Gourmetscapades!

I plan to make this a recurring post, simply because some food is just too darn good not to make into an everlasting memory.

This unearthly sandwich was crafted and consumed while I was waiting for my indulgent homesick brownie to cook in the oven. The inspiration came last night when I read this delicious article. Italy's NODeli policy has caused me to forget what wonderous things one can do with two slices of bread. I solemnly swear that I will never restrict myself to bread+meat+maybe if your lucky cheese panini ever again.

A cure for the homesick

Last Friday I came down with a really bad cold which meant I spent the whole weekend in bed. It also didn't help that I have been feeling really super homesick for the last week, which seems silly since my time here is slowly drifting away, but I guess since Easter is coming up and we are in full force birthday season for my fam it is somewhat explainable. Of course I just happened to stumble upon a really awesome music video set in San Francisco in my long hours of bed ridden moping and yearning for the bay area(watch it above). To top it all off I got a handmade Easter card from my mom in the mail yesterday!!
I would be lying if I said this did not make me burst into tears the moment I opened it, which is totally explainable due to my already weak conditions. Of course I was laughing at the same time because of the Jesus prayer card she added. My parents are hardcore atheists, but even so my mom is fascinated with little religious icons. She always gives me and my sister those Virgin Mary candles, prayer cards, saint stickers(purchased from the 50 cent sticker machines in the Raley's near our house), mini Buddah statues, Ganesh necklaces etc. Trust her to tuck a solemn reminder of our savior into a happy little Easter card.
So I did what I had to do. Now don't go thinking I caved in immediately and pulled out all the stops. No, no, quite the contrary! I waited a whole day to indulge my homesick gluttony, I even tried to do the bait and switch which obviously failed miserably. Weird-o lemon popsicles with a licorice stick(some one please save the Italians from their indulgent sweet confusion! Why on earth would anyone think to combine super sugary sweet concentrated lemon with pure bitter black licorice?) just don't cut it. I held out a whole day before the need for some good old comfort food overcame me and I pedaled off to the supermercato as fast as my little legs would go.
This is the aftermath...actually the middle math since the aftermath will be later on when I manage to finish the whole pan by myself. (Fortunately this is an exaggeration, I have trusty and loyal friends not to mention a voracious male roommate who will stop at nothing to get between me and that hunk of brownie. Which is good because that heavenly substance consumed in it's entirety would add a good 2 inches to every possible circumference of my body.) I am considering braving the gym later. We shall see how the cards play out.

News Flash

Spring has sprung and April is about to begin and so are my travels. I am not sure why, but the political science students have the whole month off and I plan to use it to my full advantage. My adventure starts April 1st when I take a 10 hour bus ride(I am trying not to think too much about this part) down to Puglia to visit my roommate and her family for Easter. I am really excited because I have technically never seen the real south of Italy before! Then I come back to Pavia for two days and then leave to go to the Canary Islands to meet my friend from back home who is studying in France and her roommates for a week of sun beach and relaxation. After that I head back to sweet Pavia for my birthday and then two days later it is off again with Ella to gay Pariiiiiiis to visit her awesome friend from uni back in England. I am determined to survive this madness, so don't worry your pretty little heads about me. I will bring back lots of photos and stories to share.

Forza Fraccaro!

Lately a couple of my erasmus chickies and I have been demonstrating our team spirit for one of the University Collegio. Luckily for us we wound up with the best one, FRACCARO! So far they have won every game we have been to, the Basketball tournament and the ancient rivalry game against their arch nemesis Cairoli. We can't wait for the next game.

The last snow

This post should have gone up on march 10th because that is the day it snowed more than I have ever seen. The flakes falling from the sky were as big as quarters(fortunately not as hard) and the ground was absolutely blanketed by white. The picture above is of the towers behind the University.
This is one of the many statues in one of the many courtyards of the University. If you look closely you can see his fresh new snow wig!
Ella and I attended a protest against the increase of student taxes. We were hoping that us being there, even though neither of us are affected by the tax raise, would encourage more participation from those who are affected. Unfortunately the weather did not help convince protesters to come out.
Lau and I decided to take advantage of this freezing situation and make a snowman! It was my very first, and if I do say so myself I think he turned out to be a real looker! We also got mischievous and pelted our dinning room window and each other with snowballs. Photographer credit goes to the lovely miss Hashemi.

mas barca: Parc Guell

Parc Guell was one of my absolute favorite places in Barcelona. The view was spectacular and there was live music and the mosaic was so colorful and it just felt peaceful up there. The long walk up hill was more than worth it. I think we must have plopped down and enjoyed it all for at least two hours. I can't wait to go back.

mas barca: la comida

as you can see everything in the Mercat La Boqueria
especially the fish!
somehow we stumbled upon a southern style fried chicken diner!
mmmmm spanish honey
One of the cutest ice cream places I have ever seen! I can't wait to copy their lighting ideas!

mas barca: Las Calles

Viva Barcelonaaaaaaaa

The first weekend of march we went to Barcelona! I loved it so much, I couldn't stop taking pictures, especially since it was 19 degrees and I could finally leave my hands out of my pockets without risking gangrene! It may take a couple posts to get the creme of the crop up, but have patience! Real Naranjas we found over our heads while sitting at a bar drinking coffee in an unknown plaza.
Something I found on the outside of an antiques store.
A tower near the Catedral and some sunshine.
I got pretty close to the locals.
The bay of Barceloneta.