Yes, TOPLESS.

Location: Valencian Beach
When: This afternoon
Who: Me, Myself, I and all the other beautiful women in this world.

Today was a glorious day.  I layed out, in the sun, surrounded by the bluest beaches I have ever seen, topless.

Yes, topless.  I never, ever thought I would do anything like it!  In America, well, it just doesn't happen.  But why?

I was thinking about this today as I was observing elderly women, young children, mothers, teenagers, dark skinned, a little over weight, wrinkly, women enjoying the day freely.  Some swimming, lying down, reading a book, talking on their cell phone,  enjoying friendly conversation, all without their tops on.  It was beautiful.  The female body, natural body, at it's finest. Confident women being themselves with no judgments.  I felt confidence explode inside of me as I untied the knot keeping the garment around my neck, throwing my top in the air like it was my graduation cap, three years earlier.  I felt beautiful.

I am looking forward to tomorrow

... when I do the same thing again with a grin spread across my face.

Pablo Picasso

So, as you know from reading this blog, I am NOT an artist.  Or at least literally speaking!

But I love to visit art museums.  I have been to several including the MET, the MOMA, the Walker Art Museum, several in India, Mexico and now the Prado and La Reina Sofia.

A few of my favorite artists: Dalí, Palencia, Miró, Bosch and of course Picasso!  On Saturday I got to see his most famous painting (the real original piece) Guernica.  I took a picture for proof but I took it illegally, or snuck it rather, so I'm not ready to put it online.  It was magnificent.  


And I learned something interesting about the piece as told by our tour guide, Paco.  It is assumed Picasso found inspiration for the idea from the painting The Horrors of War (1638) by Peter Paul Rubens.  


http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/upload/img/rubens-horrors-war-NG279-fm.jpg


Copy and paste the link flick the picture and compare it to the Guernica by Picasso.  You can see the images abstractly!  It's amazing!

Madrid... or Manhattan

I spent this last weekend in Madrid!  I loved it.  I can't tell if I loved it because it was an international city and I saw people from all over the world and heard languages I have never heard before OR if it was because it reminded me of my time in NYC last Spring.  Nonetheless, the weekend was bittersweet because of the latter.

I missed my friends.  Had several instances of dejavue (sp). Visited both the Prado and La Reina Sofia Museum, which was amazing.  Took a flamenco class.

Madrid. I could definitely see myself living there in the future.  It was a bit touristy for me but I am sure after living there long enough it would be easy to find the dives and local hangouts.  Much like New York City.

So Madrid or New York City or Neither!


... we shall see.

I'm sorry

I'm sorry.  I know I am horrible at keeping up with this blogging thing.  My journal, that's loaded, but of course it is easy to bring that with me everywhere and whip it out whenever I have an intelligent thought lingering.  The following few posts are going to be tid bits of experiences I have had over the past several days.  Enjoy.

An artist becoming an artist.

I have never been defined as an artist.  I have never used the word artist to describe myself.  Of course I believe I am artistic in an abstract sense; painting images in my mind, sometimes etching through words, the tips of my fingers drawing noises on the piano.

But when people hear the word artist, most often times they think of a painter, literally using water color or acrylics to cover a canvas, or metal or weld together a sculpture.

In Spain, this literal kind of art is exactly what I came here to do.  I am receiving two art credits to create.  Create whatever I want.  As easy as it seems, I have realized a few things since I have been here:

1. Art is not an easy major.
2. Art hurts your brain.
3. Art takes more concentration and determination than almost anything ever attempted by me.
4. Art can be fun.
5. Art gives back a sense of satisfaction.
6. Art is a way to express when there are no words or actions to use.
7. Art and it's importance could go on and on and on.
8. I am making an eight because anyone who knows me knows I HATE odd numbers.

Moving on... The point of this post is that I have learned so much in just the two weeks I have been here.  And these lessons I have learned are not necessarily making me a better artist but a more patient and well -rounded person.

This side of my brain has never been worked so hard and it's gratifying!

On a hike.

This morning I awoke, or I suppose one would say was pried out of bed at 7:20 a.m.  I have tried to get up at 7:20 a.m. everyday this week to go on a hike with my friend Matthew.  This morning he was not letting me get out of it and I THANK him for that.

Every night we sleep, nestled between the looming landscapes that lie above and below us.  There are rivers filled with limestone, which turn the water a pastel green, flowing below us and boulders and cliffs hanging off the mountain above us, like piano keys.  At the tallest peak in Cuenca stands Jesus watching over the bustling streets below.

This morning, Matt and I went on a hike.  Jogging, running and fast walking our way up the mountain in a mere 28 minutes.  At the top we both sat in silence, our eyes dancing back and forth at the fascinating beauty surrounding us.  Looking up, only to see Jesus staring right back at us.

Standing on top of this mountain was peaceful.  Seeing the contrast between a bustling city popping with bright colors, built into a mountain with greens and browns.  Vegetation and wild flowers.

Cuenca, a city built within the hills is a hikers city.  Up and down, up and down, up and down.  To school and back.  To the grocery store and back.  To Jesus and back.

Spain...I think so.

Minneapolis a Boston.  Boston a London. London a Madrid. Madrid a Cuenca.  

Cuenca, España; my home for the next four weeks.  This long, seemly never ending journey landed us in the serene, rolling hills of central Spain.  A city not well-known to the average American, yet suffocating the mind and eyes with absolute beauty; the cannon walls hugging our wandering bodies with a tight comforting grip.

Two weeks prior: 

    "Abby, It's Ed, the art teacher at Northeastern.  How would you like to go to Spain?"

    Watching my ham, broccoli, onion and cheese omelet sizzle, while standing in the egg line at Colgate University, my jaw dropped.  Of course I would LOVE to go to Spain, but what about all my summer plans?  What about Beth?  My family?  Spain?

    "Umm, wow what an opportunity! Could I have a few days to discuss my options?" I replied hurriedly.

    "I need to know by tomorrow."

So, after several tears, smiles, swirling thoughts, fears and butterflies, I began mentally preparing for my five week adventure in Spain.  Two weeks to prepare. Five weeks to experiment with art, explore the vast hills and practice this language I love so much. 

This will begin a new series in my life.  One as an artist, mountain climber, "native" speaker.  Stay tuned for my adventures, ideas, and of course all of my realizations about this lovely life we live.