Portugal
Yesterday I went to the Maritime Museum, a museum on ships and Portuguese navigators. There where many models of ships that represented real ones used on missions lead by Vasco Da Gama, Infante Dom Anrique; who we now know as Henry the Navigator, and a few other men. In one part of the museum, there was a display of three ships; the Naus S. Gabriel, the S. Rafeal, and the Carare Beerio, used for an expedition lead by Henry the Navigator: they were used when he discovered the spice route around Africa and India. On that journey, the crew started with 220 men and by the end, lost 116 men along with a whole ship. Here is a picture of one of the ships:
Even with more than half his men gone, Henry was one of the first to realize that taking the short cut for the spice route would not make it faster for him; it would make it faster towards the wrong place. Henry made his plans by studying this map:
This map shows the direction of the wind. Henry also realized that taking the shortcut would be a battle against the wind that he wouldn't win, so he made his plan using his knowledge through the map.
Then we left that room, walked through a courtyard and came to a huge room full of life size models of ships. There were so many, and one that I liked had a silk red fabric cover, in replacement of what we use today as sunroofs on boats. Another one was like a mini palace on a boat, with gold engravings and beautiful patterns. I thought it looked like a palace even before I knew that it was designed by a queen, Queen Maria of Portugal (a long time ago).
There is so much care put into each boat, and each one is different which makes it very special: they are not the same model built 100 times. In the same room there were also models of planes, the kind I built (I built miniature ones) with my friend at a construction camp earlier in the summer. They also had a lot of old fashion steam engines. Everything was a different size and you could view the ships from a ground level or from up above: they had stairs leading up so you could see the top. All of the ships were either moved by sail or oar, and the oars where so huge that it took two people to row them. It is a very cool museum. I also think the setting, and the way they present it, is very nice. First you enter through a regular door into a small room where you by tickets. Then, through a huge and carved door way, (so bug its even hard to say its a doorway), you emerge into a dark, low lit hall which has all the models and statues of ships and navigators, then you go back to real time in the interior courtyard, and the end comes to a huge, white painted with stain glass room, naturally lit with bug windows, with all the life size planes, boats, and steam engines.
On most of our trips, we tend to go in a circle. We came to this museum on the first day but it was closed, so it became the last thing we did in Portugal too.

Lisbon, Portugal

Yesterday I traveled to another country, Portugal. This is the last foreign country we are going to before we go back to the U.S.

The bed I had in Barcelona was very comfortable, and I slept very well. I was the last to wake up yesterday because I could hardly bring myself to get up. We had to wake up at 08h00 to get the bus to go to the airport. On the bus I kept watching this T.V. that had the top things to do in Barcelona. It was a replayed loop but it was interesting to watch.

When we checked in our baggage, we got onto the plane. I sat in between my mom and brother. While I was on my mom’s iPhone, my mom was trying to get my brother to write. He finally did, but just one sentence. I like reading his work so I asked him to do more but he just said no.

Then my mom and I started reading “Watership Down” for our book club. It is about talking rabbits that have to flee there home because it is going to be made into some site (I don’t know yet), which will destroy the rabbits. My mom and I switched reading every few pages.

The flight was very short, and in an hour we where there. Right as we where about to leave the plane, my brother stuck gum in my hair. I do not know what goes on in his head. I got so angry at him and so did my parents. I don’t now why he did it.

But of course, we sorted it out. When we got outside the fresh air felt so good. One thought that came to me right when we arrived was that I liked the city. Everyone’s spirit was very light and happy, and the city was colorful and welcoming. We got in the cab and my mom asked the driver some questions. He works 12 hours a day everyday. I have to say that my parents are such good interviewers and that I know a lot about how people live because of that.

We settled in to the apartment but left right away for lunch. I had barely any dinner the night before and no breakfast so I was hungry. As we walked up the stairs (Lisbon is a very hilly place just like San Francisco, and they also both have cable cars) to the restaurant, my mom and I did obstacles and fun exercises. My brother and I pretended we where in the Olympics. Also, we where about to choose a restaurant when I said, “Can we keep walking a little bit?”. I said that for two reasons, one because there was no one at the restaurant, and two, because usually if we don’t like a restaurant, the good one was right in front of us.

I was right. The restaurant we did choose was right through and around another ally way. It was a very good restaurant and our waiter was talkative and very welcoming. When we decided what we wanted to order, he said, “Lets do it”!

After we ate the meal, we started walking through the labyrinth. In Alfama, the neighborhood we are staying in, there are little streets and ally ways everywhere, and the streets are very skinny and made of cobblestones. Cars cannot go through, which is a big change for me because from my bedroom in my house, I can hear all the traffic all night long. I am used to it like that.

We came to a little square that had a view (because it was high above) of Lisbon. I could see all the houses with the tin roofs, and the mini cars and people. My dad and I talked about my book, getting ideas for it from all around us. Then I started walking around just to get more steps for my pedometer, which I have been using for most of the trip.

Through the maze, we came to a station for the 28 cable car, the oldest one in Portugal. Portugal is a lot like San Francisco because it is so hilly and has cable cars. We realized we where going the wrong direction so we only went for one stop. Then we got off and my mom led us to a huge tunnel/window and we saw another view. We did a lot more walking.

We went through, and my mom, the navigator, led us to this bar where there was music playing. Every two or three songs, the singer would switch. There was a wide range of singing: opera, country, and a different style, I don’t know the name of it.

I woke up to the bright light outside the bedroom window. That wakes me up every day: at around 9:00, and because of that I can't really sleep.
The good thing about waking up early -I call nine early because we go to sleep at 11:30- is that I get to do a lot of extra writing, either on my blog, my book, or both.
That day, I did a lot of reading and I finished the book called "The Traitors Gate" by Avi. At first I didn't like the book; it had a slow and bland beginning; but after I kept reading, I was intrigued and I couldn't stop.
After I woke up, the order was my mom, brother, and dad. Once we were all dressed and ready to go, we went outside. There are two ways to get out of the building, one by taking the elevator and another way by walking down the stairs. So Roman and I decoded to wall down. We new our parents were going to take the elevator down, so as we walked down, we pressed every floors elevator button, so hey would have a local ride. It was really funny because every time the elevator stopped- we new because of the loud metal sound- we could here my parents mumbling what or why!
When we finally did get out, we went to this little bakery where I got a muffin and a pineapple juice. After, as we walked to the bus stop, we went into this shop called Durmofish. The name attracted us. It was actually a nail salon, but the way they do it is by soaking your feet or hands into a tank with water and fish who masage you and bite the dead cells of you, and it feels really good and ticklish. I got a free one because i stuck my hand into the basin while my parents talked to the owners. All the fish came to my hand as soon as i put it in. A photo (if you look closely you can see the fish souraounding my hand):

At the bus station, we took the bus for a few stops, then walked 14 blocks. My dad and I started talking about the street design of Barcelona, so I started to draw a map:
We needed to find directions to our destination, so my parents asked this old man. I think he had a speech problem, because every time he wanted to talk, he had to pause and it was very awkward. He would make a great character. We found directions though.
We settled at the worst restaurant ever; basically like a McDonald's in disguise. We barely ordered anything, and I ate nothing. The point was- a very agreeable point- that the view was great. Our table was outside and it viewed the famous Sagrada Familia. The Sagrada Familia is a church, that was built by many architects starting in the 19th century to now. They say will be done yin the mid 2000's. One architect started the church. Then Goudi took off. He created this church to not be your typical Victorian Jesus and Mary church, but a church with shape, curves here, circles there no hard strait lines, and more, a lighter church, not drowned on paintings and color but not drowned at all, with mostly wight, pink, a lot of cream, and blue. The stain glass windows were every where, stained with brilliant shades of color, with huge columns and rigged stair ways.
Goudi made many plans for the church, but died before it was even 25% done. Now, many architects from all around the world are working too finish Goudi's dream.
All of that could be seen throughout inside. As we sat at the restauraunt waiting for our time to go in, we saw the magnificent outside if the Church. What I liked where too things: one, because Goudi designed it, it was like multiple churches connected, each one having it's own original style but still being able come together: and two, the fruit basket on top of one tower created by a Japanese architect.
My father and I drew a a sketch of the church, its up above in the front of this post.
After we left the church, we walked for a long time to the Music Hall. Then we got a few sandwhiches, kind of a mix with a crepe, paninni, and tortilla. Mine had tomato and cheese, and it was very good. The music performance we saw was very electronical; this man put together a song in garage band and played an instrument to go with it. It was cool, but that was not what we were expecting at all. Also, it was not in the big grand hall designed also by Goudi, where we wanted it to be.
After, we went to a few stores to by some clothes for the school year. My brother and I had such a fun time trying all different coats on. I got a shirt and a scarf. The wierd thing is though, is that size 10-12, the size i usually get, is huge, and the 7/8 size shirt in that store fit me. That was a very calm but fun day.
Some photo's:

Barcelona, 8/15-8/16
I am in Barcelona (or Barthelona, how Spanish people say it. The king once had a lisp, and he made sure everyone repeated him so he would not feel alienated. That language is Catalan.). We arrived at night, which was nice because there were no naps involved, just eat something for dinner and got to bed. That night, we wanted to go to this restaurant that we spotted on our way to the apartment.
When we came back to eat, just like it had been before, the restaurant was totally empty and bucktooth woman and the old man just sat and watched T.V. It was a very depressing scene, so we went on to another place. The next restaurant (we did eat there) we went to had a few people in it, but was still pretty empty. We were exhausted from our full day of traveling so we ate there. The man who served us had a very sad face, and the food was not that good, but we didn't pay any attention, we were that tired.
The next day we explored the city. We went to the Grand Rambla, the biggest walk way in the world. We walked there for a while, and explored some cool original shops. We had some lunch, at a nice garden cafe. While i was eating, I wrote postcards to some of my friends. Then went to the contemporary art museum, which was closed. So my dad, my brother, and I decided to go inside this church. I have seen many old churches, but this one was very ornate, and the nice thing was that they had different levels of all the religious things. It had all the detailed paintings, the vague ones, and even the cross with the man made out of a simple piece of wire. This one painting showed many paintings in one, many scenes. Somethings were hidden, and I found the hidden lion in the shadows. We also went to the natural history museum, and the Picasso museum. There, we saw his early works to his latest, with the point of view faces. I noticed a lot of change in his style throughout his life, and his arty pieces were only really formed later in life. Seeing all his works, it was hard to believe they were made by the same artist.
Later that day, at the dinner, my brother and I played soccer with an empty water bottle. It was very fun, and a cute dog even played with us too! He grabbed the bottle in his mouth, the owner took it out, and my brother and I tried to kick the bottle between each other with out the dog getting the bottle.
The next day, the main thing we explored were houses designed by Goudi, a famous spanish architect. Also, we went to another art museum were we saw a documentary on Antoni Tapies, and i got inspired and wrote down some words and sentences and sketches that came to me when I was watching. Here are some photo's of the buildings we saw:

Salvador Dali
For the past two days, this is who we have been discovering. On 8-14-11, we had a full traveling day from Marsielle to Figueres, Spain. We woke up in Marsielle at seven a.m., 7h00,v to catch the train at 8h00. We were all dressed in in long pants and sweatshirts because the train is very air conditioned and cold.
We got out of our apartment, and rolled are suitcases to the front of the main station. There are big stairs leading up to that, huge stairs, so we found a different way to go up with our heavy luggage. Once we got there, we got to have our last French breakfast, in the station because we had a little time before our train left. I had a chocolate croissant. We got on the train, played games like guess who, went on electronics, I drew, did math, and waited.
Once we got off that train, we transferred to another. My brother and I watched a video. That train ride was very quick. After that train, we were supposed to transfer to another one to take us to our final destination.
The most unbelievable thing happened. The last train we were supposed to take was the front part of our previous train. We were sitting in the back of the train, what a coincidence, and by the time we got out, the front part had all ready detached and left. Plus, that train was a TGV train (which means it was a speed train), so because we missed it, it would take us four hours instead of 15 minutes.
There were other people who had missed it too. One of them had been at the station since 10h00: they had no idea about the train because on the screen, it had said that there was a twenty minute delay, so they assumed it would be later. The other person was a young woman who was traveling to Barcelona, and because of this, she would miss her flight. She was in tears.
Connections have to be exact for one to make it, and if the first domino falls, the other ones do too.
I haven't even gotten to Dali yet! When we did get there, we checked into our hotel. We quickly took our baggage up to our room, got in the car, and went to the Dali museum, for our 20h00 tickets. Of course, we made it, like we do (mostly) every time, usually at the absolute last minute. The exhibit was great. The exhibit had so much in it, and we spent almost half an hour in this one room, where they had a sculpture of a woman made of brass, and this car with a broken window that rained inside when you pushed a button. All of this was set in the round interior courtyard, where you could see the floors up above with a glass window every time there was a manikin in a different pose.
Other rooms had paintings, sculptures, and interactive exhibits. Dali also explored perception, so there was a lot of artwork that could be viewed as multiple things, as well as different places to look from. One piece was a painting, flat, that you couldn't understand until you looked into a wine bottle that reflected the image right side up. He also had a room dedicated to the face. There were to paintings of eyes on either side of the wall, a nose fireplace with two nostrils, and a pink couch that looked like lips. On the outer edge was hair that was formed like a doorway, and to see the whole face, you looked through a hologram to shrink the size and make it viewable with the eye.
After we left the museum, we went back to our hotel. It was raining, but still we decided to go into the pool. That was so much fun. They had a water slide into the pool and a diving board, and i went on each one a countless amount of times.
The next day would be another traveling day to Barcelona, but first, we went to Dali's home. It was not like all those old fashioned homes, with so much dark color and old rugs and paintings of religious things, and i am glad about that. It was actually interesting as we toured the house, because so many museums and homes we saw last summer were like i just described, and i wanted something else. Dali's home was fairly modern, but still had the old feeling which i like. Another thing for perception: there was a mirror in the front room, facing the window, and from Dali's room, because of the mirror, he could watch the sun set and rise.
Another thing he had was a cricket cage, because he loved the sound they made. Also, there living room was like a tunnel, because when you spoke, your voice would echo.
The garden had a lap pool with fountain, and a lounge just like the lips couch.
Here are some pictures of both exhibits:
My hand, holding a statue of an egg that is far away:
A painting of a rhinocaraus that a posed like:
The Face:
The second lip couch:

8-12-11
Still in the great Marsielle. On that day, we woke up and rushed to the Viex Port, the Old Port, to catch a boat. The boat ride was three hours and was a tour of the Calnques.
The line for the boat was very long. When we asked a guide about it, she said the line was normal and was even longer at two o'clock, which, i assumed, meant it was a big atraction and must be beautiful. We got on the boat, and chose a 4 seater table inside the it. As the boat started moving, i went outside. I found a seat right on the left side, a seat on the edge viewing the water. The wind blew my hair into my face, and normally i would of brushed it away but i liked the feeling of it; the wind was cool, and the breeze kept it from being to hot. The weather in Marsielle is really nice; not too cold, not to hot, and you can still wear shorts and a tank top or pants.
The Calanques were huge, mountain sized, curved rocks, with moss covering it making it look like a frosted cake. I also saw a few hikers, and i wanted to climb up. The boat never stoped, but we saw beaches that we had already went to and beaches we wanted to go to.
That night, we walked up to the cathederal, where it was said to have the best view of France. It was a very steep walk, but it was later in the day so it wasn't that hot. When we got there, the lighting was picteres so my dad took tons of photo's. The view was okay. The cool thing was that there were two points of view of the city, one was straight, were it was like a mountain, and it looked pretty close, but if i turned to my left, looking down, i could see a whole different looking city, that looked millions of miles away. It was really cool.Then of course, if you looked up, you would see stars starting to come out, they looked a trillion miles away, though some how, very close.

A Little More

Mr. Bombompsky didn’t just know of people, but made contact with them. Two falls ago, Mr. Bombompsky had heard that Robert Goldman was in New York. Somehow, he found out that Mr. Goldman was going to Central Park on the first Saturday of his stay. Mr. Bombompsky had wanted to meet him, so he made his way from Brooklyn to the city.

“Excuse me, but I think I recognize you,” Mr. Bombompsky had planned to say, in a casual tone to get the conversation started. But it had gone the oppisite way of planned.

Mr. Bombompsky did recognize Mr. Goldman: he was sitting on the bench near the Broadway entrance. Before he could say anything, Mr. Goldman exclaimed, “I think I recognize you. Are you, ah, I can’t remember!”

Mr. Bombompsky was taken aback, but then knew what Mr. Goldman was going to say. He would of suggested the idea for him, but wanted Mr. Goldman to say it in his own words.

“Oh, yes! You are, you are Bombompksy, Mr. Bombompsky, the famous writer! Voila! Oh, I have heard so much about you and read all of your books, even the ones for children. It is a pleasure to meet you.” He shook Mr. Bombompsky’s hand hard.

Mr. Bombompsky smiled, very full with satisfaction but trying not to show it too much. He wondered why Mr. Goldman, who didn’t have a French name or last name at all, had a French accent.

“Thank you. And you are Robert Goldman, no? It is a pleasure. Why are you in New York? And where did you come from?” Mr. Bombombpsky had inquired.

“I come from Marseille,” he said while smiling, and the corners of his white mustache lifted up. “I just wanted to explore “the City”, as they call it, no?”

The conversation was taken to the Pie Café, where each of the authors got an ecpresso. As he thought back to that conversation, Mr. Bombompsky realized he was in no mood to travel, and wished he could hear the conference through his Apple Macbook air, recorded, but knew he couldn’t let down his old friend. Mr. Bombompsky slowly finished packing the bag, until it would close without anything sticking out.

He went to the bathroom. By accident, he turned on the freezing cold water and shrieked. Then he laughed, and soon the cool water began to soothe his body, began to freshen it, began to give it more strength, make him feel lighter, free, like a bird, soaring through the rain, and music began to play in his head, like it was a movie. The rain poured and poured and poured on him, coming out of the hose strongly but making gentle drops of water run down his back.