TIm and Ryañ´s Last Day

The pub crawl the hostel put on, turned out to be a pretty good time. It cost 10€ but we got a shot at each bar and beers were only about 1€. Needless to say we got back to the hostel really late and crawled into bed.

We woke up at the usual time of noon, and got ready for the day. The plan was to see The Alcazar, but we got caught up roaming the streets of Seville. We ended up going to the ¨5th Avenue of Seville¨ and walked around and looked at all the trendy European clothes. I ended up buying some lame tee shirt for 6€, but I didn´t really care, I just wanted a clean shirt!!

After walking the shopping district Jed decided he wanted to get out of the city, so went on a day trip to Cadiz, a nice ocean down about 90 minutes away from Seville. I´m sure he´ll blog about that later. The rest of us decided we needed a siesta! So we went back to the hostel, and got out of the sun for a few hours. After our siesta, we went cafe hopping around Seville, and across the river into Triana. Triana is kind of like a borough of Seville, and not touristy at all. It was a really nice walk, and we kept stopping along the way for cervezas!

We all met back at the hostel at 9, and decided that we would go to a Flamenco dance show. We asked the hostel, and they pointed us in the right direction, and we ended up at this really cool Flamenco bar. At first it was empty, but by 10:30 it was packed with tourists. The Flamenco dancer was really good, and it was interesting to watch. Someone played the guitar, and another guy sang and clapped along with the dancer. It was actually really awesome. Jed thinks when he gets back to the States, he´s going to take lessons.

After the Flamenco show we headed back to our rooftop and hung out with all of our hostel friends. Hostel living is so similar to dorm living, theres always something going on, and you can never remember anyone´s name. Then we went next door to The Cave and got some late night eats with a guy from South Korea. He was really cool, and it was interesting talking about current events with someone with such a different perspective than our own. I think Ryan´s favorite part of this trip is talking about politics to EVERYONE, but his biggest disappointment is finding out that outside NYC, no one knows where or what Willimasburg, Brooklyn is!

Seville - Day 2

Yesterday was our second day in Seville. I woke up earlier than the rest of the crew and visited the pride of Seville: the cathedral. The Cathedral of Seville is the third largest gothic cathedral in the world. The scale is unbelievable. The cathedral itself took over 100 years to construct. The cathedral contains 80 chapels, all of which contain amazing detail. Other notable sites inside the cathedral include the tomb of Christopher Columbus, the tombs of many Spanish archbishops, a treasure room, an orange tree field, and La Giralda. A mosque originally occupied the site of the cathedral, and the minaret (La Giralda) is all that remains from the original structure.

In the afternoon we went on a walking tour of Seville sponsored by our hostel. Our guide told us a lot of interesting stories about the history of the city. All of the streets have a lot of history behind them.

At night we feasted on paella and sangria on the roof of our hostel. The chef of the night was Dario, a guide at the hostel. After dinner, we went out on a pub crawl with some others from our hostel and a neighboring hostel.

Seville, Ole!

Getting from Granada to Seville was a breeze! We took a taxi from the center of the city because the buses weren´t running, and easily got seats on the next bus. We ate a meal in the bus terminal, Ryan (who is a vegetarian) got a disgusting vegetable sandwich covered in mayonnaise, he hated every bite and we all laughed as we enjoyed our real sandwiches!

The bus ride was like 3 hours, and we all got some much needed sleep. It took about 10 minutes to walk from the bus station to the hostel, and was easy enough to find. This hostel is alright. It´s set up on 4 different floors, with no true common space, and the rooms are really hot! But it has a roof top terrace, which is awesome, as long as the sun is not up.

Day one was pretty uneventful, because we were all so tired from our late night in Granada, and the traveling. We walked around close to our hostel, and got acquainted with the streets, which are narrow, all look the same, and have at least three different names depending on where you get on them.

At night we went on a Tapas tour that the hostel provided. I have to say after Granada, I was not really impressed. There were like 20 of us, and it was hard to share the tiny plates, and it just wasen´t that good. We met this southern guy named Bo, who lived on a tobacco plantation. Words can´t describe Bo, he was truly a character out of a Mark Twain book.

After the Tapas tour we headed up to the roof with a few bottles of wine, and just chilled out up there talking to travelers. We met an awesome couple from LA on their honeymoon, who worked on the Kim Karsashian show, so we all kind of made fun of that, but they were really nice! After the roof we went to a bar next door, we called The Cave, because it had no real walls, just stone. They have the best menu though, and are open so late. It´s like living next door to a McDonald's!

The Alhambra Deux

Spain, like much of western and central Europe, has a history greatly intertwined with religion. Between large populations of jewish settlements, islamic rule for seven hundred years, and centuries of state sponsored catholic fanatacism, almost every history lesson we learned was deeply rooted in religion. This is especially true for the city of Grenada, which was the last bastion of Spain in the Moorish Empire. We visited the Alhambra, the architectural wonder and Islamic fortress of the fourteenth century.
Walking through these ruins is like walking through a history book. It made me think even more of the religious wars that plagued Spain and much of Europe during it´s early modern period of history. Philip II bankrupted the once powerful Spanish empire four times because of his fanatical devotion to Catholicism. More than anything, it made me appreciate the basic rights that we enjoy in much of the developed word. The rights that many, myself included, are guilty of taking for granted.
The first Amendment in the Bill of Rights offers freedom of religion, a freedom that millions of people died for over the course of European history. Viewing Spains vast Islamic architectural influence, and seeing the exact history where so many people died for religion, has made me truly appreciate the rights that we enjoy today.

The Alhambra

Greetings from Seville! We are a few days behind but don´t worry we can catch you up quick!

After our wonderful night of Tapas, spent much of the next day resting and getting ready for our big trip up the the Alhambra. We had tickets to see the Palace at 5:30 but since there are so many other things to see, we got there around 3, and started exploring!

The Alhambra is like nothing any of us had ever seen before. It´s a complete city enclosed by huge reddish walls, on the top of a mountain, overlooking Granada. The views are breath taking, and the history of the place is so interesting. It was built in the 12th century as a Palace for the Moorish kings, but was taken over my the Spanish Catholic Monarchs in the 15th century. We were able to walk the walls, go into the alcazaba, climb the guard towers, and hear stories about it. We all did the audio guide, and although it was a bit cheesy, it was a lot better than just walking around by ourselves. It was built directly in line with a river flowing down from the mountains, so it had flowing water everywhere, and was really pretty. From the highest point of the tower we took some great pictures, and were able to see down into our Hostel!

After we left the Alhambra, we went back to the hostel...and in typical hostel fashion we went out with about 15 other travellers to get more Tapas! We went to a few bars, but quickly got full. Every time we ordered a drink we had to be like no tapas, and the bartender would look at us like we were crazy! After the tapas bars, we went to a club that was in a converted movie theater. It was a pretty good time. The cheapest thing they had on the menu was Jagger shots...so obviously all we drank was Jagger shots. Everyone had an awesome night!

Tapas Tapas Tapas!

Yesterday we left the hostel in Barcelona at 6:45 in the morning (painfully early in Barcelona - where it is not uncommon to stay out until 6AM) and went to the airport to fly to Granada. Granada is a small city with the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the north. The mountains provide beautiful scenery. Yesterday was 95 degrees in the city, but the peakes of the mountains were still covered in snow!

Yesterday we went on a self walking tour from our guidebook, then went on a bus tour. We saw some very interesting landmarks, including some buildings built in the 13 century, and a statue in the city square commemorating when Columbus presented Queen Isabella with maps of the new world.

One interesting note about Granada, is that most of the shops close from around 1 to 4pm. This is the traditional siesta time, but some people eat or exercise or just relax. After experiencing the blistering sun during this period yesterday, I am not surprised!

Granada is famous for its tapas. Tapas are provided for free at bars and restaurants when drinks are ordered. Last night we went tapas hopping, going bar to bar and ordering beer or sangria and feasting on the tapas. The tapas are delicious, better than most meals I am accustomed to paying for in the states.

Later today we are going to Alhambra. It is a big fortress on the top of a mountain, and the second most visited attraction in Spain.

A Little Karaoke??

After the extreme bike riding tour of Barcelona. Tim and I headed to the beach to wade in the water. It was surprisingly cold. We took in some sun, saw some very large people hard core making out, and headed back to the hostel.

When we got back we all showered up in the tiny showers and heard the hostel was having a karaoke tour. We played some drinking games and headed to the Karaoke bar with about 8 people from the Hostel. When we finally got to the bar it was packed with tourists but we luckily found a table. The beers were really cheap which is always good. Overall it was a great time and with the social lubricant heavily flowing Joe and Ryan sang a song in front of the whole bar! The deut was beautiful!! We hung out there for quite some time and headed back where we all passed out.

Today (Monday) we all woke up around 11 and headed out at Noon with a friend from Brazil. I had a lost wallet scare before we left but found it... in my shoe? After yet another Jamon et Queso we rode our bikes to the biggest attraction in Barcelona the La Sagrada Familia. Tim and I did the full audio tour and really took in the Cathedral. It was huge and so detailed that it made sense why its taking over 130 years to build. I went up to the top of one of the towers and almost dropped my camera while holding over the edge to get a pic.

Tim and I headed back to the hostel to meet the rest of our group and we got some food then decided on going to the Picaso Mueseum. Unfortuently we got seperated and never made it. Now were back in the Hostel excited to get some Topless tonight. Oh wait I mean Tapas....(inside joke)

Biking Barcelona

Another excellent day in Barcelona. Like we had planed we decided to rent some bicycles and see the city on bike. We rented them from a place near the hostel, for 19E for two days, not too bad considering we save on the metro and taxis.

We started by visiting Park Guell, which is the park Gaudi designed. Getting there was easy enough, except it was entirely uphill, and so hot. The park itself was really pretty, like all the other Gaudi architecture we saw. It was made to look like natural things, so everything reminded me of giant seashells, and columns designed to look like pineapples. I'm am kind of getting enough of Gaudi, it reminds me of when I was in Kyoto, and we saw like 15 temples, but they were all pretty similar. Still have to see the Cathedral though.

From Guell park we rode to the coast, which was nice and completely downhill. We saw where they had some of the Olympics, and the famous "Golden Fish". We then rode the boardwalk next to the beach, and just kept going until it ended. All and all we probably biked around 10 miles!

Went back to the Hostel, and showered up. Which is an experience in this hostel because the showers are in like the middle, and you have to walk about 40 feet from the shower to your room, Of course as I was walking back, dripping wet, a group of four Asian girls were checking in, so I had to be like excuse meee. Probably made their night though!

Pictures to come soon, these computers are so old!

The Beach!

Once we got back to the Hostel we met up with our two friends from breakfast, and went out to dinner. It was a blast, and we got to eat right on the street, and do some people watching. Everyone sitting around us wanted to practice their english, so we helped them out. When I told people I was from Boston, they asked me if I knew any celtics, and I of course told them, I knew all of them.

From the resturant we went to the Super Marcado to pick up some much needed beer and headed back to the Hostel where we met up with even more people and started playing some drinking games. We taught them our version of Kings, but they taught us one I really liked called Horse Racing. Needless to say we finished all of our beer, in near record time, and head out for the night.

We went to this area of Barcelona called, The Beach, which is right on the beach. It's basiclly like a strip mall, but instead of stores, it's full of bars, and clubs. We went to at least 6 of them, and everyone was different. The music was decent, way too much regaton, but we're in Spain so what can you expcect. Many beers were drunk, and lots of fun was had. We stayed out until 530, and then crashed at the Hostel. Thankfully we were with all of the people staying in our dorm, so no one was woken up.

We're all up now, planning out the day. It's looking like a biking tour of Barcelona to the Gaudi park!

It's pronounced BarTHlona

Saturday was another awesome day, but when your in Barcelona how can it not be. After getting Jed and Ryan up, we all started to get ready, while Tim went for a run around the city. He says that there are no runners in Barcelona, and people were looking at him like he was crazy!

Once we were ready to start the day, we went out to breakfast with two of our bunk mates. I think everyone got a Ham and Cheese sandwich. It's reminds me of Paris so much, how everyone is always eating ham and cheese baguettes. It was pretty delicous, and after lunch we started doing some tourist things!

We first walked to La Rambla, which is one of the main streets. All along it our street performers, and "human statues". It was funny because they're were so many human statues, but only like 3 of them were popular. So there would be huge crowds around some and none around others, and whats a human statue without a crowd! We also visted a really cool produce market, where Ryan decided he needed to purchase a kilo of cherrys.

At the end of La Rambla we connected with Port Ver. It's really pretty, but not much to do. Apprently they built tons of real estate on Port Ver right before the real estate bubble, and now they have a vacancy rate of 75%, crazy I know. From Port Ver we walked up to "Old City" which is like it sounds, the original part of Barcelona from when the Romans first founded the city. It was really cool, the streets were so windy, and narrow. We even saw some of the orginal city walls. I think it's awesome to walk around a part of the city with so much history, because it's definetly not something you can see in the States!

Day Uno

The Lost Breeds made it to Spain!

We flew over on Iberia Airlines, which I had never heard of. Flight was decent enough, though it was on an airbus, and not a boeing so that means no tv at our seats. They only played one movie, "Tooth Fairy", which I did not watch. I also got stuck next to a really chatty girl for the entire ride. All I wanted to do was put on my ear buds and go to sleep, but everytime I tried, she started to strike up a conversation. Some people just don't get the hint!

I love how on transatlantic flights, they litteraly hit cruising altitude, serve dinner, turn off the lights for 2 hours, turn them on again, serve breakfast, and land. My body was not convinced it was morning.

We met up with Tim and Ryan in Barcelona with no problems, and from there we took a taxi to the Hostel. The Hostel is pretty nice, it's in a very central location on Av Diagaonl. Everyone staying here is friendly, though some are a bit socially awkward. We are staying in an 8 person dorm, all of us except Jed have the top bunk...he kind of lucked out. But the hostel has plenty of computers, free coffee and tea, and an acuoustic guitar playing manager. He played Jack Johnson for Ryan for like 20 minutes while Ryan sat awkwardly on a bean bag and listned.
But enough about our Hostel.

Barcelona is breaktaking! The archetechture is so cool, and Gaudi's inspiration is everywhere. The city is also a giant grid so it is really easy to navigate! We have only explored a litte so far, but it's seems every block or two we see something famous. The people seem really frendly, and everyone we have met speaks some English. Not that we need it too bad, Ryan and Tim are doing a pretty good job translating for us.

We got breakfast at a cafe and all of us got coffee, except Jed, who in typical Jed fashion, got a coke and a ham and cheese sandwich. From there we explored some more than went back to the hostel for a little bit of a siesta. When we woke up we talked to some other travelers who said everyone was going to the Primavera Sound festival. So after some discussion we decided to check it out too!

The ticket for the festival was about 90 Euros, but we decided to go for it anyway. The concert was held right on the coast, and we go to see some of favorite indie bands like The New Pornograhpers, Beach House, The Pixies, Wilco, Cold Cave, and Major Lazer. It was an awesome crowd, probably like 25,000 people, all enjoying the music. We all had a lot of fun, but I think it was defeinitly overpriced. The only thing that makes it okay was that I was at a major music festival in Barcelona, which is a once in a lifetime experience.

The concert ended at 6, but we left around 3, and got back around 4. We finally got some the sleep we all needed. The sleep was actually really good, though some of our dorm mates got in really late, and were kind of loud. But nothing that kept me awkae for too long! Well Tim and I woke up around 1, Jed and Ryan are still asleep.

I think I'll go wake them up!

The Lost Breeds Set Off Again

Hello Friends, and random visitors!

It's been over 10 months since the last time either of us updated this blog. And that can only mean that we are setting off again, on another adventure to an exotic destination.

The Breed Brothers are heading for an 11 day stay in Spain! We are leaving on the 26th, and coming back on the 7th. We will be visiting Barcelona, Granada, and Seville. With a small layover in Madrid. Also two of our best friends, Ryan, and Tim will be coming along with us.

So hopefully you will follow along, as we update this daily. Questions will be answered (what exactly is Tapas?), hearts will be broken (mostly ours), rooms will be shared (by up to 12 strangers in army barrack style hostels), and bulls will be fought (by professional matadors).