This week in pictures...

What to write, what to write! It’s one of those moments when a million things have happened, and I don’t have the time (okay, fine, ...motivation) to write them all down!
SoOo... let’s see... Sunday: ahh! Great day. After a wonderful sermon by some visiting guest speakers from (you’ve guessed it!... maybe not... I’ll just tell you) California, a group of friends and myself went down to La Rambla for some döner kabobs. Yummy! Yep... that actually took up most of my day =).
Monday: I decided early in the morning that I absolutely HAD to go to Barrio Gótico to draw something. I can’t remember if I told you last week, but Elly C. (shout out!) came into town and inspired me to buy a decent drawing pen and put it to use. After a morning round of sucking hard at sketching, I went to class and came back. Now, granted... it wasn’t much better this time, but the company was lovely! (on both occasions). I set myself up on the steps facing a doorway to the Cathedral de Barcelona (on a side street that tourists rarely find. *snicker* claimed as Michelle’s domain!!!) and began to sketch. While I was busy scribbling away, a man with a beautiful harp came and set up. He began playing South American harp music; and, when he noticed I was watching him, we began to chit-chat. After I told him that my mom used to play the harp (and will again!... when the harp gets out of rehab. That’s what happens to musical instruments who hang out with the Magic Flute too much... sad day... Right! That was random)... anyways, we began talking and he started asking me which songs (or types of songs) I wanted to hear and then would play them. Having just had a conversation about Rancho Grande the other day, at one point, I requested it (because, it’s just plain beautiful). He smiled and said that he didn’t know an arrangement, so I told him to invent one (laughingly... kinda sounds harsh in text.) He agreed, and what came out of that harp was AMAZING! He continued to play a few more songs (per request =) ) and then I had to go home. Glorious day!
Tuesday: hmm... I can’t remember what I did... I know it was fun... education? Hmm..
Wednesday: Ho ho! I went to the USA general consulate =). Name tags! I was asking about any open secretarial positions. After ping-ponging around the oh-so organized bureaucracy, I was given an email address... Hmm... well... so much for attempting to intern in a government agency in Spain. NO, but really though, it was still awesome running around there (being sent to various offices is actually more accurate... but I can dream!)... felt like a secret agent. Don’t worry. No round-house kicks were involved.
Thursday: Our classes were greatly reduced in size due to the threat-down of another student strike/protest (It was actually going to be held off school grounds at eight at night, but for some reason we had the time and location mixed up... so hardly anyone came). Wound up being a good day, as we had nearly one-on-one attention with the professor. We came up with personality profiles for fictitious characters and then attempted to marry them off to each other... needless to say... the cat lady and shady pimp shall not be joined in matrimony anytime soon (or ever... as they don’t actually exist). Anyways, it was good fun. Then, I went to Parc Güell with Grace and snapped several photos (on her camera... hehe) and caused a ruckus =) OH! and then I went to a couch-surfing language exchange meeting (when it comes to couch surfing: I am not a member (for those of you who are worried) but several friends are. Calm down!) I met some really cool people and got a chance to practice Spanish and converse in English.
Friday: Went to the Sorolla exhibit... again =D
Man, those murals are breath-taking! I was with one of the guys who I had met the previous night, so after running around the museum, we headed off to the Castillo and Olympic Stadium (because they are a must-see) and then walked around Raval for a bit. Lovely day! OH! that, and I finally saw Vicky Christina Barcelona. Hehehe... Minus the restaurants (as I eat at home or picnic style everyday) I’ve been to all of the BCN locations minus the airport and the corner where her picks her up for their secret rendezvous... yay!
Which brings me to today!
It was quite rainy out which limited the options a little, but I woke up at a decent hour this morning and then went to go find a monastery that my art professor had talked about several times. The claustro wound up being closed, but the cathedral was open and lovely. I’ve posted a few pictures from my adventure today. Enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=20173&id=1323450019&l=d07cd544cf


Please keep me posted with your goings-ons!
I’ll be out for a week starting friday, so if it seems a bit like talking to a brick wall I apologize in advance. Have an awesome week! Blessings!