I Got to Speak Spanish!

I went to Europe in June for work and the highlight was BARCELONA! The only thing that could have made it better is fi Bekki were there. She and I have talked for the last couple of years about going there. I got to go first. 

Natalie submitted a proposal last year for me and her to present at Congress for the International Federation for Home Economics in Galway, Ireland. Her proposal got accepted and we planned our trip. In the planning, we talked about checking out Amsterdam and Barcelona for future study abroad trips. Both cities had been recommended by our crew at the Kennedy Center (Malcolm Botto and Tricia Donaldson). We submitted a proposal to Erin Holmes for added funds to add Barcelona and Amsterdam and it got approved. So, mid-June was go time. I was so excited. Couldn't believe I was going to Europe again.

We went to Amsterdam first. We went to tourist attractions and some design-specific places. We saw the Anne Frank house, which has changed a bit since I went 20 years ago. You still walk through the house, but the end of the tour is different. Still very impactful. We went to the Van Gogh and Rijks museums. We took the train out to Haarlem and went to the Corrie Ten Boom house. I had really wanted to go there in past visits and it was incredible. The thing that was great is that the tour is run by volunteers, all of whom are religious and really bring in the religious aspect of Corrie's life. The guide talked about miracles and prayer and forgiveness. There was a young family there from Dublin, California. Imagine that! Meeting a family from the Bay Area in Amsterdam! The tour ended with the guide sharing an embroidery that Corrie would take on speaking engagements. She would use the front and back to illustrate life. It goes as follows:

My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.

Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.

Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned

He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.

I bought a bookmark with the poem and a picture of the tapestry on it .When I got home, I realized I bought the bookmark in Dutch. Dang. 

We took a walking tour to learn about Dutch design. We saw some beautifully designed stores and hotel lobbies. Dutch design is characterized by taking a whimsical look at the traditional, often with vibrant colors. 

The weather in Amsterdam was great. The canals, houses, flowers, food, everything was great. Another highlights included Rembrandt's house. I'd always wanted to go there! It was incredible to be in the room where he worked. I'd never thought about it, but he had to make his own paints. Back then, you didn't just go to the store to buy paint. We went on a canal tour. We toured a couple of 1700's canal houses, one of which we'll take students back to. The Dutch - East Indies trade was huge then and some fortunate businessmen became very wealthy. I'm not a fan of how museums are adding a societal message. We saw more than one exhibit interrupted with an overlay with a message about inclusion, sexuality, or the environment. I'd rather go to a separate museum to learn about those things. 

We went to De Kas, a farm-to-table, Micheline star rated, restaurant that had been highly recommended. They have a greenhouse and serve a menu that is curated based on what is available locally. The menu changes every 2 weeks. It was expensive, but worth it for a fun experience. It was about $100/person for a 5 course meal. The food was delicious and unique. We thought about bringing students there, but realized many probably wouldn't appreciate the experience. It's very unique and you need to be open to eating anything. 

We ate fresh, hot stroopwafel. I also convinced Natalie to try fries with mayonnaise and peanut sauce, which she loved. We walked through a neighborhood that started in the 1500's as a sanctuary for single Catholic women. 

A highlight was when Natalie discovered a bunch of public toilets inside of a department store. It's always nice to know where one can find a bathroom. A lowlight was going to our scheduled tour of the Fashion for Good Museum. It had permanently closed 10 days before we got to Amsterdam. WHAT? We rang the bell, called the number, then noticed the banner on the website, saying that they had closed. It was the main reason we were thinking of Amsterdam, but there's still a lot of great stuff to see and do. 

I almost bought a diamond necklace at Gassan Diamonds. We did a tour there, where we learned all about diamonds and the history of this particular company. They have made a lot of pivots to stay relevant. I came close to buying a necklace that had a tiny diamond with perfect clarity and had Gassan's signature cut. But, I didn't love it. We saw a 3 carat yellow diamond that was worth $64,000. That's just the diamond...not in a necklace or on a ring or anything. I'm not a real jewelry person, but I could really appreciate the work they do there. Precision!

I bought a really cute t-shirt. I loved it when I saw it, but didn't buy it. I kept thinking about it, so we went back and found it. It has a girl riding a bike on it and says "Amsterdam." I love it! We stayed at an Ibis hotel and really liked it. It's easier to travel without students. Natalie and I go from morning to night, non-stop. 

Made it to Amsterdam. Tired, but we hit the ground running. 

This jacket is totally going with me on study abroad...the bag, not so much. It worked for this trip, but I didn't love it. Still looking for the perfect day bag for Europe. 

A most interesting lobby design

Look at the whimsical knobs on this cabinet - Dutch design

Lighting in the hotel lobby

The garden of the hotel

Private haven for single women that used to be primarily for Catholic women

This was in a beautiful 18th century canal home. Why this glitter and video?

Mondrian dress by Yves St. Laurent

Haarlem - Ten Boom clock shop and house

Corrie's room. Jews climbed through hole in cabinet and hid in space in wall.

Frits!

Warm stroopwafel

Rembrandt's house

Cucumber Gazpacho

Bread and cracker with herbed spreads

Radish and asparagus

Beets with foam

Goat cheese sorbet with pear and candied pecans - incredible 

Canal tour

On the canal tour

Canal home courtyard behind the house

This is what we call symmetry in interior design

Very old harp

Another courtyard garden

This dress was an homage to Cinderella, worn at a drag show

Rembrandt's studio - the room where it happened

De Kas

$64,000 gold diamond

It was off to Barcelona after Amsterdam. We flew on Ryan Air, the budget airlines of Europe. Barcelona is beautiful...it's full of incredible architecture and design. We stayed at another Ibis. It's a chain that we know from study abroad. You can't go wrong. You can include breakfast, which is nice. While in Barcelona, we toured the Sacred Family Basilica, Battlo House, Mila House, and Guell Park, all the works of Gaudi. He was a prolific and fascinating designer. The houses he designed had a unique use. The street level would house stores. The floor above that housed the family, owners of the property, and the remaining floors were divided into apartments. People still live in Casa Mila. When their leases end, there will be no more tenants in that building. Gaudi was frustrated working for the wealthy, so he decided to work for God. When he finished Casa Mila, he designed and worked on the basilica. He even lived there the last bit of his life. 

We went to the old part of town and learned about the history of espadrilles, and were taught how to embellish them. That was super fun. We went to a Fashion and Design museum, which would be a great addition to study abroad, as it covers all aspects of design (clothing, print, graphic design, furniture, etc.) We also toured a design school. They are opening their new campus, which was in the final stages of construction. We got to tour that, and their dorms. The dorms are incredible!

We ate paella, tapas, and Spanish tortilla. It was HOT in Barcelona. We went on a tour with a woman who curated a tour of fashion and design for us. She told us that a law had recently passed in the city that means the end of Air BnB. The city will no longer issue new or renew permits for Air BnB's. The city has become unaffordable for the residents and they are trying to make housing available. It kinda happens everywhere...international investors are buying up houses and turning them into vacation rentals. It takes away housing opportunities for locals, but benefits tourism. It's a bug puzzle. 

The highlight was definitely using my Spanish. I've still got it. One waitress especially appreciated it since she spoke very little English. I was able to order and take care of business in Spanish. I was worried that I wouldn't understand much since the primary language in that part of the country is Catalan. BUT, Spanish was definitely spoken in stores, restaurants, and our hotel. I heard Catalan on the streets, but that was usually just people talking to each other. I haven't traveled in a Spanish-speaking country since my mission, unless you count 3 hours in Ensenada, Mexico, where I ordered tamales in Spanish. 

I loved using my Spanish. I bought a Barcelona (soccer team) pen for Kamiko, a tile cat pin for Mel, tile coasters for Allie and Tommy, and a hand-painted tiny dish for Bekki. I got a little something for all the kids that they'll get as Christmas gets closer. 

I also loved using some travel essentials that I had picked up. My sister Kelly recommended a Rumpl blanket, which I loved. It came in handy when Natalie needed a blanket. I liked the travel pillow Kelly recommended. Don't know if I love it. There is no such thing as the perfect travel pillow, though, so it will do. I LOVED my new noise canceling headphones. Those are game changers when flying. You can't hear the plane engine or crying kids. Travel was so much better with them. 

This was our welcome to Barcelona - La Basilica de la Sagrada Familia

Walking to the design school

Outside of Casa Batllo

Casa Batllo evokes feelings of the ocean, inside and out

The most incredible roof

Dorm room at the design school

Bathroom in the dorm

Common spaces in the dorm

More common spaces

There's also the option of apartment living - this shared kitchen and living space with 6 private bedrooms with bathrooms down the hall.

Casa Batllo

More Casa Batllo

The attic of La Padrera or Casa Mila. Gaudi would hang these chains upside down over a mirror to see how the curves would work if upright

Exterior of Sagrada Familia - still under construction over 100 years ago

The sculptor of this portion of the exterior is Asian, so he made these angelic figures have Asian looking eyes

More of the intricate exterior

Inside the basilica - incredible light from the stained glass windows

One side of the exterior depicts the birth of Christ. The other side depicts his crucifiction

Wearing my cute Amsterdam shirt at Park Guell, an amazing park designed by Gaudi

The market area of Park Guell

I found Dr. Pepper

Fashion and Design Museum in Barcelona

These were all posters designed for the Barcelona Olympics

Eating tapas in the fresh air

I loved this spot in Guell Park. It represents Golgotha. 3 crosses. 

Park Guell is on a hill. It was a very hot day, but the walk was worth it. 

More of the roof of Batllo. Many think these were the inspiration for Star Wars stormtroopers

Embellishing my shoes

Old town Barcelona

Barcelona Cathedral

Courtyard of a store, and also the back side of Casa Mila. 

The interior of this boutique is made of petrified fabric. It really is hard like cement, although it looks like it drapes and is soft to the touch. It was incredible.