Picture Fracaso

Just wanted to let you know that the lack of new pictures on my blog isn't due to my blogging laziness (this time). For some reason my computer just won't let me upload pictures (and I do have a lot from this past month). I will persevere though, so that you can see me smilingly cheesily in front of monument x, building y, or cityscape z. I know you can't wait!

What have I been up to during the latest internet silence? Well, after the conference in Valencia, I went to Prague with Srinu and some of the Fulbright girls. Prague is beautiful, romantic - and touristy, as I imagine most beautiful, romantic European cities are during the Spring and Summer. We ate well, drank better (I had forgotten how delicious beer could be), and took in some breathtaking views. The highlight for me though is definitely my birthday dinner that the girls organized at a very perfect vegetarian restaurant recommended by Mr. Quesito of Spanish fame (a friend). It was a delectable surprise and I will remember it always!

The weekend after that, Nikhil, Katie, and Mark from Vandy passed through Madrid so we did the tourist thing some more. The weather was freakish and therefore not so amenable to showing off the most wonderful things about Madrid (e.g. terrazzas in the springtime). I think I managed to take them to a few cool places though and hopefully they had a good time.

The week after that, Srinu and I skipped over to Barcelona where we met up with Alex who was meeting up with her college roommate Rita. We didn't see Mark, who was being wined and dined for the Formula 1 races there (hmph; someone with a real job). Though it was the fourth or fifth time I had been there, I still enjoyed the city and loved being on the beach. Can there be anything better than Spain in the springtime? The only downside was, again, that it was PACKED. Tourists are slowly starting to infiltrate the cities to which before, during the winter, we felt like were exclusively for us. How rude! I know I'm a tourist, too, but I'd prefer if no one else was when I was visiting a place :)

Anyway, the week after that brought a long weekend here in Madrid for el Dos de Mayo, celebrating the 2nd of May when, in 1808, the Madrilenos rose up again Napoleon's French occupying forces using scissors, hair pins, and whatever else they could get their hands on. I imagine there were probably a few pots and pans thrown in the mix too.....At any rate, I stuck around for the celebrations, especially since Srinu flew out that morning. The rest of the weekend and week was fairly relaxing as I tried to catch up on things like e-mail, organizing pictures, and this here blog 'o mine.

However, the days reserved for resting are short lived because tomorrow I head out again, this time to Marrakech, Morocco. I'm heading over with Alex and her friend Eddie who lives in France. After seeing countless cathedrals, Roman walls, and medieval streets, I'm ready for a sightseeing change. Bring on the couscous, mint tea, and mosques!