it, so I am using a disposable. Tomorrow morning I am flying to Granada. My tickets to Alhambra are for Friday at 5pm. Missing everyone a lot! Jeff is here, and I need to go. Muaaaaaaa

Salsa Night :)

Hi everyone, it is 5am and I have just come back from Azucar, one of the most amazing Salsa clubs in Madrid. I met some handsome Spaniards and Ecuadorians and danced the entire night :) Before that, we went to Cuba Libre for drinks and more salsa. Our time in Madrid has come to an end, and we definitely had a phenomenal time here! In 4 hours we are off to Barcelona. Good bye Madrid and good night everyone, enjoy the pictures! :)

This weekend in Barcelona

Saturday

18:00 Meeting “French Track” & “Spanish Track” at Casa Batllo.
19:00 – 20:30 Visit to Casa Batllo/ Salvador Dali Museum.
22:00 Lauder Party: French Track, Spanish Track
1:00 to 6:00 Clubbing at Barcelona: Sala B & Luz de Gas…. For those still with energy!

Sunday

14:30 – 18:00 “Tapas y sangría” next to the beach.
20:00 Visit to Tibidabo: Drinks at Mirablau Terraze.

I am excited to meet the French track, who are flying from Paris to meet us in Barcelona! :)

Visita a Segovia

Hi darlings, a quick post this time because I am swamped in studies. Yesterday I took an unplanned trip to Segovia, 1 hour away from Madrid. Gorgeous city, somewhat similar to Toledo. Magnificent cathedral. Roman aqueduct which is preserved in perfect condition till this day. Hope you enjoy the pictures! Mua!!!

Breathtaking Madrid!

Yesterday we took a touribus around Madrid and saw all of the major attractions of the city. We then got off at the central park, and walked for miles and miles among exotic trees and flowers which create amazing combinations of scents. Heading back to Plaza Mayor and La Puerta del Sol, we walked down Calle Atocha, the same street where the famous Arabic baths are located. We stopped at several lovely shops along the way. In Plaza Mayor there was a Columbian party celebrating the day of a saint. We were told to wait but one hour after the time the show was supposed to start, technicians were still preparing the stage, therefore we decided to leave. We wandered through more shops on La Calle de Carmen, and eventually arrived at Plaza del Oriente, an amazing Italian-style plaza rounded with statues and fountains. There, people were gathering to watch the live transmission of the opera Madame Butterfly, directed by Placido Domingo. World renown Chilean soprano Cristina Gallardo-Domas was performing on the stage of the opera theater, but as the indoor seats had been completely sold out, the organizers had set up a large screen outside. By the time the show commenced, around 5,000 people had gathered in the plaza. I wish I could explain the magic of the moment - it was so emotionally intense watching the plaza filled with opera lovers! Liana and I watched the entire performance, while Ben and Heather went for dinner and drinks at a nearby terasa. The opera lasted from 9pm to 1am, and its dramatic end took our breath away. Liana LOVES this musical genre, and she invited me to join her at the New York Opera for the best world performances.

Toledo

At 9am we went to pick up Liana's friends Heather and Ben, who had arrived from London to celebrate their 1 year wedding anniversary in Spain. Our intention was to drive a rental car to Toledo, but faced with a daily charge of 100 euros, we decided to take the train instead. Half an hour later, we arrived in the beautiful pre-Roman city, which is known for the peaceful coexistence of its Christian, Jewish and Moorish cultures. One of the former capitals of the Spanish empire, Toledo was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983. The city was famed for its production of steel and especially of swords and it is still a center for the manufacture of knives and other steel implements. When Philip II moved the royal court from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the old city went into a slow decline from which it never recovered.

Presently, Toledo is an absolute delight to visit and its main source of revenue appears to be tourism. Spread across several hills and surrounded by a river which once offered protection to its citizens, Toledo is a maze of streets, walls, castles, and religious institutions. We visited a Safardic museum, a 12th century synagogue - an absolute jewel! and the El Greco collection of paintings, among others. After a delicious late lunch, we walked to the outskirts of the city, where we crossed an old bridge and enjoyed the wonderful panorama of the city. The trip was fantastic - I hope you enjoy the pictures! :)

El Escorial

So darlings, it is 11pm and I have just returned from the Wharton Alumni Reception, which was held at a sophisticated restaurant in the northern part of Madrid. It was fabulous and I met amazing people - from recent graduates to retirees! The young men are all fabulous and accomplished, it's great fun to chat with them :) Carlos is hilarious, he has been following us around from Monterrey to Mexico City and now to Madrid, and today I found out why. He is traveling the world during a 3-month vacation, before he starts his job in September, and he has been scheduling his trips in accordance with where we are! So.... guess what! He will join us in Barcelona as well :)

The man we (at my table) chatted most with was a consultant for small size businesses and the World Bank. On Saturday he will be in Romania doing training with young executives in the western city of Timisoara :) I also found out that the Vice-President of Santander Bank and the President of Mastercard Spain are (or were, not sure) Wharton alumni!

My classmates have gone out tonight, but I am tooooooo sleeepppyyyyyy. I am going to rest because tomorrow morning we are off to El Escorial, former castle, royal residence, church and monastery. Today our Spanish professor has told us that the place was built by Philip II ("El Rey Negro"), son of Carlos V, at the end of the 16th century. It was interesting to learn that the reason he was referred to as "the black king" is that he always dressed in black to give the image of austerity, tradition and religion. Reacting to the Protestant Reformation sweeping through Europe during the sixteenth century, Philip II devoted much of his lengthy reign and much of his seemingly inexhaustible supply of New World gold to stemming the Protestant tide.

I will write more when I return from El Escorial. This weekend, I will be going out with Liana and some friends of hers and then on Monday we are off to Toledo (after class, of course :)).

This entry is dedicated to my dearest friend Anastasia, whose wedding in Moscow I was unable to attend because it took place while I was in Mexico. Nastia, I love you so much and I wish you all the happiness in the world with Shawn! You are the most gorgeous, sophisticated, fashionable, intelligent, enthusiastic, and fun girl I know. I also adore your father, but keep that a secret between us :)

Liana and I, enjoying the best, creameast icecream ever made! My mango was to die for! yummmmmm

Last night we went out for Jeff's birthday - it was a blast! Between 9pm and 3am we managed to go to three places - a terrasse, a regular bar and a karaoki bar. We have decided to have the best time possible, because in 3 weeks we will be on fire! :)

At 3:30am I started writing my homework for the Spanish class, so today I was like a zombie and I could barely keep awake during the 3pm seminar. Anyway, I am fine now, I have to prepare for my presentation about the Spanish oil company Repsol. No partying tonight :)

Below is Daniel, an American recently gone crazy :) Difficult to believe, but he is actually extremely charming!!!! :)

My day started with a class of Spanish politics taught by a fabulous Oxford-educated British professor. His familiarity with the Spanish political system and the Spanish language are simply astonishing!

After class, we visited Telefonica, one of the largest telecommunications providers in the world. We were introduced to several technologies that have not yet been publicly announced and I will lose my life if I divulge the secrets soryyyy :) All I can say is that the era will soon come, when we will use our cellphones for everything except feeding ourselves :).

I left Telefonica just in time to catch a taxi to the Arabic baths I have been dreaming about desde mi llegada a Madrid. :) It was fabulous! The Medinat Mayrit is located close to the Puerta del Sol, and it features three rooms with warm, hot and cold water, a hot sauna, a massage room, a tea room, and an Arabic restaurant. I spent 2 hours in heaven!!!! The baths are supposed to be taken in the order I listed them above, in order to increase blood circulation :) The quite shocking part was that the massages were administered only by men and so I had the choice to either run away or give in to temptation.... God forgive me! :)

Hola amores, today a full page article about our program came out in La Gazeta, Spain's 2nd most important daily business newspaper. My classmates have become celebrities and they are loving their new status! :)

My first two days in Madrid have been incredible! This city is one of the most beautiful I have seen in my entire life. As I walked out of the metro station into La Puerta del Sol, I felt I was stepping into a world of surreal splendor. The magic of the evening and the suave lights, combined with that of the majestic buildings and the large plazas left me out of breath. I will never forget that feeling.

We then wondered for one hour down the narrow, winding streets, in search of the oldest restaurant in the world. I was actually excited that we got lost because I was able to enjoy more of Madrid's indescribable beauty and lively spirit. At midnight on Sunday, hundreds of people were having animated conversations in outdoor cafes and restaurants, as if they had no worries and no jobs to go to in the morning :) The atmosphere in the city is that of an eternal vacation and of people celebrating life.

After a copious, delicious meal, we returned to the dorm at 3am, only to fall into a deep sleep that transported me into the world of dreams, where all of the splendors of this city that has been reigned by so many civilizations came back to life.

Oh, I think I could live here forever..........

Hi everyone, just wanted to let you know that i made it safe and sound to Madrid :) I felt I was back in Europe the minute the handsome immigration officer winked at me and welcomed me in the sweetest, most gorgeous, super fabulous Castellano accent :). I then stepped into a cloud of smoke and came back to reality.... yes, I was in Spain! :) After a 20 minute taxi drive that cost me 40 euros (auch!) I arrived at the beautiful Colegio Loyola. My room is not very spacious, but it is clean and I have everything I need for a comfortable stay. I will have to buy a converter and DSL cable so I can use my computer in my room. I have heard that our Spanish teacher is fabulous, everyone loves her! Can`t wait for tomorrow! This evening we are going to the oldest restaurant IN THE WORLD wow! I am excited!

Also, during my flight from Dublin to Madrid, I met a guy from New York, who is starting his MBA at Carnegie Mellon in the fall. He will join our group for dinner tomorrow night, before he is off to Morrocco. He quit his job early, so that he could travel the world - Spain, Morrocco, Germany, Turkey, Singapore - how fun!

I wish I could have met my godson in Pamplona, but I arrived too late to be able to catch the bus :( I hope to go there next weekend, don´t want to miss the running of the bulls!

That is all for now. Miss everyone! Will be back with more later! muaaaaa

Off to Spain :)

Hello my darlings, today is the day :) Just wanted to say good bye and wish you all the best. I will be writing and uploading pictures from all of the cities I will be visiting. I always wanted to go to Spain, so my excitement has no limits. Hugs and kisses! I am off to the airport! muaaaaa

Will I ever hold a green card?.....

It's Thursday evening, two days before my trip to Spain. I am disappointed that CIS changed their regulations overnight and decided to return all residency petitions filed in July, although they had announced in June that all pending applications would become current this month. The American Immigration Law Foundation is filing a lawsuit, and all of us have been invited to join in. I am not sure whether it is a good idea... success is not guaranteed, the process could take years and I would have to pay additional legal fees. My sister and brother-in-law are in exactly the same situation... Wouldn't it be wonderful if I married an American? :)

So if my trip to Philadelphia did not serve its original purpose, it allowed me to relax a bit and take care of some things I would have had to do in August, the day before the MBA program starts. I opened a new bank account, bought some things for my new apartment, planned my trip to Spain in minute detail :), and got all of my immunizations done (yuk!). I almost fainted after I had blood taken out and 4 vaccines administered, but somehow I survived (phew :)). I wish someone had warned me that I would be throwing up and feeling lightheaded, because for a minute as I was falling to the ground, unable to call the doctor, I thought I was going to die.

Oh well, that is behind now, only to be talked about, and I am still alive :) I had not yet accomplished all of my dreams in life, so the moment was just not right :) Hugs!

Plans confirmed for my last 4 days in Spain :)

So here is my travel itinerary, for whoever wants to join me on my fabulous trip :)

Thursday, July 26 - arrival in Granada at 11:30am - Makuto Backpackers Hostel.

I have chosen this place because it has a distinct flavor - it is situated in the UNESCO declared quarter of El Albayzin, in a recently restored traditional Andalucian 'Carmen' house. The architectural style is of Moorish influence. From this location, I will have easy access to the Sacromonte caves, where I will be going for a spectacular Flamenco show.

What is there to do in Granada? This city is astonishing! Here are some of the highlights:

• Albaicin, the old Moorish quarter of Granada, named a World Heritage Site
• The breathtaking palace-city of Alhambra, the second most visited site in Europe
• The Cathedral and Royal Chapel, displaying the fabulous treasures belonging to the Spanish monarchy, from the royal jewels to the ornate tombs of Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand
• Banos Arabes, the famous Arabic baths
  
• Plaza Nueva, Granada's central plaza, lined with shops, restaurants and cafes

Saturday, July 28 - departure from Granada at 10:30pm, arrival in Palma de Mallorca at 11:55pm - Hostal Tierramar

Another phenomenal place! Here are some of its highlights:

• The Bellver Castle, a large, 14th century castle overlooking the town of Palma
• Museu d'Art Espanyol Contemporani, displaying works of twentieth century Spanish artists such as Picasso, Dalí, Miró, Juan Gris, and Antoni Tápies
• Palma's Gothic Cathedral
• Banys Arabs, 10th century baths that are the only existing ruins of the Arab city of Medina Mayurqa
• Palau de l'Almudaina, a royal palace which has stood on this site since soon after the Arab conquest

Monday, July 30 - departure from Palma de Mallorca at 7am, arrival in Barcelona at 7:55am, departure to Philadelphia at 11:50am

Have I aroused anyone's interest? Join me!!!!! :)

For those who love to travel, I suggest creating an account at www.virtualtourist.com. You will be able to see reviews of other travelers and create your own travel itinerary by simply adding destinations to your list. Print it and you're all set! It's a fabulous tool!

My favorite song! - listen to it while reading my blog :)

Other fabulous ideas!

Just to add to the excitement, I have decided to also travel to Palma de Mallorca! I cannot wait to go to Spain this Saturday, can you tell? I have been spending my time online finding tickets to exotic destinations :) My pilgrim spirit has resurfaced!!!! I always thought I must have the heart of a gypsy, because I am as restless as these nomadic people :) So my darlings, on the 26th I will be flying to the island of Palma for 2 days, and from there to Granada for another two days.

My godson wrote to me and we might even meet in Pamplona this Sunday! How amazing would that be? He is driving from France for the running of the bulls! hahaha I must say, I have a most adventurous and fun godson - wish I could find a husband like him!!!! :) :)

I also spoke with my dearest high school friend Gabriela who is extremely happily married to a Parisian lawyer, and it appears I might visit her soon - probably in December? :)

What else? Oh! My friend Anita also called me yesterday, so I am off to California for the Labor Day Weekend - Aug 31st-Sept. 3rd.

Yeyyyyyyy I am thrilled with my new plans of fun and adventure!!!!!

Back in Philadelphia

My dearest friends, happy 4th of July! I am back in Philadelphia, not too sure what to do and where to go to celebrate Independence Day... I will probably go watch the parades and fireworks downtown and maybe even a special concert! Will think of something exciting! :)

My classmates are invited to give an interview to a Spanish newspaper today. They might also attend an event at the US embassy in Madrid. Wish I was there....

I was finally able to resolve my ticket situation, and I am leaving to Spain this Saturday at 5pm. The only sad part is that I will be missing the trip to Pamplona and the running of the bulls.... sob sob sob Perhaps I can make it next weekend!

For the past six centuries, the Spanish have held the festival of San Fermin involving bulls, dancing and copious volumes of red wine & sangria. The celebration is dedicated to Pamplona's Saint Fermin who was killed by bulls that dragged him through the streets, reportedly after a few too many sangrias .... Don't wanna miss this phenomenal event!

I have decided to spend my last weekend in Granada, which is supposed to be una verdadera maravilla! This city used to provide trade links with the Muslim world, particularly the gold trade with the Sub-Saharan areas south of Africa. Cannot wait to see the Moorish architecture styles, so well preserved at Alhambra - former residence of the Muslim kings of Granada and present home to a spectacular collection of Islamic art. Looking forward to my trip!