Barcelona and Madrid

Hola!

Spain is hot, hot, hot and even though I'm positively melting in the heat, I am loving the country.

Barcelona was my first stop and I recommend it highly to anyone who visits Spain. It is very touristic because it is just absolutely stunning. I love the fact that the city has so much character... it has many famous architectural gems (the most famous ones designed by Gaudi) and so much activity. There is also a lot of nationalism in the city - the locals consider themselves Catalan (Catalunya) and not Spanish. Thus a lot of the buildings have the Catalan flag or the cross of Sant Jordi (Saint George), the patron saint of Catalunya. The history is absolutely fascinating. I also learned it has the most Gothic style buildings per square mile. Many architects chose this style because the Medieval times represented the Golden ages for Catalonia so they wanted the buildings to reflect those good times. I love walking tours!

Madrid is, of course, the capital of Spain, though it is less distinguished than Barcelona, it is an equally wonderful city. My visit in Madrid is less touristic, and more about staying with my friend who is doing an internship in the city. It's been awesome hanging out with her and I've been eating all the best foods because she is such a foodie. I have been absolutely lazy because I haven't had to do any research - the wonders of staying with a "local". I love her.

We did a day trip today to Toledo, the former capital of Spain. Totally worth it to see at least once.


My girl and I in Toledo, Spain!

Last night, in Riga

My last night in Riga didn't feel like a last night. I guess it was because I was headed for Barcelona, not home. We didn't really have the sad good-byes... I was glad to leave to be honest, and I'm glad to have made some good friends that I hope to see again one day. The night before I went out and got back at the hostel at 5:45am, which was a first, drank 2.5 beers (0.5L each), also a first, and did not do anything stupid (which is not a first, thankfully). In typical Asian fashion I was beet red down to my neck and no one believed I was sober. But of course I was. I remembered everything I did. :D


Believe it or not, this was before the bar. SEP LATVIA 2010 :D

Rainy Riga

Ahoy mateys! The rain has not stopped since last night and it is still going strong. Might as well I guess as today is really cooking day. Our international dinner is tonight and as Canada is quite multicultural (i.e. lacking a sense of food identity aside from maple syrup), I am making fried rice. That's the great thing about being Canadian - you usually have some other cultural identity to fall back to (unless it's about hockey, then I'm 100% team Canada).

So far, I am making rice out of a plastic bag and boiling water. It's amazing how people cope without rice cookers.

Anyhoo, wish me luck. Among my *long* list of accomplishments, cooking has never really made it on the list.

Solo-ing It

So I have been in Latvia for a week and a half now, and I think I am getting used to the city. I only take 3 buses: 3, 7, 15. And similar to the Quebec experience, on some days, the highlight is going to Rimi, the hypermarket (because its more than a supermarket). I hang out with Portuguese people (the 2 girls are my travel buddies and 2 boys that just arrived last week). Very cool people of course and lots of fun. There are now about 16 students who are on the Student Exchange Program and there are at least 2 people who get drunk everyday. Students on vacation.

Work has been very easy. Not much to see, not much to do. The system here is very basic. Of course there are similarities but things are only entered into the computer for billing purposes. No labels or counting. And the doctors only prescribe brands because reps give them lots of incentives (paid vacation, gift cards, free stationary etc). I think this practice is quite universal.

Anyway, although life has been very chill, I am waiting to leave. But I haven't decided where to go. I'm thinking Amsterdam and Barcelona before I see my friend in Madrid but it's very expensive. And I am back to travelling myself.

Any suggestions?