Positana

I am trying to find a good detailed street map of Addis online. Any suggestions?

Also, how bad are the pickpockets?

I almost went here in October! I was so close! I had the days off from work, the flight and a place to stay! Alas, I guess it just wasn’t meant to be.

But I might be getting another chance soon. Fingers crossed. It’s just a once in a lifetime oppty that shouldn’t be missed.

I’m really on the fence right now. I didn’t get as much back from my federal taxes and I don’t know if I should buy the ticket or not! What a horrible position! I’m looking for any sort of sign of what to do.

I really want to do and celebrate my birthday there and check out some potential business contacts! Arghhh!

I am hoping to blow my brains out in the Fall, in Amsterdam, after taking the bar exam, using all that this city has to offer. ;-)

This is amazing! Doesn’t this look like that long passageway at Parc Guell?

Still lovin’ this place! It ranks second after A’dam for me.

Went to Tibidaba and Born. Hung out at Apollo disco (corny) and went to the Textile and Chocolate Museum. Had lunch in the home of friends of the people I’m staying with. That was a lot of fun.

The Textile Museum is the highlight of my trip so far.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen historic costume from the 17 and 18 hundreds from Spain. Most of the books that cover this era, cover French, English and American costume. It was definitely a “eureka” moment!

I guess this isn’t the place to do something like a travel blog… Hopefully it won’t be too obnoxious to write a few comments daily for the week that I’m here.

Anyway, I really like it so far. I’m staying in Gracia which seems a little stodgy but I don’t have the energy to venture further than that today. I took an indirect flight and I’m pooped.

The people are really, really nice and that is wonderful. Barcelona reminds me a lot of Paris but the biggest difference is that the people are very kind.

I understand and read Spanish much better than I thought. My speaking is sloppy though, so I have to work on that. Not knowing Catalan hasn’t been a problem so far.

Having trained as a textile designer, I can’t help but be delighted by the cement patterned tiling on the sidewalks. It’s a really gorgeous detail that makes my heart happy.

I hung out in Place de Diamant and saw the “cops” harass some hippy looking folks. That was hilarious. I also saw some other hippy type girls singing some folk songs. That was cool too. (I don’t mean hippy in a derogative way – - I can be one at times too)

I spent about an hour looking for a place that had free wiki but I ended up where I am now, in a hotel lobby where I paid for it for the hour. It’s worth it though.

Tomorrow, my friend arrives to join me and that’s when the fun will begin.

Well, I was hoping to speak at a least a smidgin of Catalan but the online book seller messed up my order and I won’t be able to get the beginner’s book before I leave.

I’ll probably be able to get some books while I’m there but I am really disappointed.

Even though I had fun here because I have friends who live here, I was really disappointed at how early things close.

This city could be so much better if the shops, museums, and other places of interest stayed open a few hours later.

So far, of every place I’ve been, Amsterdam, by far, has been the most fun ;-)