Barcelona

Hot, ocean breeze, lots of people, wonderful architecture and smells like urine...that Barcelona in a nutshell. While this city is rich in history and art, I am ready to get out of here and head out into the countryside. Upon my arrival a couple days ago I met up with The Klippentstein's (this is how I will refer to them from now on:). It was quite dramatic as Wendy yelled my name across a Piazza and I turned around to see a family of 4 running towards me...the audience of people around found it amusing as we were all screaming and hugging!

Below is me in Gaudi´s park.


Yesterday I checked out my hostel, said goodbye to my Austrailian roommates, and joined the Klippenstein's. I will be with them for the next few weeks as we venture down the Spanish coast, dip into Morocco, and tour vineyards in Portugal. Yesterday we walked for 5 and a half hours through Barcelona, admiring Gaudi's famous and abstract architecture. I'm sorry for the lack of pictures, but I haven't quite figured out how to download my gigantic RAW files onto this small computer yet. We made a delicious supper consisting of Fresh salsa, guacamoli, watermelons, and $0.99 wine ....complete with some MILKA chocolate (Andrea I thought of you:).

Here´s a picture of the 8 flights of stairs we took to get to our hostel room.

After putting the wee ones to bed at 11 pm the three of us adults went exploring and enjoyed some wonderful Tapas (a variety of appetizers for which you pay by the amount of toothpicks left on your plate), and some of the best sangria I've ever had. I love how people are out late here, young and old, simply enjoying the night with others.

My hostel room over looks a narrow street that is bustling with people. Underneath is a coin collecters store, in which I had a wonderful conversation in Spanish with an elderly gentelman about Canadian coins...for which he had for sale and found moi bonita. I forgot how much I love the challange of speaking a different language. So much fun.

Here´s me and Miranda, pumped to be here.

Well have to go catch our train....until next time.

Bienvedios

After 3 planes, 2 buses, and 1 train I am officially here, in Europe...Barcelona, Spain to be exact. The things that I thought would go wrong went great and the things that I thought would go fine were the source of a little stress but really nothing that I got to worked up about. My flight to Barcelona was late and I forgot about Spain time when it comes to bus arrivals and departure. So I got here a bit later than I had anticipated, but I made it and so did my bag, which is soooooo releaving! I forgot how much I love the thrill of traveling on my own. Yesterday I had the opportunity to meet a German man on my way to Chicago, an Indian family on route to India on my overseas flight, an old Turkish grandmother while waiting in the Stansted airport, and 2 lovely British ladies who chatted with me for the entire duration of the flight to Reus. At the Reus airportwe grabbed coffee and then waited for our respective buses....to bad mine was 45 min late, but oh well...by now I´m in full travel mode which means I´m substancially more flexible then back home...not sure why that it but somehow I don´t need nearly as much structure as I do at home.

Here´s a picture of Las Rumblas at night. This is the street that my hostel was located and is known as the party capital of the world....amazingly I slept great thanks to ear plugs and a sleep mask.

Well my time card is running out but I will write again soon. Today´s agenda, tour around the city, drink sangria, and head out to the country for some much needed rest and rejuvination!

Husta luego

Pleasureful Preparing, Painful Packing

"You who are young, make the most of your youth. Relish your youthful vigor. Follow the impulses of your heart. If something looks good to you, pursue it. But know also that not just anything goes; you have to answer to God for every last bit of it. Live footloose and fancy free - You won't be young forever!" Ecclesiastes 11:9-10


Never have I been so prepared for a trip. For the past month I have made lists, purchased every travel gadget known to man, and admired the travel shrine that has accumulated in my room.



















There is something so satisfying about buying things in miniature form, it gives me some kind of high. At the same time I'm a minimalist and love taking only the bare essentials with me. This trip, however, I have given myself the luxury of taking with me a blow drier the size of my fist and eye shadow brushes (yes, I plan to look good while drinking wine in Spanish Piazza's). Needless to say I've packed more then ever before and am after spending the evening packing, feel guilty for my stash of luxury items. But I'm throwing caution to the wind and am going to live it up!











Packing is an art and a challenge...and I LOVE a good challenge. Rolling, vacuum packing, stuffing things into their perfectly perpendicular places....ahhhh sweet victory. I am fairly prideful about my packing abilities. Just when you think its seemingly impossible to fit all that in a pack...



SHAZAMMM!
















With everything in their proper place, and most of my goodbye's said I'm off...next stop BARCELONA!!! I only need to fly from Winnipeg-Chicago-London-clear customs-catch my shuttle to another airport across the city-hop on my flight to Reus-catch a bus to Barcelona-get on the metro-walk a few blocks to my hostel....and I'm there!!! Adios Canada...Hola Sangria!

Minds Eye

I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it. ~Author Unknown

I am not an artist. I have tried in vain to paint, sculpt, draw, and sew...it is just not in me. My hands simply cannot convey, with neither pencil or brush, the image in my minds eye no matter what the avenue. I may not be able to capture a moment on canvas, but it is in photography that I have found my artistic outlet. Here I am only required to adjust aperature, shutter spead, practical tasks that require little of my hands and a great deal from my eye. With one click of the shutter relase button I am saved from a world of dissipointed artistic hopes.

I did not know I was a photographer until I started traveling. My viewfinder made me see the world not just look at it, as the anonomous author states above. A childs spilt ice cream; an old couple sitting at a cafe, their years of marraige evident in their comfortable stance; the sun gleaming off my sunglasses. Suddenly I feel not just like any old toursit but a honored quest privid to viewing of life, great and small.

Up until now I've had a little powershot, its done me well, but it is time to allow him to retire and step up into the world of SLR's. I must confess that I am intimidated by having such a camera. Not that I fear using it but the fact that people will assume I'm a seasoned photographer. Let it be known that I am not! I enjoy the art of it, the playfulness of playing around with angles and lighting...waiting for just the right moment and the thrill of a perfect shot. But, I am an ammature, never taken a class. Like anything, I hate the thought of pressure to perform. So, I fear that by having such a device, the expectations for superior pictures will take away from the enjoyment of the experience. But I am willing to face this fear and move past it, people will think what they may and I shall prevail:)

So, I formally introduce my Nikon D5000, who is to be my closest and constant companion on this journey abroad. For his memory carries the only evidence of my travels.

And so I ask that you give me grace and I learn, explore, play around, and get to know this new device.

Viva la Vida

Cold Play seems to have a little piece of life figured out. That it's meant to be lived.

It is with this in mind that I'm taking a year off. A year off from University, routine, and security. I do so in hopes to restore life that was lost in the fire of business, instill a greater awareness of the world around me, deepen my understanding of who I am, and celebrate life!

While, I vow to keep my year as open as possible, I have a vague idea of what it will entail. On July 28th, I will be flying to Spain. For the next 2 months I will be roaming Europe, venturing along the Spanish coast, Portugal, Morocco, France, UK, and Ireland. At some points I will be meeting friends and travel in good company. Other portions will be on my own (my mother would appreciate your prayer support on this one).

October -January/February I will be staying in Canada. My focus for these months is to invest in the relationships in my life without the stress of work and school causing me to withdraw. I desire to initiate things in my community that I have always wanted to pursue but never had time or energy for. To give of myself sincerely and energized.

March, if one has the opportunity to escape a Manitoba winter...they are foolish to not do so. So, it is with this in mind that I, at long last, will venture down to the equator and immerse myself in the Latin American culture. Here I hope to attend a Spanish language school and embrace the warm Latino community.

Those of you that know me, know that I am a person of lists and organization. Those of you that know that, also know that I love personal growth. So, with that said I have compiled a list of goals that I wish to accomplish by the end of this year. I post these with the hope that you will keep me accountable to their completion.

Goals:

1) Ride a camel in the desert (Bedouin scarves flowing in the wind optional)
2) Irish dance in Ireland (and not just as so-called Irish pubs in Winnipeg)
3) Sleep in a castle
4) Start a dance team at Seeds of Life (my home church)
5) Choreograph another musical
6) Take an arts class for myself (art, photography, dance, etc...)
7) Get a tattoo (this is not impulsive, I been designing it for 2 years)
8) Learn Spanish
9) Learn how to surf
10) Be authentic in all that I do (to not prove or protect myself)

The title of my blog is my year in a nutshell. I feel that I am dancing to a different tune than the one our Western world promotes. I am Offbeat, choosing not be ruled by money or by social status but by life experience and rich relationships. And I am doing this on the foundation of simply being who I am, my God given identity, believing that who I am is enough....Barefoot.

And so, I invite you to join me as I fly, walk, bus, sit, ride, and run down different roads, exploring the unknown and appreciating the familiar. Life was meant to be lived!