Story Time: Feliz Día de Andalucía!

Feliz Día de Andalucía! (pronunciation: Andaluthia)  
 
Feb. 28 is the annual celebration of Andalusia Day, a puente (holiday) to commemorate the anniversary of Andalucía being given community autonomy.  We celebrated today because there's no cole (school - more specifically elementary school) on Friday or Monday due to the puente.  To celebrate, the kids made traditional Spanish decorations, such as fans, and did Andalucía themed activities during the afternoon.  Also, a speaker came in to give a short presentation to the 5th and 6th graders about the importance of this holiday.  She read a poem and emphasized that above all, they are Andalusian and should feel proud of this wherever they go.  At the end, the whole school gathered in front of the Andalusian flag to sing the anthem of Andalucía.  

This puente reminds me a bit of our 4th of July.  I think its good to take time to celebrate being proud of where you come from.  
   
Here's the anthem:
 


Besos,
B

Story Time: ...y cuando estuvimos por Venezuela!

This story is very fitting, considering my last post was about music.  Yesterday, during my class with first and second grade, the teacher's cell phone went off.  The ringtone was a popular Spanish song that I've heard many times, but never knew the name.  While the kids were working, I quitely asked my bilingual coordinator the name of the song.  Being the lively person he is, he proceeded to not simply answer the question with the song title; no, instead he decided to start belting out the lyrics while dancing and shaking his hips.  Which of course prompted the kids to join in singing and dancing: "Te envió las fotos cenando en Marbella...y cuando estuvimos porrrrrrr Venezuelaaaaaa!"  

The funny, and perhaps disturbing, thing is that they incorporated provocative dance moves to accompany the beat of the song (body rolls, shaking their hips, etc...I think they've been watching too much Shakira and Beyonce!).  At one point my bilingual coordinator stopped and asked them, "are you all showgirls?"  Haha.  Of course they didn't understand.


Here's the song that started in all.  It's a sweet duet about love (what else?)  Don't be surprised if you can't stop humming the melody once you hear it!

¡Viva la Música!

As you probably know by now, one of my favorite places to spend a night is on the dance floor.  But no matter how packed a club is or how delicious the cocktails, if the DJ isn't pumping a constant flow of good music, the night might as well be a failure in my book.  And on the other hand, I can deal with a less than desirable establishment, so long as the music speaks to me and tells me to get out on the dance floor.  And yes, I'll admit it, there have been times (ok, MANY times) when I've been know to shake it in the privacy of my own bedroom.  But what exactly am I rocking out to?  I thought you'd never ask...

"Dime si te vas con él" - Flex ft. Mr. Saik

I'll preface this by saying, I'm probably a little biased because this is by far my favorite song on the list.  Perhaps you remember Flex (more controversially known as N***a) from his smash "Te Quiero" in 2008.  He hails from Panama (the birth place of reggaeton), and has been making a name for himself in the latin music industry over the past couple of years.  I have an admitted weakness for reggaeton, which is an intoxicating mix of hot dance beats and smooth latin rhythms - an enticing combination that always seems to seduce me onto the dance floor.  Plus this song, like so many others in its genre, speaks directly to me: "Ay morena linda digame que hacer" ;)

Although I admit my addiction to reggaeton in general, and this song in particular, I can't help but recap a recent conversation with Amy about the outstanding production value and artistic integrity of this video:

Me: "Flex and his friend are so sexy."

Amy: "Yeah, I want someone who wears Kanye West sunglasses."

Me: "And look at the amazing quality of this music video.  Obviously their budget was REALLY high."

Amy: "Clearly they pulled over on the side of the road in Ecuador to film this video in a field.  I think I passed by that exact field.  And I'm pretty sure that's my host family's cousin in the video."

"Mariah" - Juan Magan

Juan Magan is a Spanish singer who was born in Barcelona.  This song has played in every nightlife establishment that I've been to.  It's also almost as addicting as the above canción.   

"Manos al Aire" - Nelly Furtado

Of course you all are already familiar with Nelly Furtado.  She's had success in the States and within the latin music community.  She's portuguese, so she has a distinct language advantage when it comes to in which language(s) to sing.  "Manos al Aire" is just one of those songs that makes you feel good.

"Sexy Bitch" - David Guetta ft. Akon

Clearly everyone already knows this song unless you've been living under a rock for the past several months.  I've discovered that Spaniards LOVE David Guetta, which works out perfectly for me as I love his beats too.  (*Sorry this is not the actual video - YouTube has the original blocked from posting).

"Esclavo de sus Besos" - David Bisbal

Many of the chart topping songs in Spain come from different countries, including many American songs.  However, David Bisbal has managed to become one of the biggest Spanish singers.  Again, this is another feel good song.

"Loba" - Shakira

This is the Spanish version of "She Wolf," which was also popular in the States.  Without fail, at every bar/discoteca/drinking establishment, etc. they entire room would break out into "Awhoooo!" during the chorus.  While I like this song, it has been a bit overplayed, which can make even the best song just seem annoying.  However, I thought you'd like to hear the Spanish version.  (*Again, sorry this is not the actual video - YouTube has the original blocked from posting).

"Kalemba (Wegue Wegue)" - Buraka Som Sistema

Once this beat gets stuck in my head, it's hard to get it out.  Wegue Wegue is a song with a funny little name, and if it doesn't quite sound Spanish, that's because it's actually in Portuguese.

"Looking for Paradise" - Alejandro Sanz feat. Alicia Keys 

Alicia Keys has international fame, and if you're thinking to yourself that you've never heard of Alejandro Sanz - you have!  Remember Shakira's Spanish language crossover hit "La Tortura"?  The sexy/raspy/unique male vocals belong to none other than Señor Alejandro Sanz .  I must admit, when I first heard it, I was surprised to hear a language switch: Alicia Keys singing in Spanish and Alejandro Sanz singing in English.  It's also quite funny to hear Spaniards who don't speak a word of English try to sing along to the English lyrics.  

I hope you all enjoy having a sample of what's playing on my ipod.  And I hope these songs make you want to dance as much as I do ;)

Besos, 

B

Spain vs. Argentina

The year leading up to my study abroad in Argentina was filled with indecisiveness and a few too many (unsolicited) opinions.  The choice was between Madrid and Buenos Aires.  I wanted to go to Buenos Aires because, while I’d never been to Madrid, I had done a lot of traveling in Europe, but none in South America.  I wanted use my time abroad to see and experience things that were completely different from our own culture, and I felt that Buenos Aires was the perfect place to do that.

However, I always felt I had to defend my decision against a few very opinionated friends and my mother who tried their best to dissuade me:  Argentina is dangerous.  You think you can really live in Latin America?  Will they have all the technology and luxuries you’re accustomed to?  Europe is better than South America, hell Europe is better than America.  But, always the stubborn one, I refused to adopt this Euro-centrist view and decided to go to Argentina for six months instead. 

I discovered that Argentina is a country of immigrants, primarily made up of people from Italy and Spain (but also small populations from Germany, England and other various European countries) who did not mix with the indigenous people nor the African slaves.  The goal in constructing Buenos Aires was to build a European city in South America, specifically modeled after Paris.  The result?  A chic city that’s a mix between New York and Paris, with a European sophistication and a dash of Latin flair that’s a little rough around the edges.  And while Buenos Aires has a heavy European influence, it still gave me the opportunity to travel throughout South America and have experiences that I never would have had otherwise. 

Although I was (and still am) thoroughly pleased with my decision, I always wondered about a little place called Spain.  So when the opportunity arrose to live in Spain, I jumped at the chance to take it.  Now that I’ve lived here for almost four months, I feel that I can make a pretty adequate comparison between the two countries and their respective cultures.

So in the epic battle between Argentina and Spain, who will win?  There's only one way to find out...

Madrid vs. Buenos Aires:  Over winter break I met several Argentines who were quick to prompt me on my opinion on Spain vs. Argentina.  They’d just come from Madrid and had decided that it “es lo mismo que Buenos Aires!”  (the same as Bs As)  For the most part, I agree.  Madrid and Bs As are both very beautiful cities with gorgeous architecture.  They are both busy and bustling, although the Argentine capitol is much larger than Madrid.  They both have vast green parks and lovely plazas.  They also have a long list of international cuisines, fine dining options, relaxing cafes and a lively nightlife.  However, Madrid is MUCH cleaner than BsAs.  In BsAs it was just a part of the culture to litter, and it is not looked down upon at all.  So while the city was beautiful, you had to watch your step for fear of trash and dog poop.

 

Madrid?  Buenos Aires?  Can you tell the difference? 

Food:  This one is a little tricky because I feel that I'm a little biased here.  My host mom in Argentina was an amazing cook, so I always went back for seconds (and thirds...understandably why my jeans curiously ceased to button at the end of my time abroad).  Their steaks are the best in the world - they literally melt on your tongue - and I haven't been able to look at (or eat) a steak they same way since.  On the other hand, Spain's mediterranean menu serves up a large variety of seafood, which is something I swore off eating years ago.  The other protagonist on the menu is ham in all it's various forms: serrano, york, etc.  The good thing about Spanish food is that it's healthy because all the foods are cooked in olive oil.  And while there are a few dishes that have become my go to during tapas (patatas bravas, bombas), I have to say that Argentine food is better.

Flamenco vs. tango:  The flamenco: intense and exhilarating.  Tango: simultaneously nostalgic and sultry.  Both: passionate dances that I wish I could do.  The flamenco was conceived by the gypsies in Andalucia while the tango was created by poor Italian immigrants in Boca’s milongas.  They have some shared similarities and influences, intriguing histories and are accompanied by their own respective beautiful and unique music styles.  They both also have an indescribable ability to draw in and captivate people from all over the world.  And for me, they are equally seductive and inspiring.

 

Flamenco 

Tango

                                     

Europe vs. Latin America:  It’s very simple: I love Europe.  But I’ve always had a strong intrigue with Latin American culture, history, music, etc.  I’ll say this, I like to live in Europe, but I love to immerse myself in latin culture.

Los chicos:  Spain wins.  Although Argentine and Spanish boys have very similar physical features, there’s no escaping the prevelance of the machismo factor that inundates men in Argentina.  Although Spain has a machismo society too, it’s gotten better over the years and is presently more subdued.  In my interactions with the opposite sex here, everything seems more comfortable.  In Argentina I literally had to push, punch and slap to keep guys from touching me on a night out.  Seems like you get the same package, just with a nicer gift inside in Spain.

Spaniards vs. Argentines: Hands down, the Argentines.  Throughout the Spanish speaking community, both Argentines and Spaniards have a bad reputation.  Argentines are infamous for being arrogant, cheeky and thinking they are generally better than the other latinos they share a continent with, mostly because they think they belong in Europe rather than in South America.  But in my experience, this is more of a show.  Because once you’re in their country they are the warmest, most welcoming people.  Stop a random person for directions and they will tell you their life story and ask for yours too.  Similarly, Spaniards have a reputation of being unfriendly and contemptuous; after all they think they "discovered" the "New World" and conquered most of Latin America.  The unfortunate difference is that I've found the stereotype about Spaniards to have some truth. I’ve found many people here to be rude and aloof, but that's not to say that I haven't also have met some wonderfully nice people too.  

Marcha vs. Joda: These are terms to describe nightlife or partying: marcha (Spain) and joda (Argentina).  I'd say it's pretty much a tie.  They both have similar routines of eating a late dinner, going to a bar, and officially starting the night past midnight and not ending it until the sun comes up.  They both also make me feel generally old and out of practice, as I struggle to keep the party going 'til the morning hours.

 

Joda

Marcha

Fashion: Spain takes the cake (or perhaps more appropriately, the shoes).  Spanish women are very fashion-forward and conscience.  They always seem to dress to impress even while running the most mundane of errands.  Argentine men dress well, but I just couldn't get into the style of Argentine women's clothing.  However, Argentines do put themselves together and generally dress better than Americans (i.e. you will never see someone in sweats out and about in the city).  

Lifestyle:  Spain and Argentina seem to share the "work to live" mentality that Americans lack.  They see work as a part of life, but not the dominate or defining part of life.  In both cultures, the most important part of life is the pleasure gained from spending free time with family and friends, relaxing in a cafe or going for a walk in a park.  In short, both cultures enjoy appreciating the smaller things in life, which is an aspect that I don't mind assimilating to all ;)  

Malbec vs. Rioja: I must say, apart from fashion, this is my particular area of expertise: el vino.  When I first arrived in Argentina, I was a white wine lover to the core.  But Argentina taught me not only how to appreciate a fine wine, but how to also appreciate a red wine.  Malbec and Rioja are both medium to full bodied red wines that usually take a more experienced pallet to appreciate.  Malbec is a bit stronger and is the perfect compliment to steaks.  Rioja is a bit smoother and goes well with food or solo.  Whichever is your pick, in my opinion, they are both equal parts liquid divinity and pleasure.

 

Accents: The accents from these two countries serve as an immediate giveaway of from where their respective holders hail.  The Argentines are infamous for their distinct accent, pronouncing "y" and "ll" as a "j" or with a "shh" sound (i.e. - Yo llegue ayer -- Jo jegue ajer or Shho shhegue ashher)  They sing their Spanish instead of speak it.  The result is a beautiful language that falls somewhere between Italian and Spanish.  Spaniards, on the other hand, speak with a rather odd accent, pronouncing "c" and "z" with a lisp (i.e. - corazon -- corathon).  When I first arrived, I despised the Spanish accent (don't even get me started on the Andaluz accent - that's another post all together) and held stead fast to my Argentine accent.  To my surprise, Spaniards LOVE the Argentine accent and find it unique and sexy, which just cemented the fact that I should keep my accent.  Also to my surprise, I do not despise the Spanish accent as much as I did upon arrival, but there's still no doubt in my mind, or in my ears, that the Argentine accent is the more attractive of the two.

Kirchner vs. Zapatero: When it comes to the world of government and politics, I have to ask you to pardon my crudeness when I say: Argentina and Spain both suck.  HARD.  Both countries are entirely inefficient, unorganized and needlessly complicate the easiest of processes.  However, my frustrations only seem to simmer here while in Argentina they definitely boiled over due to the fact the country is saturated in corruption.

Overall, there are characteristics that I've fallen in love with from both countries and cultures.  There are also other aspects that I could do with out from each.  I think the best way to describe my sentiments is this: I left my heart in Argentina, but I'm falling hard for Spain ;)

Besitos,
B

Spanish Intolerance

While I love many things about Spain, there is on aspect that has bothered me and has had me thinking for quite some time.  No country is perfect, but the Spaniards' general intolerance has sent my mind reeling on several occasions.

While I've kept my mouth shut on this blog, I was inspired to finally write this post after what I watched unfold at work yesterday.  This week we're celebrating Valentine's Day in English class.  I decided to replicate the common activity that we did as kids: make a V-day mailbox and have the kids deliver handmade valentines (with English messages).  In order to ensure that no child is left valentine-less, it was necessary for the kids to HAVE to make valentines for everyone in the class, if they wanted to make one for anyone.  While we didn't have time to do to this, I had the kids pick names from a bag for a "secret valentine" sort of deal.  But before the activity even started, one of the girls asked me if a certain little boy would participate (for the purposes of this post, I will call him Juan).  Juan has down syndrome.  I answered that yes, of course he would participate in the activity (while he doesn't participate in most activities, this was easy and fun enough for his abilities).  The entire class erupted into groans, begging that I reconsider this decision.  Absolutely not.

Next, I passed out the names of each person in the class, and when one girl picked Juan, she spent the rest of the class complaining loudly and almost in tears.  Today, while looking through the valentines, I discovered that the girl elected to NOT make a valentine for him and to make one for her friend instead.  I told them that that their behavior was uncalled for, but I didn't feel it was my place to say more, seeing as I'm an assistant, rather than a full-time teacher.  But I thought at the very least, the bilingual coordinator would put a stop these malicious comments and poor behavior; but he just ignored it instead.

I was appalled and nearly in tears about this.  I understand that kids will be kids, but I believe it is the DUTY of adults, especially influencers like teachers, to impart the basic principle that yes, we are different, but we are all equal and thus should be treated so.

I think that perhaps this situation upset me so much because this comes after months of watching the daily mistreatment of this little boy.  It is very obvious to me that either none of the teachers at this school have special education training, or that the Spanish approach to disabilities and differences is vastly different from our own.  Where to start... In my opinion, they handle him too physically: they will tug his hair or ears, grab him by the leg to drag him from under a table and lightly hit him to castigate him.  When he doesn't want to work, they call him lazy, although I'm sure it's not that he's lazy, its that he requires a different method of learning than the other students.  They make jokes at his expense.  They call him names.  If he needs to wipe his nose, but refuses or wipes it on his sleeve, they will call him dirty or a pig.  For Christ's sake, the child has down syndrome, he is not deaf.  I do not claim to know much about mental disabilities, or the extent to which he understands, but I'm sure that this constant flow of verbal ABUSE (yes, that is what I'd call this)  must be deteriorating his sense of self and integrity somewhere inside.

I know that I am not alone in my experiences and observations, as my friends have echoed similar experiences in their schools, which leads me to believe that this isn't an isolated circumstance, but a widespread cultural intolerance to people with differences.

I've also noticed this characteristic of intolerance when it comes to race relations.  I cannot say that I have experienced racism directed towards me, although I face comments about my skin color and race on nearly a daily basis.  As in Argentina, my name has become "Morena," yet again.  This is a term used in Spanish speaking cultures to describe a person of color.  But it's so encompassing that it can be used to describe someone of olive complexion, to someone with a very dark complexion from Africa.  I became accumstomed to this new name in Buenos Aires.  I swear to you that not a day passed by when someone didn't refer to me as "morena."  At first I wasn't sure how to react, because if someone in the U.S. were to call me "colored girl," I'd probably be ready to slap them across the face.  However, it was explained to me, by both morenos and whites in Argentina, that "morena" was not an offensive or derogatory term; rather just a term meant to describe a person's skin color, which is natural.  While I'm no longer put off by this, and I understand that this is a cultural difference, it still seems a bit odd to me.

However, I KNOW that I'm not reading too much into the fact that there is very real racism against "los gitanos" (the gypsies) in Spain.  The gypsies are usually people of color who live an alternate, nomad lifestyle, which many times includes begging and stealing.  Every Spaniard who has spoken to me about los gitanos has had nothing but hateful things to say.  I've tried to ask as many questions as possible about their history and relationship to the Spaniards to try to better understand this animosity.  But I can't take it seriously when the Spaniards say that they're bad people, without backing it up with any concrete reasons.  And how can ALL gitanos be bad people?  Even if Spaniards have had some bad experiences with some gitanos, this certainly doesn't speak to the actions or persons of the entire race.  That's a little thing I call racism.

Then there's a fun little phrase called "no seas un moro" (don't act like an Arab) that the Spaniards pull out when someone does something stupid.  Hmm...racism?  They think not, but I think so.  It's the equivalent of using the ever so eloquent phrase, "that's gay" to describe something stupid in the States.  It's ignorant and prejudiced to equate something distasteful and undesireable with a group of oppressed people.  While it seems to make so much sense to me, it seems to be an incredibly difficult concept to grasp for the Spaniards.

Sorry this has been quite a long rant, but if there's one thing I absolutely cannot tolerate, it's close-minded ignorance, and I'd say I've had my fair share here.  Perhaps some would assert that my being raised in America, especially as a minority woman in America, has made me overly sensitive in our country of political correctness.  But I'd argue that it's just made me more adept to recognize prejudice and its causes.  It's not an excuse that Spain is a more homogenous country than the U.S.  There are no excuses for this.  It's paramount to educate oneself about other people, cultures, religions and races because the world is an infinitely diverse place.

Jaén + Madrid in Photos

La Catedral de Jaén

El Castillo de Santa Cantalina

Madrid by night

Plaza Mayor

Tapas at Fatigas del Querer

Traditional paella

Chocolate con churros

Monument in Parque del Retiro

Rastro market on Sunday morning

El Palacio Real

The post office.  How pretty!

El Museo del Prado

Flamenco

Video footage of the flamenco show

Katie Comes to Spain!

As much as I love traveling and living abroad, sometimes I like to have a little something to remind me of home.  So it was with great enthusiasm that I welcomed (and solicited) a visit from a good friend.  Last week, the lovely Katie Unthank graced Spain with her wildly ecclectic, fun and feminist presence.  We had many fun adventures, including my long-awaited first trip to Madrid!

Katie arrived last Monday, just in time to partake in one of Spain's most infamous traditions - the afternoon siesta, a custom that I've come to simultaneously love and despise (more on this later...)  Afterwards I FINALLY did the tourist thing in Jaen (I know, about 4 months late!)  We went to the historic city center and wandered through it's beautiful, antiquated streets until we found our way to the cathedral.  La Catedral de Jaen is Jaen's crowning jewel, towering over the city with it's architectual glory.  Although I've admired it from afar, this was the first time I actually went inside.  While the inside was beautiful, after seeing cathedral after cathedral in uber Catholic Latin America, I must admit that I wasn't that impressed.  Although the outside is quite breathtaking, the inside is dimly lit with mediocre artwork.  Next, we journeyed up to El Castillo de Santa Catalina, which was illuminated and quite a sight while lit up at night.  It has spectacular views of the city and it's surrounding mountains.

Over the next few days, I showed Katie my daily Spanish life: trips to various cafes for decadent treats, tapas and drinks, and of course, the infamous Bariloche.  While I introduced Katie to a few new things, I have to thank her for FINALLY making me do all the tourist things I'd been meaning to do for the longest time.

The next leg of the journey was spent in Spain's capital, Madrid.  This was my first visit to the city, and I must say, Madrid is definitely my kind of city.  Beautiful, classy, interesting and fun, I suppose that there's never a dull moment in a city that's so full of life.  

Although we were only in Madrid for a few days, we packed in a lot of activities: paella in Plaza Mayor, row boating in Retiro Park (where hilarity ensued), a visit to the Prado, shopping in the Rastro market and of course, the mandatory flamenco show.  Add in delicious food, fine wine and interesting conversation of the feminist variety and the result is quite possbily one of the most perfect trips.

At the end of the trip, I was sad to see Katie go.  But I was also sad to leave Madrid.  Which is exactly why I'm currently counting down the days until my mom and her fiancee come to visit me in Madrid (T minus seven days.... ;)

Besos,

B

P.S. - If you want to come visit (or just send me presents, hehe), please let me know!

Story Time: Liberal Musings

Spanish culture has a reputation for being deeply steeped in Catholicism, tradition and machismo.  So imagine my surprise during my class earlier this week when random liberal musings were inserted into the lesson.

In first and second grade the kids are learning the vocabulary for the family.  They've learned mom, dad, sister, brother, grandma and grandpa.  One of their activities was to draw their own family and label each person with this vocabulary.  Of course the sample picture provided was one of the "traditional" nuclear family.  However, my bilingual coordinator explained that "some families have a mom and dad.  Others just have a mom or a dad.  And some families have two moms or two dads.  So don't copy the picture, draw your own family."

I thought it was wonderful that the kids were being taught about diversity and tolerance at such a young age, so that not only can they accept others, but also themselves.

Prague in Photos

Old Prague Square at night

The view of Prague from Mala Strana (Lesser Town)

The only authentic venue where Mozart performed

A cathedral in Old Prague Square

Another beautiful cathedral

Kafka statue outside the Jewish Quarter

Prague Castle and Mala Strana

The view of Prague Castle at night from Charles Bridge

The cathedral at Prague Castle

The Astronomical Clock

Beautiful architecture in Old Prague Square

The infamous pub crawl, including absinthe shots

Falling in love with PRAHA

Prague is one of those cities that truly takes your breath away.  It's a city whose quirky beauty and unique charm has garnered it a reputation as one of the most romantic cities in the world.  And while I understand that some people go to Prague to fall in love with their significant other, I discovered that I fell in love with Praha instead. 

Over the last few years Prague has become an international tourist destination sensation, highly sought after for its beauty, lively nightlife and relatively cheap cost.  I’ve wanted to go to Prague for the longest time, so I was ecstatic to finally have the opportunity to visit.

Amy and I awoke on Jan. 2 at a most ungodly hour (4:30?  5:00?) to catch a five hour train from Berlin to Prague.  We were so exhausted, we decided to take a nap first to rest up and enjoy the rest of the trip.  We emerged from our hostel at dusk and into city's streets.  We wandered the Old Prague Square, completely enamored by gorgeous and well-preserved architecture and ate at a fabulous Italian restaurant for only 8 euro!  Before returning to our hostel, we went to Charles Bridge and overlooked Prague Castle, which was illuminated in a soft gold light, solidifying Prague’s reputation as the Golden City and one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Over the next two days, we braved the cold to do a three-hour free walking tour of the city and a four-hour walking tour of Prague Castle and Mala Strana.  This was both a wonderful and terrible experience.  The walking tour, which is present in several major European cities, is a great deal for those traveling on a budget: you get to see all the major sites, learn about the city’s history and culture from knowledgeable tour guides, and meet new people from all over the world – all for the cost of a couple of Euros tip at the end.  HOWEVER, Prague was so eff-ing cold that I really thought I’d gotten frostbite and might die.  On the tour I wore: tights, leggings and jeans; three pairs of socks; knee high leather boots; a tank top, a sweater, a long sleeved shirt, a sweatshirt and a coat; a scarf; two pairs of gloves; a hat and a hood.  I was freezing.  Although my over sensitivity to cold made it a little less enjoyable than I would have liked (i.e. after the tour I ran to the nearest pub and told them to give me the warmest thing to drink.  I couldn't bend my fingers and had to dump the money out on the counter to pay), it was a wonderful way to see the city. 

During my several hours spent wandering the city, I discovered that Prague is an architectural delight!  The buildings come in so many styles that it makes walking through the city a truly fascinating endeavor: cubist, communist, art deco, nouveau art deco, and more!  Prague is also home to Kafka, the famed literary genius (or crazy, depending on how you look at it), the largest medieval castle in Europe (Prague Castle), the only authentic venue where Mozart performed, the world-famous astronomical clock and an intriguing communist, holocaust and Jewish history. 

While I’m not proud to admit this, I actually went on something called a pub crawl (yes, shocking, I know).  Amy really wanted to go, so I reluctantly decided to accompany her so she would not be alone.  Overall, the locations on the pub crawl were NOT my scene at all (Irish pub?  Dive bars?) and the drinks weren’t exactly my glass of wine (Beer?  Can I PLEASE get a cosmopolitan or an extra dirty martini with olives?), but that was definitely to be expected.  I did however try a shot of absinthe, which is mandatory for all young Americans traveling in Europe.  No I did not hallucinate and then pass out in a corner, rather I cringed at the taste and said, “Well that was interesting!” 

HOWEVER, the night turned out to be a good opportunity to meet people from all corners of the world: the U.S., Australia, Europe, and of course South America.  At the beginning of the night I noticed all the Latin kids hanging out together, laughing and talking in Spanish.  I longingly felt that I belonged in their group speaking Spanish, rather than speaking in English with people from England and the U.S.  Then my luck changed as a Venezuelan guy approached me and asked, “Are you Latina?”  I said no, to which he replied, “Are you sure?  Because you look like a Latina girl.”  I told him that although I’m not Latina, I do speak Spanish, and thus I was inducted into the South American group and spent the rest of the night speaking Spanish and reminiscing about my days in Argentina.  I have to say, it was pretty wonderful.  

While Prague is incredibly beautiful, and I hope to return one day, the only aspect that I didn’t like was that it was over-run with tourists.  Yes, I am aware, that I am technically a tourist too, but I like to think of myself as a "sophisticated connoisseur of world travel and culture" – one who absolutely does NOT play into the stereotypical role that Americans have garnered over the years (think knee high socks, ill-fitted shorts, fanny packs, and an unfounded superiority complex that gives them the disillusioned impression that everyone speaks English outside of the U.S. because we ARE the shit…sarcasm…can be hard in written word).   But I digress…I would love to have time to explore the city again when it’s a bit quieter, although I’m not sure if there’s ever a time of year like that for Prague.

At the end of the trip, I felt wistful, as I often do when returning from a lovely vacation.  I wanted to stay longer and possibly move to Prague (to do what, I’m not sure ;)  Looking back, Amy and I wished we’d done the trip in reverse: more time in Prague to explore its unique beauty and a shorter trip to Berlin.  But I’d like to think that I’ll return one day.  And maybe when it’s not so cold ;)

Besos,
B

Berlin in Photos

The Berliner Dom

  

Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirc

Schloss Charlottenburg

 Berliner Philharmoniker

 

Pieces of the Berlin Wall

Brandenburg Gate

German potatoes and glühwein

Authentic sign of the American sector from Checkpoint Charlie museum

Berlin's national opera house

A holocaust train station was converted into a metro station, but kept this sign in remembrance. 

"We must never forget where these trains used to lead."

St. Matthew's church 

KaDeWe - Europe's biggest (and apparently most popular) department store

The erotic museum