Barcelona

For some reason or another Valencia got posted before Alicante. I was in fact in Alicante first, then to Valencia, and then to Barcelona. I traveled right up the cost of Spain which was pretty cool. The ride from Valencia to Barcelona was really cool! We passed by a lot of beaches and were even going through the side of a mountain that every once in a while you could look out and see the water below you, and a lot of naked people too for that matter. Spaniards like to be naked on the beach. So I tried to do my best to leave them out when I took pictures in Spain. Anyway enough of that!

Barcelona was well known for Gaudi. He designed and built really strange but cool buildings in Barcelona. I can never remember the names of the places though, so I'm sorry for that. But I saw this one while walking to my hostel the first night.

The place where I took this picture was where the king and queen of Spain received Columbus when he came back from his famous trip.

As I'm sure you have noticed by now.. I take a lot of pictures of buildings. To some it may be boring, but yeah I guess I got so caught up in the architecture. So here are some great buildings and churches. I again am sorry... I can't remember the names.

There was a really great market along Las Ramblas, which is a rather important street there I believe. If anything it is a pretty big tourist area, and there are a lot of food stands, restaurants, and such.

This is me enjoying some fruit, that I'm not sure what it was. It turned out tasting somewhat like a beet though. I got it cause it looked like it might have some good vitamins! I think I've been lacking vitamins for a while...

I met some fun people on the tour I did, so we all went for a walk up to Guell Park. This park over looks the city and has some great art/architecture by Guadi.

But here is me with my Barcelona Jersey in Bareclona!

This seemed to be the main area of the park, with the Gaudi art.

It's really hard to tell, but there are some wild parakeets in there. I thought that was cool, I had never seen wild ones before!

The front entrance to the park.

And then on the way back to the hostel we came across the largest vending machine I have ever seen! Random, but I felt I needed a picture.

That night the girls I met and I went to a great Tapas place! Tapas is basically just like an appetizer size/type dish that you get a bunch of them and chow down! It's great! So we had a fun time in this really cool little place!

 I'm pretty sure this is a signed jersey that is just like mine. I thought it was cool.

I also had a bit of a memory/tear jerking moment while there. I saw this dog that looked so much, and acted so much like Suki I didn't know what to think. I really can't explain it. It was so so weird. Rest in peace Suki.

The next day I went to see the Sagrada Famila. This is a still unfinished cathedral started by Gaudi in the early 1900s before he died. Really a cool building!

Since that day was actually the 4th of July, the two girls and I went to an American bar and even enjoyed a Budweiser. The people at the bar were happy to help us celebrate, handing out American flags to people and taking pictures of us with the Statue of Liberty model they had. I unfortunately forgot to take any pictures of us, but it was weird to think this is now the second year in a row I haven't been in the states for the 4th of July! Here's to adventure I guess! I'm having a great time!

Alicante

I next decided to head to Alicante, Spain! A good friend Kate Moore mentioned if I make it to Spain I should check out Alicante, because she studied there for a semester. It just so happened that I met somebody traveling in Europe who goes to ISU, and it worked out to meet them in Alicante after Brussels. She had also studied there and knew some people she was visiting, so I was able to go to some cool places in the city.

The first night I walked around for a bit, climbing up part of the castle hill over looking the city and ocean. 

I came across a wedding on a patio looking over the city.

Then I took some self portraits on the hill.

The city was just finishing up a week long festival, so they had fireworks Friday and Saturday!

Not very clear, but I did my best.

When the fireworks were done they lit off firecrackers connected to a string that ran along the boardwalk.

Also not clear, but I was surprised to see them doing this. It was really cool though, just surprised nobody got hurt.

The next day I went to the beach!

Then that night I went to the top of an apartment building to see a bull fight. My friend's friend lived in the building.

It's difficult to see, but in the span of an hour they killed 3 bulls I think.

There was also a great view of the city and ocean, because it was the tallest building in Alicante.

Spain was pretty cool! The people all seemed really nice, and I had a great time! More of Spain is to come though!

Valencia

I next traveled up the coast to Valencia, Spain. I knew of a study program in Valencia through one of the professors I met at Looney's wedding in Italy, and it turned out I knew a couple people on the program from ISU.

 On the way to Valencia the train ride was rather nice!

Lots of vineyards from the looks of it and a few mountains scattered about.

The train station I came into was pretty cool, and had a bull ring right next to it.

That night I was invited by an Aussie to go and get some Paella with her and two of her friends. This dish is typical of Spain, and when served to 4 peolple is huge!

 Later on that night, I went to see Lizzy Curran at a small bar, to catch up and watch the championship game of the champions league. I think that is what it is called. I'm not very good with soccer, but Spain was playing against Brazil and got beat 3-0 I think.

The next day I wandered through the old riverbed of Valencia to some really cool buildings! The river bed was turned into a park after it was rerouted long ago, and the buildings were designed by a famous Spanish architect. I think the architect might also be doing something with the ground zero area. I can't remember his name.

These last ones are from the architect!

I later went to the beach with another friend from school, Tori Torrescano. So that was nice to catch up and be on the beach again!

A sand castle I walked by!

The next day I took a tour in the morning, and then climbed up the tower of the church that the Holy Grail is apparently in! But I didn't get to see it, cause I ran out of time.

But the city was nice, and I enjoyed my time there as well!

Brussels

If there is any place that has as good of beer as the Germans it is probably Belgium! So automatically I loved the place! The first night we went to a few bars in Brussels to relax from all the crazy weather we had in Munich unfortunately. We went to the Mort Subite where they serve their own beer.

And they actually have quite the history at this bar. Below is the story of the brew, bar, and a game we played

Then we went to the Delirium bar, which had over 2000 beers available, with a few on tap. You could imagine me looking like a kid in a candy store! Delirium Nocturnum is there most famous beer, which in the states coasts $20 for a four pack of 10 oz bottles. So it's mighty expensive back home! But, if you ever get the chance drink some! Oh it's good! All their beer is really, I tried all the Delirium brews!

It's difficult to see, but the place has loads of beer trays on the ceiling, and is decorated quite nicely with memorabilia.

Later that night we went back to the hostel, which is located in the Grand Place area.  This is basically the old town center, and is lit up nicely at night.

The next day we took a day trip to Brugge, a smaller town, with a few canals. It was a nice little town, and had a decent amount of history.

Apparently I have been told to watch the movie "When in Brugge." I think this is the name, but apparently somebody jumps off the tower in the movie.

Here is the tower!

And this church claims to have a small vial of Jesus' blood. 

We also stopped for some beer at a small pub/brewery and had another great glass of beer.

The next day we ventured out to see a gigantic crystal structure of an Iron atom. This was constructed for the 1958 worlds fair I believe, and was only meant to be temporary, but became a very popular attraction. Inside they have some interesting history of the worlds fair, and some temporary art exhibits. By inside, I mean inside each of the spheres you see.

Afterwards we headed to a brewery tour. The area around Brussels is known for open air fermented beers called Lambic beers. It literally creates a beer that is like Champagne, and is really good! This brewery was apparently the last one in the area to do the full process taking up to 3 years to make their highest quality of beer.

After the tour we headed over to the EU building, but weren't able to actually go inside that I know of.

Overall a pretty cool city!

I apologize for posting Munich and Brussels so late. I have been losing track of time and been moving around a lot more frequently! I hope to get you caught up to where I am within the next few days!