entrance, exit

in italian: entrata, uscita
in german: eingang, ausgang
in french:entree, sortie
in spanish: entrada, salida

so these are the words that i found very useful when i took the trains during my travel. however, i don't exactly know why but it seems that i remember the Exit words more :)

the painting

one of the many things i am grateful for, one of the things i took away from this trip is being able to appreciate art more, especially this one painting -- The Entombment of Christ by Caravaggio which was on display at the Prado Museum during the JMJ 2011.

it just happened that there were too many people around wanting to see this painting which was loaned by the Vatican itself. i was able to see this and was just amazed to see how large this painting is or how beautiful the way it was painted, or how wonderful the paints had lasted this long. as most of the time, my hands itched to touch this painting. without any guides, i was just able to admire this but didn't really get the time to reflect on it until i got back. reading about this, especially with the way Jesus' hand was positioned at the stone slab signifying the cornerstone of the Church, and/or how the two reactions of the women signify two types of grief, was really an eye-opener to me. that made me realize that i need to learn how to appreciate art more by putting more thought while looking at it, not just admiring it for their colors or characters. i should have remembered my humanities class. all art wants to convey something, and sometimes, it is up to you to make your interpretation. hopefully, by the time i see myself in a museum again, facing such wonderful work of art, i can fully appreciate it more -- beauty and meaning.

to learn more about this painting, one can check these websites:
Prado Museum on The Entombment of Christ
Prado Museum - the work
EWTN Catholic Canvas

loving el greco, rubens and a flemish painting

it's a blessing that i was able to go inside the prado museum. it is where i fell in love with el greco. it is where i was able to appreciate rubens, caravaggio and a flemish painting (actually two of them).

walking distance

i actually don't get it. maybe they just have longer legs?

in europe, most especially to where i've been like bavaria and salzburg, people would tell you that it's just a short distance to where i am going. only to find out that it's very far!

for example, in the hotel i stayed in at memmingen, i was told that the train station is just about a 10-min walk. in truth, it was more like 20-25 min walk for me. same goes in salzburg where i was told that the garden is only short distance away when in fact, i had to walk a long street to get there. oh, same in paris when i asked if the sacre couer was near our hostel. yes, it's only about 10 min walk. i think i walked for 30 mins.

it's probably they have long legs or it's just me that's been carrying a heavy suitcase?

but then again, i talked to two american girls who also had that impression.

so maybe, europeans just walk very fast.

dreams made reality

it's almost a week since i've been home. it's a great feeling. but what is greater is knowing that i was finally able to do one of my dreams - travel europe. i realize that i have only seen a small part of it but still i am very grateful for the opportunity that God has given me for i recognize that without His "permission," i won't be able to do it. i guess this is one manifestation that He truly does keep His promise -- even though it takes a long while.

however, it is not only the travel that is the main dream that has been fulfilled but my attendance to the world youth day in madrid. for a while, i thought that i might not be able to go because i have no one to go with me. fortunately, God had answered my prayers and gave me two great companions in madrid - mary and gustavo. i may not have pictures with groups of different nationalities carrying different flags but i do have pictures (and memories) of them that i will treasure as long as i live. i wish that the bond fostered in that one week will last. as gustavo had said, 'keep in touch and if ever you're in south america, let me know coz if you don't, i'll get mad.'

other dreams made reality was to see the places that i have dreamed about for a long time -- neuschwanstein castle in bavaria (germany), giants causeway in belfast (and an extra trip to st. patrick's tomb and the marble arch caves), wicked the musical in london, and the white cliffs of dover. how could i ask for more now that what i experienced was beyond what i expected?

more important though is the realization that family and good friends is the best gift that God could give one person. in belfast, i am so happy to be in a home environment with my kinakapatids and their kids. in kent, i am so grateful to have good friends that are very welcoming. they gave me a warm house, a warm bed, a warm welcome (and hugs), warm food, warm everything.  i guess the british weather was the only thing that wasn't warm! they even drove me around. so how can i not be so grateful?

truly, the trip had been dreams made into reality and even more. more than i expected. for this, i thank the Lord for the chance and for my parents and true friends who encouraged me to pursue what i want.

rain (ulan)

i have been wondering about that. it seems that the rain had been following me since i started my trip from rome.

it was blistering hot in rome but arriving in germany, it was really cold. the following day, rain started pouring down. arriving in salzburg, it was raining hard as i wait for the bus that will take me to the b&b. in paris, rain poured down as i was entering the sacre coeur. in madrid, it was also blistering hot but during our vigil with the pope, we were again pounded with rain. in belfast, rain and sunshine alternates within one hour. arriving in stansted through london, it was again raining. walking back from the other side of the dover cliffs, ice cold rain poured on us. when i arrived back home, i was greeted by rain.

so, is it really summer or what?