e-mail to family about spain and italy

Hi Darlings,

I've missed you.

I'm back in Copenhagen now. Just went on a 2 week adventure across the continent. I wrote in my journal every day and ended up filling it halfway up. So I think I will just type up some of the entries. Then you can remember it the way I remember it.

April 2, 2012 -- Geneva, Switzerland

It's the day of departure. Kati and I flew into Geneva for a connection flight to Madrid. We were supposed to be here for several hours, but now the layover has been extended because at some point this afternoon the French decided to go on strike. So now Kati and I are sitting in the airport looking out a giant window at what we think are the Alps. I can't believe we don't know how far the Alps go... Anyway, we're journaling, but the problem is that all we've done today is explored the airport...

Midnight...

EasyJet is on my last nerve. So are the French, haha. Kati and I are spending the night in the airport and hoping we can figure out where to go to take a train to Madrid tomorrow. It'll probably cost 200 Euro... But on the bright side, we are still in Europe. We WILL get to Spain somehow, and it would be awesome to train through France (even though I'm mad at every single one of it's inhabitants today). Kati is being awesome all the while, staying on the bright side of life and making the situation as pleasant as it could possibly be. As much as I'm complaining to you, journal, it's mostly for rhetorical effect. Kati and I are two solution-oriented gals right now. Finally, I have about 6 hours of free time with no phone and no internet, (i.e. no distractions). And I have a Book of Mormon and a lot of Swiss chocolate with me, so I'm considering taking the long-anticipated opportunity for a spiritual marathon. Goodnight.

(We ended up going to Barcelona for 5 days and cutting out Madrid because of logistical problems...)

SPAIN

April 5, 2012 -- Barcelona, Spain

This morning Kati and I went to Park Guell (a park designed by Gaudi, Barcelona's pride and joy of an architect). We went to our same fruit and vegetable stand that we've been frequenting daily and our "amigo" the store owner told us how to walk there in 20 minutes, so we did! We got there around 11:30 and hiked around the park that was once again phenomenal. We are obsessed with Gaudi.  The landscaping looked sort of like an ancient ruin in the middle of a rain-forest. We almost made it to see the famous mosaic benches there when it started pouring, also like a rain-forest. We've come to realize on day 3 of 5 that everyday between noon and 1:00pm it rains hard in Barcelona and then it's sunny for the rest of the day. Today we were completely soaked even with our rain coats and waterproof shoes.

So we went home, sadly, to dry. On the way back we bought two pastries each and ate them both on the spot in an attempt to console ourselves. It worked pretty well.

We got back to the hostel, where I tried to begin reading "El gran Gatsby" en espanol, but realized I'll need a dictionary to get through it. I took a nap instead. It was so nice. We walk around all day everyday and Barcelona is particularly hilly. In fact near our hostel there are parts that look like the world is warping like the movie inception because the streets are so steep. But up we go... Anyway, the nap was nice for this reason. I'm exhausted already. When I finally woke up, I saw that Kati had passed out while reading at some point too.

We got up and made some burritos in the hostel's kitchen before embarking to the city again to see Casa Batllo, another of Gaudi's creations. It's his underwater style house and it made me want to be a redheaded mermaid. They had a sign-in book at the house, which I stuck one of Justin Houston's heart tags in with a love note to Gaudi written on it.

April 7, 2012 -- Barcelona, Spain

Kati and I returned to Park Guell this morning and it was SUNNY! :D Sooo nice. The n we went to our last Barcelona Gaudi stop, Casa Mila. And then to a Botanical Garden where we soaked up some lovely sunshine and listened to reggae. Then, this evening we went to Spanish guitar concert to see Manuel Gonzalez. It was magical. The concert hall, Palau de la Musica Catalonia was mosaic tiled all over. It love mosaic so much after being here. Since my mom loves it too, I'm hoping it can become a shared project we work on together.

Everyday so far has been coldish &/or windy/rainy so Kati and I have dressed pretty blandly, but we've been itching to dress a day up. We took the chance tonight for the concert. I had a cute outfit, but I had intended to have bought some cute Spanish sandals by now to wear it with. No such luck. I wore my mega-dorky black Sketchers with a skirt and successfully ended up looking like a sister missionary. Oh me, oh life.

While listening to the fabulous Spanish guitar I was swept away by my own thoughts. I daydreamed about attending business school, then drifted into thinking about my lost passions like Invisible Children, then to Alex...

After the concert we had crepes in an adorable little restaurant that was playing Frank Sinatra. I was swept off my feet with no one there to love but good old Blue Eyes... So I read Kati my list of romantic things to do, which only made matters worse.

Life is intolerably beautiful, sometimes.

ITALY

April 8, 2012

The beginning of a very involved love affair with Rome? Kati and I are staying at Tiber Campsite about 15 minutes outside the city by metro. It's completely gorgeous and equipped with a market and restaurant. We ate at the restaurant tonight and each ordered our own pizza and gelato sampler. It. Was. Incredible. Every time I took a bite I thought, "Oh my goodness, things can't taste this good." But they do! And this is just our campsite's pizza. Mama Mia!

Also, I've seen several beautiful mean today already. What is this place? How can I only have 2 days here?

I'm already plotting ways to come back.

(I didn't have as much time to journal in Italy, but I saw the ancient ruins at the Roman Forum, the Vatican Museums, Uffizzi, and St. Peter's Basilica. The Sistine Chapel was as good as they say it is. Wow.)

I can't believe I just got to travel across Europe. I can't believe that yesterday I was in Venice sitting canal-side watching gondolas drift by in all their picturesque glory. I feel incredibly blessed.

Love you all.

As awesome as it is to be here, I cannot wait to see your faces again, wherever they may be.

Missing you,

Brittany