BONJOUUUUUUUUUUR!

BONJOUUUUUUR! Lots of entertaining of the parental units, but now Erin is coming! HOORAY!

To see my facebook album, go to this link: click here!

I also want to post some pictures and comments that I didn't put in previous posts...

Dad took me to the WPO Gala at the Catalan National Museum his last night in town. I got to wear that fabulous blue dress with new blue shoes to the gala. We spent the night meeting new people, watching great entertainment (such as Cirque de Soilel-esque dancers and opera singers), and enjoying each other's company. It was like being Cinderella for night, and at midnight, I turned back into a normal study abroad student. But it was such a great night that I will never forget. I had such a great time with my dad!

One night, Dad went out with a couple of my girlfriends and me. It was a very fun night, and considering how Barcelona is on a weird time schedule, I was VERY impressed with how late my dad stayed up. Not only was it a late night, but he was probably still on a different time zone. Nice work Dad. It was a great night, and my friends also had a blast.

After eating Paella next to the water, Dad took me and Peter to IceBarcelona...or maybe we took him. Either way, it was very cooooooooool. We had to put on these huge ugly silver jackets (as seen above) and wear gloves because it was like negative 18 degrees in there... celsius....so fahrenheit...-.4 degrees. FREEZING! The drinks were actually very tasty...served in a frozen glass. Like literally a cup made of ice. There was an ice sculpture of Sagrada Familia in there as well. We had a really fun and memorable time there.

I love this picture of me and Dad from Opium Mar. What a funny time.

Last Tuesday, I took my parents to Park Guell here in Barcelona. It had snowed last Monday (for the first time in a long time) and the ground was super wet. But I let Louis run up and down the park and he was in heaven. The sun was out and it sure was gorgeous. My mom was already infatured with seeing this park, and I think it won her heart even more if possible. It was a great afternoon.

At Park Guell

Then my parents took off Wednesday afternoon for Paris, and I was going to meet them there the next morning, but I had work to do and midterms to take.

Last Thursday morning, I flew to Paris. My flight was at 6 am. I woke up so early, that entire morning was a complete blur. Everything did go smoothly. When I arrived in Paris, I met this couple who is backpacking through the ENTIRE WORLD for 8 months. They started last September when the guy lost his job. They were such a great couple and I was happy to get to know them and learn about their amazing adventures. Then I got to my parents hotel, and they weren't there! So I went to their room, after convincing the hotel I was their daughter despite having a different last name. I passed out for a few hours, tried to go back out with my parents to do some sight seeing but was still so overcome with sleepiness. I went back to bed at the hotel and woke up later that evening. I was able to watch the Eiffel Tower light up from their hotel room window and it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Seeing the Eiffel Tower literally made my life...it was just so perfect.

View from hotel room...Louis and the Eiffel Tower

That night, we went to dinner at this great restaurant. When you are seated, the waitress will ask you "how would you like it cooked?" and "what color wine?" and that is it. There is one thing on the menu....steak, french fries and this amazing green sauce that I am still dreaming about. After that, I went to meet Michael, Peter and Meghan at the apartment we were staying in.

Mom and I ate this great dinner place with my cool new light up glasses.

After dinner pic.

The next day, we woke up, found this amazing crepe place right by the metro. I am DETERMINED to learn how to make crepes. I am convinced that they are pretty easy to make....but I guess I could be wrong. Actually right after I finish this post, I am going to go buy ingredients. I'm hungry. Anyway, after eating a nutella banana crepe for breakfast, we went to the Arc de Triomf and Champs-Elysees. It is such a fun area and it was a beautiful day. Although we didn't go up into the Arc, it was great to see. It is huge! I was actually very fascinated about the tomb of the lost soldier, but not enough to pay and go see it. Then we began walking and walking. Eventually we made our way to the base of the Eiffel Tower. It was so cool to see up close. I have looked at pictures of it, seen it in movies, heard about it forever...and it was even larger than I imagined it to be.

Pete and I with the Eiffel Tower in the background :)

We hopped in line to go up the elevator, but Meghan suggested we try walking it....and I am so glad we did. We kept talking about how we would be those grandparents in the nursing home talking about "when i was young, i was so healthy i climed the eiffel tower..." Yes....I probably will be that woman, because it is an experience I will never forget. And actually, it was not as bad as I thought it would be. It was around 350 stairs to the first tier, then another 700 or so to the second tier. You actually cannot walk all the way up to the tippy top...there are not stairs...just elevators. So we made it to the top, and it almost made me dizzy being up there. There was so much to look up and we were up SO high. It was one of those moments that will stand still in mind for years to come. I will never forget that feeling as I looked out at this huge amazing city and just soaked in the moment. It was unforgettable. Truly.

We attempted before/after pictures of the stair trek, but we got so caught up in the moment...we forgot the after picture!

I don't think this was at the very top...but a picture of us with Paris in the background from the Eiffel Tower.

Afterwards, Meghan and I were feeling rather Parisian and decided to invest in some berets. Good call. Hers was the classic black and mine was bright blue...of course. We then walked through the streets of the city, stopping at almost every single bakery, deciding whether or not we needed one of the pastries in the window. Then we went to a grocery store...bought some wine, grapes and cheese and went back to the apartment to have a Parisian evening snack before dinner.

Dinner that night was at this great fondue restaurant. If you know me, you know that I LOVEEEEE fondue. My favorite restaurant at home is the Melting Pot, but this was almost better! Almost being the important word. Nothing will ever beat the Melting Pot for me, but this restaurant came close. The best part....huge pots of cheese and oil. Not some tiny little bowl of cheese...a standard size pot. We couldn't even finish it all! IT WAS HEAVENLY! The meet was a little hard to cook....the oil was so hot, it would pop out of the pot. It almost hit Michael a few times. It was such a fun meal. We shut the place down, and our waiter was a really awesome guy.

Since we were tired and full, we decided to go back to the apartment where I attempted to play Hearts, the card game. I remember playing it on the computer...but I must have played it COMPLETELY wrong because I was awful. We played until almost 2 am or so, and it was one of my favorite memories of the trip actually....just good times with good friends!

The next morning, we had our usual crepe at our favorite new place. Then Peter and I went to go meet my parents at Fauchon the most expensive market I have ever been too. For 1 kilo of crab legs...82 euros. Jeez louise! It was very cool to see. There was a chocolate easter egg for sale...600 euros. Needless to say, we didn't purchase anything here, but it was cool to see. Since my parents had been to Paris before, they took Pete and I to a bunch of cool places. We walked all day and through a bunch of fun neighborhoods, including Saint Louis! We also got to see Notre Dame which was very unique looking. By a stroke of luck, we ended up walking right near our apartment. We laughed because we had no idea how close we were.

We ate lunch at this fun restaurant where Peter had his first french onion soup. I couldn't believe he had never had it. Now...he's hooked. It was very very yummy. I also had chicken...which was disgusting. Take note....French chicken does NOT equal American chicken. It was dark, oily and on the bone. Not a fan. Good french fries though!

I was exhausted so we went back to take a nap. That evening, we met my parents at their hotel. There was a bar at the top that had a panoramic view of Paris and we got to see the Eiffel Tower light up while discussing important topics like shopping for rainboots and fraternity hazing.

Then we went to dinner at the steak/fries/sauce place again. I cannot remember the name! There are two locations in Paris...so we went to the original location this night. We actually had to wait in line for almost an hour just to get in. Fortunatley, we had packed a 1 euro bottle of champage in my purse...assuming we were going to drink it later. I don't really know...we're college kids...we drink cheap champagne. It came in handy in the line. Dinner was a great great time. The food was amazing...of course. And Michael, Peter and Meghan enjoyed it as well. It was a really great time. Our waitress was fun too. Gotta love a waitress with a personality. After that, I said goodbye to my parents and we headed back to the apartment...to play hearts again ha.

Sunday morning, we cleaned up the apartment and packed up. Michael and Meghan were leaving that day, but Pete and I weren't leaving until late Monday night. So we packed up to go stay at a hostel for the night. We spent Sunday walking around our new neighborhood...near Moulin Rouge. If I thought Sundays were dead in Barcelona....they are beyond dead in Paris. The energy was a complete reverse than how it usually is. But that didn't stop us. We walked down St. Germain. That night we went to dinner at Beaubourg or something like that. It was delicious. More french onion soup and pizza. We also bought 6 euros worth of candy from a street vendor...totally worth it. That night, we crashed.

Monday morning we had to pack up for check out time. That day we walked around Champs Elysees more...man I can't even remember. We just walked and walked again. We went back to the Louvre. Oh did I mention we did that on Friday? Don't think I did. Yes. We did go to the Louvre and I got to see the Mona Lisa. It was even cooler in person....minus the bullet proof glass and icky lighting. Eventually it was time for Peter and I to head to the airport, but not before we had one last bowl of french onion soup.

It was a fun filled 5 days. I want to go back!!

In summary: my favorite part...Eiffel Tower for sure. least favorite part...the language barrier.

I vow to speak French the next time I return to Paris. Although I did really love saying "BONJOUUUUR" all the time. Next time I will know more.

Now it is already Wednesday and I am headed off to San Sebastian Friday morning. I spoke to my grandmother, Momsie (Pause for a shout out: Hi Momsie!! Love you so so much), last night on the phone and she says San Sebastian is GORGEOUS. So I am very very excited. But even better...my cousin Erin is flying into Barcelona on SATURDAY!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAY! I literally cannot wait. She is a brave girl and is off to Morocco for a few days while I stay in Barcelona and take tests and do school work...which would you rather do? Hmmm....anyway. Then we are in Barcelona for 2 more days then off to Mallorca just the two of us. I couldn't be any more excited or I would pass out from enthusiasm!

I'm ready to see her, I'm ready for spring break, I'm ready to wear sandals.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Now I need to go finish laundry, get groceries and do homework so that I might be able to enjoy the St. Patty's day festivities this evening.

Besos to all. And I also want to throw out this verse that is central in my life right now due to the loss of a dear family friend, Ellen Clark. I feel blessed to have had her in my life for as long as I was able, and I will never forget her as long as I live. Please pray for her family....an overwhelming sense of peace and comfort.

Peace I leave with you;

my peace I give you.

I do not give to you as the world gives.

Do not let your hearts be troubled

and do not be afraid.

-John 14:27