Barcelona

Dublin

A few days in Dublin, following Portugal during my spring break --

Dublin was awesome, I loved having a small, few day break back in an english-speaking country.  It was like going home for a few days.  In fact, it was a lot like Madison: cold weather, coffee shops everywhere, filled with enthusiastic drinkers.  But, unlike Madison, where it's a lot of the college students mainly filling the bars, in Dublin, it really is a community past time.  The pubs were packed, no matter what day it was, with people of all ages and groups.  And, the affinity for Guinness is not overrated, they totally love it there.  

My friend and I also got the opportunity to couch surf.  It was my first time and i think it went spectacularly.  The two guys we stayed with were super generous, friendly, and great story tellers.  I highly recommend couch surfing (with a friend).  Our couchsurfing friend also introduced us the game of rugby.  We went with him to watch it at a pub, and as an American without ever seeing the sport, it's an absolutely hilarious but super impressive sport. 

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Trinity College

by Karey at mackink, so great

Vhere's Valdo?

Werner Herzog reading Where's Waldo... freaking amazing
"did ve really vind ourzelves zearching vor valdo? no, i zuppose not"

An Education

I finally saw An Education

I loved the character of Jenny, Carey Mulligan can act

Lagos, Portugal

After Lisbon my friend and I headed to Lagos, a beach town in southern Portugal.  We arrived at night after accidentally getting off the bus at the previous town (oops...).  We were wondering around looking for any kind of hostel, and a guy on the street, sensing our backpacked, lost selves asked us, "looking for the hostel?  The Rising?"  We replied, "sure," pretty much up for any kind of cheap lodging.  The Rising of course was euphemism for the hostel's full name, The Rising Cock.  Picture of of chicken included: awesome

It was a pretty sweet hostel: (run?) by a Portuguese woman who the staff called "Mama," and American frat boys, it was a pretty nice place.  Mama made 200 crepes every morning for the guests, and the staff took us out to the local bars.  Definitely hospitable.

 

  Lagos was gorgeous, but unfortunatley we were in a beach town with unseasonably un-beach-like weather.  Swim suits were a no-go but we had the sun, and enjoyed hiking around the cliffs and exploring the town. This weekend about 400 Sevilla study-abroad students and 500 Madrid erasmus kids are there for a party/beach weekend.  I cannot even imagine.

via Vorfa

via Milk

The Morning Benders - Excuses

i love the idea of piling anybody and everybody into the recording studio. also, lead singer looks like he's twelve.

Tallest Man on Earth

Tallest man on earth - These Days (Nico Cover) - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

I first saw Kristian Matsson, "Tallest Man on Earth," open for Bon Iver last year in Madison.  He was sweetly a quite short man, but certainly sang like he was the tallest.  I don't know where he got his drawl from, as he Swedish, but he rocks it out Americana style in this one.

Sintra, Portugal

Sintra is located 30 minutes outside of Lisbon.  My friend and I took a day trip there without any huge expectations, and were pleasantly surprised to find one of the most charming places i've ever seen.  It was basically a fairytale land...i half expected to see seven dwarfs or a sparkly unicorn.