(Salamanca, Fall 2011)

(Salamanca, Fall 2011)

Salamanca's a conservative city, but that doesn't stop the liberal-minded people from speaking up (loudly). 

The first poster includes pictures of almost every European politician, including both spanish presidential candidates and the pope. Fascism is an incredibly touchy subject here, as Spain's only 30ish years removed from Franco. In fact, you're considered fascist if you fly the national flag if there isn't a soccer game that day.

The second picture says "Cancelled because of animal cruelty". 

(Salamanca, 12/02/11)

When my friends and I realized that our time in Spain was limited, we made a Salamanca bucket list. 

The Convent of San Esteban was a beautiful church/grounds we walked by fairly often but always assumed we'd go in later. When we finally shelled out the 3 euro entrance fee, this is what awaited us.

(Barcelona, 11/25/11)

Las Ramblas. The heart of Barcelona tourism. Still beautiful!

(Firenze, 08/23/11)

End of the Ponte Vecchio.

(Corniglia, 08/27/11)

I encountered the blue door halfway down a steep, winding staircase that eventually led to the Mediterranean. Had I opened a door, I would have seen a house perched upon the rocky cliff, maybe with a leathery old Italian man watering the flowers and his wife picking lemons out of their tree. 

Instead, I continued on and took too many pictures of the pristine teal sea. 

The most difficult aspect of talking to Spanish people isn't the vocabulary, necessarily, but the cultural differences. 

For example, I use "creepy" and "awkward" very often, it turns out. These words don't exist in Spanish, and I've failed to explain either one adequately.