Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Swimming on another coast now...

2006-07-04T06:30:00.000+02:00

Would you be so kind as to follow me here?

Thanks.

Stay classy.

TGIF

2006-06-20T19:39:00.001+02:00

Celebrating the end of classes, being seniors (most of us) and my last day at TGIFridays, Gran Via, Madrid. Clockwise from front left: Anton, Michael, Brian, Jane, Kaitlin, Britney, Nikki, Amanda, Phaedra.

My favorite place to be...

2006-06-20T19:39:00.000+02:00

Plaza de Espana.

Saying Goodbye...

2006-06-20T19:37:00.000+02:00

We stopped for a few photos with the sign of our building.

Sure, its nicely painted now, but when we arrived in January it had a big green swastika on it. Nikki.

Preparing for our Ethics final

2006-06-20T19:35:00.000+02:00

With Coronitas on the hill. I had two. ;)

Ladies and Gentleman, allow me to introduce...

2006-06-20T19:32:00.000+02:00

Silvia "Venga Venga" Iglesias. Silvia was our incredible Advanced Grammar professor who left us with more memories than we could possibly count. Before I had this photo, I tried to describe her as a cross between the Queen of Hearts from Disney's Alice in Wonderland, a Hogwart's professor from Harry Potter and a crack addict. She taught us a lot, ran around the room a lot and screamed a lot. And we loved her.

The Last Day of School!

2006-06-20T19:31:00.000+02:00

Which was also my last day. Period. Which could explain how nasty I look in this shot. ;)

My Last Facultad Tortilla

2006-06-20T19:30:00.000+02:00

PS

2006-05-24T16:56:00.000+02:00

I need a job. Stat.

Stay classy, Madrid.

2006-05-23T16:21:00.000+02:00

Sassy but Classy

2006-05-23T16:12:00.000+02:00

Nicole, Kirstin, Maura and Amanda.

Yep, we're American.

2006-05-23T16:11:00.000+02:00

The entire MU Madrid Spring 2006 program making a scene ((as only we can)) en route to the post-dinner nightclub.

Oh hell.

2006-05-23T16:10:00.000+02:00

Double fisting wine and coffee so that I had the perfect balance of intoxication and energy.

Internet, meet Kevin. Kevin, meet the Internet.

2006-05-23T16:09:00.000+02:00

Gloria Wants You to Let Her Be the Prom Queen.

2006-05-23T16:06:00.000+02:00

This is Brian's perfect picture with Gloria aka "Glor." She's entirely fabulous and 55 years young.

Farewell Dinner

2006-05-23T16:04:00.000+02:00

Dining on unlimited cider and wine, red meat and salad.
Clockwise from the polkadots: Kit, Katie, Henry, Phaedra, Megan, Alan, Andrew, Kristin.

Jane + Kevin = LOVE

2006-05-23T16:02:00.000+02:00

They are this cute. Really.

Farewell Dinner

2006-05-23T16:00:00.000+02:00

We clean up purty good.

Hi, We're Tourists!

2006-05-23T15:47:00.000+02:00

On the double-decker bus ride from Hell.

"Woman with Bird" Miró

2006-05-23T15:45:00.000+02:00

On the roof of the museum.

Barcelona - Round 3

2006-05-23T15:39:00.000+02:00

The parentals and I trotted off for a stint in Barcelona, where we visited the Fundación de Joan Miró. It was a great museum, full of all of Miró's sculpture, paintings and large-scale instalations. My favorite piece was this, the Mercury Fountain.

Look closely, its not water. Its mercury.

Feria de San Isidro

2006-05-23T15:19:00.000+02:00

What ELSE would you win at a carnival game in España?

CURED PORK PRODUCTS!!

El Día de San Isidro

2006-05-23T15:12:00.000+02:00

San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid. His day falls on May 15th and is a big fat holiday for Madrid. They have a giant fair and a pilgrimage to this fountain down in the Marques de Vadillo neighborhood. The pilgrims wait all day in 90 degree heat and beating sun to drink from the fountain, thus guaranteeing a year of good health.

My parents were in town and we went to the feria with Rafa and Afino. It was fascinating and gorgeous. Everyone dresses up, the women in flamenco-like dresses with red carnations in their hair, the men in checkered hats and vests. Even the little kids and babies get dressed up, as if Spanish babies aren't cute enough.

When I asked if I could take a picture, these lovely señoras lined right up for me, breaking into song.

The Perlman Parentals

2006-05-23T15:08:00.000+02:00

Scott and Susan on a Sunday in Retiro Park.

My new Mullet. And yes, I have more friends now.

2006-05-23T15:04:00.000+02:00

This was really just a shot to send to CJ so he stopped freaking out that I cut off all my hair...but I did get like, 3 inches cut off.

Euro Shot #3. My favorite.

2006-05-11T19:51:00.000+02:00

Plaza Espana

2006-05-11T19:48:00.000+02:00

Kara, me, Kathleen, Jane, Eileen and Kirstin.

No one believed I was a cheerleader back in the day. Can't imagine why.

Plaza Espana

2006-05-11T19:47:00.000+02:00

Rafa's job comes with a lot of perks, namely:

Kirstin, me, Kathleen and Jane.

Plaza Retiro

2006-05-11T19:45:00.000+02:00

Kara showing off her Rastro purchase!

Love.

2006-05-11T19:30:00.000+02:00

I think I managed to capture the essences of these two delightful people in this pic. And I love them both. Lots.

A Spanish Slang Lesson

2006-05-11T19:21:00.000+02:00

Botellón
noun, singular
1. a small, outdoor gathering with acquaintances involving alcoholic beverages, most often as
preparation for upcoming evening events also involving intoxication, mischeif and general
rowdiness.
Outside Cave Bar.

Hi Kevin!!!

2006-05-11T19:19:00.001+02:00

Kevin, I gotta admit I had a mini crush on Jane in this shirt.

And I'm sad I won't get to actually meet you when you are in Madrid. Conflicting schedules. Sad.

But nonetheless....a shot of Jane.

Euro Shot #2.

2006-05-11T19:19:00.000+02:00

Madrid, unlike London, is not known for its beer.

2006-05-11T19:18:00.000+02:00

While waiting to get in a club, the girls went around the corner to get a beer.

But it was BAD beer.

But they drank it anyway.

HAIIIIIY!

2006-05-11T19:17:00.000+02:00

Eileen and Kara making a GRAND entrance into Madrid.

Cadaques

2006-05-11T19:16:00.000+02:00

My girls.

2006-05-11T19:15:00.000+02:00

Please note Miss Carmichael's fabulous new sunglasses.

Eileen and Dali

2006-05-11T19:14:00.000+02:00

Dali painted a bunch in Cadaques.

Cadaques

2006-05-11T19:12:00.000+02:00

Cadaques is a tiny town 2.5 hours outside of Barcelona on the coast of Costa Brava. Its pretty much perfect. And it was entirely perfect with Kara and Eileen.

Gustavo?!

2006-05-11T19:09:00.000+02:00

This is the Kermit doll that goes on every group trip with us for some unspecified reason.

But his name is Gustavo, because in Spain, little kids can't say "Kermit." Its a phonetics issue that I could explain but I won't because it would bore you all to tears.

So....Gustavo.

Rafa and Oscar

2006-05-11T19:07:00.000+02:00

Oscar the chain-smoking bus driver was a real pleasure for most of the trip. He played our CD's without complaint, even allowing specific track requests. He boosted or lowered the air conditioning...he was great.

UNTIL he got everyone lost on the way home and what would have been a 5 hour ride to Madrid turned in the to the arm-pit-smelling 12 hour bus ride from hell.

Not that I know. I was on a plane to Barcelona. Ha.

Hyenas in the National Park from HELL

2006-05-11T18:54:00.000+02:00

Euro shot #1

2006-05-11T18:50:00.000+02:00

Requirements for a "Euro Shot":

1. Sass. Lots of it. ((Some would say this is why Kirstin is so damn GOOD at this))
2. No smile. Not even a smidge of a grin.
3. A slight turn of the head.
4. Absolutely no physical contact with anyone else posing in the picture.

Bonus points for sunglasses.

Feets

2006-05-11T18:48:00.000+02:00

I can only identify 3 out of the 4 feet in this picture: Kirstin in Brown, Brian in Blue, me in Black.

If your feet are on the far left, please identify yourself. :)

Santander.

2006-05-11T18:45:00.000+02:00

Me, Janer-Complainer-Chicken, Stone Cold Sullivan, Kata and Cristina No-ay.

Cala de Langre, I guess.

2006-05-11T18:41:00.000+02:00

"Cala de Langre" is really just Spanish for "random spot on the side of a dirt road where Rafa forced us to leave the bus because he promised sort of thought there might be a beach on the other side of that there hill."

Turns out he was right.

With all the talk of leaving Spain...this day has come up in conversation more than once. This is one of those days I won't be able to explain to anyone. Not everyone left the bus to see if Rafa's guess was right. But those of us that did had the most...magical experience. Good friends, barefeet, untouched beach, sunset and surfers...It was paradise, just for us.

The rest of us.

2006-05-11T18:32:00.000+02:00

The rest of us stayed dry.

Brave, Brave Women.

2006-05-11T18:31:00.000+02:00

Megan, Nikki, Trisha and Jenny decided it was a good idea to swim in the Atlantic Ocean on a 60 degree day in April.

Ch-ch-ch-CHIA!

2006-05-11T18:30:00.000+02:00

Outside the Guggenheim, Bilbao.

Bilbao

2006-05-11T18:27:00.000+02:00

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao.

Designed by Frank Gehry, the same architect who designed the band shell in Chicago's Millenium Park.

Where are the brakes?!

2006-05-09T12:49:00.000+02:00

It appears I may be leaving the Iberian peninsula a titch earlier than planned. But I'm still waiting for it to go through, so for now I'll leave it at that so as not to jinx anything.

I cannot begin to process what has happened in the last 5 months. The transformations we've all experienced, the places we've seen, the people we've met and come to love like family, the hardships and tears and homesickness, the giggles and thrills and accomplishments...

When I was 15, I went to Argentina for a summer for a community service project through the American Field Study (AFS). When I came home, my friends and family all wanted to hear about my trip but usually started with something like, "So, how was it?" I couldn't sum up one summer in a conversation...I could not sum up the last 5 months in a novel.

I'm not ready to leave but I'm not sure if I ever will be, be it June 7th or June 5th or May 31st.

May 31st?????

Pics later tonight or tomorrow for sure. The Perlman Parentals arrive Saturday morning. Ha!

Michael.

2006-04-29T16:12:00.000+02:00

Happy Birthday Rafa!

2006-04-29T16:10:00.000+02:00

Jane, Meghan, Rafa, Michael, me, Kathleen and Kaitlin.

Pre-juego-ing

2006-04-29T16:07:00.000+02:00

Before going to Platinum for Rafa's birthday.

Metro.

2006-04-29T16:06:00.000+02:00

Metro Mod Squad

2006-04-29T16:03:00.000+02:00

Kir, Maura and Kathleen.

Elefante!

2006-04-28T17:37:00.000+02:00

Finally...my Spanish family!

2006-04-28T17:31:00.000+02:00

My mother has been BEGGING me for a picture of Alicia and Karolina.

Alicia invited CJ to the piso for tortilla and "una Coca-cola." It was pretty halarious. CJ wowed the socks off Alicia and Karo. They kept saying what a nice boy he was, "muy guapo" with "ojos preciosos". Tell me somethin' I don't know, ladies...

Uh-oh...

2006-04-28T17:27:00.000+02:00

I love this boy and this picture he took so much it almost makes me want to go all TomCruise and start jumping up on couches screaming like a maniac.

But I'll hold it together. Don't worry.

Feliz Cumple, Kid!

2006-04-26T13:49:00.000+02:00

I went home rather early, but this shot really sums up the evening for me... Happy Birthday Kathleen...we love you!!!!

"I'm Kathleen, I'll be your server tonight..."

2006-04-26T13:48:00.000+02:00

Who let this girl behind the bar?!?!

2006-04-26T13:47:00.000+02:00

Clearly, Nacho is not thrilled with his new co-worker.

Wow.

2006-04-26T13:46:00.000+02:00

Birthday Beer Bong Bonanza.

Shakin' it.

2006-04-26T13:45:00.000+02:00

Kir.

Kinky.

2006-04-26T13:44:00.000+02:00

Trisha and Nikki.

Its just like home!

2006-04-26T13:43:00.000+02:00

Flip-cup. Madrid style.

Hola, Guapa.

2006-04-26T13:42:00.000+02:00

Kaitlin.

Snuggles!

2006-04-26T13:40:00.000+02:00

The entirely-too-cute-for-their-own-good Kaitlin and Megan.

Kev, this one's for you!

2006-04-26T13:39:00.001+02:00

Awww....

Falk's 21st

2006-04-26T13:39:00.000+02:00

It may not look like it...but this is actually quite EARLY in the evening...

You say its your birthday... da da da da daaa da...

2006-04-26T13:36:00.000+02:00

Don't worry, it only took 4 takes to get this shot right. HAPPY 21st KATALINA FALK!!!!

Badges, Badges? We don't need no stinkin' badges!

2006-04-26T13:33:00.000+02:00

During our conversation, I made the mistake of saying el ejército ("the army") instead of la guardia real ("the royal guard").

They could not WAIT to bust out their badges and military IDs.

Hey, did I mention the Royal Guard??

2006-04-26T13:25:00.000+02:00

These boys interrupted a perfectly lovely evening of catching up with Jayne over a beer at Cave Bar. Its a long story, but basically once they found some excuse to talk to us, they would not STOP talking to us about the Royal Guard. It went a little bit like this:

"Where are you from?"
"Chicago"
"Oh, I am from Extremadura. But I work FOR THE KING in Madrid"

"What are you studying?"
"A little bit of everything, mostly Spanish."
"Oh, I am studying in the ROYAL GUARD."

"What are you drinking?"
"Corona..."
"Allow me to buy you a drink on behalf of the ROYAL GUARD"

The evening also included Jose Luis (looking too cool hugging me below) getting down on one knee to kiss my hand. I refused to let him get down on his knees in the middle of the bar to kiss my hand and he said (wait for it....wait for it...)

"THAT IS HOW WE DO IT IN THE ROYAL GUARD!!!!"

Well, if you insist. ;)

Reyes, Jayne, me and Jose Luis. I love this picture.

Stay tuned...

2006-04-18T18:02:00.000+02:00

So much more to come. And I only have 6 weeks left to fit it all in. Can you believe it? Cuz I sure as hell can't.

--more CJ paparrazi pictures...once he sends the ones he took to me.
--Cantabria with the entire Marquette group at the end of April.
--Straight from Cantabria to Barcelona to meet up with Kara and Eileen in SPAIN
--Barcelona to Cadaques with my girls...blissful vacay!
--Back to Madrid to show them my turf. We're gonna show the madrilenos how its done.
--Scott and Susan (aka the parentals) arrive May 13th!
--Barcelona with my parents
--Good-bye dinner with the Marquette group (tear...)
--um, finals? Or something?

6 weeks. Unreal.

Everybody say, "Hi Kevin!"

2006-04-18T17:57:00.000+02:00

Dear Kevin,

I apologize for not updating my blog in a long time. Trust me, when you come visit Jane, you'll understand. Blogging was not exactly a priority. I know I talked to you about 5 minutes after I took this picture and promised a photo of Jane with the roses CJ and I bought for you for Jane (is everyone still following?)...but see, Jane came over to our hotel apartamento to drink the 2 bottles of wine CJ and I bought in Chinchon. So I forgot to take a picture of Jane with the flowers. But I'll get one, Kev, I promise!

I hope this doesn't ruin our friendship,
Laura Jane, CJ, Wine and Potatoe Chips. Yum yum and yum.

Bora-Bora

2006-04-18T17:50:00.000+02:00

Don't we all looked a little freaked out here? Maybe thats because I'm holding Dan's drink, "The Testament" which is SMOKING.

Look at it, folks. Thats smoke!

They were all very tasty and the extra long straws mean you don't have to exert any physical energy at all to drink them!

"Reunited and it feels so gooo-oood..."

2006-04-18T17:48:00.000+02:00

DGuenth and CJ sharing a loveseat at Bora-Bora.

Silliness

2006-04-18T17:45:00.000+02:00

CJ going down the up escalator in the Metro.

Passion, Chinchon

2006-04-18T17:44:00.001+02:00

The Crucifixtion* *No human beings were injured in this reenactment of the Passion of Christ.

Passion, Chinchon.

2006-04-18T17:44:00.000+02:00

JC.

After!

2006-04-18T17:43:00.001+02:00

Last supper.

Before....

2006-04-18T17:43:00.000+02:00

Chinchon

2006-04-18T17:42:00.000+02:00

Precious.

Plaza, Chinchon

2006-04-18T17:41:00.000+02:00

Chinchon, Plaza.

2006-04-18T17:38:00.000+02:00

The plaza in Chinchon, which still has a dirt floor.

We are standing in front of the mountain they build for their processionals. In Chinchon, the townspeople all reenact the Passion of Christ, starting with the last supper and ending with the ressurrection. It takes 250 people to pull it off, which is pretty much the whole town. It was really neat to watch.

Chinchon

2006-04-18T17:37:00.000+02:00

The gardens in the Parador.

Chinchon is not in China.

2006-04-18T17:35:00.000+02:00

We stayed in the Parador Chinchon. Paradors are all over Europe and are ancient buildings that get restored and converted into hotels for tourism. Ours was an old monastery and completely beautiful. Complete with chocolates on our pillows. This is the view from our balcony. I'm a small town girl at heart.

Bright side.

2006-04-18T17:34:00.000+02:00

These are poppies, I think? They grow all over on the sides of the roads.

In Bumble on the side of the road...

2006-04-18T17:32:00.000+02:00

CJ and I went out to a little tiny town called Chinchon for Easter. It was precious and perfect and the people could not have been sweeter or more welcoming.

However, I took this shot when our bus broke down on the way there. Thick black smoke in the cabin. No big deal.

Mmmmmm....

2006-04-18T17:28:00.000+02:00

Torrijas de leche, the traditional Easter treat. Mom, they beat the hell out of hot-cross-buns. Its basically a cross between flan and french toast. They take bread and soak it in milk and egg and sugar and cinnamon, bake it, then cover it in cinammon syrup and sugar. Alternately, they also make it soaked in wine, which I didn't try, but hell, anything soaked in wine has to be good.

Processionals

2006-04-18T17:25:00.000+02:00

This processional was going by right when CJ and I walked out of the Flamenco show we saw on Thursday night. I should add that some processionals are silent, but others are not. And every once in awhile, someone will walk up to the "float," the man in charge of guiding the people carrying the float (because they can't see where they are going, they're under the float) tells everyone to halt. Then that person, out of faith and spirit, sings a prayer that echoes through the streets. Spontaneously. Its beautiful.

Processionals

2006-04-18T17:23:00.000+02:00

One of the "floats".

Its not what it looks like.

2006-04-18T17:20:00.000+02:00

Just to calm everybody down: The KKK stole it from THESE GUYS, alright?

Now. I can't really tell you why they started wearing these hats. I can tell you that it scares the crap out of just about every American that sees it. Really. The whole street filled with people walking in these robes by candlelight in silence. Bit of a cultural choca.

Easter in Madrid

2006-04-18T17:15:00.000+02:00

These are the horses that lead in the Processionals. In Madrid, the processionals run Thursday and Friday of Semana Santa. Each congregation has their own gigantic float (thats not the right word, but that's all I've got) that is carried by members of the congregation. To carry the "float" is a great honor and the ultimate penitence; it is a long, heavy, painful path and lots of people do it barefoot.

Addicted to Plantains.

2006-04-18T17:13:00.000+02:00

CJ taking a pic of the menu at Okolun, the Carribean restaurant we went to 3 times in 6 days. Highly recommended, although CJ makes pretty mean fried plantains himself. Little known fact.

Sitting by the edge of the lake...

2006-04-18T17:10:00.000+02:00

Retiro.

Hola Guapo.

2006-04-18T17:08:00.000+02:00

Retiro.

Look Who's Here!!!

2006-04-18T17:05:00.000+02:00

Yes, that would be Mr. CJ Egalite, ladies and gentlemen...watch out. Plaza Mayor.

¿Cómo se dice “torture” en español?

2006-04-10T15:27:00.000+02:00

So we have our "spring break" right now. Everyone else has left on various fabulous voyages, Italy, France, Estanbul, Poland, Greece...and I'm um, here, waiting for my boyfriend to arrive.
Here's a brief glimpse of my last 4 days:

10:00am: I wake up. What day is it? Oh, its only Monday. Not Wednesday. Not yet.
11:00am: I guess I should shower, maybe that will make Wednesday come sooner.
3:00pm: Lunch time. On Wednesday I'll be eating lunch with CJ. Too bad its Monday.
4:00pm: What should I do? I could go see a movie. Remember when I got to watch movies
with CJ? CJ will be here Wednesday. But its still Monday. Movie it is.
6:00pm: CJ would've loved that movie.
8:00pm: Dinner. Wait till I get to have romantic dinners with CJ! On, oh yeah, Wednesday.
Midnight: Well, tomorrow is Tuesday. Which is almost Wednesday. Oh lord...

It is me and Brian Brown left in Madrid, with nothing to do but await the arrival of our loved ones. Brian leaves Friday (2 days after Wednesday, for those keeping track) to Paris to meet his family, so sweet.

Is it Wednesday yet?

El Escorial

2006-04-07T14:16:00.000+02:00

DGuenth and Jane, outside of El Escorial.