+Series
Ongoing and complete.
+Blog
Subcultures, events, and travel.
June 27, 2019
Barcelona Pt. 4: Rooftop Views, El Born Gastronomical Tour, Tapas Workshop, Andalucia Cooking, Farewell Dinner, Museums, Saint Joan's DayAs the trip came to an end, it was time to kick it up a notch. We continued with our class trips, touring important eateries, preparing and devouring tapas, and ending our cooking workshops with the southern-most region of Spain, responsible for producing the highest quality jamon and olives. The program was officially concluded by the breaking of bread with the instructors at a sea-side restaurant. However, the Festival of St. Joan still awaited us.
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June 15, 2019
Barcelona Pt. 3: Tarragona, Bunkers, Market Tour, La Meseta Cooking, Girona, Costa BravaSpain is rich with historical sites; one of which is a nearby Roman city equipped with a preserved ancient Colosseum. Back in Barcelona, we trekked to a leftover Civil War bunker with a 360-view of the city. Then, we took an in-depth market tour and discovered their importance in city planning, as well as prepared dishes of Central Spain. To top the week off, we explored where the Spanish go to blow off steam.
You could call it a vacation within a vacation. |
June 9, 2019
Barcelona Pt.2 : Las Ramblas, El Levante Cooking, Vineyard, Olive Oil, CastellersFrom nearby markets to the nightlife scene, I begin to gain a local's experience of Barcelona as I settle into the city. We taste the Mediterranean Coast, witness the production of two of Spain's great food products, and gaze in wonder at Catalonia's revived sport, human castle building.
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May 31, 2019
Barcelona Pt.1 : Welcome dinner, España Verde Cooking, Goat Farm, Honey Production
In my short time in the Barcelona study abroad program, I learned to prepare a few regional dishes, how natural goat farming and cheese making is conducted in the mountain ranges of Montseny, and the importance of bees and apiculture in Sant Pere de Torelló.
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March 23, 2019
Ashley's Graduation Celebration
And just like that, 4 years of college flew by and Ashley graduated from San Diego State University with a B. A. in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on mathematics. Her family came down from New Jersey, along with some grandparents from Michigan, and rented out an AirBnB in Ocean Beach by the water.
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May 14, 2019
Family Reunion SUmmer 2019A bit of a misleading title since most of my family is already here in San Diego. My brother Chris-Jan just came down from Canada for a bit to escape the cold. He actually has a pretty sweet gig heavy machine operating, 7 12-hour days on, 7 days off.
TL;DR: we eat, we drink. |
May 9, 2019
Portraits: Ashley's Graduation
This weekend I tried my hand at portrait photography. Normally I don't do photo-shoots, but for my girlfriend I think I can make an exception. Okay, okay, I'm not the main photographer, but she did ask me to tag along to be her coat-hanger...I chose to do some shooting on the side. After all, she did graduate summa cum laude and with distinction in her major.
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April 21, 2019
J Street Marina Lowrider Brawl
Overflow from the 2019 Chicano Park Day met up at the J Street Marina in Chula Vista to have a picnic and show off their cars. However, what began as a fun time by the bay turned into a battle among a few car club members. Unfortunately, a man was stabbed, bringing police and ambulances to the site.
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April 20, 2019
49th Annual Chicano Park Day
It's been a busy week, but I couldn't miss out on this yearly event taking place in Chicano Park. The area was brimming with custom cars and bikes, vendors, music, dancers, and people strutting down the street with buttoned-down flannels, lowrider hats, and zoot suits. This event was the epitome of Chicano culture.
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