I'm back!

Wow, has it been almost 3 months since I last posted?? Funny how quick time goes by. well, I guess I'm feeling a little inspired to write something (hopefully I can keep it up) and thought I let all my fans know how I was doing.

Well, I got back around November 3rd, and then went to live in a monastery for about a week (http://www.benedictine-srs.org/). These nuns were so nice and caring, and they made me feel so welcomed. I was there for about a week volunteering for them but also taking some time to reflect and meditate on all I have done and seen. It was a really good time but I got out of there so overspiritualized that I just wanted to be normal for a while.

In any case, I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up but I think I'm getting closer. I have decided that I will be moving to Europe this Spring/Summer and will be starting to make all the necessary arrangements to do so (find ESL job, Italian school, apartment, etc.). I'm a little intimidated by the thought of doing this but deep inside I know that's the right step for me to take. It's almost a divine calling.

Well, I'll try to keep this thing updated. And also, here is the link to my photo album from the trip in case any of you want to look at it (all 647 pictures:).

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=102c8qk2.59arxnnq&x=0&y=i3wplb

The Birth of a Pilgrim

Oui Oui Paris

Well these are some shots of Paris when I went there before beggining the pilgrimage... What an amazing city!

Just an Update

Just wanted to post a really quick comment to say that the reason why I haven´t posted anything is because ever since I started the Camino internet has been hard to come by. I have a little less then a month left, but I´m starting to get really home sick. I miss all my family and friends but at the same time I´m having the experience of a lifetime.

I will try to get some pictures as soon as I can find a decent computer...

Ciao for now!

When You Wish Upon a Star...

Well, I have always wanted to go to this place ever since I first saw it on a post card... It is the most famous of King Ludwig II's castles because it is the one Disney's castle is based on... Bavaria is an amazingly beautiful country...

The Real Oktoberfest

Here are some cool pictures of Oktoberfest...

Happy 30th to me in Oktoberfest!

Ok, so I´m currently in Munich tossing back a few beers in Oktoberfest since it's my birthday and all (may I just say I got TOTALLY wasted... not even funny, had to pray to the porcelain god a few times). This is insane! Unfortunately I can't figure out these german computers so I haven't been able to upload more pictures. I will post them once I'm back in Spain.

I was thinking of heading to Amsterdam with a few buddies from school, but I don't know if I'll be able to afford it. But I will try to make it to Castle Neuschwanstein (See link below for what that castle is). I should be heading out to France today or tomorrow depending on how much I get to do today. Anyways, keep checking for pictures!

http://goeurope.about.com/cs/germany/p/ludwig_castle.htm

Biodynamic winery of San Luciano, Tuscany

This is one of the coolest places I've been to so far and they make great organic wine...

Me and St. Francis

Me and St. Francis got real close on this trip as you can see... :)

Asisi, where St. Francis was from

These are all in the town of Asisi. On of the most amazing towns I have ever seen...

Barça Futbol - Out of chronological order

This is a "futbol" match of FC Barcelona in the second largest stadium in the world. They won BTY...

A view of Sansepolcro

This is a view from the monastery. It is the town of Sansepolcro below.

The Monastery's vineyard

This is the vineyard of the monastery I'm staying in.

Adieu Barça, Ciao Italia

Well, I think it's about time for me to get a little mystical, which for those who know me well should be no surprise...

I must admit that I did not have a great time in Barcelona. I was actually in a mild depressive state for most of my stay there. The funny thing is that I don't even know why. The people were a little off, the city wasn't what I was expecting and things weren't going all that great. I guess I just wanted to go home...

Yesterday though I arrived in Italy, and the funny thing is that as I was flying in an overwhelming feeling of giddyness overcame me. I don't know why, but I haven't been able to wipe a smile off my face since. It was a strange feeling of coming home that I have been experiencing for the past 24 hours. I don't see myself being able to stay away from this place for very long; I think at this point fate and destiny have taken over... not much I can do. :D

I don't have any pictures yet but believe me they are sure to come. Things are fairly more expensive here than in Barcelona (computer use is 4x more!) so I don't know how often I will make it here, but I will eventually.

Well, that's it for now. I need to go polish up my italian a bit... :)

Arrivederchi,

Rafa

Montserrat

This is by far the most amazing place I have been to yet on this trip... This is a monastery and basilica built on this huge mountain. It is called Montserrat ad it was the site where in about 880 A.D. there was a "sighting" of a virgin and so this place was built, but the view from there is just spectacular.

El Malecon de Barcelona

So this is the "malecon" of Barcelona. It´s where the beaches and the marina are. It´s called Barceloneta and it´s really nice, or at least I liked it... :)

Sagrada Familia - A church in progress

So, this is the Famous Sagrada Familia Church in Barcelona... I think the only reason why it´s famous it´s because those bastards charge €8 or about $10 to get in... can you believe it?? To get into a church? that´s ok, I´d rather be eterally damned...

As you might have guessed from the picture, I didn´t pay...

Park Guell

Here are some pictures of Park Guell and Gaudi´s house. There is also a link to a video of a panoramic view of barcelona and me... Hope I make you jeleous... :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbKqLTzMNok

Tarragona 2

This is me infront of Augustus´ palace. The mediterranean sea is behindme... :)

Tarragona

I went to a town south of Barcelona called Tarragona, this is an ancient roman castle belonging to Augustus. It was very cool...

I Promised Pictures

So here are some pictures of Barcelona that I just took.


This first one is the famous La Rambla Street (I think it´s famous).



The second picture is of Starbucks... I think they are following me.



The one with the wall is of an old roman aqueduct that was turned into the wall of a building. Apparently it was from the 1st centure BC.


This last one is just proof that I was there... :p

Barcelona

Well, so I´m finally in Europe. This is pretty cool. I don´t have any pictures yet but as soon as I do, I will put them here. It´s pretty hot and humid here in Barcelona, though not even close to Santo Domingo. And there is also electricity here which is a concept not yet fully known in the DR.

I didn´t know how much catalan they spoke here, but it seems all the signs are in catalan although everyone speaks spanish (thank God). I haven´t gotten to a point where I could say that I can see myself living here, but maybe I get use to it. Life is very different from the US. It seems like people don´t have the monetary means they do in the US but they seem to manage by sharing and having more of a community mentality. Everyone lives in appartments and there are buildings everywhere. I´m anxious to see what life in Italy is like.

I´ll keep you guys posted...

Life's a beach

Well, this was just a few hours ago when my brother, brother's friend, sister, dad, dad's girlfriend, and two hotties and me went to the beach. Ahh, me and my devilish ways... ;)

This was a fun trip...

Rolling a fat one

This is a cigar making factory where they hand roll these guys. This was on Thursday in Santiago, DR which is about 2 hours north of Santo Domingo.

By the way, my dad is the guy in the green shirt.

Sticky Balls anyone?

Well, finally getting settled in (temporarily) in the DR. It's hot as hell and these mosquitos are half freaken vampires. My legs look like a topographical map.

Tomorrow I will be going to the beach and working on my tan (hopefully working on my mack too).

I'm really happy that I have seen my little sister and brother whom I haven't seen in years and are growing like crazy.

Well, I will try to get some pictures up as soon as I have some good ones.

Getting real close

Ok, I'm about a day away from leaving. Funny feeling starting to sink in... not sure if excited, afraid or constipated. Starting to ask myself "what the hell am I doing?" and "why the hell are you leaving your cushy, comfortable, safe, boring, frustrated, lonely life?"... hmm. Well, I'm sure I'm just what Europe needs: a deranged Dominican hellbent on world domination. I guess I can't keep them waiting.

Anyways, I will try to post some pictures of my adventures so stay tuned. Don't have much else to say for now as it is past 1am and I have no brain juice left.

The Journey begins (almost)

Well, as I mentioned in my MySpace space (does that seem funny to say?), I am beginning to document my adventure which will officially begin on July 18th, 2006. Presently, I am preparing all that I need for my long journey... I went to REI yesterday and got some stuff (boots, etc.). There are a few more things I need but I have plenty of time.

Just a quick summary of where I will be and what I'll be doing there:

1) First stop is in New York for about half a day where I will meet my uncle and then head over to Santo Domingo, DR (where I'm from). I will be there for about a 10 days trying to party as much as possible... :p

2) Barcelona, Spain - I will be completing a CELTA course (http://www.tesol-spain.com/) for a month
3) San Sepolcro, Italy - I will be doing the Seattle University Italy Study tour for two weeks.
4) Camino de Santiago pilgrimage - this is the highlight of my trip... I'm expecting to complete it in about 30-40 days, although my only restriction is the immigration limitations.

More to come...

Quick update

Well, I have tried to start a blog for a while. Don't really know why, but I just wanted one... you know one of those things... The problem was I had no idea what the hell I was going to put on it, it just seemed like a good idea to have a blog.

But now I have a REALLY good reason to have a blog: to keep track of my European adventure, and all who will be reading this know what it's all about so no need to retell the itinerary here.

Just a few comments...

I have been asked exactly why am I doing this trip, and to be honest I still don't know 100%, all I know is that I can't stay here feeling stuck. I guess I want to find something different, a life's purpose, an adventure, maybe love, who knows... I'm hoping that when I find what I'm looking for I will know.


My next post should tell more of what's happening...