Life in Barcelona

Well, the highlight of the last week has definitely been my trip to Montserrat, which means serrated mountain. It's about an hour outside of Barcelona and home to a monastery and boarding school. We took the metro, a train, and a cable car to get up about 4,000 feet. As you probably know, I am deathly scared of heights and clung for dear life to my friend Eric for the whole trip up. Once we got up there, there was so much to see that I almost forgot my fear.

The church was absolutely beautiful, but unfortunately, we weren't allowed to take pictures in there. There is a little city on the mountain with shops and everything..the students at the boarding school (boys training to be monks??) live there full time. We walked around all day and took tons of pics- both my and my friend Marla's cameras died, but I did all the photography with Eric's, and we'll upload them tomorrow! I really don't think there is a more beautiful place..definitely the best place I've been to so far.

As we were walking up the paths higher and higher up the mountain, the others decided to trailblaze and climb a little. I definitely hesitated at first, but eventually gave in, which I'm so happy about. We were above the clouds and could see the whole city. I can't wait to post these pictures-- it was such an enlightening and amazing experience.

We have more Spanish tests this week, and we are in the middle of planning our trips to Paris and Amsterdam! This weekend the girls and I are having girls-only festivities because even in Barcelona, I can't seem to escape the drama But everything is good and my friends are still amazing.

Miss you all like crazy- Have a good week!!
Love, Kara

It's been a good week. I'm really getting adjusted, but I'm excited for the rest of my classes to start Jan 28 so I hopefully won't be as bored and tempted to walk around and eat so much...haha. I added some pictures yesterday of our tour of the Gothic Quarter, but I'm not quite sure if you can see them..let me know, and if it worked, I'll get some new ones up here soon. My friends and I are getting ready to have some lunch (we're making tacos!) and then I have one class tonight. We are also going to watch some flamenco and go out tonight, which should be fun. Tomorrow, we get to go to the Picasso Museum, so hopefully I'll have some exciting stories about that! Until then, all is well over here and I miss you all so much!

Hello friends!

I arrived in Barcelona on January 3, after long flights from Indy to Philly to London, and then finally Barcelona! The only flaw was that my luggage was lost for six days and I thought I was going to die without it. I am with my sorority sister Katie Mulligan, and I could not do it without her! The first night, the entire program stayed together at a hotel for orientation. Then Friday night, January 4, our señoras came to meet us. I was so nervous! Her name is Elisa Lopez and she lives in a flat fairly close to my school (about a 30 minute walk). It was pretty awkward at first, and I was extremely homesick that first morning I woke up, but it has only gotten better since. My Spanish is already better because she doesn't speak a word of English, but that is a good thing!

The other students in my program are amazing. I'm already dreading leaving them in three and a half months. We have become so close, and I feel like I've known them for years! We spent the first weekend before classes exploring the city, which is still very confusing, but we're learning. Classes started Monday, January 7, but I so far only take Spanish in the mornings and Strategic and Operational Marketing at night. Nothing too difficult yet as my other classes (International Management, International Marketing, and Spain and Catalonia through the Arts) start January 28.

We have so far taken organized tours around the Gothic Quarter (amazing- pictures soon!) and seen Gaudi's modernism creations. Everything is SO beautiful..I can't wait until it starts getting warm so we can go to the beach all the time. We're trying to go to Andorra this weekend to ski.. (I haven't skiied for about 10 years, but I figure this might be my only chance to ski in Andorra!) On Thursday, we are watching and learning flamenco dance and Friday we are visiting the Picasso Museum. I'm trying to take it all in and journal and blog a lot so I can remember every detail. Please don't hesitate to email or Skype me if you can. I miss all of you so much, but know that I'm having a great time!!

More to come!
Love, Kara