Hola a todos,

I guess its been a bit longer than normal since my last update. Its probably because I feel I have finally settled into the normal routine of things here and it just slipped my mind. Not that things are very routine or even normal, but maybe Ive just become accustomed to the abnormal un-routine.
This past weekend was wonderful. The EAP program took us out on an excursion to the Monestary of Sant Pedro de Rodes. The multiple centuries old monestary resides on a steep cliff overlooking the Costa Brava along the North East tip of Spain, right across the way from France. In fact, most of everyone´s mobile phones sent them messages welcoming them to the French mobile phone service system. Anyway, the best part of this monestary was the view. Oh wow. What an amazing breathtaking view. Sharp green cliffs etched into steps by the ancient roman vineyard owners stretching on for miles in either direction with the deep blue clear sea below interupted sporatically by the whitewash clusters of the old seaport towns. The pictures I took dont do it justice. Nothing could. Its like trying to capture the grand canyon in a picture. Wish you all could have seen it with me. The monestary itself was pretty amazing too. Having been destroyed and rebuilt many times throughout its existance it still retained quite a presence of its original power.
Afterwards the excursion moved on to Pobul, hometown to Gala (Dali´s wife and inspiration behind nearly every one of his works). The house on the outside is gorgeous, built on the side of an old church covered in ivy. The inside however is a bit strange. Obviously, Dali made some impression on its decoration. The house is now a museum dedicated to Gala but also holds some of Dali´s minor works (including a huge tapestry with a burning giraffe on it). The museum kind of freaked me out so I decided to go outside and explore the garden. Cool garden, wierd statues. I would explain some of the things I saw inside, but then I would have to explain the background history and its not rated G. So go read about Dali and Gala yourself.
Because we spent too much time at the monestary, the guides decided to skip the next town we were supposed to visit (dont remember which), and start heading back. On the way we stopped in Girona to grab a quick lunch. I found pizza. Yay pizza. Then it was back home to Barca.
That night I went with Cindy and her film loving roommates to a documentary festival at the CCCB (a government run arts center) and saw a film called “Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping”. It was basically about crazy newyork protesters and their anti-starbucks and anti-tearingdownanoldhouse antics. It kept me entertained.
Sunday I watched the rented movie Mucho Ruido y Pocos Nuices (or Much Ado About Nothing) at my piso and thats about it.
Monday and Tuesday class and more class. Today some more class. I get to go back to work today, which Im happy about. Tomorow Im going to go see the highly entertaining yet factually misleading mocumentary Bowling for Columbine which is playing for free at my University. And this weekend I have plans to go to dinner with Juan for his birthday. Anyone wanna visit me?

Rock on and off and back on again,
Gabe

Thanks Mom.

Glad you liked all the pictures. I didnt know what you would think of Cindy´s as most of them are just pictures of her or people you didnt know, but Im glad you enjoyed them along with the letter that explained it all. Some of her pictures are really awesome though. The best one I think is of me sitting on the edge of a stone wall looking over Figueres. Isnt that one cool? How did you like the map I included? It will be fun to show that to everyone when they come for Thanksgiving. I should start another one on a bigger map and get all of the cool places I have been marked on it. That was just a quick sample.
My apartment is really nice. Im very happy with it and my roommates. We have a new roommate, Mayte, who I think I mentioned before. She shares a room with Daniel. Im not quite sure of their relationship yet. I dont know if shes just a friend that needs a place to stay, or if shes his girlfriend or something. Anyway, she is a very nice person. I need to get used to the two kisses thing still. I always forget to give them to her and I hope its not an offense or anything.
The Cabrils house is very very nice. It reminds me of a Southern California house actually. It kind of makes sense I guess since our style is descended from the spanish mission era. Its not too close to the beach. Maybe 5 or 10 minute drive. Its too bad its being sold off.
Its true, Cindy´s apartment is pretty big. 6 people live there comfortably, with plenty of space to spare. It has such great character to it. Large rooms, molding throughout all the ceilings, stained and painted glass windows, wood paneling, large doors, tiling… all with a “once upon a time elegant” antique look to it. The only thing that breaks the pattern is the gigantic bathroom (best Ive seen in Spain) complete with spa tub and modernist kitchen. Almost all of their furniture was found on the streets which totally adds to the vintage random style. They are always on the lookout for more chairs, a table without termites, and a couch. Her roommates all love film, music, and books and they even cook great meals together occasionally. I love it and hang out there a majority of my time.
School was boring today and I feel like Im falling behind in my Econ Espanola class. I think Im gonna drop it and just keep the Econ Mundial and Econ Empresa. Those are going really well. I love my EC Empresa professora. Anyways, my EC Espanola professor decided to call off class for tommorow, friday, so I have a 3 day weekend ahead of me. There is an organized trip to the Pirenes mountains on saturday which I will surely hitch a ride on. Its gonna be cold though. Today is bright and sunny, but a little chilly. I hope it stays this way through the weekend so I can go to Puerta Ventura with my spaniard friend Juan. This guy Juan is so nice mom. If he could speak better english I know you would love him. I hope he doesnt expect me to sell him our nuclear secrets or anything. Cause I won´t.
I can´t wait for your package. I wont be dissapointed at all, Im positive. Right now Im listening to Ben Folds on Daniel´s big speakers in our apartment. What a life.

love
Gabe

Dear fellow explorers,

This past week the weather took a turn for the worse and dumped a whole lot of rain down upon poor Barcelona. I pulled out my rain jacket and sweaters for the first time and tried to fend off the sub 20celcius temperatures (im from soCal remember?).
Past thursday I went out to eat at a wonderful restaurant called Les Quintz Nits in Placa Real. All should bow before its high quality food and low prices. Cindy and I ate to our fill, shared desert, and a nice bottle of wine, in an elegant atmosphere with prompt service (rare in Spain), for under 25euros. Woot. I´ll have a toast to that.
This past weeked there were some breif plans to head up to Caraces with a spaniard friend but they were put to the side due to the bad weather. Daniel (roommate) told me it is starting to get cold and windy in Caraces anyway and wouldnt be so good. Instead Juan (the friend) invited me to come with him and some other friends to Puerta Ventura (a Universal theme park near Taragona) the following Sunday. If the weather clears up that is. Cross my fingers. Anyway, the highlight of friday and saturday was making a large tortilla espanola. What a tasty dish ´twas.
Sunday I made the trek up the top of La Sagrada Familia and enjoyed a breathtaking view of Barcelona as well as a close up look at the half finished masterpiece of a church itself. Hopefully the pictures I took were able to capture a little bit of its wonder. The steady misty rain didnt bother too much and after an hour atop I descended the 426 (or so) steps of the narrow staircase.
Yesterday was a freak. I awoke to a bright and sunny day at least 10degrees warmer than the previous. Class seemed all the better in a tshirt and with bright sunlight shining through the windows. Unfortunatly today the rain and cold returned.
Today we had a change of professors in Economia Mundial. The lady that was teaching it turned out to be only a substitute and today the real guy returned. He had made an appearence once a few weeks ago, but left again due to what he said were beurocratic reasons. I guess thats all sorted out though. He´s not too bad. Better than I remember.
After school I went out to a Peruvian restaurant on Calle Corsega near my home. It was great to taste some spicy food again. Tonight Im off to see the move El Mexicano (Once Upon a Time In Mexico). Anyone seen it yet? I havent seen any previews at all. Oh well, if it sucks, then its only 4 euro wasted.
Im off now to return some cds and DVDs rented from the Barcelona library system. They´re a few days late but Im not too worried. Last time I turned my books and cds in two weeks late fearing a harsh fine, but they didnt even notice. The due date is more of a, “it would be nice if you could return these books by this time, if at all” date. The honor system in still in effect here. And I am honorable.

Gabe