There are only two eternal things in this world: love and the Barcelona-Real Madrid soccer rivalry For the past few years, Barça (as it is commonly known) has been the dominant team not just in the Spanish league, but in all of Europe. Barça fans like to paint themselves as Read More…
As a pescatarian (someone who eats no meat other than fish), I was counting on losing a lot of weight while living in Scotland for a year. Haggis isn’t exactly a vegetarian-friendly dish. But when my friends and family welcome me home next week, they won’t be greeting the frail Read More…
After more than 14 hours on a plane in order to fly thousands of miles across an ocean, I finally landed in Barcelona, ready to forget all about finals, classes and other miscellaneous Berkeley-related problems. As I made my way to the famous Ramblas — a long pedestrian street long Read More…
“Oh this summer? I’m going to be in Addis Ababa for 2 months.” Some typical responses included, “oh Abu Dhabi, nice!” or just, “What?” There were a few that I knew were nodding in agreement although you could tell they were scouring through their mental search engine for an answer. Read More…
What comes to mind when you think Spanish food? Delicious salsa? Guacamole atop sizzling pepper fajitas? Some cold margaritas or tequila and lime? Well that in fact is Mexican food. In turns out not all Spanish-speaking countries have the same cuisine, and oddly enough if you ask for a tortilla out here in Read More…
I stepped off the bus and immediately felt like I was in a battle zone. The long whistles and accompanying roars of firecrackers came from all directions, and the air was already smokey. And this was only 2 o’clock in the afternoon. Thus began our day in Valencia to see the closing festivities Read More…
Freshman year, back when I thought I was an English major, I took English 45C and had to read “To the Lighthouse” by Virginia Woolf. One of the themes I remember our professor teaching us was the concept of the sublime: something so vast, so beautiful, that our very inability to Read More…
I never thought I would consider the Spanish lifestyle a fast-paced one until I got to Italy. No matter how many “es-cuuuu-zis” I shouted, it was obvious I wasn’t going more than three cobble-stoned blocks per half hour. I quickly learned to sit back, relax, enjoy a glass (or mini-juice Read More…
Recent emails regarding Tele-BEARS and fall housing have made my year abroad feel a little less like a dream and a little more like a ticking time bomb. When this is over, I need to face the reality of internships, my drained savings account, senior year, and preparations for the Read More…
If your list of dream travel destinations does not currently include Istanbul, let me tell you, straight up: You’re doing it wrong. Move over Paris, Barcelona — these traditional European hotspots need to make room for the best thing you never knew you were missing. Do yourself a favor and Read More…
