Semana Santa: Florence

One of the best parts of the year is when we have an extended break and get to spend more than just a weekend in the places we choose to visit. Semana Santa (the week before Easter) is our Spring break, so the list of places we would like to spend a whole week is always growing. This year, we decided to focus on two cities in Italy, Florence and Rome. While Rachel had been to both of these cities before, she was not able to see the cities nearly as much as she would have liked, so was happy to go back. 

We first flew to Florence, which immediately upon arrival, was already shaping up to be everything we hoped it would be. While trying to find where we were staying in the maze of jagged and narrow streets, we happened upon a flea market.  Perfect for us. 

A walk through the city led us to a number of amazing churches, art galleries, and scenic plazas. We climbed the 460 steep steps of the campanile, which provided excellent views of the city and surrounding countryside.  There are many great stories behind the main courtyard statues and various replicas, often with political overtones going back to the medieval era, and also peculiarities and secrets which require a guide to point out, all of which enhance one’s understanding of the historical life and climate of the city and its political place in Italy.

The Florence Cathedral - We love it's colors!

View from the top of the Camponile

Further exploration took us across the river over the iconic bridge, lined with jewelry shops and an old secret passageway for purposes of escape in times of war.  Beyond that were the Boboli Gardens, which stretched up one entire hill facing the city, and just down from it was a tightly woven intersection of pedestrian streets where we found just possibly one of the best gelato shops in all of Europe.  Scattered everywhere were pizza places, a few even offering gluten-free!  Surprisingly, the night was pretty calm downtown, and we spend some long and peaceful hours just watching the sunset from the bridge and then sitting in the moonlight with a cool and refreshing river breeze, marveling at the rows and rows of twinkling orange city lights.

We left Florence by bus, headed to Rome, with a warm incompleteness, the kind you feel when you just finish a good book, and know you'll want to read it again in the near future. It was the perfect introduction to a week of Italian history and lifestyle, with just the right blend of information overload and European tranquility… a great mood-setter for our Roman adventures just around the corner. 

Paris -Take Two (and three)

                                                                                                                                       (Author: Rachel)

Paris - the city of love, many's dream vacation destination, the holder of a great icon of Europe! 

Most people hold these stereotypes of the city, but I begged to differ. At first.

The first time I went, I was 16...with a choir tour, got lost, didn't know how to read maps, had blisters on my feet from walking all day in choir shoes, and encountered some not-so-helpful French people. Needless to say, it left a bad taste in my mouth. For years afterwards, I claimed that I had no desire to return to the city, that it was overrated, and I really didn't see the big appeal. 

When I moved to Barcelona, I began to be more curious about the city. I met multiple people that were from there, and began to sense that my first experience was not the most accurate. Slowly but surely, I began to be convinced that I should give this iconic city a chance to redeem itself. 

So in the Fall of my first year here (November of 2012), I visited again! We had a four-day holiday weekend, and so my roommates and I headed there. My sister, Sarah, also flew in from Switzerland to spend the weekend together. It was definitely a completely different experience. Having good travel companions along with simply being a more seasoned traveler made a huge difference! Having four days there instead of three hours of "free time" ALSO made a difference. This time, I was able to see the Sacre Couer (now one of my favorite places in the world!), the famous flea market, rent bikes, go to an underground wine bar... that trip really changed my perspective of Paris.

It's hard not to love this view

Traveling with these girls is never short of fun.

Authentic Parisian sisters

And yet....I had never gone with the one I love! Isn't that the whole point of Paris?! So... I knew another trip was in store!

The opportunity presented itself to go to celebrate my sister's fiance's birthday in April, and we knew it was a good idea! It would be Sarah and I's second time in Paris together, and Devin's first time. I also really wanted to see Paris in the Spring, as it was quite chilly and rainy when we were there in November. It would only be a normal weekend, flying in on a Friday night, and out on a Sunday afternoon, but we knew it was still worth it!

This trip was even more magical. Eating apples and cheese on the lawn of the Eiffel Tower... being able to kiss my love under the Eiffel tower... eating gluten-free crepes... riding bikes along the river in a tank top... seeing flowers in full bloom in front of the Notre Dame... and admiring all the leaves filling the trees... I'm telling you - the city really is incredible. At the right time, with the right people, it is as dreamy as it sounds.

If you haven't been to Paris, I DO suggest going, but suggest taking it slow, admiring the details on the buildings, the colors, the trees, the "vibe"...and most importantly, do not go with a group of 16-year olds. :)

Our new dream is to spend a whole summer in Paris, diving in more, understanding our surroundings, and exploring more leisurely... some day!

---- 

Have you been to Paris? Did you think it lived up to it's expectation? More? Less? Is there any place you've been that you had high expectations for but were let down? We'd love to know your experiences!

Calçotada

Onions are kind of a big deal here. But not just any onions. Specifically, calçots. Calçots are a unique type of onion, grown only in the region of Catalunya. The traditional Catalan method of cooking the calçots is to grill them over a flaming barbecue, and then wrap them in newspaper, which makes them tender. They are served on a terra cotta roof tile so they stay warm. To eat them, you peel away the charcoal layer, and then tip the tender white onion in a sauce made of almonds, tomatoes, garlic, peppers, vinegar and oil.

It is typical to go to a rural house in the countryside to take part in a whole event surrounding around calçots. A group of friends and us rented a bus to drive to the region of Tarragona. We stayed at a rural house, which hosts events, and during this season, specializes in calçotadas.

We first were ushered into the cave underground for the first portion: the calçots. As you can see in the pictures, you must wear a bib when eating, because they are quite messy! The calçots just keep coming, so there is no limit on how many you can eat!

After the calçots, you move into the dining room for your three course meal. Ours included potatoes, spiced beans, pork for the carnivores, and escalivada for the vegetarians.

The rest of the evening, we wandered around the premises and walked through the vineyards before dinner was served. Although no one was really hungry, we gathered for yet another meal. We picked at our food, trying to muster up an appetite, but it was hard after such a huge lunch!

It was a beautiful weekend to escape the city, be surrounding by rolling hills, and be full of good food.