PYT(s)

One of those days where your internal clock saves you from hearing the annoying beeps of your alarm, Etta James is singing in the living room when you walk out to make a cup of coffee but you find that someone already made it for you and your default outfit doesn’t feel so default-y. TGIF anyways…

 

Michelle Armas via This is Glamorous

barcelona street art

hampton mansion, baltimore

http://citified.blogspot.com

giving tree

Growing up, my Mom and Dad read to me all the time but The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends were always my favorite. I think it was the way that Shel Silverstein illustrated that caught my attention but I was looking through my book shelves and came across the books again. If you have never read The Giving Tree, I am pasting the story at the end of this post but it is worth going to the nearest Barnes and Noble, sitting on the floor and taking a few minutes to flip through.

Apparently I am not the only one who loves the story.

Angel Oak outside of Charleston, SC. It’s 1400 years old.

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Once there was a tree….. and she loved a little boy. And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest. He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. And they would play hide-and-go-seek. And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree…….very much. And the tree was happy.

But time went by. And the boy grew older. And the tree was often alone. Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said “Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy”

“I am too big to climb and play”, said the boy. “I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?” “I’m sorry,” said the tree, “but I have no money, I have only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy.” And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time.. and the tree was sad. And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said, “Come, Boy, climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and be happy.” “I am too busy to climb trees,” said the boy. “I want a house to keep me warm,” he said. “I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you give me a house?” “I have no house,” said the tree. “The forest is my house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy.” And the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house. And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. “Come, Boy,” she whispered, “come and play.” “I am too old and sad to play,” said the boy. “I want a boat that take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?” “Cut down my trunk and make a boat,” said the tree. “Then you can sail away…… and be happy.” And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away. And the tree was happy….

but not really. And after a long time the boy came back again. “I am sorry, Boy,” said the tree,

“but I have nothing left to give you—-” “My apples are gone.” “My teeth are too weak for apples,” said the boy. “My branches are gone,” said the tree. “You cannot swing on them——” “I am too old to swing on branches,” said the boy. “My trunk is gone,” said the tree. “You cannot climb——–” “I am too tired to climb,” said the boy. “I am sorry,” sighed the tree. “I wish that I could give you something—— but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump.” “I don’t need very much now,” said the boy. “just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.” “Well,” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.” And the boy did. And the tree was happy.

 

facehunter lovin’

I was scrolling through my besfran’s PERFECT MAN’s blog, Mr. Yvan Rodic and saw that he was in Barcelona a few months ago. Fabulous surprise for me! He takes amazing fashion photos but these pics of random sightseeing/going out moments brought back such great memories. Can’t wait to go back… Thanks for the pictures, Yvan!

Valé:

looks like they opened a Rosa Negra in barceloneta … yummm

http://yvanrodic.com/

After the storm last night, the air has become crisp and springy here in Maryland. Too bad I have to sit in the office most of the day! Looking for an excuse to get lost in nature…

Grant Monahan 

Ansel Adams 

Montsurrat, Spain

Christopher Talbot Frank

Calli Nicoletti 

reminiscentia

Tomorrow is the first day of the spring semester here in Charleston. As happy as I am to be back in the place I love with the people I missed so terribly, I can’t evade reminiscing about my European adventures. It doesn’t really help when every familiar face asks, “How was being abroad?”. But then again, why would I want to forget? I’ve decided to continue posting more photos I have taken, just for kicks. Happy New Year!

“Barthelonaaa”

Just a few pictures that I have taken over the past 3 months. Such an amazing city…

city stroll

I was given the assignment to document Passeig de Gracia and Ramblas de Cataluña, two major streets in Barcelona for my Urban Interventions class. Instead of snapping pictures of the streets themselves, I decided to focus on the small details along the “calles” that people may not notice at first… enjoy!

 

Jet Settas

This past month has been an amazing whirlwind of traveling, family and friends. My sister and I met up in Dublin, where we spent a few nights at a lovely B&B and traveled along the coast to a small town called Malahide. After a few too many ciders and a missed flight, we made our way over to London to visit gorgeous Borges and family friend, Jeremy. We had an adorable tour guide who we swore could feel the connection that we felt toward him and would ultimately stop tour-guiding for the day and hang out with us… no such luck. The tea and scones 3 times a day (plus some pretty amazing art at the Tate and few good nights out)  finally mended our broken hearts and we made our way back to Spain to meet up with our parents.

While my parents were in town, we made a trip by train over to Monsurrat; a jagged mountain range that houses one of the most elaborate basilicas I have ever seen, as well as some amazing views of Cataluña. We managed to eat our way through Barcelona during the week that they were in town and by Thursday Ali and I decided it was time to head to Paris to see Peyton!

If I knew how to speak french, you would need to google translate this entire post. Luckily I don’t know french but I came to love the language during my few days in the city. Pan au Chocolat managed to become the entirety of our diet besides a few pieces of cheese and many, many bottles of wine. It was an all too short of a weekend in Paris and I hated to say bye to Ali and Peyton but I will be going back shortly!

This past weekend was Halloween and I was a little nervous that Barcelona hadn’t fully grasped the concept of dressing up just to get crazier than usual… but I was pleasantly surprised that I could bring some of my best friends from college to an amazing Halloween party at a beach club. How could I have doubted this city?

 

g.r.a.f.f.i.t.i

If you have seen my recent albums then I am sure it’s quite obvious… I love the graffiti in Barcelona. I take pictures of the street art almost everyday but here are a few of my favorites!

La Mercé

In 1687 the fabulous city of Barcelona encountered a little Pterygote problem, better known today as a plague of locusts. As was custom back in the day, the city turned to God and sought aid from the Virgin La Mercé or the Virgin of Mercy. Soon after the bugs skipped town, the city council decided to turn La Mercé into the patron saint of Barcelona. It took about two hundred years for the Vatican to ratify the decision but in late September of 1868 it was official and BCN has been doing it big ever since. Festival La Mercé was unlike any celebration I have ever experienced. 5 days of music, fire/fireworks, films, parades, metros packed like sardines (one of Barcelona’s favorite foods), bumper cars, human towers, towering dolls, sangria, mischief, mayhem and a good deal of Catalan culture.