Paris Via Velib

Velib and Notre Dame
Originally uploaded by killerfemme

After spending the quietest new years ever (laundry), on new years day we took a bike ride through eastern Paris, ending up at Notre Dame and then the Jadrin de Tuilleries. I love seeing Paris at the pace of a bike, it's a great way to get to know the city and see how it all fits together. Velib is Paris' new bike rental program where the bikes are everywhere. It's not as straightforward as it should be to rent a bike (I couldn't have done it because I have a US bank card without the chip that European bank cards have) and you have to go through several seemingly redundant steps, but once you get the bike, it's pretty damn cool. And people really use them! I also feel like Paris has done a lot to become more bike friendly and I feel safer there than in NYC, but maybe this is just being naive.

Barcelona Beaches

Barcelona Beaches
Originally uploaded by killerfemme

One great thing about Barcelona was the weather! I loved sitting outside in cafes in December and walking on the beach looking at the Mediterranean.

Barcelona from Park Guell

Barcelona from Park Guell
Originally uploaded by killerfemme

As an escape from the tourist clogged streets we went to Gaudi's Park Guell, which is probably the only thing I really liked that we saw by him. It was relaxing, a breath of fresh air, and I could actually feel the architecture, landscape design and nature in dialogue with each other. Plus, it afforded a wonderful view of the city and the sea in "magic hour" light. You can see the electric company building and the Sagrada Familia (a Gaudi creation I was "unimpressed" with, or rather, was impressed with its ugliness).

MACBA, Barcelona

Inside MACBA
Originally uploaded by killerfemme

Though the phrase I uttered most often in Barcelona was "unimpressed" (with Modernisme, with the tourists, with the rude bartenders...), I did like the MACBA and the CCCB (Center for Contemporary Culture, Barcelona). The CCCB especially had interesting and provacative exhibitis on Apartheid in South African and it's ramifications for racism worldwide and on the end of Franco's rule in Spain. Both the exhibits at the CCCB mixed politics, history and art in a way that I have never seen in an American museum (probably because they can't get funding to do so) and I found that really exciting.

Holidays in Europe

Decorations near Bastille
Originally uploaded by killerfemme

For the first time ever I didn't go to Maine for the holidays, but headed further afeild to Paris (and later Barcelona). It was a fantastic mix of walking around, taking in the sights and just hanging out. Like ever American who has ever been there, Paris never fails to move and inspire me with its city charm. I forget how much I love it and then when I come back I get so excited!

My Trip to France (as interpreted by Flight of the Conchords)

In case anyone was wondering how my recent European sejour went...