TRUST FALLS | Sunday Dialogues

(taken on my iPhone)
Emory University, Spring 2015

Happy Easter, everyone :)!

Right before spring break (about two weeks ago or so), I discovered Little City Mag, an online publication, full of honest, everyday struggles and encouragements written by Christians. Reading through these posts is so soothing, and I was inspired to start writing my own, personal versions of these articles here. I'm titling this series, which you can expect every now and then, "Sunday Dialogues" - not that living a Christian life is restricted to Sundays - that, in fact, is the opposite of what we're called to do - but because I think it'll be a nice way to enter a week full of potential ups and downs. In other words, it'll be a nice way to frame our mindset! What you can expect from each Sunday Dialogue is me sharing a personal story, often one that involves a struggle, that's capped off with encouragement and a song recommendation, something that really speaks personally to whatever I share in that post.

So for the very first Sunday Dialogue, I want to flash back to this very same time last year: Spring 2016.

Caramelized Banana Pecan Oats

Oh how it's been too long since I last posted a recipe/food photos! I think it's one of the biggest trade-offs to living on campus, but I will say that coming home and being able to cook for myself does feel that much more special now. 

I made a promise to myself a while back that any recipe related content going forward would be as high quality as I can manage; though I'm not able to recipe test and ask others to cross check my work to ensure flawless, fail-proof recipe content, it does mean that I'll be sharing the best work that I can manage to produce right now, all technical, artistic, and environmental constraints in consideration. 

This recipe involves the warmth of cinnamon and sweetness of over-ripened bananas, which may remind you of fall, but I think it's good enough that you'll want to eat this year round :) 

The Streets of Toledo, Spain

Toledo  -  Spain, that is! Look no further for charming, narrow, cobblestone streets and a picturesque view over El Rio Tajo. It takes some walking to get from the bottom of the city (where the train station is located at and where most buses stop), but it's worth it. Don't let the gloomy clouds scare you away, either, because they'll be pushed aside by the sun in the afternoon (when the city becomes much busier with tourists pouring in!). Make sure you get some marzipan as a souvenir; you can even go to a monastery to buy some made by nuns. Below are some photos of Toledo's streets and its cathedral; for photos of the bar/cafe we ate at (El Trebol), click this link here.

for more photos of El Rio Tajo (the Tajo river), click this link here

Montjuic (Barcelona, Spain)

Cornell University: iPhone Photo Journal

iPhone 5s quality for ya!

More from the upstate NY photo journal series: 

Liberty Hyde Greenhouse

Cornell Plantations

Seneca Lake Wineries

Watkins Glen and Seneca Lake

Fireworks Celebration: Homecoming 2016

Kickoff: Homecoming 2016

Ithaca is Wizards

El Trebol (Toledo, Spain)

The day we visited Toledo was freeeezing! We had hoped that a stop for lunch at El Trebol, a trendy bar by the town square, would warm us up, but little did we know, the bar wasn't heated at all ;) My parents ordered lattes to warm themselves up, and I warmed my spirit with a photoshoot.

Note: If you're thinking about going to El Trebol yourself, keep in mind that it's a very hectic place with employees who speak almost no English at all (they're also always in a rush, making their Spanish even faster and less comprehensible!). You can sit down and eat upstairs (limited hours), or order from the bar. There was one bartender who befriended me amidst the hustle and bustle of the rush, and to this day, I'm still so grateful for his kindness!

A Snow Day at Cornell

I've had six exams over the past week and a half, but you know what made it all okay? A blizzard that gave Cornell it's first snow day since 1993.

Parc de la Ciutadella

Parc de la Ciutadella on a Sunday afternoon: it was a clear, 60 degree day, and the air smelled like spring. We walked to the fountain, la Cascada, and stumbled upon a man in a newsboy cap making giant bubbles; kids gathered around him, laughing, chasing, and popping the bubbles. To the right of them stood a gazebo full of people dancing to Spanish music - the sight was too storybook-like to believe. Everyone seemed to be having a good time with their easy smiles and relaxed swaying. Someone saw me taking photos of the dancing people, and waved me over to dance with him. A little part of me wishes I hadn't been shy enough to decline. How cool would it have been to engage in and be a part of that idyllic scene - to not only spectate local culture, but really experience it firsthand?

Barcelonian Streets and Sights

Madrileño Streets and Sites

Barcelona's Three Kings Day Parade (Tres Reyes) and The Kindness of Spaniards

 

The first stories I told my friends when we returned from Spain were about the kindness of the Spanish people. It's one thing to enjoy the sights, food, and culture of a place, but what makes me want to return are the people. 

Taughannock Falls

Last year, I found mental and emotional relief in nature. This year, my environmental surroundings aren't as conducible to outdoor runs (though I will admit, there are individuals who walk outside during a blizzard in shorts and t-shirts), so I haven't been able to take advantage of the natural beauty around me as much. Fortunately, on what happened to be one of the coldest weeks Ithaca has experienced, my house organized a mini trip for 6 or so people to hike Taughannock Falls. What's not captured are how cold my fingers were ;), but I hope I was able to capture some of the beauty from that day: