A Wandering Sole

Bazaars and Shopping in Istanbul

// December 20th, 2011 // 8 Comments » // Turkey

Transporting goods in the Bazaar District

Taking advantage of a free stopover on Turkish Airlines, I was lucky enough to experience Istanbul. It’s a city I’ve been dying to visit for about seven years now, and though the visit was brief, I fell in love. Stella, my awesome US road trip buddy and former fellow Kenya volunteer, skipped school and met me in Istanbul for a short reunion. With less than 72 hours to explore the city, we had a jam packed itinerary. Our first day? Shopping of course.  (more…)

Montage Monday: Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia

// December 5th, 2011 // 9 Comments » // Photo of the Week, Turkey

With less than three days to explore Istanbul, I think I can say we made the most of it. One of my favorite architectural sights in the city is Hagia Sophia, once a Christian church that was transformed into a mosque and is now a museum. This photo is just a teaser of my stopover in Istanbul that I hope to share in the coming days.

La Sagrada Familia: An Architectural Gem

// July 1st, 2011 // 7 Comments » // Spain

I’ve heard it a lot: Gaudi is gaudy.

I make bad puns all the time so I can’t blame ‘em, but sadly, it couldn’t be further from the truth. While the highly ornate exterior of La Sagrada Familia is not to my liking, I was blown away by the interior, modeled after a forest. I also really loved the Passion facade, however this is the work of another artist. I’d love to sit down and actually write about the architectural elements, but time is not on my side here in Africa. Instead, I’m just going to post the photos and recommend that if you ever go to Barcelona, you must a.) pay to go inside La Sagrada Familia and b.) pay to go up the elevator to the top of one of the spires and wind your way down the stairs. Enjoy! This is my last post on Gaudi and Barcelona! (more…)

The Guy With the Nike Backpack

// June 27th, 2011 // 5 Comments » // Spain

I’m an absorber by nature. I don’t necessarily like to debate but I like discussions on debatable topics. I’m just as happy observing an activity as I am participating. Growing up, I used to love to watch my sister play a Zelda video game. I didn’t want to play I just wanted to watch her play. I think my absorbent personality is why I am so intrigued with people watching. Sometimes I walk down the street and wonder about a passerby’s life. If I’m not sure, I just make something up in my head. (more…)

Gaudi for Free at Park Guell

// June 23rd, 2011 // 4 Comments » // Spain

What do I love more than seeing Gaudi’s work in Barcelona? Seeing it for free! I visited Park Guell on my second day in the city and made not one but two more trips back to the park. I was drawn in by the views of the city, the ability to discover new areas of the park, and the people watching. As a public park, it’s an opportunity to see some of Gaudi’s work for free. (more…)

Casa Mila & A Little Gaudi

// May 31st, 2011 // 14 Comments » // Spain

Antoni Gaudi is one of the most famous Spanish architects and affiliated with the Art Nouveau movement. His designs are heavily influenced by nature and characterized by curvilinear forms. While many turn to puns and call Gaudi’s work ‘gaudy’, I think it is difficult not to appreciate his style after learning about his design process and what inspires him. (more…)

Montage Monday: Mercat de Santa Caterina (Spain)

// May 23rd, 2011 // 7 Comments » // Spain

“Excuse me,” I said to the front desk guy at my hostel, “could you tell me how I can see the top of this building?” He had never even seen this market before. His buddy at the desk leaned over and mentioned that he had seen the colorful tiled roof of Mercat de Santa Caterina but from a friend’s apartment- he had no idea how I would be able to see it. I set out on a mission. I was obsessed with seeing this roof. I just had to!  I wandered through a maze of streets, ended up in a sketchy part of town, but finally came upon the market. (more…)

Barcelona’s Mercat de La Boqueria

// May 20th, 2011 // 11 Comments » // Spain

Mercat de La Boqueria

La Boqueria is perhaps the most touristed market in Barcelona. Located on La Rambla, it is chock full of delicious sweets, fresh meats, smoothies, peppers, and all sorts of goodies. Why say in words what I can illustrate with photos? Enjoy! (more…)

A Breathtaking Day at Montserrat

// May 18th, 2011 // 18 Comments » // Spain

Montserrat literally means “jagged mountain” in Catalan.

Just an hour outside of Barcelona, these dramatically sculpted rocky formations are sacred home to a monastery and a basilica housing a black Madonna. The UNESCO World Heritage Site draws tourists and pilgrims who come from near and far to see the beauty nestled in this small mountain range. (more…)

My First Soccer Match: FC Barcelona

// May 16th, 2011 // 16 Comments » // Spain

I hate(d) soccer. Yep, I said it.

I never played soccer as a child. I did plenty of other sports but never soccer. Sure I learned to play in gym class in middle school, and I liked it alright. (more…)