Sorry its been so long!!  I have been thoroughly enjoying my time here in Spain, so much so that I have avoided spending time in my room whenever possible.  It's just too nice outside and there is simply too much to see and do!!!  I believe he last time I wrote mentioned Amsterdam, which had amazing museums and scenery, but was a little too touristy for me.  Although Barcelona is also VERY full of tourists, Amsterdam was almost like Las Vegas for Europe.  However, because it's Europe, it was much cooler.  The weekend after Amsterdam our entire program took a field trip to Navarra, one the the semi-independent regions of Spain.  The capital of Navarra is Pamplona, the city made famous for its annual Running  of the Bulls, which takes place in the summer. However, our journey included snow, cold, and lots of disorganization on the part of our program, who really must learn that taking 500 american college students on a three day field trip just isn't a good idea.   However, I survived, mostly by reading Ernest Hemingway (Pamplona was one of Hemingway's favorite cities) and losing myself in the past.  Pamplona was truly beautiful I just wish I had been there on my own instead of with 500 others.  Oh well :)

For the past couple of weeks I have been really enjoying getting to know the city and getting to know Erasmus students here ( Erasmus is the name of the study abroad program for European students)  They are a lot more fun to hang out with than people from my program.  I definitely have made a few close friends from my program for sure (most of which go to CC, and my roommate Karina) but other than that is has been an amazing learning experience to hang out with people from all over the continent!  I mean, I can chill with Americans at home whenever I want- but here- there is an amazing mix of cultures and backgrounds and languages which fascinates me in way nothing else really has before.  Plus, hanging out with Erasmus kids has given me a chance to learn about other European countries, especially if I am not going to have the chance to go there (and there many I won't be able to visit on this trip because there is so much to see!!!!!)  

This weekend I am off to Costa Brava, famous for the Dali Museum and its beaches.  We are also going into the very southern part of France though I am not sure as of yet everything we are going to see.  Hopefully I will be a little better from now on about writing on my blog because my next bout of adventure is about to begin.  Spring break is in less than two weeks and I'm off to Morocco, about which everyone keeps raving and telling me how different of a world it is.  I can't wait!!!

Sorry I haven't written in a while, there have just been so many fun things to do here all the time!!!  Two weekends ago my friends from CC studying in other parts of Europe hopped on over for a visit which was really really great!!!!  It was so much fun to see them and reminisce about good times from school and to create new good times here in Barca.  It was Karina's birthday that weekend so we had a grand fiesta for her and it turned into a pretty silly time.  This was followed by  a lovely day of lounging in the sun at the beach and then CARNAVAL!!!!!!!!  Carnaval is basically Mardi Gras for Europe but it has turned into so much more here!! It lasts from Thursday until Tuesday and there is a tiny town close to Barca called Sitges where Carnaval is famous!  It's basically mandatory to dress up, not unlike Halloween, and so we dressed up in our crazy costumes and ventured out into the night.  We weren't really sure what to expect but what it turned into dancing all night on the beach to a latin/techno/hip hop DJ.  It was quite the magical evening and I still am trying to believe that it actually happened!  You just don't dance on the beach all night in the US.  Somehow it just doesn't work out that way. I loved it!!!