On the Move

I’ve moved back in with my mom! Ok, there, I said it! Since my last entry, I’ve vacated my old apartment, which has officially become my younger sister’s and her soon to be husband’s abode, and moved into an even roomier pad which I will share with my mom when she visits Venezuela. Although I am stuck with a smaller room and closet, I love the location, the feel of the new place, the private yard and most importantly the very deep bathtub! So although the move from two apartments into one and relinquishing the master bedroom for the smallest auxiliary room can be traumatic at first, a daily soak makes it all worth it!

In the meantime, my sister Elizabeth is making all the preparations for her wedding in January. I wish it wasn’t so, but pre-wedding can be a stressful experience even for those of us on the periphery. My theory is to focus on three things... booze, food and music. I must say though, she is doing an excellent job so far.

In my last entry I voiced some concerns regarding my writing career. It was helpful to get my feelings out and motivating to get positive feedback from a certain friend who lives in L.A. who is dearly loved and greatly admired. Since then I have been writing a lot, reading works with content and doing a bit of research on the daily lives of international authors to see if I could actually do what they do. So far I’ve identified with Jennifer Weiner, the writer of GOOD IN BED, IN HER SHOES and other books that have made the New York Times best seller’s list and are sold all over the world. Jennifer captures those fleeting moments in our routine when our flaws intermingle with our gifts to make each of us truly unique and special. I love that her work is full of meaning, lessons, yet is told through stories that are humorous and lighthearted.

Writing Through the Crossroads

Sometimes it’s hard to get inspired, to choose which path to take and to know, with certainty, where to focus my energy. I love to read. Reading opens my mind, widens my horizons as much as learning to do something new. Through reading I get to slip into someone else’s skin, shoes, hat and see the world from their perspective, never completely living their experience since my mind contains it’s own process by which even a narration, when read by me, becomes my own. When I read I grow. In contrast, writing is my outlet. It is the one thing that purges me from myself, that purifies me from the baggage that accumulates and clutters my brain. When I write and I breathe easier, I feel better and lighter. Sometimes I even rise above mortality, to a place where I am indestructible, transcendent. My essence seems to split away, unfold, from my physical body and I can fly through time, space, worlds. Writing can be such a passionate and profound experience that I can rarely re-read what I write. When I return to reality, somehow all that dreaming and flying around seems silly and immature. It’s too much when I a grounded.

So here I am, at a crossroads, full of questions… lacking answers. Can my love for reading and writing become a career? Can these two passions of mine be molded, shaped into a job? Can I do what I love while simultaneously building a curriculum? Can I make money being inspired by writers before me and then spilling my thoughts on white paper in black ink? Can I be “productive” while living my dream? I don’t know. Thankfully, I have a lot to say, and I’ve noticed that my opinions are frequently different from the opinions of the mainstream, which might be of great use. Unfortunately, I have found it hard to sit and write daily. All I can say is that passionate feelings, inspiration, comes in waves and I am hoping I can make them come more frequently and stay longer.

Today I had lunch with one of my father’s friends. His profession is international law, and like me, he is passionate about literature. For two hours and a half we spoke about life, traveling and literature… three things that (to me) are inseparable. We share the same hair-raising awe for authors like Jorge Luis Borges and others who make reading literature an all-consuming, foundation crumbling experience. I was inspired, re-energized, motivated to read and write by just taking about the amazing people that came before me. Did they think about their careers, about publishing, about selling? Or was their need to write, to create so strong nothing else mattered? Or was it a negotiation between both, publishing and passion? Anyway, he did give me some practical advice that (at least) makes starting less overwhelming:

1) Read the entire work of authors you enjoy, considering their underlying philosophical perspective and literary strategies.

2) Write as much as you can about anything you want and send your works to contests, magazines, newspapers, etc. without getting discouraged.

3) Consider projects you are not passionate about as training exercises, dedicating time enough to make progress without overdosing.

4) Enjoy the journey!

Although my questions remain unanswered, they are no longer looming doubts that weigh me down and make me apprehensive about the future. They are just questions, potential decisions, future choices that I will make when the time is right. The important lesson is to enjoy the journey, embrace the adventure!

Road Trip of Europe

August 10th: London to Paris and Paris to Amsterdam

• Left London on the 7:25am flight.
• Met up with friends at Charles de Galle Airport in France
• We rented a Mercedes B170 for our trip
• Left airport at, ate lunch (mussels) in Brussels
• Visited Bruges
• Checked into our Hotel in Amsterdam at 10:30pm

August 11th: Amsterdam

• Ate brunch at a sandwich place called Singel 404
• Visited flower show and flea market
• Rented bikes for the afternoon
• Rode to Van Gogh Museum
• Visited Heineken Factory
• Returned bikes and only paid 15 euros for lock
• Had diner at Luden (on Singel)
• Walked the red light district and saw shows from street
• Went back to hotel at 2pm

August 12^th: Amsterdam to Berlin

• Checked out of hotel at 12pm
• Visited thinnest apartment in Amsterdam (Singel 166)
• Had hot chocolate, pancakes and omelet for breakfast at Dutch Pancakes House
• Left Amsterdam at 2pm
• Arrived to Berlin at 9pm
• Checked into Art Hotel on Lietzenburger strabe
• Ate diner at the Hamlet

August 13^th: Berlin

• Had breakfast at café close to hotel
• Got ticket for Circle Sightseeing Bus
• Went to Sony Volcano, Jewish Museum, Checkpoint Charlie, H ilton
• Had a beer at Hilton and walked through park
• Arrived at Art Hotel at 6:15pm
• Ate at Weyers (German food)
• Had drinks at Solar
• Came home at 2am

August 14^th: Berlin

• Had breakfast at local sandwich shop
• Visited Pergamon Museum
• Tried to visit Reichstad but did not go in because cupola was closed
• Visited: Bradenburg Gate, the Wall and Berlin Cathedral
• Rested for an hour
• Ate dinner at local Indian Spice, local Indian restaurant

August 15^th: Berlin to Prague

• Breakfast buffet at hotel
• Berlin Zoo
• Drove to Prague
• Checked in at Tulip Inn
• Ate dinner at Pravda

August 16^th: Prague

• Coffee on the street
• Walking tour of city: Tyn Church, Charles Bridge, Jesus of Praga Church
• Went to concert at 8:30pm at Municipal House (Smetana Hall): Pachelbel’s Canon in D, Mozart’s Divertimento D Dur, Kv 136 (Allegro, Andante, Presto), Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter)
• Ate dinner at Bily Konisec

August 17^th: Prague

• Breakfast buffet at Tulip Inn
• Drove to across bridge to Old Town, walked up hill to…
• Audio tour of Castle of Praga including cathedral
• Ate diner on riverside restaurant (Czech wine and goose)

August 18^th: Prague to Vienna

• Ate fruits from market
• Checked into El Levante Parliament Hotel
• Walked city and ate Go & Co restaurant
• Had drinks in lounge

August 19^th: Vienna

• Breakfast buffet at hotel at 10am
• Walking tour of city: Parliament, City Hall, Museum of Natural History and Fine Arts Museum
• Went to Sisi Museum, Silver Collection and Apartments
• Visited St. Stephan’s Cathedral and checked Mozart Museum (not good)
• Had Wiener Snitchel (typical dish)
• Woke up at 10:30pm and drove around Vienna at night

August 20^th: Vienna to Budapest

• Visited Schobrunn Castle (by car) and left Vienna
• Passed by Bratislava and arrived to Budapest at 3pm
• Checked into Art Hotel
• St. Istvan’s (Stephen’s) day in Budapest with air show
• Made reservation at Kacsa Restaurant at 7pm but arrived early (because of storm)
• Had typical Hungarian dishes

Appetizers: pate, cheeses, smoked fish, goulash, and duck strudel

Main course: duck prepared in different ways

Dessert: pancake and chocolate mouse

August 21th: Budapest

• Had coffee and sandwiches at Mocha Café
• Visited Castle on Buda side (including Matya’s Cathedral, Lion’s gate, important fountains)
• Went to Pest and visited Parliament, TV Station, Vacy Street
• Had a quick bite
• Back to hotel, drinks at the lobby, dinner reservation at 9pm at Arany Szarvas
• Ate game dishes with deer crepe as highlight
• Drove around city and had ice-cream

August 22th: Budapest to Salzbourg

• Ate breakfast buffet at hotel
• Visited bath at Gellerd Hotel
• Visited Great Market Hall and bought pate and paprika
• Left for Salzbourg at 1pm
• Arrived at Salzbourg at 6pm, checked in
• Walked from hotel (Belmonte) to town
• Ate at a local restaurant

August 23th: Salzbourg to Luxembourg

• Visited castle from 1100 on funicular
• Left at 12pm to Luxembourg
• Arrived at Luxembourg in the evening
• Checked into Hilton (far from center of town)
• Made reservations and ate at Notaro Restaurant (best Italian ever)
• Went to bed early

August 24^th: Luxembourg to Paris

• Drove around city
• Had bagel breakfast
• Left Luxembourg and arrived at Paris for lunch
• Charles and I walked to St. Germaine
• Walked back to hotel

August 25th: Paris

• Walked to St. Michel and ate lunch
• Visited Notre Dame, Louvre, Champs de Leisse
• Went back to hotel, got dressed, met up with friends
• Dinner and drinks at George, on top of Pompidou Museum
• Couple of beers and bed

August 26th: Paris to London

• Flew from Paris to London
• Took train to Anna’s apartment
• Unpacked, ate Indian food
• Went to bed early

August 27th: London

• Visited Leighton House
• Met up with Nichole at Wagamama’s
• Went to John office, walked around the city
• Had a couple of drinks at pubs
• Had a drink with Nichole, said goodbye
• Packed and went to Benito’s Italian Restaurant
• Went to sleep

August 28th: London to Miami

• Flew from London to Miami
• Rented a car at airport
• Dropped off luggage
• Had dinner at P.F. Changs (Andrew, Charles and I)

London August 8th and 9th

August 8^th

After a spot of coffee, Ana, Charles and I walked to the museum of National History where we saw skeletons (or replicas) of many species of dinosaurs. Many bones and teeth can be touched by the public. Then we saw mammals including cats, elephants, deer, dolphins, whales and even the skin and/or bones of a couple of extinct species. The mammoth bones and the skeleton of a giant sloth found in Brazil were the most interesting to me.

We had lunch at Carlucho’s, a Mediterranean restaurant walking distance from the National History Museum. Then, we took the tube to Russell Square Station to the British Museum where we saw ancient ruins from Egypt, Greece, Syria and Iran. The museum was founded in 1753 and contains “collections that span over two millions years of human history, enabling visitors to enjoy a unique comparison of world cultures under one roof”. In addition to a piece of the Parthenon and a series of wall plaques that decorated the inside of this building, the museum features the Rosetta Stone and an ancient mummy with skin preserved by the dessert sand.

In the evening we had a pint at Scarsdale, two bottles of wine with John and sake at the Lotus Garden, owned by Tian (aka Hubert). John ordered a combination of Chinese starters and entries which Charles accompanied with two Chinese liquors, in addition to the beer, wine, and sake.

August 9th

Ana, Charles and I walked around South Kensington. We had lunch at a private part with two of Ana's friends (Carmen and Ana) and their kids. Then Charles and I went to the Victoria and Albert Museum which contains cast-copies of architectural and artistic works from all over the world.

Then we went to the Museum of Science where we saw three floors of exhibitions on planes, ships, the beginning of medicine, the development of plastic, etc. Our last activity was an IMAX movie based on Sharks, which I highly recommend to anyone interested in wildlife.

In the evening, Charles and I packed our suitcases, as we were leaving for Paris at 7:30am. We had a quiet diner which consisted of a roast with vegetables, salad, potatoes and vegetables and a bottle of wine with John and Ana.

Introducing Charles Edward III

On the 7^th of August, Ana and I woke up early, took the tube and waited about two hours in the airport for (her brother and my boyfriend) Charles to arrive. We were both so excited to see him we made a poster, which we colored in into the wee hours of the night… well, maybe just until twelve! We made it extra corny to see if he would come greet us of walk straight through! Thankfully, for his sake, he came right over to us. I think he was so tired he didn’t even care.

After dropping off the bags, we had lunch at Masala Zone, visited a flat in South Kensington and came back to the apartment. Around 7:30pm we decided to have a couple of pints at a local pub called Scarsdale and grab a bite at a Thai restaurant called Blue Lagoon, where John joined us directly after work.

Before we went to bed, Ana and I got to see the next episode of Last Man Standing.

Commencement 2007

The commencement ceremony began at 4:30pm in the Chapel of Lincoln College. Because there were only 17 seniors, they entered individually. The key speakers were Jeff Brown, Emma Smith, Helen Wintle and Peter McCullough. There was a cocktail at the Rector’s quad before we were asked to proceed to high table.

Bridget (on the left) is a graduating senior who lives in the Bahamas. I have spent two summer with her... Alaska and Oxford.

Commencement dinner was even more elegant than previous high tables.

The menu consisted of:

Fried brie salad,

Potato and beet soup,

Chicken with mushroom sauce,

Carrots, snap peas and potatoes

Chocolate mousse.

The first two courses were served with white wine and the last two with red. We also had a sweet sherry for an after dinner drink.

After dinner all the graduates, their families and friends congregated in Deep Hall, where we drank, talked and even played a bit of darts. Then people dispersed in small groups and hit a couple of nightspots around Oxford. I hung out with Chelsey, Maura, Pete and Mike and stopped by the kebab cart before going to bed and shared a “Special Burger”.

Here I am with Maura, in Deep Hall) before we headed out for the night!

The Last Tours of Oxford

Friday… last day for some Bread Loaf students and the perfect day to walk around. Nichole and I started at Christ Church Meadows, where we stared (for the last time this year) at her favorite gargoyles until the bell of the church chimed ten times. We cut leisurely through the park, chit-chatting about the highlights of the summer and what each one of us learned.

Nichole was a person I had instant chemistry with and who, upon knowing her better, stirred within me feelings of adventure, risk-taking, passion, strength and (last but not least) an appreciation of the transitory moments in life (that if properly noted) can make for a hardy chuckle. She chuckled through the six weeks… at my accent, her imitation of my accent, things too small to remember now but that seemed immensely beautiful when she pointed them out. I wanted her to know how I felt before she went away, how much respect and value I have for our friendship. She reminds me of a mischievous cat that enjoys the brief patches of sunshine on a cloudy day and rubs against a stranger’s shin sneaking past his/her surprise directly into their heart. Just like cats, Nichole has that way of jumping off of high places and always landing on her feet.

We met Mike Mayo, a colleague, at the entrance of Lincoln College and continued on our personal tour of Oxford. Nichole took us to New College where we climbed the “mound” and walked through the chapel, noting the numerous statues and carvings on the cold cement floor. Then we visited St. Edmund’s Hall (one of the oldest and smallest colleges) that not only boasts a good rugby team but also a crypt within its college grounds. The tour ended at lunch time, when we met the rest of the Bread Loaf stragglers for one of the last meals. In the afternoon I walked to University Parks where lay in the grass, reading and just thinking) for a couple of hours. My reverie ended with a short game of Frisbee with Matt, Amelie, Marlene and Sophie after which I returned to my room and got ready for dinner.

Dinner was followed by another tour around town, this time lead by Augustan (the Monk) and focusing on the local ghost stories of the city. About twenty of us congregated on the entrance of Lincoln College and followed the Monk for the next hour and a half through the dark streets of Oxford, listening to the tales of the ghosts that haunt each cemetery, street corner and (yes!) college. Our own campus is haunted by a troop of parliamentary soldiers that were imprisoned in the wine cellar during the civil war, all of which suffocated because they jammed so many of them in such a small place. Augustan (in conjunction with Mike White, our computer specialist) wrote a small book about ghosts last summer, which will be available to the public next year! The tour made for a great ending to a very interesting summer!