How Gaudi breaks from traditional spanish artistic traditions

Gaudi breaks traditional spanish architecture in many ways. First, Gaudi´s work isn´t as pretentious as most of the spanish architecture Ive seen so far. Most of the homes he designed don't take up a couple city blocks such as the Palacio Real I saw in Madrid. Although not as much detail went into the stone work, there is always lots of color and twists and turns in such things as the chimneys. I liked all the different colored tile that make up the homes. It gives Gaudi's work a psychadelic look. I was also very impressed by the Sagrada Familia church, even though I only saw it from the outside. To me, the huge church looks like a royal crown. I have a feeling Gaudi knew he wouldn't live to see it fully completed. The cranes are still there adding to the construction. I wonder when the church is scheduled for completion. I ever make the trip again I would want to see the church lit up at night. I've seen pictures of it in postcards,and the light adds more appeal to the already beautiful church.

Today I´m Indiana Jones

We have arrived in Valencia.What a gorgeous city! A lot of the cities here remind me of Miami. The only difference is that a lot more time,effort and thought went into the architecture. The time qualifications for the Americas Cup sail boat racing is going on along the coast here as I speak. I overheard that the Holy Grail is somewhere in town and one of my favorite movies is "Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade".I feel like I have to find where it´s location is to experience what Indiana Jones was going through looking for such a treasure. It´s not going to be easy, I now know why Indiana Jones never traveled on his excursions with females every store we see they have to go in. Sarah seems excited about the Holy Grail so maybe today I might actually see something besides what the local La Cantera looks like.

I also am having a great deal of anxiety trying to get anyone to want to give me a decent rate to exchange dollars to euros. Yesterday in Barcelona,a middle easterner who spoke perfect English was in line in front of me and he was telling me that the value of the dollar is really falling here. I think I´m ready to just break down and see what I can get.

Almost everyone in Barcelona was very disapointed yesterday. Thier soccer team lost the world championship to Madrid the night before. Fireworks were going off all throught the game because Barcelona was up most of the game and at the end the Madrid fans decided to put on a show too. Gary, our tour guide, is from Madrid and I could tell that he wanted to run the streets of Barcelona with his teams flag but he didnt for fear of not making it back safely to meet us for dinner.

My time is running out at the cafe and my stomach is starting to rumble. I saw a cuban restaraunt and wanted to try it but didn´t because I didn´t want to seperate from the group. Soon you will hear how my expedition for the holy grail turned out.

Why Should you care that Im here

Why sould you care that im here? Ok this is an interesting question that I´m required to answer for class. The main reason I think you should care is I´m a representative of the United States of America. The actions and behavior I display is going to make a lasting impression on the locals.Im affraid it´s too late. I feel that some locals have had very bad experiences with American tourists and despise us when they see us here. I literally am starting to experience how the Mexican Nationals feel when they're in the United States, and I feel like sometimes they are treated badly when visiting their neighbors to the north.I know I have personal grudges against some of them. When I was working at the Gap and groups of up to ten people would storm the store 5 minutes before closing time while the employees were trying to clean up and fold everything .By the time they left it was sometimes 15 to 20 minutes after closing time the store looked like a natural disaster went through it, and they didnt buy anything because we were giving them dirty looks ten minutes past closing time. Im sure the locals here have had simlar experiences of what I have experienced working at the GAP.

Another reason you should care that I´m here is I´m starting to learn a couple things throught this journey. If anybody has the guts to come out here, I can give advice. Ive had some good meals and bad ones. Im starting to learn the subway system in Madrid. I am proud of myself that I havent gotten lost.... ok. i'll admit ive only used one line, but hey, give me some credit its a little intimidating. I know what paintings are in the Prado and which ones arn´t....I was expecting to see some Picassos and didn´if you're looking for them I can tell you which museum is displaying them: The Reina Sofia.

I feel like we just got here and were already leaving Madrid

Yesterday the 12th and13th were our first two days in Madrid. El Palacio Real is probably the most pretentious place I´ve ever seen. Words can´t explain how decadent and detailed the outsides walls are. All the staircases are polished marble and I didnt think that they would put so much effort into a celing so I didn´t bother to look up until somebody did and just said ohmigod Ish look up. There´s paintings on the celings. I have it on my camera as soon as I learn how to post photographs everyone can see it. By the way your not supposed to take pictures inside and dont ask me how I know this so consider yoursleves lucky I got one.

My first impressions of Spain

It´s about ten in the morning. My eyes open quickly as I´m unexpectedly awakened from a half conscience sleep by a beautiful flight attendant putting a government form for entry on my lap.It's the same one who continuously brought me water when I asked for it in the middle of the night. I notice we're quickly descending I can see the ground out the window on the other side of the plane. It´s the first time I see a different continent with my own eyes. It looks dry and the color is brown. It looks like a desert, not what I pictured the outskirts of Madrid to look like. Before I know it, I start seeing lots of apartment buildings and a few high rise buildings I can see lots of mini cars traveling a long the highways. In no time at all a sudden jolt indicates we've touched ground I´m in Madrid my Journey has officially begun.

Everyone has gotten off the plane and were standing in line for them to stamp our passports and turn in that form we were handed. I take a look around as were in line the airport is under major construction work crews are painting the walls I don't know what to think of the airport to me it seems like every major airport i´ve come across in travel is going through some sort of renovation. I´m told to approach the customs agent at the window it will be my first encounter with a local. To my surprise shes gorgeous she has a warm smile and a calming Spanish speaking voice thank God I understand her and shes makes me feel welcome. Within the hour all of us have our baggage and are heading towards our tour bus to check in to our hotel.

As I look out the window I think to myself Madrid seems to be pretty much what I expected of it. Lots of pedestrians are going about there day and the traffic looks very intimidating. One thing that has shocked me is that I haven't heard one driver blare their horn and yell profanities like they do in New York City I'm kind of impressed. We have arrived at our hotel by the outside looks of it I'm kind of pleased I was kind of worried what we were going to end up in. Its very metropolitan and classy looking the floor is marble and they have modern furniture. As I get to my room I'm a little disappointed at the size of the bed...I think the one I had as a toddler was bigger but it´s ok I'm already exhausted so I'm sure it will do its purpose. Theirs only enough time to wash my face, brush my teeth and change my shirt we need to meet at the bus we have reservations to view the Palacio Real De Madrid.

I´m thanking God I can speak a little bit of Spanish. I´ve noticed that I'm getting a lot further with the locals than most people in the group are just because I attempt to speak it. Some locals plain out are disgusting me the way they treat the tourists if they don't attempt to speak it. Here's an example... it literally pissed me off when I understood a reply to a question a girl in the group asked. She simply asked in English how much an item cost and the waiter replied´´ a little more than bottled water and a little less than a gin and tonic´´ in Spanish what kind of an Answer is that no respect once so ever. I asked how much an item cost in Spanish and he gave me the exact price.

Another observance I´ve made is how visually stimulating everything is. I was shocked at how much detail and imagination go into the architecture in almost every bulding especially government ones. Everyone wasant lying to me when they said its hard to find an unattractive woman here. We Will see if and how any of my thoughts change about this magnificent country.One thing for sure is it is very very different from Los Estados Unidos.

Conversations I heard In Spain
While we were in Barcelona, Barcelona's soccer team was playing Madrid's soccer team in Madrid for the championship. You could tell most of the city was watching the game. The streets had few pedestrians and there was hardly any traffic at all. I could feel the excitement in the air as I stepped outside to see if I could see any of the fireworks I was hearing. Gary our tour guide was glued to the TV watching the game in the hotel lobby. This game was very important to Gary because he lives in Madrid. A couple minutes after being outside Gary joined me and was jumping up and down with excitement. When he was done jumping up and down he told me "Madrid won were champions". As soon as he finished that sentence he was on the phone with friends in Madrid singing what I think were victory chants that the team sings afer wining games.

The next day you could tell most of Barcelona was very disapointed. While walking the crowded streets Gary whispered to me, "look how disapointed everyone looks , I wish I had my Real Madrid team falg so I could go running through the streets with it but I wouldn't dare because id probably get my butt kicked". When I was standing still for a moment I could hear people talking about the game. The people very frustrated that Barcelona lost because they had a lead during the game. Also people were talking about which players will be playing next year and how they thought the team needed to adapt to have another chance at the championship next year.

Another conversation I had in Spanish was with Garys friend who had dinner with us the first evening in Madrid. I sat next to him and Gary during our dinner at El Museo De Vino. It came up that Gary was part Cuban like I was and he and told me that his friend had recently visited Cuba. He didn't speak any english but I understood his responses to the questions I had about his trip. I asked him if he thought it was safe to go to Havana and he said it was. The only real complaint he had was that there are lots of people trying to solicite you to visit certain restaraunts,clubs and tourist sites. He said it got very annoying. Im glad I had this conversation with him because im interested in visiting my distant family in Havana very soon.

What I would like to report on and news stories that are hidden in my neighborhood.

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What I would like to report on and news stories th...
What I would like to report on and news stories that are hidden in my neighborhood. Ever since I started a virtual stock portfolio for a math models class during my senior year of high school I have always been interested in the stock market. If I became a reporter I would like to write business articles relating to what is going on in the financial world. The stock market interests me because it is one main factor among many that has an effect on our economy. It amazes me how much money people put into the stock market and know very little about it and many times they're future financial well being depends on stock performance. Also there have been many interesting stories and movies have been made such as Boiler Room of scandal and swindles destroying peoples lives for example Houston's Enron. It bothers me that only a few powerful financiers can have such a dramatic affect on the stock markets direction. It's important that people are informed on whats going on in the financial world so that way they can make educated financial decisions.A news story is currently taking place in my neighborhood. A new retail center is taking shape where Central Park Mall once stood. After years of a passing a ghost mall many businesses have opened such as a British restaraunt and pub, Jim's and Frost Bank. I'm surprised how long this has taken, the mall has been closed for many years and this project was supposed to be completed by the time I graduated from high school. I have been very disappointed that this project has been taking so long. A state of the art movie theater and luxurious hotel along with fashionable clothing stores are still under construction. I am excited that soon I will have a new center so close to home where I can be entertained. I feel that this retail center will have positive and negative consequences on my neighborhood. Values on homes are quickly rising and even though the retail complex is incomplete traffic is on the rise. I have lived in this neighborhood for over fifteen years. I love this neighborhood because I feel comfortable and everything is very convenient to get to. I look foward to seeing what the future has to bring for my barrio.

by Ismael
6/10/07
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June 4th 2007- Expectations of this trip
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by Ismael
6/4/07
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June 4th 2007- Expectations of this trip

WOW!!!! My first day of class has come and gone. Being exhausted right now has been well worth it I can't remember the last time my brain has been so intellectually stimulated. This first day of class is making me anxious about our departure which is quickly approaching. I'm learning a lot already. My News Reporting and Writing, Professor Dr. Denise Barkis Richter gave us an article by Peter Hessler titled A Rat In My Soup about an American reporter who was experiencing local delicacies in China. I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to waking up at 6:30 am every morning to learn more....what kind of affect is this trip having on my personality?
My main hope for this study abroad trip is that this is going to open my mind to another culture much different than ours. I hope Spain will be as beautiful as I hear it is. I also hope to learn so much about such a historical country.I know this will come true because it's already starting to happen. I imagine that Spain is going to be a very versatile country. I think that the major cities of Spain are going to remind me a lot of New York City. I'm sure I'm going to see lots of people walking the streets and lots of vendors selling different items on the street. I also imagine that the traffic is going to be very intimidating. Although I anticipate the cities being very populated I think that Spain will have lots of open space. I have been daydreaming about looking out the window on the bus and seeing magnificent views of vast scenic country. I envision Spain having an array of different terrains such as mountains, oceans and plains.
I'm beginning to get very anxious as our departure date rapidly approaches. I'm sure this trip is going to exceed all of my expectations.