Walking

10/29/09

The last few days have been full of WALKING. Walking everywhere! Up Montjuic Down Mountjuic and all around it; not only is Montjuic a beautiful mountain you can see Barcelona in aerial, but there is much to visit on the mountain it’s self. Yesterday we visited the Catalan Museum. I really enjoy the marble and bronze sculptures portraying sullen, sensual women.

Then we walked around the Olympic stadium and the sites there (a huge swimming pool, gardens, fountains, etc.) Today we took a four-hour hike past yesterday’s adventures to the graveyard. There was a ton of stairs!


Picture compliment of: Brian Hammer http://hammerphoto.wordpress.com/

I have to say I am not very impressed with the styles in which they bury the dead here. All the tombs are on top of each other in which you need a ladder to reach if looking for someone on top. As an added note a large portion of the tombs outlook the Mediterranean Sea and a highway. It’s an exquisite view.

Instead of climbing stairs to get back (you can really get lost there) we decided to hike around the mountain. Unfortunately the walk was right next to a highway of on coming traffic. Safely we made it back in time to have sangria and a bite to eat.

We made it to La Concha again tonight. I had a coffee and hookah. Tonight just didn’t quite have the same atmosphere as last week, and we left after an hour or so. Don’t get me wrong I love this place! If you’re ever in Barcelona, it’s a must experience, and on my top ten.

I can no longer ignore how my blondish hair and green eyes are a problem when I travel. It’s been pointed out to me many times over, but I some how always seem to pacify it. I am consciously going to remind myself not to overlook it anymore. Traveling in Mexico growing up every year I loved the attention it brought me. Now I really don’t want the attention.

Memorandum: Geez do I need a massage!

Gaudí

10/23/09

Antoni Plàcid Guillem Gaudí i Cornet (25 June 1852–10 June 1926)

Had an enchanting time exploreing Palau Guell

1878–1879: Lampposts for the Plaça Reial at Barcelona;

1878: Showcase for glove manufacturer Comella. Via this work, used at the World's Fair in Paris, Eusebi Güell came to know the architect.

1878–1882: Several designs for the Obrera Mataronense at Mataró. Only a very small part of these plans was built, but it shows Gaudí's first use of parabolic arches, here in a wooden structure.

1883–1885: Casa Vicens;

1883–1885: Villa "El Capricho" at Comillas (Santander);

1884: Finca Güell: Entrance pavilion and stables for the palace at Pedralbes (first completed building for Eusebi Güell);

1884–1891: Completion of the crypt of the Sagrada Família (the crypt had been started by the architect Francisco del Villar in 1882, who had to abandon the project in 1883);

1885–1889: Palau Güell;

1887–1893: Episcopal palace at Astorga

and his most famous works:

Casa Vicens (1884–1885)

Palau Güell (1885–1889)

College of the Teresianas (1888–1890)

Crypt of the Church of Colònia Güell (1898–1916)

Casa Calvet (1899–1904)

Casa Batlló (1905–1907)

Casa Milà (La Pedrera) (1905–1907)

Park Güell (1900–1914)

Sagrada Família Nativity façade and Crypt of the Sagrada Família church (1884 until his death in 1926, although still under construction as of 2009)

Ashley, Brian, and I came back to the apartment to change in to nightwear. We took a trip to the Fairy Bar called "El Bosc de las Fades" Drank on Sangria and listen to the occasional thunderstorm and watch as the dim lights flickered to evoke a lightning effect.

We stumbled upon La Concha, a hookah bar run by cute gay guys that pay homage to Sara Montiel on its walls. After hookahs, dancing to Spanish music, and a few free drinks from the awesome waiter we decided to take ourselves home. It was Ashley’s last night in Barcelona.

Adventure!

Montjuic is a mountainside with parks and hiking where you can overlook the city, ocean, and port. The weather ended up Blue and almost cloudless. It was great for taking pictures. We hiked for about four hours on 10/21/09 Tuesday.

Pictures compliments of: Brian Hammer http://hammerphoto.wordpress.com/

10/22/09

Pictures compliments of: Brian Hammer http://hammerphoto.wordpress.com/

Here are a few pictures from the flood Ashley, Brian and I experienced last Thursday.

Same time, same place, different perspective? Check out Brian Hammer's blog: http://hammerphoto.wordpress.com/

You Dont Want Me - A Poem- 10/24/09

Am I a faded memory?

Yes.
Time signed and says,
tomorrow you will forget,
another line from my face.
Forgetting my taste,
my smell,
how I used to tell you...
Love fades and new faces enter.
Yet I remember every YOU.
How you used to make my skies blue.
Vivid how I used to tell you...
Love, I wish your arms still knew-
me.
Wanting so badly your touch.
Sometimes its too much.
Such torture to my soul,
Burns me like hot coals...

The Last Few Days

Our internet is down at the apartment so here I am at Ashley's hotel typing a quickie hehe... The last few days have been fun. We have been doing a lot of sight seeing. went to Montjuic, Columbus, and have walked all over the city.

Yesterday i was raining hard all day and the subways closed. we went for some coffee near the apartment and got stuck inside for a few hours. The sewers over filled and the street became a fast flowing river. Water flooded the inside of the restaurant we were in. We saw all sorts of things flow through. the water was maybe around three or four inches deep. People daring to walk through it were up to their shins in the nasty smelly water.

Finally it cleared out enough to go to a bar and drink sangria and eat tapas. around 8pm the metro opened and Ashley and I made it to her hotel. Hopefully internet is back up at the apartment today and i can post pictures.

::BESOS::

Misty

€spaña 10/19/09

Yesterday (10/18/09) we took the train to the airport to meet up with Brian’s girlfriend Kristen. Once at the airport we got a bit lost (there are two separate buildings you have to take a bus to get to.) Each building had different arrivals and departures. Even though we left with plenty of time we ended up being a little late and couldn’t find her. Brian insisted she must have gone to her hotel.

We then took a taxi to her hotel and sure enough she was there just out of the shower. The three of us went out to eat Tapas and drink wine and sangria. Brian gave me the key to the apartment and I headed back as they went to her hotel for the night. (Yes the airport thing took all day!)

It’s sometimes hard to sleep in this neighborhood. There are people awake at every hour of the day. I wake up multiple times during the night. If it’s not people talking, or children, it’s the street cleaners that come by twice a night (conveniently at 1am and 3am? Pffft!)

This morning (10/19/09) I woke up around 5am did some (much needed) sit ups and got ready to take the train once again to pick Ashley up from the airport. Her plane landed at 8:55am. I got there just in time to see her walk out of customs. We took the train and the metro back to the apartment so she could shower and freshen up.

We had breakfast together, which consisted of two eggs (sunny side up) with the most orange yolks I’ve ever seen, four pieces of toast, three slices of thick bacon, orange juice, and cappuccino for 5 Euro.

We had a great conversation with our Pakistani waiter named Babar. He told us to watch out for Moroccans because they rob and like to slit throats. He also said the Iranians do the same, and they like to get wasted. He said Pakistanis like to work hard and drive taxis lol.

People here are very eager to help with directions, common sense, and just friendly hellos. Ashley and I took a Taxi to her hotel, which turns out to be right outside of Barcelona in a city called Barbar. Apparently when she was booking her hotel she typed in our apartment address to find the closest hotel and the Internet site gave her something different. Not knowing how far away she was, she booked it. So it cost 30 Euro to get to her hotel by the mountains. It’s a beautiful room over looking the mountains of Spain.

Then we took a taxi (10 Euro) to the train (1.5 Euro/ per person) and finally the metro to meet up with Brian and Kristen at Hotel Cram. Brian had a funny look on his face. Kristen explained she would not be joining us today because she was very tired and wanted to sleep.

After we left I asked what was wrong. Reluctantly he explained that she basically broke up him. Said things weren’t “working out.” Imagine my surprise! Awwww but seriously why come all the way to Spain to meet up and then give some lame excuse? Well I’m sure she has her reasons. So, Brian was bummed out all day. Regardless we managed to get a lot done.

We visited the Sagrada Familia. It a 120 year old cathedral that is still under construction to this day! It is the most amazing structure I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t get the whole thing in a picture even if I tried (thank goodness for postcards!) Every detail is so intricate. What a complex piece of architecture.

We took the metro to the Boqueria. The Boqueria is a huge out door market. You can find everything there! From fresh fruits and veggies to meats, cheeses, a whole array of mushrooms, dried food, exotics, spices, and even multiple types of eggs (ostrich eggs, and many unidentified eggs some with speckles, some big, some tiny with a blue tint, brown eggs, and white eggs.)

Our appetite grew and we ended up at a Tapas bar called Egipte. My meal came with fresh baked bread, salad, sangria, and paella (which is a rice dish with a mix of sea food.) After our bellies were filled we walked towards the metro stopping a few times to see the living statues.

Just like in New Orleans only much more extravagant! There are Gargoyles, Angels, tree men, a huge fat lady, Edward scissor-hands, a (fake) body with a table next to it with a head in the middle of the table. The head/guy would make squeaky sounds and with a HUGE smile make this monkey sounding laughter and a pan to throw money in would shake making a loud clattering sound scaring the shit out of people as they walked by.

Eventually we parted ways with Ashley on the metro. Tomorrow we’ll meet up around 10:30am and begin another adventure…


P.S.

Hey guys, Halloween is around the corner you know what that means right?? Orange and black plastic bags are in season! Please save and donate them to me! Be ecocentric, Go green, or whatever the F#&K. Support your favorite eco artist (me! J)

Misty

€spaña

10/17/09
Today Brian and I went to the Cathedral de Barcelona to shoot some photos. I wasn’t feeling so hot today since I drank so much Absinthe last night. :D Other than that I had a great time walking around the city. People are friendly here. Barcelona feels like any big city. It’s very diverse. Tapas are big around here. There is every kind of food you could want. I haven’t been to any restaurants with “Spanish food.” I had a three-cheese salad with fresh French bread and Sangria for lunch. It was the best! I am such a people watcher. I love to see what people are wearing, their piercings, face types, and hairstyles. I have noticed that the mullet is making a come back?? What is this? Don’t they understand that it’s never a good time to bring the mullet back?! Ack! Guys and girls please, please understand the mullet is one of the worst inventions of the human race! (That and fannie packs.) Now I understand there are pictures of me sporting fannie packs. Listen y’all, I was young and it WAS the 80’s/90’s mistakes were made.

I can’t wait for Ashley to get here! She left on the 17th (today) but wont get here until the 19th. The reason for this is she has a long stop in Atlanta G.A. but because of the time change in Spain she will also loose a day. There is a 7-hour time difference and in Spain they use 24hr clock systems. Right now it is 22:10 (10:10PM) 3:10pm USA time.

Brian said I was so drunk last night I was laughing at everything. I apparently was drawing pictures and writing then opening the door and handing them to people walking by… I sort of remember this. One of the pictures was of a spaceship that said, “be conscious, they’re waiting…” Ha I’m such a goof.

I have seen some really pretty colored plastic bags around! Where can I get some!!! You guys know how obsessed I am with my plastic bags! LOL By the way that reminds me of something I did buy today. A guy on the street was making ashtrays out of soda cans. They are very cool and ecocentric. Hint: New product for 2010??

Barcelona

Last Sunday (Oct 11th) I went out again with friends to the underground Ethiopian dance place. This time I put my new dance skills to use and danced to the mujsic accentuating my shoulders, neck, and head. Pretty cool. I also ate adish that was Ethiopian + Italian which was yummy and a very interesting fusion. It was goat cooked with Ethiopian spices then doused with spaghtti sauce and wasabi on the side.

The rest of the week I saw friends and helped clean up rooms at mom's house. I also helped dad clean his garage. In the mix I found all my marionette puppets I used to collect long ago. Mom is offering (now that the rooms are clean) a free of rent room for me to work when I get back from traveling. It’s tempting and I may consider it. I can use it to work and sleep and use the rest of my time traveling and working festivals to sell my work… Tempting… My last night in Dallas I went to work with Oasis at the Green Elephant to sell. It was a live reggae concert with a few different bands. I didn’t make much but had a great time regardless. Good music and friendly people.

Michael Van Enter took me to the airport after lunch together. Once I made my way to my terminal I found Brian and we had a whisky at they bar before we boarded the plane. It was looong and I was anxious and couldn’t sit still, but I managed. A stop at Heathrow and then finally to Barcelona. Took a cab to the Apartment. The cabbie said it was a bad area because it’s an international part of the city, but there is an elementary school right next door and seems to be full of children most of the time. I speak Spanish so I’m having no problems communicating with people.

Got in yesterday and all I really had time to do was get groceries for the apartment. Sleep was weird since I had jet lag and drank some rum. I had such strange dreams! Anyway today Brian and I walked around the neighborhood, also went to the bank and got $$ exchanged. Then we took the metro to an area we could go shopping for a gift for his girlfriend Kristen. We ended up getting her a pretty wooden box and a necklace with matching earrings. We bought some more groceries for dinner and I bought two bottles of Absinthe. One is a traditional flavour (which I am drinking right now) with 35ppm Thujone and another I will try to send back to the states which is called “Cannabis Absinthe” Which I’m sure you know the flavour ;)

My great idea is to just drink my ass off this Absinthe and draw…. Hey! At least I’m getting this blog updated! Who knows if I’ll get some art done? Be sure if I do I will post pictures!.. By the way I will be posting my pictures to www.zorpia.com/sullenmisty

So I hope everyone back in the states is doing well please feel free to comment on these posts! I know as long as I am in Barcelona I will have access to Internet, and I will be here a month so ask questions! (Grin)

Ashley is flying in two days. So Is Kristen (Brian’s girlfriend) so excited we will party and have the best time I am sure! So here it is my update half drunk on Absinthe…. Enjoy…. :D


Misty

Travels

From New Orleans to Dallas to Austin to New Brunsfels to Austin to Dallas. From DFW to LHR to BCN. From BCN to LHR. From LHR to ADD. From ADD to Harar to Diredawa. From Diredawa to ADD to LHR to DFW to NOLA.... Confused yet? hahaha No shit really. Haha yes shit for reals Jones. I drove from my home for the past year (New Orleans) to Dallas Texas. I picked up my artist/musician partner and all his gear for the Texas Electronic Music Festival in New Brunsfels, Texas. We drove to Austin Texas. Stayed with one of my favorite people in the world and played wii till i was fast asleep.

The next day partner and I drive to New Brunsfels off River Road to Happy Times camp grounds. Set up tent. Gear, canopy, tables, lights all are set up before evening descends. Three stages with different DJs and music played including but not limited to Dub Step, Reggae, Techno, and the likes. I really enjoyed the live bands and Dub-Step really can keep me awake all night!

I am not impressed with the bug spray I'm constantly re applying. I see many faces I know and dance my ass off for the next three nights! I love the Guadalupe river and having the excuse not to shower and being a dirty girl in the woods. I love to play.

We drive back to Austin after the festival and stay a night which consists of more wii, booze and blueberry muffins :P

Driving back to Dallas feels longer than anything but a stop at Willy's place puts the smile back on our face. Back in Dallas my mother puts me to work. I clean two of her rooms, and her garage. I unload my storage unit and take care of a lot of loose ends. I go to the movies to see Surrogates with my brother, and enjoy the Lentales con Nopales my step dad Javiar makes for me. I stay with my best friends Heather and Steven and their 4 year old son for a few days. We paint Heather's powder room and watch her son jump on the bed. I love to spoil him with attention. He makes me feel young again yet old to know he is four years old already.

I meet up with my friend from Ethiopia and along with his friend we eat raw meat and I try chewing chat for the first time. I'm not sure if what i felt was from the chat or the hookah. I felt light headed. I did not get sick from the raw meat. We made a sauce to kill the bacteria out of Ethiopian red spice, vodka, and lime. Take a piece of Injara (Ethiopian Sour Dough bread) a piece of the raw flesh. dip it in the sauce and yummy goodness.

I thought it was interesting the habit of eating peanuts while chewing chat. It's bitter and you keep it to one side of your mouth. I didn't mind the taste or the numbing of my mouth from the chemicals, but I don't really like the feeling of having chewed up plant matter in the side of my mouth for very long. It takes almost 3-4 hours before you feel anything from it. I want to say it was almost like drinking 4 cups of espresso. Just a stimulant.

Last Sunday I went out with a group of Ethiopian friends to ask all my questions and learn cultural norms. Everyone was great and beautiful. We met up at a friend's house smoked hookah and chewed chat. We watched Ethiopian music videos and listed to some of their favorite songs. We talked about the climate, different tribes, languages, and how the people may react towards me. I tried two different types of Ethiopian spice tea and was taken to an underground after hours Ethiopian night club. Dancing styles are very different in Ethiopia Your neck and shoulders are accented while dancing. I may have to add a video showing what I mean as I am not very good at describing it. hehe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_K8To77EGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQcsk3KFofM

At this point I'm seeing as many of my friends as I can fit in to my schedule. I am here in Dallas Texas until Oct 14th. talk to you soon!

Always,

Misty