Barcelona BFs

Tessa and I have obviously been good friends for awhile now - pretty much since she came to Oktoberfest in 2010 when we had only known each other for a few weeks (amazing what Germans, 1L beers, and music can do for a friendship!).

However, I feel that something has shifted in our friendship in the past month or so. Maybe it's settling into the groove of living together, maybe it's the experiences we've both had with relationships in the past year, maybe it's 2012, or just time. Whatever it is, I feel like we're even closer now than we've been before. We often joke about the civil partnership we've started that includes having dinner together, me packing little to-go boxes for each of us in the morning, and going on Sunday paseos. We're constantly cracking each other up at home, at school, or in bars about the most ridiculous things.

Most importantly, we're able to talk about literally everything or nothing at all. In a job where you're constantly "on" both with kids and adults, it's nice to have someone who you don't have to be that way with at all. At times, this probably makes us a bit anti-social - it's sometimes easier to just hang out with each other because it's so comfortable.

I feel quite lucky that yet again, life has given me another great friend - I don't know what I would do without them!

Travel Palette

While doing a bit of research to support the essay I'm writing for my class, I happened upon a few great quotations. My thesis is: I believe it's important for people to travel in order to experience and explore other countries and places. (Can you tell what's been on my mind these days?!)

I was searching for some outside sources and will definitely be using this Rick Steves quote:

“Ideally, travel broadens our perspectives personally, culturally, and politically. Suddenly, the palette with which we paint the story of our lives has more colors.”
― Rick Steves, Travel as a Political Act

I love the idea of continuing to add to my palette . . .

And winter break comes to an end . . .

As always, it's a bit sad when winter vacation ends! It's been so nice to see friends, sleep, relax, and just be able to do anything (or nothing at all!) - it's clear how much this time off was needed.

Tessa is back (yea!) and we celebrated the end of break yesterday with an amazing lunch, a visit to the Museu de l'erotic (pretty interesting - I'd recommend a visit if you want to see something out of the ordinary), and some excellent day drinking. It was a fantastic day and definitely reminded me that now is a good time to start to those resolutions! :)

Tessa and I at Ryan's

Although I don't love the thought of waking up early and having lots to do, I am pretty excited to see my kiddos - I've missed them quite a bit. And a big part of me does love having a routine and schedule. :)

At the start of every new year, I'm always ready to actually put some of these resolutions into action! Healthy eating, consistent exercise, Spanish practice - it's all about to begin - and hopefully last longer than usual!

Ideas?

For anyone who knows me and reads this blog consistently, you know that I pretty much post anything that's on my mind at the moment - stories from trips, songs I like, thoughts about life, love, etc.

I was thinking about possibly trying to focus my posts a bit more - for example, just posting thoughts about life abroad, or Spain, or travels in Europe. Any thoughts about this? If you have an idea, I would love to hear it - feel free to post it in the comments below. Gracias!

Shake It Out

This is a song I like a little more every time I hear it. Listening to it while running by the beach today made me think that it's also a pretty a good song to start a new year . . . (Thanks for another great one, Tessa! :)

A New Year

As always, I love the start of a new year! The thought of a fresh start, new beginnings, adventures, and experiences consistently fills me with excitement. 2011 had a few ups and downs for me, but overall, it was a fantastic year. And I have no doubt that 2012 will be even better!

Beginning the year in a new place with a best friend I hadn't seen in ages (and wearing a super-sparkly dress!) was an excellent start. On my first day back in Barcelona, I went to a fantastic dinner filled with Spanish conversation, followed by a day of relaxing, exercise, and reflection - all of which seem like a good indicator of the year to come. I already have tickets purchased for trips to Ireland, Croatia, and Amsterdam, and lots of other potential travels in mind. This confirms that I will definitely reach my goal of 32 countries visited in my 32 years - one of my 2012 resolutions. :)

In addition, I hope this new year provides more professional challenges and growth for me, the confidence and ability to use all past and future tenses in Spanish fluently, a consistent yoga practice, more savings, and many more great memories. Here's to 2012 - it's going to be a great year!

A Taste of London

I just returned from my second trip to the UK and first time to London. What an amazing trip it was! In so many ways, London was exactly what I had imagined it to be - the dreary weather, the amazing history, the architecture, the pubs, the accents! I loved it.

As hoped, I managed to be quite the tourist! I visited all the main sights I wanted to see - Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Notting Hill, Buckingham Palace - as well as the British Museum (amazing!), the National Portrait Gallery, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Gardens, and a variety of pubs. It sound so cheesy, but it was so great to actually experience so many of the places I had only seen in movies or read about in books!

Although I loved it, I quickly realized that London is a place I could never live - the weather, the size, the cost - wow. It was quite nice to return "home" to sunshine, beautiful people, Spanish, and the euro. :) However, I have no doubt I'll be visiting London again soon!

Portabello Road Market in Notting Hill

Anna and I in Covent Garden