I went to Barcelona and spoke Russian all day

Barcelona is probably one of the most breathtaking cities I have ever visited. It is such a rich, vibrant, colorful, dark, and ornate city, that you cant help but to stop and stare at all of the beautiful buildings that surround you.

I started my day by taking an early morning train from Salou to Barcelona.  Arriving at 10, I managed to immediately get lost.  However, I quickly found my way to a beautiful square (which was a reoccurring theme throughout the day.) My first stop in Barcelona was Palac Guell. Designed by Antoni Gaudi for the Guell familiy, this was Gaudi's first major building in the city. This building is--and rightly so--most famous for its ornate chimneys. I am quite fond of going on the rooftops of buildings, and Palac Guell was certainly no exception.

 After Palac Guell, I went to La Boqueira, a market off of Las Ramblas. There, you could purchase any food you wanted (ranging from fresh seafood, to pastries, to fake or real fruit!) I walked around enjoying fresh mango, passionfruit, and strawberry juice. Afterwards, I kept up my tradition of finding postcards, stamps, and a mailbox. So far, Barcelona has given me the most trouble with my tradition. After--once again--getting lost looking for stamps, I found a beautiful square to enjoy lunch. I paid 10 euro (or roughly 15 dollars) for a delicious meal. The menu del dia offered a traditional spanish carpaccio, seafood, and dessert. It was here that I stopped and realized that each city has its own sound. Oakland, for instance, can be recognized by ambulances, helicopters, and the sound of students walking (from ten 'til to the top of every hour).  The unmistakable Adhan can be heard in Istanbul and Dubai. Barcelona, however, is full of many different noises. Musicians, gypsies, tourists and locals all crowd the streets of Barcelona, singing, talking, and laughing.; mixed in with pigeons, are green parrots.

After lunch, I made my way up Las Ramblas, to a post office, and up to Park Guell. 

As soon as I set foot into this magical park, I couldn't stop smiling. Every care I had in the world was left at the enchanting entrance gates. This is also when my camera died, but at that point it didnt matter; I had a perfect view of Barcelona, the work of a world famous artist and smiling faces surrounding me.  I decided to spend some time just relaxing on the beautiful mosaic benches and offering to take photographs of families where one parent seemed to be struggling to take a photograph of their kids and spouse. 

Accidentally, I met Lena. Lena is from Moscow, and was visiting Barcelona for a second time on her way to Vienna. After chatting in Russian for about an hour, she offered to show me around the city. Being alone, I wasnt in any position to turn down the offer. She even offered to take pictures for me and to send them to me when she had access to a computer! We enjoyed coffee con leches in a park adjacent to Sagrada Familia, rode the subway together, and looked over the city from the Magic Fountain of Montjuic. In a few short hours, I had made a friend.   It was actually really cool having to speak in Russian all day, and I was proud of myself for doing do. It was refreshing to hang out with someone closer to my own age than my family, and to discuss topics such as travel, politics, real estate, and even boys! 

That's what I always heard happens abroad: you go to a country and meet and befriend people from all over the world. Truthfully, I never realized it was that easy! And while I did enjoy the first half of my day before I met Lena, it was so exciting to have a new friend to experience a beautiful city with, especially when forced to speak in Russian. 

As beautiful as Spain is, I actually hate the concept of a siesta.

I hate naps. Not just the concept of sleeping for a few hours, but that state of drowsiness and confusion that you're in once you wake up. Despite how beautiful and sunny Spain is, I feel like the whole nation is constantly under that hazy spell.  The siesta culture just baffles me, and I find it incredibly inefficient. Having been to Spain two years ago, I was expecting everything to be shut down from 2-5pm.  However this time lull did not stop us from visiting some of the really cool places in Spain.

From Tarragona, we drove to Miravet. As you can see, it is quite a picturesque town! There was a marathon going on when we arrived, and it was really great to see local families cheering for their loved ones who were participants. Many of the dads that were running would stop to find their kids, and cross the finish line with them. In true Spanish spirit, there was also a festival going on. We were able to sample beer that was brewed right in the town, as well as local cheeses while listening to street performers.  Since this town does not attract crowds of tourists, it felt wonderful to be apart of such an authentic atmosphere.

After spending some time by the Ebre River, we (I'm still with my family) decided to make our way up to Castillo de Miravet.    Both the village and the fortress were founded by the Moors and rebuilt by the Knights Templar! Fascinated by history, I was so excited to be in a place with so much of it!!!  Walking up the winding cobblestone streets was like a dream.  Every piece of wood, every stone, every building seemed to tell a story of the past. 

Once we got to the top (it took about an hour), I once again remembered why I had such a distaste for siestas. Castillo de Miravet is closed from 1:30 to 4:30. Despite the setback, the view from the top was absolutely breathtaking, and completely worth the trek. 

Afterwards, we visited some caverns nearby.  We were not allowed to take any pictures unfortunately.  In broken English, our guide inside of the caves explained to us that families would hide out in the caves during the Spanish Civil War. Much to my disappointment, these weren't the caves Hemingway wrote about, but it was still really cool to be surrounded by millennium-old stalagmites and stalactites.  

Riga day 1

Even though I just got back from Dubai, I left Kiev because of the tragic political events going on in Ukraine. Driving to the airport, I could see the flames and smoke that is being broadcasted on every news outlet in what seems like the world.

 So for the next few days, I will be in Riga, Latvia!    

I took a history course which focused on small countries in the European Union last semester. This was my first introduction to Riga, as Latvia was one of the countries we studied; I even ended up writing my end of the semester mini-thesis on sex tourism in Latvia (a very awkward topic to research in public settings.) However, that was not the reason I wanted to come here. Riga, as it turns out, has the largest collection of art nouveau style architecture in the world.  As soon as my professor spoke those words, I knew I had to come here.

"Art Nouveau" style architecture

I'm here with my aunt, uncle, and two younger cousins from Kiev. The hotel we are staying at is located right in the art nouveau district. I can admire the architecture right from our balcony! Nearby, is the center of the old city, which is very charming! I found myself walking in the town center I had envisioned all European town centers to look like! In between churches are underground restaurants and bars, as the city streets were built up over time to bury layers of accumulated trash and debris.

For dinner, we went to Vincent's. This was probably the best and definitely fanciest restaurant I have ever been to. Not only was the restaurant decorated beautifully, and was full of beautiful people, but the food was phenomenal.  Vincent's is known for its organic, yet gourmet food and exquisite presentations. There was even a wall full of photographs of famous patrons, which included the British Royal family, Elton John, and George Bush! My favorite part of dinner was the various freeze dried foods that were served in between courses to cleanse our pallets.

Freeze-dried tea

Ice cream served on ice

Mussels

Dubai (days 4-6)

Today is my last day in the UAE. I'm spending it by enjoying mocktails (the drinking age is 21 in Dubai, and most restaurants do not have liquor licenses) and eating fresh seafood in the Dubai Marina. Definitely not too shabby.

However, not every moment I spent here was quite as glamorous. Since my last blogpost, I visited the Sheikh Muhammad Cultural Center for Understanding, Deira, and went to Abu Dhabi.

The SMCCU was probably one of the most significant stops of my trip. I was able to try on an abaya, eat traditional Emirati food, and partake in a discussion about Islam, the media, and misunderstandings between the eastern and western world. It was fascinating to listen to our lighthearted host, who served us traditional Arabic coffee and dates, and explained the significance of coffee in the Arab culture. Once lunch was over, he asked for a female volunteer to try on an abaya. Not wanting to pass up a (potentially) once in a life time opportunity, I went up. After trying one on, I can confidently say I wish they weren't considered taboo in western cultures. The perfect outfit for when you're tired, running late, and don't feel like dressing up! They are also incredibly comfortable and lightweight, and come in many black patterns. As proven by UV sunglasses, dark colors actually form a shield from the sun, and provide relief from the blistering conditions of the Middle East. Likewise, women who wear abayas tend to escape crude sexual remarks from vendors.

I have never felt more objectified than when visiting the souks of Dubai. As any person who works in retail knows, harassing customers is not a way into their wallets. Despite feeling uncomfortable, the gold souk was particularly interesting! Every window display was covered in gold chains, rings, necklaces, and earrings. All of the gold that enters the souk is tested for purity, and vendors that get caught selling imitation gold are severely punished.  So in terms or souvenirs, the only things I am bringing home from Dubai are fantastic memories, photographs, and even a slight tan. But those are the important things anyways!

Although  the souks were a bit disappointing, getting there was very exciting. I had to take the metro (with a transfer) to the complete opposite part of Dubai, and then take an abra across the Creek (which is more of a canal, not a small stream). I chatted with a friendly businessman from Afghanistan on the ride over.

The next day, I went with a Russian tour group to Abu Dhabi. We saw the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which boasts the worlds largest Persian rug and Swarovski chandelier. This mosque, like Abu Dhabi, is the epitome of wealth and glamour. Overall, the tour reaffirmed my distaste for group travel (with the exception of Birthright.) I don't regret it though, because it was a learning experience. When booking the tour, I wanted to test my Russian skills, and I successfully understood everything the guide told us (even terms about economics and politics!)

 Final thoughts on the UAE: I CANNOT WAIT TO COME BACK IN 2020!
Why 2020? Well for one, I'll be able to enjoy (and hopefully afford) Dubai's famous nightlife. This is also the year that Dubai will hold the World Expo, an event that has fascinated me since I read "Devil in the White  City" a few years ago. All of the buildings you see in Dubai today were built in the last 43 years, and I cannot wait to see what is built in this fantasy city in the next 43. 

Dubai (days 1-3)

Searching for cheap tickets online can get you to very interesting places. Luckily for me, that interesting place was Dubai!

I've wanted to go to the UAE for quite some time now. I don't know whether it was the allure of The Palm and The World (both man-made island chains), the unmistakable shape of the Burj Al Arab, or that I just liked the sound of "United Arab Emirates," but Dubai has been on my travel bucket list since I was 12. So when the opportunity arose to get there for roughly $120, I didn't think twice about it.


So right now, it is my 3rd day in Dubai. This is such a cool city! In the past 36 hours, I:

•  Figured out how to navigate the Dubai Metro (which was built in 18 months and goes through the whole city!). Once I got back to my hotel after a day of exploring, I couldn't help but beam with excitement and pride.
• Walked amidst the Dubai Marina skyscrapers, and enjoyed a Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino! (The $6 I paid for it reminded me of home, and the barista was nice enough to give me a stack of wifi cards!  Definitely worth it!)

• Watched the sun rise over the desert from the 124th floor of the Burj Khalifa!!! Definitely worth waking up at 4:30.
  
• Treated myself to a wonderful solo Valentine's Day dinner underneath the towering Burj Khalifa. Not only was the food ( a Croque Madame and an Apple Tart for dessert) absolutely
  delicious, but I managed to get a table that overlooked the fabulous Dubai Mall fountains. With a show every half-hour, I managed to see three different ones. Timed with music and lights, the show was one of the most overwhelmingly beautiful things I have ever seen. 
  
  
• Spent a day at the beach overlooking the Burj Al Arab--the tallest and only 7 star hotel in the world.
• Talked to locals and expats to find out what beach is free and had the view I was looking for.
• Swam in the Persian Gulf.
• Booked a day tour to Abu Dhabi (a neighboring emirate) with a Russian speaking group.  
• After trying to video chat with a friend for half an hour, I learned that FaceTime and Viber are both blocked in the UAE. (Skype still works though!) 
• Felt overwhelmed at a mall, but how can you not be when you can go skiing inside?!
• Have not been kidnapped! Yes, it is in fact, possible to go to a foreign country completely alone, as a female, not knowing the language, not having a set itinerary, and be completely fine. In fact, I'm more than fine; I can't stop smiling!  

I knew that at some point in my life, I would travel alone. I just wasn't expecting that to happen when I was 19, and in a country that shares borders with Oman, Qatar,  and Saudi Arabia. But as you can see, I'm having an amazing time.  Besides, everyone needs a little adventure in their lives!

Maidan Nezalezhnosti

After being in Kiev for a few days, I finally convinced my aunt that I will be perfectly safe going to see the protests happening in the city.  With hesitation, she let me go.

Seeing the protestors in real life was expectedly ghostly.  The stench of burnt tires and burning trees (ones that were just recently cut down from the city's usually lush boulevards) was unavoidable. Having visited this square hundreds of times, I was in disbelief at the transformation that had occurred over the past few months. The main post office was covered in graffiti. The streets and buildings were covered in black smog. Canvas tents and a makeshift campsite replaced the luxury cars that usually cruised down Khreschatyk Street. People were playing chess, serving and eating food, and chopping wood to fuel their campfires. Military personnel were stationed at every entrance, but they seemed to let anyone in.  Despite hundreds of people occupying Maidan Square, it was fairly quiet, which made it even more eerie.

For those of you who don't know what's going on in Kiev, heres a link to summarize what has been going on the past few months http://worldnewstoday.co.uk/2014/01/understanding-ukraine-a-detailed-timeline-of-the-euromaidan-protests/  ).

Why do we study abroad?

In high school, a close friend of mine asked me what the point of  traveling was. "The only thing that is different is the weather and the buildings," he would say.  I looked at him with a horrified expression on my face.  I never suspected that people felt--or didn't feel-- that way about traveling.

Now, five years later, sitting in Pittsburgh International Airport waiting for my connecting flight to Washington DC, that question still haunts me.

Before I could even leave my hometown of Pittsburgh, my flight was cancelled, and rescheduled for two days later. (My new flight was delayed by two hours as well).  As any business major knows, five minutes early is on time, and on time is late. In my everyday, non-traveling life, I have full control of my tight schedule;  I pride myself on being on time. Yet, "on the road" I can't control if my plane is cancelled or my train is delayed.  And I will learn to live with that, and become more understanding.

I am looking forward to being immersed in a culture other than the two I grew up in. Not knowing customs and traditions, I hope to learn, and share them with my peers when I get back home. Although terrified, I am looking forward to being surrounded by people who's language I do not understand. I know that I will say embarrassing things, and get looks from strangers when I mispronounce every word I try to say in German, yet, I am still looking forward to that. 

People go abroad to "grow up." While I will come back a year older (I'll turn 20 in Europe!), and with more stamps in my passport, I hope to still be a little bit naive, even if just a sliver of foolishness remains inside of me. Everybody says being naive is bad, and that studying abroad changes you, but I really hope that in August, I will still trust that people are genuinely good. My parents spent the weeks leading up to this moment warning me about dangerous strangers and reminding me of good safety measures (which I will always have in the back of my mind), but my excitement and desire for adventure overshadows the potential dangers that are in the world. 

I am sitting in the airport headed  for Europe, without a definite place to live. I'm not entirely sure what places I want to visit, or how I will get there. People go abroad looking for an adventure, and what better way to have one than to start it with almost complete uncertainty?