La vie en rose

Starting in Kiel, to Berlin, to Amsterdam, back to Kiel, then to Hamburg, to Kiel, to PARIS, to Barcelona, and now in Rome??? All happened in one month. I've been here in Europe for a month now, been to now 7 cities and 5 countries, more than I ever imagined in such short time and all that I dreamed of with still more to come. I am continuously being blown away by the amoun of feelings I can possibly have in just one day and by each hour or minute. The transformation and explosion of life is in full stride now. The Ashleigh I've been awaiting to burst from her shell has begun indeed, ohhhh yes indeed. Paris is my love forever- as I've mentioned before, it is the place where I felt immediately connected to, at home: I am in love with its beauty, language, people, way of life- it just fits and I feel invigorated. With ash we saw and did so much together from the Sacre Coeur, Eiffel Tower by night below and by day from the top, the Louvre and chillin with Mona, to Champs Élysées, l'arc de Tromphie, Versailles and Louis's inordinate amount of gold, to Moulin Rouge, Notre Dame, St. Chapelle, Shakespeare and Company, shopping in boutiques and obtaining my Parisienne "look" (boots, dress, biret, necklace), to wandering the streets of Montmartre where we resided, and finally eating our way through the city if lights, love, and beauty!!! How couldnt you be in love?! I experienced he highest of highs and the lowest of lows in Paris but I wouldn't take a second of it back and I love her just as much through it all.

So I knew I was done for and Paris had my heart until we arrived in Barcelona...not only was the 7 hour train ride gorgeous through the south of France...no truly jaw dropper and he best train experience I've ha this far, but also once we got to Barcelona everything was so easy for the fire time ever!! I know...say what?! We got off the train, found our metro line easy in the main station, transferred to our next no biggy, and walked just a few blocks to the hostel! As soon as we got to the front door we were even buzzed in without having to ring the bell! And the guy at the front desk was so kind, cheery, and helpful- he even carried ash's big suitcase up the stairs! there we encounters our first set of roommates- two Turkish guys; Barcelona has mainly co-Ed hostels but it was chill. =]

We then explored and wandered the streets and found the arc de triomfe! Amazing all these arcs!! We continued down windy little ally ways, and stumbled into a tapas restaurant where we had amazing sangria followed by a lovely meal and the check came with honey shots for us! So peculiar but really tasty and strong! Of course the next day insaid we HAVE to see gaudí just HAVE to ( a main reason why I wanted to go to Barcelona so badly). So we asked the front desk where to go and he recommended out of all the sights to go into the Casa Battó which for €18 was worth it!!! We got a free audio guide and were in this incredible house for at least an hour and half. Gaudí and his ingenious, face to face. Then we walked along the road and saw La Pedrera and finally got to Sagrada Familia and WOW just seeing that church from the outside was stunning. All sides are SO different in character and is still under construction!! My favorite side was that with the dripping front...mmmm so grotesquely beautiful. We finally walked back to the hostel, rested for a bit, and then sought out paella on the pier (no worries we half our bags close for SURE!!!). Mmmmmmm best paella I've ever had!! (lobster paella...yes you heard me right..lobster and I loved every bite of it). Then we finished the night off downstairs in the hostel bar for a mojito (one of the best I've ever had) and we hung out with our new Argentinian bartender friend Tincho for the evening.

Next day i took ash to yoga with me!!! And yes it was in Spanish or catalunyan heh, but Sanskrit and the human body is universal =]. Then we met up with Tincho at the hostel and he was our local guide and took us down all the hidden alleyways, saw the Palau de la Musica and finally to the champagneria where we split a bottle of sec and rose with our sandwiches all at a great price! Then we went back to Tincho's apartment where we hung out with his friends, drinking beer on his incredible balcony. We stayed there until dark so great.

Next day Juan our other local friend who works at the hostel took us out in the city. He took us to Park Gaudí which was another location I REALLY wanted to visit ( due to seeing pictures of Rachel Malehorn when she went =]) and it was incredible and the view of the city simply breath taking. Afterwards Juan took us to the big market near La Ramble where we selected our tapas for dinner: avocado, tomato, manchego, baguette, almonds, strawberries, prochutto right off the leg, and cured olives in cava!!! Of course we got red wine and we opened Ash's favorite dessert wine from France =]. That was our dinner later at the hostel but one our way back we grabbed sandwiches on the street- nothing better than that =].

Our last half day in Barcelona ash and I went to a cafe near the hostel and drank our coffee while reading and writing in our journals =]. I would wrote more about the details but I'm feeling SOOO many other things right now. So many things that I can't even delve into what I saw in Rome today. And today is the day of ash and my one month anniversary in Europe. We had a lovely dinner and our quotes are: "la dolce vita" and "la vie en rose". All I can say is I am bursting with life. I also just got off Skype with my mom and feel even more invigorated with life and comforted that what I'm doing is right and great. She just said "just think I a diamond and all the facets that make it up. That all the imperfections make up this one gem." so basically I need to keep adhering to all the facets of me- ALL the facets of me. I love you mom and am thinking of you evey second in Italy.