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Nashville wedding photographer and senior portrait photographer Emily Anne's Photo Art (photographic services) captures and documents the beautiful images she takes along with writing. Only the BEST will do!

Posts tagged Barcelona tourism
Easy Daytrips from Barcelona: Hiking Montserrat Spain and Visiting The Abbey Santa Maria Portraits By Nashville/Barcleona Portrait & Wedding Photographer

Montserrat  is a multi-peaked rocky mountain range located near the city of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. The largest most beautiful peaks are Sant Jeroni, Montgrós, and Miranda de les Agulles. The largest peak is where this beautiful abbey called Santa Maria de Montserrat that has the most well known boy's choir & the well known statue of the Black Virgin Mary. 

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Look at these lovely pics of the gorgeous Rhea who attends Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and is studying through the liberal arts program in Spain! 

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Seeing the boy's choir of Montserrat- el coro de ninos de Montserrat was a really special treat. If you go, try to go during the weekdays and they perform at 1 PM Monday through Friday. It truly felt like listening to the voices of angels. 

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Fun fact, the most famous architect in all of Barcelona, Antoni Gaudi, modeled his famous Sagrada Familia based off this mountainous range with the unique curved shapes. I wonder if anyone has had a wedding up here? The mountain range is so beautiful it would photograph perfectly. However, since it is quite the hassle to get up so high, I would assume that this would be a better place for a more intimate ceremony or elopement. 

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Honestly one of my favorite parts about the entire experience was getting to sample all the fresh cheeses (goat, sheep too so I could it them), honey & tourrons from the local vendors! And we got to try fresh honeycomb- SO delicious. That along with candied pecans made a wonderful snack on the mountain. :) 

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There are a couple of gorgeous hiking paths & if you take the "easier" one you can walk over to this beautiful view of the mountains and viewpoint of Catalonia, you can even walk up until the cross to get the best advantage point. 

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Adventure is worthwhile
— Aesop

If you are in Barcelona for at least 3 days, I would highly recommend making this easy day trip to Montserrat from the city! The view is 1000% worth it. Thank you, CIEE for this experience. 

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How to Make Authentic Paella: A Lesson from the Paella School in Valencia, Espana by Nashville Portrait & Wedding Photographer Emily Anne

Valencia is known for their paella- Spanish paella originated here, so you know they know what they're doing. This paella was honestly the best I have ever had- I don't think any other place in Europe, or in the world, for that matter could compare. 

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Our Liberal Arts Program at CIEE had the privilege of attending the official Paella Escuela in Valencia, Spain to learn the art of cooking paella. Even though you can find paella in just about any part of the country of Spain and even around the world now, there is really an art to cooking it that the Valencians have mastered. 

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Yes it's really as fun as it looks! Making paella is not just about the final product, it is an excuse to get friends and family together to have a great time cooking, snacking, laughing and just being together and the final product is a wonderful bonus. :) 

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We were given wooden spoons to be able to make our own paella one day. I do plan to attempt making Paella when I get back to Nashville but I doubt it will turn out the same. I will give it my best try though. Thank you, CIEE for this amazing opportunity! 

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A Day in Barcelona - by Nashville/Barcelona Photographer Emily Anne

You would think that living in a Beach city, one would go to the beach all the time. However, I was completely wrong and it’s all about proximity. While I am relatively close to the beach from American standards and transportation, in Europe things such as city transportation take longer. 

Nonetheless I got put out and finally had the chance to snap some images of the gorgeous sun & Mediterranean Sea.  

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Looking across the Mediterranean Sea feels different than looking at an ocean. When I stare across I can imagine the excitement of citizens who traveled and ended up in a paradise called Italy. 

We went to Brunch and Cake by the Sea. Super lovely! 

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This was my first beet root lattes and it was certainly not my last. Beautiful floral designs welcomed guests into this lovely restaurant. 

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Be warned, if you do go to the beach in Barceloneta or any of the beaches close to the Old Gothic Quarter you should be vigilant and prepared to prevent pick-pocketing by bringing very few pieces or wearing a wallet protector right on your body.