Macaroons

Since I'm going to Paris this November with API, I've been keeping my eyes open for cool things that I want to see or do while I'm there...and I happened to stumble across this link a couple of days ago from the blog Vanilla Sugar (which really makes my miss cooking and baking at home!).  Don't these macaroons look delicious though??  I'm a huge fan of hazelnut, so I'm really excited to try the white hazelnut truffle macaroon.  Too bad I can't bring a box of these home for gifts!

Medieval Festival

This weekend in Granada there was a Medieval Festival in my favorite plaza, Plaza Bib-Rambla.  When I first heard about it, I thought it would be something that Doug would enjoy much more than myself, however it turned out to be tons of little booths set up selling handmade jewelry, ceramics, leather bracelets, yummy food, etc.  The only thing really medieval about it was that the vendors were dressed up, in my opinion I think that Spaniards just like and excuse to have a festival! Plus, part of the festival was located right in front of the main cathedral in Granada, which gave it a really cool atmosphere.  I ended up going to it about almost every day because there was so much to see and so many unique things that I wanted to buy.  I bought lots of cool little gifts to bring to my family and friends back home....I can't wait to give them to them when I go home!!

Salobrena

It's been so hot lately in Granada ever since we returned from our trip to Belgium, and since Halee and I really have been wanting to get another beach trip in before it starts cooling off again, we went to Salobrena.  Salobrena is the closest beach town from Granada, about a 45 minute drive south.  Halee, Doug, Lexi and I got on the bus early this morning and made our way to the coast.  We were one of the first groups on the beach in the early afternoon, but by the end of the day the beach had filled up quite nicely.  

The water at Salobrena was really relaxing because it seemed more like a pool than an ocean, since the water was so calm and clear.  There were also lots of little pebbles instead of sand, so Doug and I had a little rock skipping contest (I won) and at the end of the day we weren't covered in sand, like all other days at the beach.  It was also really interesting because the water got deep really fast, so we didn't need to go out far for a nice swim.  

I know its hard to see in this picture, but Salobrena was surrounded by little white houses along the mountains and cliff.  I loved it!

All of us got a good amount of rest on the beach and then around five, we packed up and caught the bus back home.  All in all, it was a great trip, hopefully I can go back next weekend too!

A few more Ostende pictures

Amsterdam

Here are some of the pictures from when we went to Amsterdam this past Sunday.  For having the reputation that it does, I was pleasantly surprised how beautiful all the little canals and the buildings were.  We took an hour boat tour through the canals, which was nice change from walking to see everything.  I also really loved all the house boats along the canals (the second picture up is of one) and how some people had little gardens on their patios. 

More Belgium--Brugge and Ostende

On saturday we went to Brugge and then to Ostende, a city along the coast of the North Sea.  Brugge was so beautiful and picturesque.  They call it the "Venice of the north" since it has canals running throughout the city, although in my opinion the canals in Amsterdam were better.  We spent the afternoon walking around Brugge and then got a fresh Belgium waffle off the street to hold us over till dinner.  The waffles in Belgium are perfection.  Not only is the scent to die for, but they are so sugary and gooey in the center that they make the absolute perfect treat for a cold fall day (or any day really!).  Enough about the waffles though.  

So later in the afternoon we took the train the rest of the way towards the coast and ended up in Ostende.  We walked around the town for a little bit and then walked out onto the pier.  However, we didn't even end up walking to the end of the pier because it was so windy and cold so we had to turn around and make our way back.  It was pretty much exactly how I imagined the North Sea to be; choppy, cold and windy.  For dinner we grabbed a bratwurst with grilled onions from a street vendor to save money and it changed my perspective on bratwurst forever... since it was so delicious.   The pictures of the beach and the video are Halee's (my camera batteries died on me).  

Belgium & Brussels

Yesterday I returned from my Belgium trip with Halee and Doug.  Fortunately, Halee's uncle lives just outside of Brussels, so we were able to stay in his house for the six days.  We arrived in Brussels last thursday and got back into Granada last night.  We were lucky enough, with the help of Mic (Halee's uncle) to experience a different city each day.  Friday we visited Brussels, saturday was Brugge and Ostende, sunday we went to Amsterdam and then on monday we stayed in Leuven (the college town where Mic works).  It was amazing being able to stay with Mic and Bob, who taught us about Belgian culture and politics.  I don't think I would have liked Belgium as much as I did without them!  The pictures above are from the drive back from the airport.  We stopped at a palace that was Napoleon's summer home, I don't remember the name though.

Friday morning we left early and made our way into Brussels to take a bike tour throughout the city.  The tour started at 10am in the town square and ended at 2pm back in the square.  We even got to stop for lunch at a famous "frituur" to try some fries, which apparently were invented in Belgium and they definitely looove their fries (they eat them with mayonnaise instead of ketchup!).  It is so cute because they serve them in a paper cone and Belgians eat them with little plastic fork instead of using their fingers.  It was so cold in Belgium, so I totally understand though why fried foods are so popular.  Anyways though the tour was lots of fun, although a bit scary at times because I'm not the best cyclist, but all in all an amazing experience!  All the pictures above and below are from Brussels.  Those three people on the bikes are Doug, me and Halee!

Another thing that I loved about Brussels was all the cartoon artwork on the sides of the buildings throughout the city.  I guess Belgium is famous for their cartoonist, something I didn't know until last week, so throughout Brussels there is cartoon artwork everywhere.