We got to Placa Catalunya at about half past 5. Nothing much was going on at first, but slowly I started to see it: people congregating towards the center of the placa, pillows in hand. No it’s not a typo, they brought pillows. Why? Well this year was Barcelona’s first ever Pillow Fight! By five ‘till six, a decent crowd of several hundred ( Read more... )

Today we took the metro and then the funicular up to Montjuic Hill to see a crap-load of stuff. Very poetic, I know. On the way up to some of the main attractions we stopped at several small parks, including Jardi de les Escultures and Jardins de Laribal. The former was very small and strangely decorated. The latter was an incredibly well kept ( Read more... )

So last night I passed out from sheer exhaustion pretty early, as did Justen, but his tiredness was mixed with intoxication. Brandon went out alone and got himself in all kinds of trouble that simply can’t be discussed on a public website. They both lost their cameras, Justen’s turned up, Brandon’s didn’t. That left Brandon pretty grouchy but he ( Read more... )

I wouldn’t care about being on my own. But it’s a strange new city, my first day here. It’s absolutely massive. I have no watch, and no phone, which means if I get mugged, raped, lost, harassed, or injured: I’m stranded. I can’t call for help. I don’t speak the language (not well anyway). So I just think it’s a pretty inconsiderate thing to ( Read more... )

We got to the hostel around 10:00. I didn’t have enough cash to check in so I ran to the caixa, then before I knew it I was taking the most glorious shower. Haha After everyone was settled Justen, Brandon, and I left to go exploring. We took the metro to Catalunya, not with any one thing in particular, but just knowing there was a lot of cool ( Read more... )

Well it all started last night. I was exhausted, and a little cranky about missing Abbey Road, just lying in my bed trying to get caught up on writing and talking to people from back home. Justen and Brandon kept hassling me about figuring out how we were getting to Barcelona, and I knew it needed done but I was starting to get tired of doing all ( Read more... )

London Day 1: Double Deckers, Loo’s, Tele’s, and the Underground ( Read more... )

Today was a Reading Cities first: a free day. Me, Jess, Amber, Matt Provolt, and Paul Bench got up early, grabbed breakfast, and left for Murano. Murano is where they make all the glass that eventually gets sold in Venice, Rome, Milan, Florence, and all over Italy. They make imitation Murano glass as well. But if you want a good deal, and you ( Read more... )

That night, since there was again nothing to do in Venice after 7, almost the entire studio went to Billa (grocery store) and bought wine and bread and cheese, aka a poor man's dinner, followed by getting trashed. By 20:00 everyone was in Jen and Jackie's room playing drinking games and getting smashed. Before long we were riding the scooter ( Read more... )

So I've kind of been putting off writing about Venice. Mostly, I think, because it didn't really wow me. Ok so it has San Marco, but every major European city has a big church. And it has canals, but so does Amsterdam. Aside from that its only claim to fame is hand blown glass, which actually comes from Murano, not Venice. What you're left ( Read more... )