The Barcelona Center Student's Weblog

Wine Tasting

2008-06-19T00:49:00.001-07:00

Summer 2008 students used alll thier senses last night in a bilingual introduction to wine tasting. We were guided through the evening at BLA3 by expert enologist Juan Manuel and the BLA3 team.

With the aid of a bilingual information pack and presentation,we found out about the history and processes behind winemaking.With the help of a color chart, we identified colors and tones. We tuned in with our noses to identify aromas, after gently swilling it around in the wine glass to release even more depth and character we picked out some surprising touches of horse and smoke along with the more conventional aromas of fruit and flower.

Then we finally got down to tasting the wine, a selection of whites, reds and a rosé from different wine producing areas of Spain. After locating different sensory zones on the tongue, we carefully and slowly tasted the wine. The white and rosé wines were a great start to this hot summer evening. We discovered that the younger the wine, the more agressive and acidic the texture and taste. With older, oak barrel aged wines the flavors are mellow and even on the tongue.

The white, rosé and red wines that we tasted were accompanied by some delicious tortilla de patata, jamón and pan tomate.

And so we learnt how to taste, not drink wine and appreciate the complex processes and regional differences that make Spanish wines so great.

Flamenco at Tarantos

2008-06-12T03:19:00.001-07:00

BCEA students got the chance to experience live the passion, energy and style of Flamenco last night.

We were taken aback by the powerful and emotional voice of the lead Flamenco singer and the rhythmic music of the accompanying musicians. The icing on the cake was the performance by a Flamenco dancer.

Responding to this and interpreting these strong emotions expressed in song, the dancer amazed us with the power, speed and sheer accuracy of her steps and movements. The traje de flamenco; flamenco costume is extremely femenine and accentuates the hourglass silhouette of the dancer. The evening left us eager to see more flamenco.

Spanish Cooking Class

2008-06-12T02:30:00.001-07:00

BCEA Summer students chopped, whisked and blended last wednesday under the expert supervision of ......., our Spanish chefs for the evening and with the essential assistance of great quality fresh products purchased that morning from the famous Boquería market.

We put together a very complete and delicious menu which consisted of gazpacho, tortilla de patata, pincho moruno, pintxo de salmón y crema de hinojo, pescaíto frito, pan con tomate, and to finish a refreshing and very Summery dessert, lemon sorbet with gin tonic sauce.

The evening started off with introduction and a demonstration of the dishes we would be preparing, then we got down to the serious business of preparing and cooking our ingredients, with a little tasting going on along the way!! As you can see from the photos we had great fun and learnt a lot. There´s nothing better than getting stuck in!

We sampled our creations with a good glass of red wine, a great way to finish off a fantastic evening. Salud!

Costa Brava Day Trip

2008-06-12T01:05:00.000-07:00

Summer 2008 BCEA students visited the Dalí Theatre-Museum in Figueres as part of BCEA´s Costa Brava Day Trip. We were able to truly experience the museum, and enter into the personal and chaotic, imaginative and labyrinthine Dalinian world, full of suggestiveness as we were guided around this impressive space by Ana, our tour guide.

As Dalí himself said "I want my museum to be like a single block, a labyrinth, a great surrealist object. It will be a totally theatrical museum.The people who come to see it will leave with the sensation of having had a theatrical dream."

It was certainly a surprising experience as we witnessed the projection and realisation of the artist´s dreams and creative energies on this huge "canvas".

After a cultural and informative morning in Figueres, we climbed back on the coach for a short trip along the winding roads which lead to the extremely beautiful coastal town of Cadaqués on the Costa Brava. The views of the scenery from the coach as we climbed, and then descended to this pretty village were magnificent. This village is located in a natural harbor in the Cap de Creus peninsula. Salvador Dali said this was the most beautiful village in the world, and used the sea, the bay and the horizon in many of his paintings.

This village was a popular artists' destination, especially once Salvador Dali moved to Port Lligat. His stay in this village attracted many artists, like Pablo Picasso, Andre Breton, Paul Eluard, Man Ray, Max Ernst, Marcel Duchamp, Federico Garcia Lorca, Luis Bunuel who also had homes there, and many contemporary artists have homes there today.

It´s easy to see why, Cadaqués is an idyllic resort. Many of us tried out the delicious seafood paella available in the seafront restaurants.

What better way to pass a friday afternoon!!

Día de Sant Jordi, 23 de Abril (Saint Georges Day)

2008-04-25T06:49:00.000-07:00

BCEA students hit the book and rose filled streets of Barcelona to mingle with the crowds and find out just what Sant Jordi means in Catalunya. April 23, is one of the most important holidays in Catalunya: the day of Sant Jordi, the patron saint of Catalunya. Jordi (or George as he´s known to English speakers) is the Roman soldier from the third century who has gone down in history as a successful dragon-slayer and princess-rescuer. As well as being the patron saint of Catalunya, Jordi also protects those afflicted by love. Sant Jordi is celebrated with an exchange of literature and roses. Women give their loved one a book, while men buy their sweetheart ( and often female relatives and colleagues too) a red rose.

Part of the book fever associated with the 23rd is also due to the anniversary of the deaths, in 1616, of Cervantes and Shakespeare, which led UNESCO to declare April 23 World Book and Copyright Day.

As the biggest day of the year for the Catalan editorial industry, 10% of bookshops annual sales are made in and around the 23 rd. Many writers, like Carlos Ruiz Zafón The Shadow of the Wind author are out signing copies and promoting their new books. Around 6 million roses are sold, so we were really glad to see for ourselves this very special day and enjoy the atmosphere.

Flamenco Night

2008-04-18T02:33:00.000-07:00

Last night BCEA students had the chance to witness the passion and energy of Flamenco. It was a great opportunity to see an inspiring performance.We were amazed by the powerful yet graceful movements, the intricate hand and footwork and the musicians who framed the whole ensemble. The evening began with performances of flamenco guitar, toque, violins and cello accompanying the singer and dancers. The singer´s voice was dramatic and full of emotion. We saw how the dancer responded to this and interpreted freely these strong emotions. The traje de flamenco, flamenco costume is extremely femenine and accentuates the hourglass silhouette of the dancer. The evening left us eager to learn a few flamenco steps and moves, and take visiting parents to see a show.

Costa Brava Excursión, 12 - 13 April

2008-04-14T00:42:00.001-07:00

Mediterranean blue sky and sunshine accompanied BCEA´s overnight trip to the Costa Brava which took place on the weekend; saturday 12 and sunday 13 April.

Saturday was dedicated to art,history and culture while Sunday was more leisurely and slow paced with the day spent on the magnificent Costa Brava. Saturday morning got off to an interesting start with a guided tour of the Museo Dalí in the town of Figueres. Ana, our guide for accompanied us around this fascinating building (the museum is housed in what was once a theatre), which was created by Salvador Dalí himself. It is a great showcase of his work, the perfect backdrop and most appropriate context in which to exhibit his work. While Dalí lived, no explanation or guided tours around the museum were permitted by the artist. But we were glad to have a chance to understand the motivation behind his work.

In the afternoon we moved on to Girona, a fascinating medieval town in the northeast of Catalonia.As Ana our guide explained, the 12th century saw a flourishing of the Jewish community of Girona, with one of the most important Kabbalistic schools in Europe. The history of the Jewish community of Girona ended in 1492, when the Catholic Kings expelled all the Jews from Spain. Today, the Jewish Call is one of the best preserved in Europe and is a major tourist attraction. On the north side of the old city is the Montjuïc (or hill of the Jews in medieval Catalan), where an important religious cemetery was located.Most traces of Girona's rich Jewish history were wiped out when the Jews were expelled from Spain, but we visited what remains of the district.

We also visited the Banys Arabs, Arabic Baths which date from the 12th century and which have been restored and Girona Cathedral which consists of a big Gothic revival nave, the widest Gothic nave in the world 22.98 m (75.39 ft).

After some free time to go shopping and explore Girona a little further, we climbed back on the
coach and headed to Platja d´Aro where we checked into our hotel for Saturday evening.

After a group dinner we headed off in different directions; cinema, bowling, local bars.

On Sunday morning, we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast looking out on the beach from the hotel dining room. We checked out and headed down the coast to the pretty beach town of Tossa de Mar.

The located on the rugged Costa Brava, Tossa de Mar is an enticing location. Artist Marc Chagall called it his Blue Paradise. The place has sprawled since Chagall was there in the 1930s, but Tossa has remained a pretty beachside village. The surviving walls and towers and ruins of the castle and fortress which once stood to protect the old town from pirates are beautiful and a provide a great viewpoint over the beach. We spent the afternoon eating picnic lunches on the beach or eating paellas on the restaurant terraces.

Exhausted and drifting off to sleep on the coach on Sunday afternoon we drove back into Barcelona, back to Spring in the city.

A great weekend!

Bailes Latinos Master Class

2008-04-03T00:27:00.001-07:00

BCEA´s aula (classroom) C was transformed last night into our very own dance studio with the help of Roger, Latin American dance enthusiast and teacher and the easy going, vibrant energy that Latin American rhythyms inspire.

Roger taught us the basic steps for Salsa, Cha Cha Chá, Merengue and Bachata which are among the most popular Latin American dance styles.
The style of Latin American dancing is very sultry and physical. These dances for the most part are done with a partner as a social dance. Unfortunately, none of the BCEA quite made it it to the class! Nevertheless, Roger gave each of us girls a swirl round the dancefloor.The music is so inviting you´d be hard pressed to hear a Latin beat and not want to at least have a go. It even had Laura Burkett, program director, having a try!

We now feel much better to prepared to hit the dancefloor!

Almodóvar Night

2008-04-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

BCEA students got some in-depth insight into the most successful and internationally known Spanish filmmaker of his generation, Pedro Almodóva,r in evening dedicated to his life and work so far led by BCEA´s very only Spanish Cinema fan Joanna.

The evening began with an overview of Almodóvar´s beginnings, and illustrated the very great influence that his family upbringing has had on his cinematic work.

We went on to watch Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios ( 1988) (Women on The Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) accompanied by palomitas ( popcorn).

The movie takes place in and around the tiny apartment of pregnant actress Pepa (Carmen Maura).

Distraught over her recent breakup with her married lover, fellow dubbing actor Iván, Pepa prepares to overdose with sleepign pills, which she blends into a gazpacho so they´ll go down easier.

She is diverted from her suicide by the call for help from her best friend, Candela, a fugitive from justice ( her boyfriend is a shiíte terrorist) who needs a place to hide....

And the crazy plot continues, unravelling with a series of unreal Almodóvaresque coincidences which made us laugh at and sympathise with the characters. A young pre-Hollywood Antonio Banderas is her ex lover´s grown son!

For some of us this was a first introduction to Pedro´s work, and what a colorful and kitsch introduction! It left us very eager to see the rest of his films.

Five star!! *****

Excursión a la Garrotxa

2008-03-05T01:22:00.000-08:00

BCEA students escaped the city last friday for a day out in the stunning scenery and fresh air of the Parque Nacional de la Zona Volcánica de La Garrotxa ( Garrotxa Volcanic National Park).

The morning started off with a horse drawn carriage ride through the Fageda d´en Jordà, a beautiful beech tree forest.
We were accompanied by our guide Ana, who explained that this region is the best example of volcanic landscape in the Iberian peninsula and one of the most interesting in Europe. From a geological point of view the area is very attractive as it contains about thirty strombolian volcanoes, some craters and more than twenty of the most unusual basalt lava flows. The most important volcanoes are: Montsacopa, Santa Margarida, Croscat, Martinya and Roca Negra, among others. We climbed up the volcano of Santa Margarida to investigate things a little closer.The rich and variated vegetation is nourished by the exceptionally humid climate, and makes this an impressive landscape. Before lunch we visited the lovely little village of Santa Pau. The whole village has been declared a historical and artistic monument. Standing over it, is a medieval castle which was abandoned long ago. The village center, distinctly feudal, consists of winding cobbled streets and a lovely porticoed main square.

We spent the rest of the afternoon strolling around Santa Pau enjoying the sunshine and having lunch. It was great explore outside of the city and see some Catalonian natural and cultural heritage.

Intercambio at CETA

2008-03-04T00:18:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday 27 February, BCEA students joined CETA students from the Girona College of Tourism Management to launch our Language Intercambio ( Spanish-English language exchange) for Spring 2008. We met for this first encounter at the CETA school here in Barcelona. CETA students gave a presentation in English on aspects of Spanish and Catalonian culture. The powerpoint presentation was great fun and we were given lots of information and recommendations on what to see and do while we are here in Spain.

The second half of the morning was in Spanish with BCEA students divided into groups which covered different American states. CETA students asked us questions on our hometowns, life back home in the States and we exchanged email addresses and phone numbers so that we can meet up.

This collaboration between BCEA and CETA students started with Fall 2007 students and is part of an ongoing working project to encourage a two-way language and cultural exchange. It enables us to get to know people of our age, with the same interests and motivations. It´s a great opportunity to develop contacts and make friendships.
It was great to make this contact with local people outside of the program. I really want to make the effort, because the results are really rewarding.

Wine Tasting-Cata de Vinos at Bla3

2008-02-28T00:32:00.000-08:00

BCEA students got into the classroom last night for a special kind of class, a bilingual workshop on Wine Tasting at Bla3 in the Gracia district.

Wine tasting is something that demands concentration and an open mind; who´d have thought that you could pick out leather and olive aromas from sniffing a glass of wine? With the help of our bilingual wine dossiers we got to work on the complex and fun task of identifying colours, aromas, flavors and textures in the red and white wines that we sampled.

With the expert help of enologist Juan Manuel, and Bla3 founder Mónica we soon found that we too could identify complex aromas and tastes. Out of the 70 wine producing areas (denominaciones de origen) that exist in Spain today, we sampled a selection of five wines from the five most famous wine regions; La Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Rueda and the areas of Priorat and Penedés these last two in Catalonia.

We voted for our favourites, and also discussed wine and food combinations, Juan Manuel recommended that we select a wine which complements the dish we prepare rather than one that overwhelms it. We should look for a balance in strength and flavour. It was interesting to compare the difference in colour, taste and body between a young red wine selected from last year´s crop, and a four year old wine which has been in the oak barrel longer and how those flavours have developed.
A great evening overall, a little theory and

history and lots of practice!! We came away
with new vocabulary and new skills.

Next wednesday, the Gracia walking tour, which will uncover other little gems in this bohemian and artistic district of Barcelona.

Clase de Cocina (Cooking Class)

2008-02-20T04:32:00.001-08:00

BCEA students put their imperative tense into good practice today with an intensive cooking cooking workshop at the school.

Students brought in ingredients for three recipes; tortilla española, salmorejo ( a thicker version of gazpacho) and pá amb tomaquet (typical of Catalonia).

We used the gallery area with its great natural light, and long table as our `cocina´. We got to work on peeling and sliceing potatoes and beating eggs for our tortillas.

Another group prepared the ingredients for the salmorejo, we blitzed tomatoes, garlic, cucumber and olive oil into a thick cold `soup´and seasoned with salt. The salmorejo was served with chopped boiled egg, cubed cucumber, chopped jamón serrano and breadcrumbs. We all agreed that it makes a tasty combination and is very refreshing (this is dish typical of Summer ).

Another part of the cooking team prepared the pá amb tomaquet. We rubbed slices of bread with garlic and tomato, and drizzled good extra virgin olive oil over with a sprinkling of salt.

This was an excellent accompaniment to the delicious tortillas de patata that had been cooking away in the meantime. We jotted down the steps for each recipe and it was a great way to practice our Spanish.

We´ll definitely be rustling up these tasty specialities at home, they´re quick, easy and delicious!!

Tapas Night at El Bodegón del Norte.

2008-02-14T04:26:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, 13th February, 2008

Local Basque Restaurant El Bodegón del Norte, and its genial owner Eusenio, opened its doors to BCEA students for our Tapas Night. We were introduced to the world of pintxos, the Basque equivalent to tapas. We tucked in eagerly to this delicious and extremely attractive `fingerfood´ which some of us accompanied with a refreshing glass of Txakoli, (Basque white wine).

One of the great things about pintxos is the variety, and all the combinations of flavours. The bar was laid out with an impressive collection of beautifully presented pintxos. Marisco (seafood), jamón (ham), tortilla, chistorra ( a tasty Spanish sausage) combined in different ways and mounted on slithers of bread.

It was great to be taken to a local bar to try out this world famous and quintisentially Spanish speciality, and it was a really nice introduction to the Spanish gastronomic culture; very social as you´re on feet and not formally sat around a table and because you get to try un poco de todo!!

Spring 2008, Student Arrival and Orientation Weekend.

2008-01-29T01:13:00.000-08:00

Since arriving on Wednesday, January 23rd, BCEA´s Spring semester students have been kept extremely busy!!

After being meeted and greeted on arrival at a sunny and bright January morning at Barcelona airport, we were whisked to our hotel. We enjoyed a Welcome Dinner on the first evening, a great chance to relax and touch base with fellow BCEA students and staff.

By friday, we were into our apartments and getting to know the BCEA building ( a stunning Modernist building in the heart of Barcelona).

Friday afternoon was spent with local Barcelona guide Felipe, who gave a great tour of the Barrio Gótico. What a wonderful way to discover the Barrio Gótico´s nooks and crannies!!Felipe was a fun and extremely informative guide. We explored Barcelona Cathedral, the Cloister learning along the way their history through the ages. We strolled through the narrow and winding streets of the the Call ( Jewish district) and finished along Las Ramblas. A great introduction to the rich historical, artistic and architectural tapestry of Barcelona.

Saturday morning was dedicated to a Bus Top Tour of Barcelona. It was a fantastic way to get our bearings. We were able to hop on and off to our hearts content. Two of the most popular stop off points were Gaudí´s unfinished masterpiece,the staggering church of the Sagrada Familia and his Parc GÜell.

And to really finish off what proved to be a packed first weekend, we spent Sunday immersed in the tranquility and natural beauty of Montserrat. Just 80 kilometers from Barcelona, we were amazed by the stunning beauty of this Monastery, Retreat and Natural Park. We had the option of doing the guided tour in Spanish or English with Nuria and Marina our guides for the day. One of the highlights of the day was the Escolania, boys´choir, who filled the church with the sound of their angelic voices. It was a very powerful experience, and the views were absolutely incredible.

Almodovar Workshop: Todo sobre mi madre

2007-11-29T02:56:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving Intercambio at CETA College

2007-11-27T08:20:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving Day, we went to local Tourism College and we shared with them or traditions and history for that special day. We also had a language exchange and had a pica-pica party at the end. We had so much fun and met some spanish students who invited us to a local party. We can't wait to have next "Intercambio"!!!

Flamenco at Tarantos, Plaça Reial

2007-11-22T00:40:00.000-08:00

Last night BCEA students had the chance to witness the passion and energy of Flamenco. For those of us who didn´t make it to Seville, Andalusia, originally the home of Flamenco, it was a great opportunity to see an inspiring performance.

We were amazed by the powerful yet graceful movements, the intricate hand and footwork and the musicians who framed the whole ensemble. The evening began with performances of flamenco guitar, toque, and cajón, literally a box which the musician sits on and drums accompanying the guitarist, singer and dancer. The singer´s voice was dramatic and full of emotion. We saw how the dancer responded to this and interpreted freely these strong emotions. The traje de flamenco, flamenco costume is extremely femenine and accentuates the hourglass silhouette of the dancer. The evening left us eager to learn a few flamenco steps and moves, and take visiting parents to see a show.

Wine Tasting at BLA3

2007-11-15T01:37:00.000-08:00

How many times have you said ¨I know nothing about wine¨? Well, after last night´s Introduction to Wine Tasting Workshop there was no way we were going to finish the evening wine-unaware! BCEA students took part in this journey of discovery using all their senses to discover in a variety of Spanish wines from different wine producing areas.

Juan Manuel Gonzalvo, our enologist for the evening, helped explain how to train our senses to distinguish and identifyflavors, aromas, textures and colors. First of all we kicked off with colors. From a selection of Spanish red wines that we looked at, we were able to compare red shades with the color charts given in our handy bilingual information packs, we found tones of ruby, cherry and terracotta tile. Given the chance to swill our glasses in a professional fashion we picked out from the white wines fruit and citrus aromas. We even noted butter in one of the reds!! Juan Manuel and the BLA3 team were patient, helpful, passionate and knowledgable on their subject. We had begun the evening with the history and process of winemaking which gave us a good foundation, and the why and where of Wine. Midway, through we stopped for a break in the BLA3 cellar for a delicious

tapa of tortilla de patata and jamón to help us through the evening! We returned eagerly for part two, red wines, by which time we had sharpened our tastebuds and honed our noses and were on the ball for aroma, color and flavor diagnosis.

A great evening which has us practising our Spanish, using our senses and having fun.

Sevilla Weekend, 9-11 November

2007-11-13T05:17:00.000-08:00

The weekend of the 9th to the 11th saw BCEA students travel to Seville,the capital of Andalusia on the optional trip offered to students. Friday found us witnessing the atmospheric vastness of the Cathedral, the largest church in the world. We took in the stunning retablo and the grandiose tomb of Columbus. We climbed the ramp (built for guards´horses) up the 82 metre-high Giralda- the former mosque tower. The view from the top is of a magnificent, jumbled cityscape puntuated by a soaring church tower or monument. Seville is famous for its tapas amd no visitor should skip a trawl through the tapas bars of the Barrio de la Santa Cruz. After a busy first morning we were in need of sustenance and sampled some specialities in a bar in the mazy Santa Cruz district.

This district-the old Jewish district with its whitewashed, bougainvillea-clad walls and welcoming bars provided the photographers amongst us with interesting material.As we discovered the city has been home to different cultures which have left it today with a rich and great cultural heritage. The city retains remnants from the Roman period, and many Moorish features.

On Friday evening, we experienced the passion and rhythm of Flamenco in the beautiful Patio `Casa de la Memoria´. A great performance which had us truly captivated. The patio setting was just so gorgeous, the tiled patio filled with flowers which surrounded the dancers and musicians. After the flamenco the night was ours to taste the Seville nightlife.

On Saturday we had a packed day visiting the Plaza de España (the colossal monument left over from the 1929 Expo). We strolled along in the warm Sevillian sunshine past the Torre del Oro and the majestic Maestranza bullring.

We had saturday afternoon free to shop and browse, and then met back at the hotel in the evening, got freshened up and beautiful, and headed out again for a tipica cena española as a group.

Sunday was spent visiting the Real Alcázar de Sevilla, the Moorish geometric tile designs decorating the Alcázar are just stunning, and then we walked through the peaceful walled gardens behind.

Sevilla really impressed, I have fantastic memories and photos from this weekend, it is a beautiful city with a people so full of alegría ( high spirits) that it´s impossible to have a bad time. As the saying goes: ¨To whom God loves, He gives a house in Seville¨.

Al Cinema a ver `El Orfanato´.

2007-11-08T02:44:00.000-08:00

Last night, students went the movies courtesy of BCEA (muchas gracias!!) What a creepy movie!! Some of us woke up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat!It´s a good movie for horror fans ( though not too gory) with some really great scary moments which had the whole cinema jump in their seats!

We went to see it at El Coliseum, a fantastic old cinema on Gran Via, and what was even better was that we saw it without subtitles!!

The plot goes something like this; Laura returns to the orphanage she grew up in as a child, with the intention of opening it up again as a home for children with disabilities.
Together with her husband and adopted son Simon, Laura tries to make the old mansion ready to receive it's first new residents, but all is not quiet in the dusty rooms and grounds, and gradually she starts to feel sinister presences from the past making themselves known......

Intercambio with local students

2007-10-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

On Monday 22 October, BCEA students were joined by students from CETA, Girona College of Tourism Management to launch our Language Intercambio ( Spanish-English language exchange). This collaboration between BCEA and visiting students got off to a great start.

Although we felt nervous at first about our ability to express ourselves in Spanish ( and the CETA guys vice versa in English!), we soon relaxed and felt at ease with them. The Intercambio is a great idea, enabling us to meet young people of our age, with the same interests and motivations and creating a relaxed and educational environment from which we can develop contacts and make friendships.

The Intercambio as our Spanish language teachers have explained will be an ongoing project; Penfriend, and this week we received profiles written by the CETA students in English. Along with photos they sent information on what they like getting up to in Barcelona, and so we can take it from there, and get in contact with students we´d like to keep in touch and meet up with. We´ll now start exchanging emails written in English by them and Spanish by us, and we´ll correct one anothers emails.
The Intercambio has given me the confidence to start a conversation in Spanish, to not feel embarrassed to have a go and have a laugh. The CETA students are really friendly, really encouraging and it was great to make this contact with local people outside of the program. I really want to make the effort, because the results are really rewarding.

Costa Brava Weekend

2007-10-22T09:21:00.001-07:00

BCEA students sampled the delights of Figueres, Girona and the Costa Brava on the weekend of October 20-21. We started bright and early, setting off at 9am, and reaching the town of Figueres in time to meet with Ana, our guide for the day. This weekend trip really catered to lots of interests, the first one being art and more specifically the surrealist art of Salvador DalíDalí was born and raised in Figueres, and as our guide explained, he quickly revealed himself to be a genuis with the paintbrush. What´s great about the Theatre-Museum Dalí is the eclectic collection of Dalí´s working, exhibiting his early paintings as a fourteen year until his last pieces in the early 1980s. The theatre which was given to him by the town of Figueres, enabled Dalí to express himself, and proveed to be the perfect location to explore the concepts that so fascinated him. It also became increasing clear in the repetition of themes, that Gala, his muse and wife was his inspiration not only for his work but also for life itself. When Gala passed away in 1982, Dalí stopped working, and died just seven years later in 1989.

When the Museum first opened Dalí prohibited the explanation of the works on exhibition, he believed that the visitor should explore and interpret as an individual. We were grateful however to Ana for helping to explain the many images hidden within paintings, Dalí´s techniques, and the influences in his life.

We all agreed Ana was a fantastic guide, passionate and informed on Dalí and his life, with a great voice which could be heard above the crowd of tourists and their acompanying guides.From Figueres, we moved on to Girona Catalonia´s largest city. We spent the afternoon on a guided tour of this beautifully conserved town with its impressive medieval centre. We explored the city walls, its many churches and the call ( the Jewish quarter). Until 1492, when Jews had to convert to Catholicism or leave Spani, Girona was home to Catalonia´s second most important Jewish community after Barcelona.The narrow streets of the old town climb above the east bank of the River Onyar, the magnificent Cathedral and the this area of the town allow the visitor fantastic views of the surrounding valley.
By six, we were finished with visits for the day and headed to the coast and our hotel in the town of Platja d´Aro. We thought this was a tease, the hotel was just so great, situated right on the beach. We all had great views, and within five minutes of checking in, some of the guys were already swimming!!! The rugged Costa Brava is great for photography, golden sand, tiny hidden coves and the pines which hug the cliffs. A couple of students headed out early the next morning to catch the beautiful sunrise and stroll along the beach. After a group dinner at the hotel, people headed out to check out the nightlife and Marta and Joanna (Student Services) joined us at a local bar. We were up and out of the hotel on Sunday morning and on the road again. This time inland to the two charming medieval towns of Peratallada and Pals. Truly quaint little places, we really felt like we were in Spain! We also got to see the guests arriving for wedding in the church of Pals. From Pals we could see across clearly to the Pyrenees and the Medas Islands.
Ana joined us again to explain the history behind these two villages.

The afternoon was spent in the small white town of Tossa de Mar, situated in a curved bay ending in a headland protected by medieval walls and towers. The wall and watch towers on this headland, Mont Guardí, at the southern end of the main beach, were built in the 12th and 14th centuries to protect the town from pirate attack. Tossa is an enticing location. Artist Marc Chagall called it his Blue Paradise, attracting a artists community in the 1920s and 30s and it was the first place in Spain to establish a contemporary art museum.

Some of us decided to spend the afternoon on the beach reading notes and studying before the midterms, and others explored the old town and Vila Nova (New Town) with its tangle of 18th-century lanes full of restaurants, bars and shops. This weekend was filled with something for everyone, I truly think that each and everyone found something of interest. It was great to see Catalonia, and get an idea of it as a region outside of its capital, Barcelona. We were equally lucky with the weather, and were able to see the Costa Brava at its very best, spectacular!!

Gracia District Tour

2007-10-11T05:27:00.000-07:00

What better way to see the Gracia district than with local resident and BCEA Student Services Coordinator Marta Nieves? We joined Marta on the evening of October 10 for an insight into the home of Barcelona´s bohemian and arty crowd, Gracia. Barcelona’s
districts, or “barrios”, each have their own distinctive features, and nowhere is this more true than in Gracia. This can largely be accounted for by its history, as it used to be a separate village on the outskirts of the city. Gracia was traditionally a working class district, the location for much industry, particularly textiles, and small scale artisans. As Barcelona grew, Gracia became part of the bustling centre.

We stopped off in `A Casa Portuguesa´, a Portuguese delicatessen and café, and tried some sweet and savoury specialities. Marta pointed a variety of great places to eat and go out in and around the Plazas that characterise the Gracia district, the most famous square is the Plaça del Sol, which is always busy both by day and by night. The district is peppered with a mix of diverse restaurants, there really is something for everyone; Japanese, Arabian, Mexican.
The district also has its fair share of impressive modernist buildings and is a fascinating place to walk around and photograph.

As we found out on this walkaround, it is definitely worth spending some time in Gracia, both by day and night, and there is plenty to discover.

Montserrat

2007-10-08T04:41:00.000-07:00

On Friday 5 October, we took a coach and headed out of Barcelona for a BCEA Day Trip to the mountain of Montserrat, about an hour North West of Barcelona. We were accompanied by two guides, giving us the chance to have a guided tour in english or spanish.

There was lots to take in as Montserrat is a place of great religious significance, and natural beauty. The great views and spectacular rock formations and sheer drops make it popular with climbers and walkers. We took a mini hike to Lovers´ Cross ( see photos).
As one of the guides explained to us `Montserrat´ literally means `jagged mountain´, this peculiar rock formation is visible from a great distance. Montserrat is the site of a Benedictine abbey, Santa María de Montserrat. Montserrat is also home to one of the oldest boys´ choirs (Escolania) in Europe. These World Famous Choir boys sing Gregorian chants and religious choral music. We were lucky enough to hear one of their recitals in the basilica.
After a busy morning we got tickets to up to the top of the mountain on the Funicular Sant Joan, and enjoyed the view while we ate a picnic lunch.
Some of us bought typical local products that locals were selling from market stalls, there was a selection of sheeps´and goats´cheese honey, fig and date cakes! All delicious.

Highly recommended.

Degustación de Pintxos

2007-10-04T01:53:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Last night we were introduced to the world of pintxos, the Basque equivalent to tapas. This delicious and extremely attractive `finger food´ was great fun. With a refreshing glass of Txakoli, (Basque white wine) in one hand and a pintxo in the other, laughs were guaranteed!!
One of the magic things about pintxos is the variety, and all the truly amazing combinations of flavours. The table was covered with plates, each carrying an impressive collection of beautifully presented pintxos. Marisco (seafood), jamón (ham), quesos (cheeses) combined in different ways and mounted on slithers of bread. We were then served with morcilla and chistorra, typical Spanish meaty delicacies. The evening coincided with Cassidy´s birthday, and she was absolutely delighted when the waiter brought out pastelitos decorated with birthday candles.

Una noche muy divertida!!

The Magic Fountain of Montjuic

2007-10-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

On thursday, September 19, 2007 we visited the Magic Fountain of Montjuic, the fountain first spouted on 19 May 1929 during the Great Universal Exhibition and continues to thrill and delight visitors to Barcelona today. In the summer months, the fountain delivers a spectacular display of colour, light, sound and water acrobatics. We went along with our trusty BCEA guide Marta Nieves. As she explained the history and background to the fountain we took in this impressive sight. It´s a must see!!

Tarragona Day Trip

2007-10-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

On Friday, September 15, BCEA had an included day trip to the Roman town of Tarragona.

We spent a beautiful and sunny day in this coastal town.

In the morning we had a very interesting guided tour of Tarraco, the old Roman city. We visited the Archeological Boulevard and the Roman Walls, the Pretorium, the Roman Circus and the amphitheatre. We were even able to see a typical religious Spanish wedding in the cathedral of Tarragona!! As they came out of the church, the bride and groom were showered with rice ( instead of confetti)!!

The town was in the midst of celebrating the Santa Tecla Holiday, ( Santa Tecla is Tarragona´s patron saint) and many activities were taking place around downtown.

For lunch we had some spanish specialities, such as paella, seafood and tapas.

We spent the afternoon on the beach, swimming and laying about the sand!! It was just a perfect day!!!

Photos Zaragoza

2007-04-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Exploring Zaragoza and Aragon

2007-04-13T07:29:00.000-07:00

BCEA Students take an overnight excursion to Zaragoza, Aragon, and Belchite

The weekend of March 2, 2007 BCEA organized a trip to the city of Zaragoza in the province of Aragon, and to the ghost town of Belchite, a small town that was destroyed during a large battle in the Spanish Civil War. Students arrived in Zaragoza, checked-in to the hotel and enjoyed a guided tour of the city. This is the place where the “Mudejar” architecture style was born, a mixture of building materials and styles from the reign of the Muslims with the traditional styles of the Christian kings, who would later re-conquer the province. BCEA first visited, Basilica de Nuestras Sra. Del Pilar, a cathedral showcasing this unique architectural style, which can only be found in certain areas of Spain. It was very impressive. Later enjoyed the sunshine the main square of Zaragoza , Zaragoza Placa and learned that it was one of the largest plazas in all of Spain. On the final leg of the Zaragoza tour we visited a giant Muslim palace called Palaco Azara. While the outside was impressive, the inside architecture of the Mudejar style was even more so, showcasing intricate details, painted ceilings, and grand reception halls. That evening we enjoyed a traditional Aragonese dinner. The food was fantastic and included several traditional appetizers, salads, a lamb dish, and lemon smoothies for dessert. The following day we travelled to the small town of Belchite, a town that was completely destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and was never rebuilt. Our guides told us that a major battle had occurred there between the Liberals and the Fascists in which 10,000 people were killed in a matter of 13 days. It was a very raw, humbling experience because everything was left just as it was 70 years ago. We toured two ruined churches and walked through deserted streets, barely able to imagine the horrors that had occurred in the city. After our visit to Belchite and another excellent meal, we headed for home, but not before stopping off to visit some beautiful scenery in the Aragon countryside. It is very different from Catalunya, appearing more like a desert with rolling hills and quaint villages scattered in between. Overall, it was very interesting and fun trip; I know that many of the students were glad to see a different part of Spain and other places that they wouldn’t normally get to visit. Personally, I was extremely impressed by what we saw, and I would highly recommend the trip to other BCEA students in future semesters.

BCEA Students get a taste of Local Catalan Culture

2007-04-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

30 BCEA students headed off to a small town outside of Tarragona this past Saturday to enjoy one of Cantalunya's most special events: the Calcotada.

Onion lovers unite! This special event is one of the many cultural events planned by BCEA that offer students a way to delve into the local culture. This well-loved Catalan tradition is a yearly event which features dishes celebrating a close cousin of the onion: calcots. After visiting one of the small local towns and hearing about its history, students then enjoyed a traditional meal and celebration which they may not have experienced if left to their own devices.

BCEA students take a bike tour of Barcelona

2007-04-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

Some Madrid Trip Images

2006-05-04T05:51:00.000-07:00

We go to Madrid

2006-05-03T09:22:00.001-07:00

Abril 28 - 30 BCEA had its weekend excursion to Madrid where we took full advantage of the weekend, visiting several monuments, going out to dinner as a group, doing some shopping at local markets and exploring the Madrid night life, as well. The weather was beautiful, with the sky blue and sunny and el Parque del Retiro, one of Madrid´s main park spaces, humming with life - couples rolling around in the grass, families pushing their children in strollers, university-aged students playing the drums (as you can imagine, el Parque del Retiro was definitely one fo the highlights of the trip, with many students choosing to spend mucho of their free time on Sunday there). El Palacio Real (Royal Palace) was fascinating, in its own right, with its over 2000 thousand rooms consisting in the royal ball room, the reception room for official state visits with an actual throne for the queen and king, a music room with a collection of straticaster violins from the 18th century each valued at several million euros (and that must be played at least 6 times a year so as to maintain the sound quality of the wood), and the Royal Armory, just to mention a few. The Prado was a winner for its complete collection of works by Goya and Velazquez. El Museo Thyssen was also well worth the visit for its comprehensive collection of Impressionism and post-Impressionism works by Gauguin, Lautrec, Monet and Renoir. We also did a tour with our guide of central Madrid, also known as el Mardid de los Austrias (Austrian Madrid - seen in its Hapsburg-style architecture), which consists of Plaza Mayor, la Puerta del Sol and City Hall. While Friday evening and Saturday were filled with guided tours of the mentioned monuments, Sunday was free time to do as one pleased. A few students went to Escorrial, a beautiful provincial town outside of the city where some great wine is produced. Others opted for shopping at the Rastro (Madrid´s famous flee-market), visiting the Reina Sofia Museum and spending sun-filled hours at the Buen Retiro Park and the Campo de Moro park. Madrid is definitely a city with a lot of attractions, and one could easily spend days exploring what it has to offer.
Madrid, hands down, is a fabulous place to visit. There is a lot to do, the people are friendly, and the night life is excellent; in short, a visit to Spain´s capital is well worth the time and effort. While Barcelona could seem more cosmopolitan and European, perhaps more Mediterranean (being located on the Meditarranean Sea), Madrid could seem to be the more quintessential "Spanish" city (which would make sense because it is directly in the center of the country and it is the capital of Spain). From the point of view of a traveler, or a visiting student, the cities complement eachother well each offering its own vibe, distinct in some ways but both sharing the same vibrant Spanish essence. In all ways the excursion was a success. Travelling by train we got there in a short amount of time (the train ride is beautiful), leaving us with a lot of time to enjoy the city. We saw a lot of sights in the two and a half days that we were there. We ate well, went out, and, en fin, enjoyed ourselves immensely. Getting into the mix of a new scene is a dose of fresh air; it needs to be done every now and again.

La Semana Santa (cont´d)

2006-04-27T07:00:00.001-07:00

Adam Levy, on the other hand, chose to go aventure around Italy for his spring break. Accompanied by some travel companions, he did Florence and then the Italian coast, spending a good part of his time in Capris. Great food, great wine, architecture, night life, and the beautiful mediterranean coast - how can you go wrong there? The weather was ideal, with sunny and clear skys. From the looks of things it was one of those trips that makes you say, damn life is good! Italy was a wonderful experience and a contrast from Barcelona - it seemed more provincial and less cosmopolitan. Like Barcelona the food was great, though different of course, and the people were energetic and open. Speaking of tans, Adam definitely took care of his this spring break. In life, it´s all about prioritizing, or so they say. I guess at times it´s best to throw concerns and planning to the wind and live the moment to the fullest. Carp diem, Carp diem.

La Semana Santa (cont´d)

2006-04-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

La Semana Santa, the Time to Travel

2006-04-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

Just about every student I know of traveled this spring break. It´s great. Everyone comes back with a great tan, relaxed and happy as can be. It does wonders for one´s physical/mental well-being to travel around continental Europe. While destinations were distinct, and all very interesting, here are two examples that both seemed like fun and interesting trips.

Iana Petkova went to the very Spanish city of Salamanca, where la Semana Santa is celebrated with religious processions symbolizing the passion of Christ and the spirit of penitence (young men bear the heavy platform on their backs as a form of suffering for their sins, and thus purifying themselves). According to Iana, Salamanca is a beautiful city - clean, the people were exceptionally friendly, and although there were things to do at night, the atmosphere was a lot more relaxed than that of, say, Barcelona or Madrid. Salamanca is a great destination for those looking for a very authentically Spanish destination and to spend a little bit of down time. Nevertheless, as a university town, there are quite a lot of things to do.

The Earth Fair Comes to Barcelona

2006-04-25T03:03:00.000-07:00

The Earth Fair Comes to Barcelona
April 22 and 23 saw the Earth Fair (la Ferie de la Tierra) come to Barcelona held at el Passeig de Lluís Companys, the large plaza that lies inbetween l´Arc de Triomf and el Parc de la Ciutadella (normally the fair takes place at el Parc de la Ciutadella but due to maintenance and construction being done at the park, it wasn´t possible this year). A large stage at the entrance of the paseo, immediately behind el Arco de Triunfo, held musical performances and talks given about the dangers of nuclear energy and the viability of energy alternatives that exist. An energetic point of reunion, the stage held dynamic drum and bongo sessions had hundreds of people dancing. Once beyond the stage, three large passages were home to stands, tents and even large Teepees, each one representing a special interest group, selling arts and crafts, selling ethnic foods, or giving demonstrations of some alternative healing art, such as massage. Two days filled with music, food, activities and people. It was an excellent opportunity to have a good time and learn new things, as well. The Earth Fair coincides with Earth Day, and in Barcelona the fair is dedicated to the nuclear accident that happened in Chernoble, Russia in 1986 and which resulted in the catastrophic loss of life and damage to the surrounding region (to this day there is a terribly elevated rate of cancer in children and adults). The fair also coincides with el Día de Sant Jordi, the Catalan version of St. Valentine´s Day. Tradition dictates that men give their sweetheart a rose, and women give a book to their man (though with modern times the exchange of roses and books has become more varied and flexible). Earth Fair, for these reasons, celebrates the conservation of the earth, the importance of unity and friendship, as well as the cultivation of spiritual awareness and the sweetness of romantic love, all wrapped up into one bright sunny weekend; not bad. Having spent the weekend there, myself, I would definitely recommend it to anyone living in Barcelona or merely passing through on vacation. It is always an encouraging experience to see diversity being celebrated side-by-side (for example, animal rights people, who maintain that eating meet is murder, and right across was a tent serving fabulous Argentinian steak and sausages for six euros a plate). Each group, or each person has their truth, their version of viewing the priorities of the present moment; who says that these visions cannot coexist in harmony? The earth is home to diversity, for everything under the sun exists means a lot. The spirit of la Ferie de la Tierra is to embrace differences because the interaction of such differences results in the evolution of ideas, of concepts, which takes place through new experiences. We can all benefit from the experience of unity; in our modern times, we need to feel some connection to the earth amidst rapid change.

BCEA Students Take a Trip to Morocco

2006-03-28T04:35:00.000-08:00

Liz Kiernan, Shannon Green, Anne-Marie McDonnell, Adam Levy and Alison Ledworowski took the opportunity to visit Morroco last weekend. When asked about their experience, they all agreed that it was an amazing experience, unlike what they had expected it to be. Liz and Shannon commented that it was amazing to visit a Muslim country: "we would walk down the street and everyone was staring at us, no matter where we went". For anyone from the occident, the cultural differences are cause to stop and think. Among those differences, of course, is the role that women occupy in society. "Once it dusk came around I didn´t see any women out", commented Shannon. Liz Kiernan with her head of blondish-red hair was met by unmasked curiosity one day on the street when a young woman came up to her to touch her hair. When asked about the highlights of the trip, "Morrocan bath" definitely ranks up there. We were stripped down naked by this old Moroccan women, and then bathed, massaged, flattened, stretched...the whole works", Shannon told me. Another highlight was visiting the Hassan II Mosque, designed by the French architect, Michel Pinceau, and a tribute to King Hassan II. Started in 1980 the mosque was inaugerated in 1993. Situated on the coast looking out over the Atlantic ocean, the mosque has the largest minaret in the world (standing at 210 meters) and is second is size only to the Shah Faisal Mosque near Islambad. It is possibly the only mosque open to non-muslims and is a master piece of marble and fine wood design. The mosque accomodates 25,000 worshippers inside and another 80,000 in the patio area. Definitely a sight to behold. What about the food?? (one of my favorite questions). The gang didn´t have much feedback to give me. Apparently communication was a problem, as the first language is Moroccan, a dialect of Arabic, and the second official language is French, apparently there were some problems communicating at meal times. Interestingly enough, there was a Kentucky Fried Chicken (wooo, menos mal!). When in an unfamiliar place, caution becomes the rule of thumb: our travelers opted for vegetarian meals (although, Morocco has an internationally celebrated cuisine). Summing up the experience, they all agreed that it was an excellent experience and would definitely recommend it.

Trevor Edmunds

Photos of Las Fallas

2006-03-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

Las Fallas

2006-03-27T07:49:00.000-08:00

Elijah Katz had the unique opportunity to witness la Nit de Foc (la noche de fuego) from an apartment looking out onto a plaza in the city of Valencia. For those of you unfamiliar with Las Fallas, it is an old tradition that takes place each year in Valencia, March 12 - 19, in which each neighborhood of the city proper presents its falla (a satirical representation of a mythological, religious or social charicature), they are judged, and then, one by one, they are burned to the ground in the climatic Nit de Foc. The whole celebration lasts a week, but the height of the festival is the Nit de Foc, when a year´s hard labor and dedication is set ablaze and burns into nothingness within so many minutes. From first-hand accounts, it is an emotionally stirring night. Some people burst into tears upon seeing their beautiful falla burnt to the ground. Others are busy celebrating the night away, attaining new levels of fiestive abandonment. Despite the way in which las fallas is enjoyed, it is cetain to bring A LOT of people to the relatively small and relaxed city of Valencia. Authorities say that the city swelled with as many as 400,000 people for the Nit de Foc alone. 400,000 people. Wow. Seizing the opportunity Elijah Katz caught the train from Barcelona on Friday evening and stayed at a friend´s apartment in Valencia until Monday morning. The following are some photos he took of the weekend he was there. As one can easily see, it´s no wonder that so many people would flock to the city for las fallas, with such beautiful charicatures built through hard work only to be burnt admist a lively celebration; we are reminded perhaps of the beauty that one life time would represent, and the struggles we undergoe to build something beautiful. The best celebrations, I would say, encompasse life´s journey in a symbolic way. Perhaps we don´t see it that way at the time of the festivity, but its meaning is there, always, and therein lies the real celebration.

Trevor Edmunds

Barcelona se pone guapa para la primavera

2006-03-23T05:02:00.000-08:00

How does one describe the spring time? Green, fresh, vibrant, perhaps an injection of vitality, inspiration and new direction? Describing spring time, just like describing any other observable thing, is an exercise in painting images with words, the most important medium we actually have. To describe Barcelona entering the spring in all its beauty and energy, I choose to use the analogy of a beautiful woman (and excuse me if my analogy would seem chauvinistic; no intentions to convey my ideas of social roles here, simply an honest statement of that which comes to mind), a woman with a very characteristic look, getting dressed up for a special occasion. Not merely a formality, like the baptism of some distant friend´s kid, but an occasion in which you want to dress up and feel beautiful, and not to show-off or to demonstrate something to someone, but simply because you feel it in that moment. March 21 is the official start of spring and it actually really did feel like spring on Tuesday in the city: bright sunshine, clear blue skies and the best thing of all, a visible difference in the people out on the streets. In spring time people have more of a bounce in their step, they smile more and they take more time to look up at you and greet you with a friendly, "hola!". Definitely buen rollo, as they like to say around here. And as spring is an injection of freshly initiated movement, ideas and projects, people begin "warming-up" for summer, becoming more active and "getting in shape", and even formulating plans for summer which is right around the corner. Posted are a few shots of the city. I don´t know that they will convey the fact that it´s spring again in Barcelona, but I hope they at least give the impetus to attempt to imagine how things might be in a foreign city in one of the more vibrant times of the year.

Trevor Edmunds

Photos of the Montserrat Excursion

2006-03-22T05:25:00.000-08:00

A Day in Montserrat

2006-03-21T04:51:00.000-08:00

Climbing the mountain in our bus on the winding mountain trail up to Montserrat, the sky was grey and overcast. The views of the mountain ranges to the north and the plains to the south were vast, very vast: they made you feel like a small part of existence, a drop in the bucket, albeit a beautiful bucket at that. I love going up to Montserrat, but then again I love visiting any natural beauty in nature. I gives me a sense of peace and inner fullness, which can be difficult to maintain living in the city. And although I´m not a religious type, there is something holy about the location of the basílica, nestled inbetween imposing yet harmoniously formed rock walls, and visiting the Black Madonna (the first time I touched her I swear I felt a jolt beginning at the tips of my fingers, running up through my arm). When we got off the bus we were met by cold, several degrees colder than in Barcelona. We proceeded to visit the Basílica de Montserrat, the Black Madonna, and then we took the funicular to the surrounding foothills, which was taking one step closer to nature: the surrounding foothills and chaparrel were shrouded in mist, much like the history of the Christian monks and ascetics who habitated cave dwellings and mountain hermitages in the area. We walked back down the mountain, back to what is known as Montserrat, taking in vast views of the countryside and the town of Monistrol down below. The views were picturesque like a series of postcards. By then the sun had come out of hiding behind the clouds and our spirits definitely reflected this. After arriving to the plaza of the basílica once again, and having a short break, we entered the Basilica at 12:45 and watched the boy´s choir come out and sing the traditional devotional song to the Black Virgin, followed by another devotional song. Lunch, time to relax, the Museum of Montserrat (which has a pretty impressive collection of paintings from a variety of artists and archaeological relics) and we were on the bus by 4:30 pm, making the descent back to the city, back to civilization and back to the "reality" of our busy lives. It seems fitting that a monastic community and basilica, majestic in its own right, would be located at the top of a mountain with civilization below; it would seem to reflect the intentions of the people who started Montserrat and the ideas that lie behind any such religious/spiritual monument. Regardless of spirituality, it was an enculturing experience and a very pleasant break from the business of Barcelona.

Trevor Edmunds

Carnaval Photos

2006-03-09T08:12:00.000-08:00

Rio de Janeiro is for wimps!

2006-03-09T07:02:00.000-08:00

Sitges is for real Carnaval party goers! ARRGGHHH! All right, all right, we won´t over do it here, but we must give credit where credit is due. It´s true that Sitges, a small picturesque beach community right south of Barcelona, isn´t by any means a Rio de Janeiro style hotspot, but it does have a formidable Carnaval scene. The biggest night is usually the last Tuesday night in the month of Febuary, and the following Wednesday is the biggest day, but let´s talk about Tuesday night. Since Wednesday was like a ghost town here, at BCEA, I gathered pretty quickly that a lot of students must have taken part in the festivities Tuesday night. I definitely enjoy a good celebration, and I would´ve liked to have gone, but as I had to work early Wednesday morning, there was no way that I was going out for Carnaval, in Sitges, Tuesday night. 27 years old and over the hill? Perhaps just a terrible lack of dedication on my part. Ah, whatever, I need my sleep. Besides, I comfort myself, there is always next year. For many students abroad for the semester, or the year for that matter, there is no next year, and there is no time like the present, and so, the famous carnaval celebration in Sitges is an event not to be missed. It makes sense, too...or at least to me it does. It is a theme that I have dealt with before, the fact that study abroad students live their experience the most completely, sincerely and intensely possible. It is a question of time and the uniqueness of the opportunity when presented. As it turned out, many students at BCEA seized on the opportunity and went south to Sitges Tuesday night. Adam Levy from Florida Atlantic University, a student with an upbeat, direct and energetic disposition, strolled on into the center Wednesday (after Carnaval Tuesday night), with some pretty meaningful bags underneath his eyes.

-Adam, what the heck happened to you??, I asked surprised to see him like that.

He just sort of grinned and muttered,-Carnaval was really fun.

Hmm, right. Clearly Adam wasn´t in the frame of mind to answer my questions and so I didn´t press the subject. I then talked to Shannon Green, from Lake Forest College, what she thought of Carnaval when she told me that she had gone.

-It was great! It was such a cool atmosphere, with kids, grandparents, parents, college students...just a big mix and everyone was having so much fun! It was the first big street celebration I´d ever been to and I was like, wow, I feel so safe...and the energy is so positive! It was great.

So, dancing, costume parades, imaginative booths and floats...all the typical things of Carnaval and any good celebration, for that matter. I think next year, work or no work, rain or shine, I´ll have to go and check it out. Complacency, be gone! Posted are some photos from Adam and Shannon.

Trevor Edmunds

Elijah´s pictures of Switzerland, cont´d

2006-03-02T04:25:00.000-08:00

Elijah and friends, Grafitti in Zurich, and a shot of the Swiss country side.

Students on the move at BCEA

2006-03-02T03:32:00.000-08:00

It never ceases to amaze me the number of trips a given student will do in a semester´s time while studying in Barcelona. I swear, EVERY weekend it seems like they´re off to a new destination, and I completely understand their anxiety to travel: with a limited time in Europe it´s only logical that they would want to take advantage of every opportunity they have available. Actually, as Student Services Coordinator, I must admit that I do live just a little vicariously through their adventures, related through the detailed stories they tell upon return to Barcelona (which almost always happens on Monday, which is great for me because I have all kinds of work to do, and Mondays can be a bit rough, and so they give me a nice dose of travel alegría). Let´s see if I can give a little sampling of BCEA student movement: the Heiniken Beer Museum outside of Amsterdam, extreme adventure sports in Interlocken, La Alhambra Moorish Castle Fortress in Granada, people-watching and cafe-drinking in Paris, the bustling activity of Dublin, posh night clubs in London, the Holocast Museum in Munich, the Leather Market in Florence, and the list could go on. Low-cost continental airline companies in Europe and university students itching to see the world...what else would one expect? Nevertheless, I am impressed by the enthusiasm and commitment I see for strapping on a back-pack and heading to new and distinct places throughout Europe.
The following photos are from BCEA student, Elijah Katz, who went to visit a friend in Switzerland last weekend. Elijah stayed in a small farm house above a small provincial town called Kublis, and took advantage of the fabulous skiing of the region. According to Elijah the skiing is great: there is an intricate set of lifts throughout the entire region, as opposed to a designated area of lifts that one would usually find with skii resorts in the US. For approximately $35 you can ski all day. Besides skiing, Elijah explored Zurich, which features some pretty formidable graffiti, among other attractions.

Trevor Edmunds

Photos of Figueres - Girona Excursion

2006-02-23T08:28:00.000-08:00

some more shots of our outing Saturday, Feb 18:

Figueres - Girona Excursion

2006-02-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

What does Figueres offer to the open-eyed traveller?
With out a doubt, the answer is the Dali Museum, the home of 20th century surrealist legend Salvador Dalí, and his finest works. Fitting because it was his place of birth and home for the first and latter parts of his life. What about Girona? It is the location of one of Spain’s best-conserved medieval quarters, amidst lush green forests in the immediate surroundings, and with spectacular views of the Pyrenee Mountain range to the north. Together, they make for an ideal day-long excursion due to their proximity, and the fact that they are but a stone throw away from Barcelona. Seizing the opportunity, BCEA staff and students enjoyed a beautiful spring day, Saturday, Feb 18, between the two places.
Scraping ourselves out of bed, early Saturday morning, we met in front of the center where we had a bus waiting for us, and we quickly made our way to the Dalí Museum in Figueres. Once there, we met our guide, had a stroll through central Figueres, where the guide informed us of the eccentricities the great artist in his youth (did you know that Dalí used to stroll down La Rambla of Figueres, in the glaring heat of summer time at noon, dressed in suit, tie, jacket and trench coat? For his pañuelo(handkerchief) he would stuff a tortilla española(flattened egg omelette) in his coat jacket. Hmmm, by many standards Dalí was, indeed, crazy, insane, maybe even from another planet. In his own defense, Dalí responded, “the only difference between and a crazy person and myself is that I’m not crazy”. I would have to agree… Dalí did know, after all, what he was doing. His museum reflects a precision of artistry unparalleled in the world of realist and surrealist painting, sculptures, metal work, and the play of mirrors and reflections (behold his portrait of Abe Lincoln with and without a camera lens and you will understand my point). Was there anything this guy couldn´t do? One could easily spend hours lazily wandering around the museum, taking in the mirage of sights and letting the mind marvel at the genius; and genius Dalí was without the hint of any doubt. Was he human? I don’t know. If he was human, I don’t know what I or the majority of people are. Our two plus hours came to an end quickly and it was time to go to Girona!
Pulling into the peaceful city of Girona, it was lunch time and so we took the time to eat, relax in the sun, and off we went to explore the medieval quarter of the city. “Civilisation” came to Girona with the Romans before the birth of Christ, and from there, the city has seen a melange of culture and societies pass through its streets through the ages. Walking through the old quarter is definitely a treat, and one can actually feel the history that lies in the stones streets and buildings. La Catedral was a fascinating story in and of itself: it is the single largest Cathedral in all of Europe that is made from only one knave (I’m no architect and so I cannot tell you why that’s important, but, rest assured, the church is big!). With each ruling people that came to power, they decided to upgrade the place of worship, utilizing the original structure, or, in the very least its foundations, and making it still bigger. The huge Cathedral is the end result, and it was quite fascinating to learn that its life started as a Roman temple dedicated to pagan gods. Spring gave us her finest with a bright sun and cool breezes keeping us moving as we made our way along the ancient fortress walls (that surround the old quarter and used to mark the city limits) and through botanical gardens located behind the cathedral. Before long the day winded to a close and we strolled slowly back to the bus.
At around 7 pm, we piled onto the bus and made our way home, to Barcelona, as the sun set and some of us drifted off napping from a day of full travel. Shared experiences such as the one we had always unites people, and I felt happy for having shared the day with the students. It was a good excursion.

by Trevor Edmunds

Photos of the Magical Fountains

2006-02-10T07:29:00.000-08:00

2006-02-10T07:02:00.000-08:00

The Magical Fountains of Barcelona

-That was a great recommendation! Thank you very much!

Elijah Katz, Microbiology major from the University of Iowa, came into my office Tuesday afternoon, beaming with enthusiasm.

-Huh?

I couldn’t remember what recommendation I had given him (normal when you have nearly forty students asking for advice concerning things to do in Barcelona).

-Yah, you know, the Magical Fountains….AMAZING...incredible!, definitely a point of interest for anyone visiting Barcelona.

As it turns out, Elijah and some other students on the program at BCEA were at the Museu Nacional d´Art de Catalunya, located in the foothills of Montjuïc, which lie near the South-East border of Barcelona city, where the city meets the Mediterranean Sea. Home to the Olympic Stadium (Home to the Olympic Games of 1992), several museums, a formidable military base from years back, not to mention other tourist sites, Montjuïc is a great place to visit. Not only does it have cultural points of interest, but it also has great views of the city to the west and expansive views of the Mediterranean Sea to the East. Perhaps most importantly, one can find peace and quite in the green botanical gardens going up the mountain. Amidst a city always humming with energy and activity, one learns to value this.

Elijah and the gang were heading out of the museum at dusk, descending the many flights of stairs that lead to Plaza España down below when something unexpected happened. The smaller water fountains along the water canals that descend parallel the stairs came to life, gurgling and beginning to shoot water up in the air. Classical music began playing out of hidden speakers – what was going on here? As sort of a gut reaction, Elijah whipped out his camera - one never knows what will be encountered in a new country. As ready as he was, the sight that he encountered next put him on his heals, and made his eye brows, such was his disbelief at what he was seeing. Down below the biggest water fountain, located at the base of the Montjuïc, the BIG BERTA of the water fountains, erupted into life, shooting gallons upon gallons of water high up into the air (25, 30, 40 feet?), creating different shapes and patterns. Vibrant colours – blue, green, violet, among others – shined through the water, illuminating the fountains´play. Adding still more to the effect of the show, the fountains seemed to actually dance with the classical music that was blasting from God knows where.

-It was unique and impressive…all the engineering that must have gone into it, with the lights shinning through the water,...and everything!

It was rewarding to see such enthusiasm, and I was happy that some of the students had so quickly taken the initiative to go check out one of the most beautiful sights of Barcelona. Pictures always speak much louder than words, and so, I have posted here a few from the 50 -60 that Elijah took in that spell-bound state.

Trevor Edmunds

Students arrive and kick-off the Spring 2006 semester

2006-02-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

Students Fall into the Swing of Things Quickly
Students everywhere from New York, California, Missouri, among many others, arrived to Barcelona January 23rd for the Spring 2006 semester. From the staff point of view, it´s going to be a fun semester working with a great of group of students! Students have quickly opened up to one another, from the appearance of things, and are already getting to know the various plazas, bars, cultural facilities and other hang-out spots of interest around the city.