Magyarorszag

Emese Lers

I have been in Hungary or Magyarorszag for one week with my parents and my sister. We attended my cousin Emese^s wedding on Saturday and it was absolutely wonderful. As you can see, she was gorgeous. Her husband Zoltan was dressed in a traditional Hungarian suit, all black. They were beautiful. There was a lot of booze and ridiculous dancing. My father was the caboose on the wedding party train as it weaved its way through the reception!

Today we dropped my dad and sister off at the airport, an old Soviet army base near Lake Balaton. Quite scary what with all the old bunkers still there. Mom and I are touring the homeland until next week when we head back home.

P.S. The term Hungarian is a misnomer. Contemporary Hungarians are not descended from the Huns but rather from Magyars. The Magyars were a marauding tribe that probably made there way to Central Europe from Asia over one thousand years ago. Hungary used to be a lot bigger than it is now so, yes, Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula, was Hungarian. Transylvania used to be part of Hungary but it is now in Romania. Cool stuff!

El Codigo Da Vinci

Yes, I just saw The Da Vinci Code in Spanish. I really enjoyed it although I'm not sure I got all of it considering that I've not yet finished the book and Tom Hanks sounded like Juan Valdez.

I'm leaving Madrid tomorrow for Budapest and will meet up with the rest of the Pogany/DeAngeli!!! P.S. I didn't get to see Picasso's most famous painting because the sala was closed. It sucks for whoever came to Madrid just to see it (luckily I wasn't one of them but it would have been nice to get a peak).

In other news, Madonna is a hack and, from what I've read, the opening of her new tour is unoriginal, petty and, quite frankly, a work of neanderthal intelligence. If you want to know more, Google it.

Grabbing the Bull by the Horns

I left Javi and Paula yesterday for Madrid. I want to thank them and their families from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful time I had in northern Spain. I was able to spend the week in Logrono and travel to Bilbao, San Sebastian and Pamplona. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Today I visted the Museo del Prado and saw some of the most famous art by El Greco, Velazquez and Goya. I later walked around to see the Puerta del Sol, the Plaza Mayor, and the Palacio Real. And I just got back from seeing Mission: Impossible III en espanol! That was a great time!!! I also overdrew my bank account like a true American.

Tomorrow I will venture to the Reina Sofia Museum to see Picasso's Guernica and then take it easy 'cause I am beat. I hate to admit this but I miss home, especially Virginia. On the upside, I'll be meeting up with Mom, Dad and Jules in Budapest on Tuesday.

Bilbao and Boy, oh Boy!

The Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao

Lots and lots of stuff to report. First, I went to Bilbao today to see the most famous 20th century building in the world, Frank Gehry´s Guggenheim Museum of Contemporary Art. It is made of titanium, glass and limestone-- proportions mathmatically calculated by computer to perfection. What an experience! In other news, my Vassar professor and one time employer, Noah Baumbach, is directing a movie with Nicole Kidman and his wife, Jennifer Jason Leigh. I guess some guys have all the luck!

My boyfriend became an uncle on Mother´s Day to a baby girl named Emily. Talk about exciting! And, in Roxie Land, those Air France mother f··kers finally found my luggage that had been lost by them on the way to Italy almost 3 months ago, minus one Australian cellular phone. Well, the joke´s on whoever stole the thing. It was basically worthless.

Finally, congrats to my sister who swindled a Barcelona thief out of 20 Euro after he stole 80 from her (she got back 100). It´s a long story but, let´s just say that the f··ker will think twice about stealing money from an American girl next time. As my sister said, "Don´t try to steal money from the ultimate capitalist!" You´ll get the horns!!! My sister is my hero-- you should have seen her!

Estoy en La Rioja

I arrived in the region of Spain called La Rioja yesterday afternoon. I´m in the city of Logroño visiting my favorite Spaniards, Paula and Javi, in their home town. We just got back from an authentic tapas evening where you hop from tapas bar to tapas bar eating and drinking wine. Fantastico!

This afternoon, Paula took me to her family home in La Union, 10 minutes drive from Logroño in the country. We had a beautiful lunch prepared by her mother and father. We later climed to El Clavijo, the ruins of a medieval castle nearby.

Over the next few days, I will travel to nearby Bilbao to the famous Guggenheim edifice and later to Pamplona to stalk some bulls. On Saturday I´m off to Madrid. Next Tuesday´s destination: Budapest, Hungary.

What can I say? I am lucky to have the opportunity to travel to all these magnificent places. I´m not rich and I don´t consider myself stuffy or pretentious. It´s tough convincing people of this but, hey, when you love something as much as I love travelling, you find a way to do it no matter how tight your budget is. You fly Ryanair instead of British Airways. You forgo 1st class for steerage. You give up the Ritz for a 12 person, mixed hostel dorm. This is what I do and I love it. Unfortunately this is probably the last big trip I will make for a long time so I´m making the most of it.

The Wonders of Gaudi

Casa Batllo


La Sagrada Familia





Barcelona is a showcase for art nouveau, especially with regard to architecture. Antoni Gaudi is perhaps the most famous of the modernists and his organic, non-linear style is just beautiful. I am a creature of excess and, therefore, Gaudi´s buildings speak to my aesthetic tastes.

Casa Batllo is around the corner from our hostel and Julie and I just spent the day climbing La Sagrada Familia, a structure that has been under construction since the 19th century and has yet to be finished. I love that it is both modern and yet gothic in design. A quite fascinating building.

Vamos a la playa!

The DeAngeli are in Barcelona (Bar¨th¨elona). Julie and Roxie arrived today in the afternoon and are doing well. This is the most beautiful city imaginable and beats many of my favorite Italian cities hands down.

It was a whirl-wind, flying here the day after my graduation, etc. But, I feel good even though I miss my loved ones back home. Ustedes quiero mucho = I love you guys a lot.

Waiting...

Justin Long and Ryan Reynolds in Waiting...

This movie is absolutely disgusting but if you've ever waited tables you HAVE TO see it. There is so much truth to this film that it's deeply disturbing... yet also freakin' hilarious. The cardinal rule: Never f**k with someone who handles your food.

(Justin Long was a fellow student at Vassar)

Yes, Master

Well, I finally have my Master's degree. I passed my thesis defense today with flying colors. I actually got hugged and kissed by my committee members after it was all over. On the down side: I look like a big, purple rhinoceros in my academic robes. Oh, well. At least everyone else graduating on Monday will be massive with me.

DE.......FENSE!!!

Tomorrow is the big day! I'm actually not nervous at all although perhaps I should be.