Las Pequeñas Cosas

I have this weird dynamic where I either tend to completely over-think things, or avoid them all together. I suppose it's taken many years to perfect this exasperating trait, as it will undoubtedly take me a few more years to find a happy medium (or median, if you want to be statistical about it.) However, at this particular moment, I am making progress ...  I will not think about how I should be writing something much wittier, nor will I avoid posting some of my favorite pictures.

On a side note, I only used one set of completely unnecessary ellipses in this paragraph. So proud of myself. (It's the small things.)

These are just a few of my favorite shots from Europe.

Plaza Jaume. Jaume is Catalan. Took me almost 4 months to pronounce this name right. I kept trying to say it in Spanish. I actually knew a guy named Jaume (ye-ow-may), and I mumbled his name for the longest time. Anyhow, this was one of my favorite plazas. I felt very triumphant when I was able to shoot the shadow of the statue perfectly on the building.  Triumphant! Describes both my sentiments and the statue, right? See, I am witty. 

Calzots. This was without a doubt one of the best culinary experiences I had while in Barcelona. My intercambio (se llama Alberto) took me to an authentic Catalan restaurant. I first learned about Calzots from the show No Reservations. I know, I know .. Anthony Bourdain. I don't know what it is about that man, but he makes me wanna eat some dang calzots. We made it literally the last Sunday that most restaurants would be serving them. And they were -- amazing, of course.

Barrio Raval. Oh, this neighborhood. I filmed a soccer game, enjoyed a Middle Eastern market on a beautiful spring day, watched skateboarders in front of the Modern Art Museum, walked through the dimly lit streets at night (somewhat quickly, yes.) It is beautiful, artistic, multi-cultural, a bit run down, and one of my favorite areas of Barcelona.  

My absolute favorite sculpture in Barcelona, right off Barceloneta beach. By Rebecca Horn, a German installation artist. Always interesting people hanging out around it.

Tibidabo, highest point in Barcelona. We shot this after a fun day at the amusement park.

Small cafe in the process of being set up for dinner service. Sevilla, España.

In Maria Luisa's Park, Sevilla. They had the oldest, most beautiful trees in this park, roots exposed and branches of beautiful green waxy leaves. 

Experienced my first public Arabic bath in Sevilla. Relaxed with some mint tea afterwards. It was interesting, really rather lovely. Nice massage, steamy aromatic water, dimmed lights in several different beautifully designed baths. Perfect start to my upcoming Moroccan adventure, where I stayed in the middle of the Sahara Desert in a tent. I miss it. 

Our first crisp and cold day in Ireland, in the country right outside of Dublin.

The cemetery was beautiful. Green everywhere, of course.

Tombstones of the forgotten.

Gaudi's Casa Batllo in Passeig de Gracia.

Incredible celebration of Barcelona's La Liga win on Las Ramblas. Luckily I was out of there before the rubber bullets started flying. Yikes.

Looking up into one of the immense chandeliers hanging in La Catedral de Santa Cruz y Santa Eulalia.

Graffiti is everywhere in Barcelona. Not all of them are as great as this one of Mr. Dalí however.

Ways to kill .. 

Protest by young graduates regarding the job situation, in Plaza Catalunya.

One of my favorite pictures. This was my second day in Spain. We were taking a tour around the city of Madrid. This was a small bakery owned by nuns. I wish I would have went in! I was already way behind the group half the time though, too busy trying to capture anything and everything.

This view makes me a bit nostalgic. This is the rooftop balcony from the apartment where I lived with Maribel, my Spanish madre.

Boats in the Port.

Beautiful dragonfruit displayed at the Boqueria.




I've learned to not let myself get too nostalgic about my travels. It makes me worry about what I may have missed out on, and what I'm currently missing out on. I try to direct that wistful energy into something more positive. There's so much more for me to explore. I focus on that and on my future adventures around the world.