Barcelona

On Monday the 23rd we jumped on a flight (I love easyjet.com and their cheap European flights!) and headed to Barcelona, Spain. It was seriously such a cool city! I loved it. I have heard how wonderful it is for some time now and didn't get to see it last summer on our European Adventure, so I was really grateful I could hit it up this go around. This portion of our trip was my responsibility so imagine my dismay when we arrive at our hotel and this is what we find...
I had purposely avoided hostels this trip (I don't mind them but with only 3 people we could get pretty good rates on hotels, so we went that route) yet when we saw the outside and how shady it looked, we were nervous. Well for good reason! The place ended up being a private residence! Hotel Gabriel was just Gabriel's apartment!! There was a hostel in the building but it wasn't what we booked and the owner was shocked when I showed him our reservation information off of Expedia. Gabriel wasn't home but the Hostel owner told us it was just a dude's apartment!

I just about freaked out. Fortunately, for us we found a better place just around the corner and the Lord took care of us. I really did have a near panic attack first though. When we went by Gabriel's place later to take these pictures, we found this note! He left me a note! We never called but I sure as heck let Expedia know what was up. Never. Again.

Here is the hotel we did end up staying in. Our saving grace. Thank the Lord. The owner here even gave us a better rate than Mr. Gabriel was offering and he took care of us straight away.

The best part of our hotel though was the fact that we were right off the busiest street in Barcelona; La Rambla. It was so much fun just to cruise the street each night. So much going on and tons of shopping and food. Like this place...you may recognize it :)

I'm telling you it's a goal. Eating it in every country I go to. Plus we were starving this night and you know this is a guarantee good meal. No questions asked. What can I say? I'm American through and through.

This was a market off of La Rambla. It was full of a variety of fresh fruit, bread, nuts and gelato of course. I was in heaven.

Enjoying our first serving of Gelato. If I could eat this every day for the rest of my life, it still wouldn't be enough.

Apparently New Moon is a hit in Spain too. I love this poster though..Team Jacob all the way.

Woah, another poster. The Volturri. Apparently the Spanish really love the Twilight series.

And just one more to complete the set. They couldn't leave Edward out of all the posters.

Our first stop in Barcelona was the Sagrada Familia. Here I am inside of it. It is still under construction and is not expected to be completed until 2030. It was designed and built by the famous architect Gaudi.

All three of us outside Sagrada Familia.

Window design on the Sagrada Familia.

It's so huge I couldn't even get the full of it in one shot. Sagrada Familia.

On top of the Sagrada Familia. I'm pretty good at getting shots of us, wouldn't you say? :)

Spires of the Sagrada.

The only completed Rose window by Gaudi. We just happen to stumble upon it as we walked all over the roof. It was incredible.

Another angle. Gorgeous.

Another Gaudi creation. La Pedrera. It's an apartment building. I wouldn't mind living here.

All of the chimneys and ventilation are part of the design too. It is so cool just to walk around all of them.

On the roof of La Pedrera.

Aren't these chimneys amazing?

A view of Sagrada Familia from La Pedrera.

Me and Julie.

This is a fountain designed by Gaudi in the city's most popular park. It was a perfect day for a picnic. We completed ours with Coca-Cola and a bag of chips. Delish.

Enjoying the sun.

One more shot of the fountain.

Outside the Barcelona Cathedral.

The Barcelona Cathedral.

Placa del Ria. This is where Columbus was greeted by the King and Queen of Spain on his return from the Americas.

Savoring the local hot chocolate. It was basically melted chocolate. Delicious.

La Rambla.

A monument of Christopher Columbus at the end of La Rambla.

We purchased the Barcelona Card and made the most of it with a free boat ride along the Barcelona coast. Here was our ride.

The Mediterranean.

Coast of Barcelona.

A little windblown but at least we had our new Spanish scarves to keep us warm!

Palau de la Musica Cataluna. This is a music hall built a 100 years ago and it is beautiful inside! So beautiful that we weren't allowed to take pictures, though we did have a hilarious tour guide who kept us very entertained.

We trekked to the Olympic area of Barcelona, which gives you a great view of the city.

Here we are with Barcelona behind us and Morocco calling our names. It was such a great city. I really did adore it; great weather, great sites and delicious food.

Paris

On November 20th, my roommates (Kim & Julie) and I jumped on a plane and headed to Europe for a little Thanksgiving vacation. We started and ended with my parents in Paris and it was perfect, absolutely perfect. Since we had all three been to Paris before, we shopped, hung out with my parents and ate and ate and ate...oh and managed to get up the Eiffel Tower. I do love Paris in the Fall.
Julie and Kim bundled up atop the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower all lit up. It really is amazing.

Walking the streets of Paris and enjoying a crepe or two. How I love crepes...

Paris in the Fall.

There's not usually a large Ferris Wheel in Paris, but I'm guessing they brought it in for the Holidays and so of course we got a few great shots with it and the Eiffel Tower. It was gorgeous!

These pictures are a bit out of order, but it's all Paris. Here we are on top of the Eiffel Tower, we literally turned the corner and almost lost our hats! It was so incredibly windy!

How cute are we? Julie, Kim & I on top of the Eiffel Tower. It was a great moment.

Another attempt at being a photographer. I really do love this shot.

Will work for Florida

Alright, so I've been on the road for an entire month. Yup, November..gone. On the road. It all began though, with 2 weeks back to back in the beautiful state of Florida, so really, who's complaining? I got in Friday night and Saturday I got together with friends I've had since high school and we just reminisced and caught up and basically had a wonderful time. I love these girls.
Left to Right: Amanda, me, Aubrey, Cortney, Sarah, Ashley and Shelley. I've known them all since we were in 8th grade..how the time flies.

As soon as lunch was over, I drove up to Jacksonville to see Melissa and the boys and my parents who were in town for a couple of days before Dad began classes in Toronto- ya, they were on the same continent so they figured they'd come down. Gotta love it.

Here's Vince making use of a sleeping Papi.

Mama and I. She's so cute and wonderful.

Melissa with her handsome boys. That would be Vince in the Megatron costume- I did a Wal-Mart run before getting there and it was right after Halloween, so I couldn't pass it up. It was a hit as you can see. And yes that would be Baby Clyde..he's not even 4 months in this picture! He's such a chunky monkey with a full head of hair! Too freaking cute.

You can defiintely tell who got all the looks in the family- sorry Melissa..hahaha.

36 years and they act like they're on their honeymoon. I love my parents. They are so incredibly wonderful.

Vince and I baking cookies-this would be the next day and he is still wearing his Megatron costume! He is such a Ham for the camera. I can't get over how stinking cute he is!

Baby Clyde. Check out those blue eyes...so beautiful. I adore this little man.

Baby Clyde and his favorite Aunt. Yes this is his real hair..he was born with it...out of control I know!

Even though I had to work 2 straight weeks on the road, it was all worth it, getting to spend both weekends with Melissa and the boys. The second weekend they came down to the Novaks and we had such a great time just kicking it. I do love going home and I love even more getting to play with my nephews. Being an Aunt is honestly the most wonderful thing in the world. I am so blessed.