Prague: A Winter Wonderland

I would like to go on record saying that I think Prague is Europe's hidden gem. It isn't a very typical place to visit when oversees but it should be near the top of everyone's list. I know the Czech Republic doesn't sound too great and going to a city that was communist until 1989 wouldn't be your first choice for a vacation spot but it should be. When I came to Spain I told my friends that the only place I HAD to visit was Prague, and how fitting that it was my last trip.

So last week, my friend Honor and I packed out backpacks with the warmest clothes we own and headed east.  Her friend Charlie is studying in Prague so we were able to stay with him, save some money and have a wonderful tour guide. When our flight touched down at the airport, I looked out the window and wondered if I was going on a snowboarding trip I didn't know about. There was about 4 feet of snow on the ground and even though we could tell it was freezing, it was beautiful. 

Our first night there, we somehow braved the cold and Charlie took us our to this really fun underground bar/club. It was a great time and I definitely gained a lot of respect for people who study in COLD countries haha. We started Saturday morning off with Bohemia Bagel. It is an amazing breakfast joint that was actually started by an American entrepreneur. We then headed to the Old Town Square and clocktower where all of the Christmas markets were up. It was like being in a fairy tale. The snow made everything so majestic and all the lights were so festive. They have delicious hot wine called svarak and these cinnamon treats called trdelnik - perfect little combination for the cold weather.

We then went to the Strahov Library. It has been around since 1679 and has been restored many times after almost being destroyed many times. It holds over 50,000 volumes of any kind of book you could ever learn from.  The ceiling is painted similar to that of the Sistene Chapel - it portrays human advancement and the path towards truth. It is so beautiful and the age of it really makes you appreciate the beauty.

We then headed over to the Castle of Prague. It is the largest castle complex in the world and the Bohemian Crown Jewels are kept there. With the snow and the lighting, I felt like we were smack dab in the middle of a Disney movie.

After walking around the castle grounds, we headed to the communist statue. This statue was built after communism fell in '89. The plaque next to it reads: The memorial to the victims of communism is dedicated to all victims. Not only those who were jailed or executed but also those whose lives were ruined by totalitarian despotism.  It signifies the effect communism has on someone, the breaking down of a person and their being until there is nothing left. It was very moving.

Saturday night, Charlie took us to a five story club (rumored to be the largest club in Europe). And just another example of how small the world is: ran into a girl in line for this club who I went to high school with, haven't seen since graduation in June 2008 and is studying in Madrid right now. I could not believe it, so fantastic though and such a great story!

Sunday afternoon, after wandering some other parts of the city, we went to the Lennon wall. This is a wall that a group of people started to graffiti during the 80s when Prague was still under communist rule. The government painted over it many times but every time, people would graffiti again. But this isn't graffiti that you normally think of. This graffiti should be called art. It stands for love and peace and was a symbol of hope for the Czech youth.  It's called the Lennon wall because originally it was covered in Beatles lyrics with a large portrait of John Lennon. It is a really unique part of the city that you would not expect to find given Prague's history.

We were also able to see and walk across the Charles Bridge. This bridge is the only means of getting from Old Prague to New Prague. It was erected in the 1400s and has 30 statues of saints and patron saints - most of whom were killed as a result of communism.  It has been in many movie and videos and is the perfect place for artists to sit and capture the view of the two towns and the river.

One really cool thing that was going on the same weekend we were in Prague was a Christmas festival.  One day during the holidays (the Sunday we were there) all the kids in the city dress up like little devils and go around the city giving out candy. None of us are entirely sure the meaning or tradition of this but it was the cutest thing we've ever seen! A bunch of little kids all bundled up giddy as ever even though it was freezing outside. There were even a few little petting zoos out for them. It was adorable.

Despite the snow and the cold (if I was studying in Prague, I would probably sit in my house all day long haha) I can't imagine not having gone to this city. Of course we drank some delicious beer as Prague knows how to brew but paired with the history and the culture, Prague was absolutely one of my favorite places that I've traveled since I've been here. I am so grateful that I was able to experience the city and learn more about a country that had never really crossed my mind before coming abroad. And as my last trip before returning stateside, I'd say that this was quite the cherry on top of an already amazing time.

Red Lights and Red Bikes: Amsterdam

Amsterdam: known for it's legal marijuana and prostitutes. But it is so much more than. The city is full of history, life, and great energy.  The sheer beauty of the canals and parks is enough to make someone love the city. Then add in the Van Gogh museum, the Anne Frank house, and the ability to bike through beautiful parks and you've got yourself one great place.
Aside from the cold, we made the most of our few days there. Our hostel, Cocomama, was incredibly homey and near the center of town. Our first night we went to a concert in an old church which was really neat. The lights coming through the stained glass windows were mezmorizing.

We rented bikes, biked through the city, through Vondel Park, to the Van Gogh museum, to the iamsterdam sign, and then straight to the smell of crepes and hot chocolate. We were able to fit in the Anne Frank house the next morning before our way to the airport (it was a short trip because of classes). Although we had to fit many things into a very small amount of time, we got so much more out of the city than we all expected.

Mama and Papa Harp make an appearance in BCN!

I was graced by the lovely presence of the even lovelier Joan and Bob Harper in Barcelona for a few days before and after they gallivanted around the rest of Spain.  I was finally able to do all of the touristy things that I had put off and of course they were excited to be joining me!  We started with the Sagrada Familia - in case you don't know what this is (its a shame if you don't), it is a masterpiece started by the genius Antoni Gaudí and when finished will be the tallest church in the world. It is truly breathtaking and it is only 50% finished. After Gaudí was hit by a tram on his way to work, various artists and architects have taken to Gaudí's plans to finish his last and greatest piece of work.

Then we headed to the Castle at Montjuic. It was built to be a fortress and prison by the sea for the city when there were threats of attacks in the 17th century.  It was still used as a prison until Franco's time. It overlooks the port and the beach on one side and the entire city of Barcelona from the other side. On a clear day, the view is almost impossible to beat.

We were able to visit the Picasso museum a few days ago which was very neat. They had his work separated by each of the different periods and styles which helped shed some light on his pieces. We had a nice little visit to the Boqueria - or as I like to call it, a farmer's market on steroids.  On Thursday, Thanksgiving, we were able to join my friend Honor and her family at the apartment they're renting for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and all! It was the perfect way to spend such a great holiday abroad.

This past weekend we went to Brussels to visit my dad's cousin and his family.  I haven't seen David, Agnes, and Kate (her brother Shane is at school at Trinity in Dublin) for years so it was great to be with them again and make up for lost time. Brussels is a great city - quite cold but very neat!
Bright and early (or should I say dark and snowy) Saturday morning, we hopped on the train to Bruges. I have seen the movie In Bruges and I'd heard it was an angelic place - and it more than lived up to the hype. The Christmas markets were up, as was the ice skating rink, and the snow on the ground (other than successfully freezing my feet) added to the cheerful atmosphere. Our first order of business was to find waffels...we were in Belgium...how could we not seek out some waffels? We succeeded and with warm full bellies we managed to make it up the 366 steps of the Belfry to have an almost panoramic view of Bruges (they're doing some repairs up there).  But luckily we did not copy the movie and no one was pushed from the top of the belltower.

After we made it safely back down those 366 steps, we made sure to grab some tea to get feeling back in our bodies and went on a canal ride. The city has so much history and has been preserved so well - it was almost like time traveling.

On our way back to the train station to return to Brussels, we decided to stop into the Ice Sculpture Exhibit that was visiting...which was a fantastic decision! There were over 70 pieces from over 30 countries and artists. They were amazing, so much talent and time went into them, I was so grateful that we were able to see it.

I am so happy we were able to make it to Bruges, well worth the frozen fingers and toes :)

On Sunday, David, Agnes, and Kate showed us around Brussels a bit.  Kate showed me the all important Delirium Tremens Pub and beer - voted the best beer in Europe, home brewed from a bar that holds the record for housing the most beers on tap: over 2000.

And of course we had to finish off the day with some more delicious Belgian waffles and chocolate, you can't go to Brussels and not have exquisite beer, luscious chocolate, and savory waffles.

GRANADA!

Sorry it's been so long since I've updated, time gets away from you here.

So let's talk Granada.  Well I'll start with La Alhambra. It is made up of the Alcazaba (the fortress), the Nasrid Palaces/Gardens, the Charles V palace, and the Alhambra.  It was built (save the Charles V palace) by the Moors in the 14th century - Charles, the Holy Roman emperor built his own palace in the 1500s.  Long story short (there is wayyy too much history to put here) the Alhambra is one of the most fascinating places I've been.  The gardens in the Nasrid palace were fairytale-esque and the view of the city of Granada from the top of the Alcazaba was breathtaking.

One great thing about the city is that it is very cheap - at least compared to Barca! When you order a drink at a bar, they automatically bring you free tapas. So you never need to go out to dinner, just go out for drinks and you'll be well fed. Also since the city is relatively small you can walk just about anywhere so we were able to wander side streets and get a good feel for it.
I have a few friends studying in Granada so they took us out and showed us a good time. They took us to a nightclub that overlooks the Alhambra, which is lit up at night, so it was beautiful!

So it was an amazingly beautiful trip and despite the wind chill, I would love to go back someday!

The Purple and Gold Came to Visit Me in Barcelona

As some of you may know, the Lakers played a preseason game against Regal FC Barcelona a week or so ago. As some of you may not know, I have had my ticket since July. The day I heard they were going to be in BCN, I went home and bought my ticket. I actually bought two because I knew that I would be able to find someone who would love to go - and I did, my friend Christina who is from LA and also studying in BCN.  I wasn't going to take any chances of not being able to go to a game which clearly fate had planned for me to attend. And thank god I did; by the time I arrived here in September, tickets were already 600 euros and a few weeks before the game were entirely sold out. I was prepared for that seeing as how Pau Gasol was born and raised in Barcelona and played for them at one point.

So not only were the 2 time reigning NBA champs going to be playing but Pau was returning home.
The day before the big game, the NBA set up a 'fan zone' in a plaza near the stadium. They had some courts set up for demos and contests and they had a table for some meet and greet. After my classes were finished, I took the metro over in hopes of seeing some of my boyfriends.

Me and the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy...that Kobe and Derek Fisher have kissed :)

To my delight, Andrew Bynum and Devin Ebanks were signing autographs. When it was my turn to go up, Andrew looked at me and said (like he's never spoken a day of Spanish in his life), "Hola!" I quickly responded with, "Hey! I'm Kathleen!" He laughed and said, "Oh heyy what's up, I'm Andrew!" (I had to stop myself from saying, "Yes, Andrew, I know haha") But anyways I told him that I was from LA and had had my ticket since July and couldn't wait to see them play. He was very excited that a local from home would be there supporting them.

(Andrew Bynum and me)

So then it was time for the hometown hero, Mr. Pau Gasol, to arrive. I know that Pau is tall but good lord the man is a giant! I was standing next to him when he high fived me and I was actually craning my neck to see his face. I guess that's why they call him our big man. He and Ricky Rubio (plays for BCN and also high-fived me) did a demo for crowd and got every hyped for the game the following day. It was really fun to watch not only because I was a few feet away from them but seeing the people of Catalonia respond so welcoming to Pau was really great. 

(Pau right before he high fived me); (Pau and Ricky)

So finally it was game day. I donned my Kobe Sunday whites jersey, lent my Eddie Jones jersey to my friend Christina, and we were off! No one at school could believe we were actually going to the game - green with envy doesn't even begin to describe it. The game itself was amazing. Although the Lakers lost by 4, it was a great show of talent, skill, and passion. 

(Christina and me at the game)

The next day people who dislike the Lakers and knew I had gone to the game tried to rub it in my face. The only thing I could say to them was, "I honestly don't care that we lost. Yea, it would have been great to win but even just being in the stadium and being a part of that game was the greatest thing I could have asked for." Not only is that 100% true, but it shut people up pretty quickly haha.

But I know that for the rest of my life I will remember that time when the Lakers and Kathleen Harper happened to be in the same foreign country at the same time and I managed to go see. If that's not a true fan with dedication, I don't know what is :)

Montserrat

If you ever have the opportunity to come to Barcelona, you MUST visit Montserrat.  It is a mountain chain just outside of BCN and it is truly amazing. It is mostly famous for the Benedictine abbey that is located on the mountain side. It is called Santa Maria de Montserrat which houses the Virgin of Montserrat sanctuary.  Many people believe this is where the Holy Grail in Arthurian myth is located.

 (Kristin, Ally, Honor, and me with the monastery); (Me at the top of the mountain with the caynon)

Also, just the sheer immenseness of the mountain had us in awe. It really makes you think about how much natural beauty there is in the world.

Follow the Lederhosen

Oktoberfest. How can I put into words my experience at this wonderful festival?  Well I guess I'll begin with the fact that I am sitting here, alive, writing about it...so there's one thing, right?

But let's back up a little bit and start at the beginning. I arrived in Munich last Friday afternoon and was meeting 3 of my friends who are studying in London, France, and Sweden at the hotel. It was quite the exciting reunion in itself...and adding the upcoming festivities, people in the lobby might have thought we were a bit crazy.  We regrouped and headed to the fairgrounds. Since it was the afternoon, we couldn't find a table inside any of the tents but we joined some lovely German ladies at their table outside of the Paulaner tent. We learned some very important words from them: Prost - cheers, hendle - chicken, and beer - beer. We spent the afternoon there and explored the grounds a bit, taking in the scene and preparing ourselves for the full day on Saturday.

 (Lucy, Cynthia, Andrew and myself at the Paulaner tent)

In order to get a table inside the tents (you have to be sitting at a table in order to get served) we woke up at 6am on Saturday so we could get to the tents by 7 to stand in line. There were probably about 70 Santa Clara kids who were all at Oktoberfest last weekend and everyone was planning on spending the day in the Hofbrau tent - the most international and lively tent at Oktoberfest.  They let us into the tent around 8:20 with pretzels (bigger than your face) and first beers ( in a stein that is as big and weighs as much as a small baby) at 9 and first hendles (half of a chicken...yes half of a full chicken) at 10.  The German's don't mess around with their traditions haha. 

(I guess they serve beer at Oktoberfest...who knew?)

Anyways we separated from the Santa Clara group which I was happy about because most of the fun of Oktoberfest is meeting people from all around the world. We ended up sitting with some great German, Irish and Austrialian people.  By chance, the Aussies are coming to Barcelona tonight for a week and so I´m going to show them around the city and two of the Irishmen went to Clongowe´s Wood College - a boarding school my dad´s cousin is a Jesuit at and my brother attended for a semester; such a small world! Anyways we walked through the tent as the day went on, I ran into a few people from home and high school - once again, such a small world. But we were showered and in bed by 11 on Saturday night - the early bird catches the beer, I mean worm, right? haha

(TOMS at Oktoberfest)

(Me with some lovely Germans in lederhosen)

Sunday started the same as Saturday, early to the tents to spend the day in Spaten - one of the most traditional tents at Oktoberfest. This means that we were just a few of the only people who were not in lederhosen or German dresses...which was great! We enjoyed a few hours in there and then proceeded to the ferris wheel and then the beautiful city of Munich.  Unfortunately my camera died so I don´t have any pictures from Sunday but we were able to see some great historical sites of the city - it is definitely a place I would want to go back to and see more of. But I do have this...

 (Welcome to Oktoberfest)

All in all, the weekend was a huge success. Reunited with friends, met some really great people, saw some pretty places, and drank some delicious beer. I´m not sure if I have it in me to do Oktoberfest: Round 2 next year but I am so glad I was able to go and those will be memories I will cherish.