April 15th marks the day where the government decides to shut off the heat. Coincidentally, it's also the day that the weather decides to become as awful as it knows how, with torrential rain and near-freezing temperatures. Are the two connected? Probably. It's too much of a coincidence otherwise. Perhaps the weather likes to let our technologically inclined society that it still can control our lives and emotions. Or perhaps some government officials have cameras installed in our offices, watching us shiver.
Anyways, after a March of t-shirts, it's back to sweater weather for me.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Saturday, April 14, 2012
100 Foods
I recently saw a post on facebook that lists 100 foods to try before you die. Some of these I wouldn't put in the "you must try" category, but, thanks to living in France and traveling extensively, I have eaten a lot of these.
Ones in blue I've tried, and in green I've tried solely because I've been in France (and some even have their own post!)
So without further ado, the list:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros - New Mexican favorite
4. Steak tartare - thanks to France and their love for raw beef
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding - Eaten here in France at a departmental party
7. Cheese fondue - A life without it? Never
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho - Almost every Friday night in grad school thanks to Rodolfo
13. PB and J sandwich - oddly enough, this is the thing that really turns my stomach. :-P
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses - French cheese. Must try.
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns - my favorite thing in Hawaii!
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras - same time I tried the black pudding. Exciting day for me.
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche - even a Dulce de leche snowcone!
28. Oysters - most recently in Brussels
29. Baklava - in Greece, Turkey, and thanks to all my Turkish friends!
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas - mom loves 'em!
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float - seriously craving one now
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O shot
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects - I swallowed a fly on a bike before.
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk - just in cheese form
45. Single malt whiskey
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear - also gave some to my friend's parents - straight from China. They thought I was crazy.
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips - made a cake from carob once
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads - sadly, yes. But if you are doing this list yourself, don't think of this is a goal. Avoid them if you can. ;)
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs - no, I have had many opportunities, but again, that falls outside my limits.
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - A couple of times, when I didn't know what it was. Haha
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - um, no
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse - no, but it's an option here!
90. Criollo
91. Spam - thanks to my wonderful undergrad institution. Thanks guys.
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
100. Snake
I've tried 64 - more than half!
So how about you? Person with the most gets a point!
Ones in blue I've tried, and in green I've tried solely because I've been in France (and some even have their own post!)
So without further ado, the list:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros - New Mexican favorite
4. Steak tartare - thanks to France and their love for raw beef
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding - Eaten here in France at a departmental party
7. Cheese fondue - A life without it? Never
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho - Almost every Friday night in grad school thanks to Rodolfo
13. PB and J sandwich - oddly enough, this is the thing that really turns my stomach. :-P
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses - French cheese. Must try.
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns - my favorite thing in Hawaii!
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras - same time I tried the black pudding. Exciting day for me.
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche - even a Dulce de leche snowcone!
28. Oysters - most recently in Brussels
29. Baklava - in Greece, Turkey, and thanks to all my Turkish friends!
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas - mom loves 'em!
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float - seriously craving one now
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O shot
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects - I swallowed a fly on a bike before.
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk - just in cheese form
45. Single malt whiskey
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear - also gave some to my friend's parents - straight from China. They thought I was crazy.
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips - made a cake from carob once
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads - sadly, yes. But if you are doing this list yourself, don't think of this is a goal. Avoid them if you can. ;)
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs - no, I have had many opportunities, but again, that falls outside my limits.
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette - A couple of times, when I didn't know what it was. Haha
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - um, no
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse - no, but it's an option here!
90. Criollo
91. Spam - thanks to my wonderful undergrad institution. Thanks guys.
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
100. Snake
I've tried 64 - more than half!
So how about you? Person with the most gets a point!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Little Spain
On our last day in Barcelona, we headed up to Barcelona's Parc de Montjuic. We saw from a distance the National Palace.
We then headed to Poble Espanyol, which is a little "town within a town". Each section of the town emulated buildings from various parts of Spain.
The central tower.
A door, shorter than I am!
Another lunch of tapas! My favorite was a sort of nacho, with thick tortillas to go along with tasty cheese.
Enjoying some sangria.
Nearby, we found some wild parakeets living in the trees.
Also in Parc de Montjuic is the Olympic Stadium, used for the 1992 Olympics.
We then headed to Poble Espanyol, which is a little "town within a town". Each section of the town emulated buildings from various parts of Spain.
The central tower.
A door, shorter than I am!
Another lunch of tapas! My favorite was a sort of nacho, with thick tortillas to go along with tasty cheese.
Enjoying some sangria.
Nearby, we found some wild parakeets living in the trees.
Also in Parc de Montjuic is the Olympic Stadium, used for the 1992 Olympics.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
La Sagrada Familia
Happy Holy Week! As a celebration, here are my pictures of Gaudi's most famous work, his grand cathedral.
Construction started over 100 years ago, and after many setbacks, works continues today. Which means that the cathedral is ever-changing. The cathedral that we saw will not be the same cathedral if we go back again.
There are lots of interesting stylistic details. For example, these spires are topped with colored fruit.
The cathedral looks like it's made of melting wax, but in reality, it's just covered in statues.
It's quite clear that work is ongoing. This worker clings to the top of the high spire.
The façades are amazingly detailed. There are even metal musical instruments. These statues were located on the "Nativity" façade.
The fourth side of the church is still incomplete. It's just plain and flat.
On one of the spires, a bit of color is added.
The Passion façade, detailing the last days of Christ's life.
The statues on this side were very different than that on the Nativity façade. While on the Nativity façade, the statues were round and full of life and detail, the statues on the Passion façade were angular and grim.
Statues detailing the Stations of the Cross.
The center statue is Veronica, with the image of Jesus on her cloth.
Above all this, Christ rises. We could literally see him rising out of the green construction netting.
The door of the Sagrada Familia. It was covered in words. The center gold square is a grid with numbers in it. Bonus points to the blog reader who can leave a comment with their significance!
Inside the cathedral was one of the most amazing places I have been. No surface was flat. In fact, all of the surfaces were shaped after the intersection of various complicated shapes.
Light falls on a new stained glass window.
Completed stained glass windows stand next to the incomplete ones.
Wonderful colored glass!
The ceiling of the cathedral, right above the alter. It contains various symbols depicting God.
The pillars and cross surrounding the main alter.
It was interesting how the cathedral was designed. Heavy weights were hung on strings, coming to rest in their natural positions with the help of gravity. This helped to create the shapes in the cathedral we see today.
It was expensive to go into the cathedral. But I was happy to pay it. To think - I helped a little bit in my own way with the construction of a modern cathedral - one that will hopefully be around for hundreds of years to come.
Construction started over 100 years ago, and after many setbacks, works continues today. Which means that the cathedral is ever-changing. The cathedral that we saw will not be the same cathedral if we go back again.
There are lots of interesting stylistic details. For example, these spires are topped with colored fruit.
The cathedral looks like it's made of melting wax, but in reality, it's just covered in statues.
Bram and I outside the cathedral.
It's quite clear that work is ongoing. This worker clings to the top of the high spire.
The façades are amazingly detailed. There are even metal musical instruments. These statues were located on the "Nativity" façade.
The fourth side of the church is still incomplete. It's just plain and flat.
On one of the spires, a bit of color is added.
The Passion façade, detailing the last days of Christ's life.
Statues detailing the Stations of the Cross.
The center statue is Veronica, with the image of Jesus on her cloth.
Above all this, Christ rises. We could literally see him rising out of the green construction netting.
 |
| The first row: 1 14 14 4 Second: 11 7 6 9 Third: 8 10 10 5 Fourth: 13 2 3 15 |
Inside the cathedral was one of the most amazing places I have been. No surface was flat. In fact, all of the surfaces were shaped after the intersection of various complicated shapes.
 |
| Looking up at the ceiling |
Completed stained glass windows stand next to the incomplete ones.
Wonderful colored glass!
The ceiling of the cathedral, right above the alter. It contains various symbols depicting God.
The pillars and cross surrounding the main alter.
It was interesting how the cathedral was designed. Heavy weights were hung on strings, coming to rest in their natural positions with the help of gravity. This helped to create the shapes in the cathedral we see today.
It was expensive to go into the cathedral. But I was happy to pay it. To think - I helped a little bit in my own way with the construction of a modern cathedral - one that will hopefully be around for hundreds of years to come.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Gothic
Another quite famous area of Barcelona is the Gothic, the neighborhood that Picasso grew up in. It's known for some pretty interesting architecture, as well.
This building has umbrellas pasted to the outside, and a dragon that's holding a light.
Some more neat mosaics.
There were also some wild animal sightings. Bram took the chance to try to reign one in.
Superman stood by and watched my husband, realizing he was not needed today to help contain the wild animals.
The inside...
It had a beautiful courtyard filled with nice palm trees and fountains.
This building has umbrellas pasted to the outside, and a dragon that's holding a light.
Some more neat mosaics.
There were also some wild animal sightings. Bram took the chance to try to reign one in.
 |
| That's why I love him! |
Strange super-small cars.
The Gothic also was made up of a warren of narrow street, the bottoms perpetually bathed in shadows.
It was in this maze of streets that we found this neat intricate bridge.
On the outside of the Cathedral of Barcelona.
The inside...
And the roof!
It had a beautiful courtyard filled with nice palm trees and fountains.
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