Recap

Gallivanting around the globe has it's ups and downs. Seeing beautiful places, meeting wonderful people, and eating everything in front of me, are definitely the ups. Not being able to just sit and reflect, write a little, spend enough time with the people you love and miss, are the downs. Last I wrote I had just returned home from the U.S. Nothing too exciting there, drove to wisconsin and back in two days, the usual. During the second week of December, I decided to visit a friend in Barcelona, on a whim. After an hour and a half bus ride to some "Podunk" airport in the north of France, I boarded my 27 Euro plane ride. Also, before I go on, I flew home from Barcelona for 4 Euros. 4. I bought a sandwich on the flight for 5. This is sort of a shameless plug, but Ryanair is the greatest company in the world, especially for 20 somethings trying to travel around europe. After arriving in Barcelona, my friend anna took me to her home about an hour west of Barcelona. It's truly a beautiful place. I walked in the mediterranean, saw Montserrat, and ate and drank some of the best things ever. You know those movies where a man is on vacation, and he meets a beautiful "native" if you will. Well, jamon iberico, and pa amb tomaquat are my native vacation lovers. I could eat those two things every single day of my life. The later being simply bread with the flesh of a tomato rubbed into it with olive oil and salt. The blog isn't allowing me to post pictures right now, but i'll give the link to my facebook to see them all. After visiting castles from Roman and even earlier periods of time, and seeing structures still standing from that time period, it gives you a little perspective on life. After two days in the mountains, we went to Barcelona. It takes a lot for me to like a city, I am now just starting to love Paris. I am not sure if I liked Barcelona or not. The architecture was bizarre, the parking expensive, and the traffic bad. But, the food however, was life changing. Tapas have always been my second favorite food, behind Vietnamese and Thai, but this was a whole new level. Cerverceria Catalana was wonderful. Usually known as one of the best in Barcelona, I was very excited to get in. We had little deep fried green peppers, I can't remember the name right now, Tortilla, which is like quiche without crust, Pa amb tomaquat, sardine like things, sauteed wild mushrooms, and something else I cant remember. A good spanish beer, and a coffee rounded the meal out. We also visited Boqueria Market, which is a place I recommend all human beings to go to. It really is astonishing. Also, we went to Bar Marsella for absinthe. I recommend no human beings do that, unless they have to. My trip had to come to end, and so does this description if it. I got on the 4 euro flight home, for one day. The next day I had a flight to Norway.
Woke up early in a snowy Paris, and flew to a snowy Oslo. My Godfather Geir, my Father's best friend, picked me up, and drove me to his home in Ringsaker. A beautiful village, overlooking the largest lake in Norway, with a 900 year old church at it's center. A perfect place to celebrate Christmas, with my second family. We watched soccer, and I hung out with the kids, and went to work at the DMI. It was a wonderful 2 weeks of relaxation.
After coming back to Paris, my friend Peter flew in for New Year's from his school in Nottingham, England. Not much extraordinary happened. We ate a lot of Kebab, and witnessed the New Year at the Eiffel Tower. That was pretty spectacular.
School Started a few weeks ago, and I am now back into the swing of things. The dishes seem to be pretty easy still, so we will see. I'm doing well, meeting a lot of new people, and the apartment is still wonderful. I hope everyone had a happy holiday season, and I wish everyone a great new year!
Places Visited in Spain:
Vilobí
Vilafranca
Vilanova
Sitges
Barcelona.
Restaurants:
Cerveceria Catalana
Random Jamon shops
Random Tapas restaurants.
Bar Marsella
www.facebook.com/album.php?id=506912298&aid=256396#