aint no mountain high enough...

Well, Spain was upset that I am not staying the year, and London was upset that I didn't come visit this year, so my flight was cancelled from Madrid to London, I literally had a nervous breakdown. I was so ready to be home.
British Airways is finally getting their act together though, and put me on the next available flight as per my request through AirEuropa. I landed in JFK and Juliet's mom was so nice and came to get me, fed me, and gave me a bed to sleep in. I was overjoyed, she even took me to the New Jersey airport this morning.
I have seen the New York skyline, the lunar eclipse, and the sun rise, all in one morning. By tonight I will have (hopefully) been in 4 states in one day.
What a story for the grandkids, it all happens for a reason.

Being in America is great, there has never been a kinder person, I make sure to say hello to everyone, IN ENGLISH!
At the DC airport I have seen Cinnabon, Cinnabon!!! And 5 guys burger and fries, who knows what other goodies they have!
If all goes well I will be landed in West by god Virginia at midnight, finally.
There was no amount of ice and snow that could keep me from getting home for the holidays

<3

Well, crap

London is one big iceburg.

Please God, please, I just want, NEED, to get home.

as our time ends, we remember...

The trip has winded down, almost everyone has gone, and tomorrow I leave Sevilla.
Last night UPO had a farewell reception and it was really nice, it was catered at this nice place, people were walking around with trays of beer, wine, shrimp keish, cheese cubes, cheese pastry, turkey, etc etc. It was nice to see people one last time, but it was really hard to say goodbye to a few.
I have to pack everything up today, daunting task to say the very least. Tomorrow we take a train to Madrid at 1:45, how I will ever maneuver with 200 pounds of luggage is beyond me.

do you hear what i hear?

Sounds that I will not be missing while in Spain:

-The sound of incessant honking at all hours of the day and night.
-Juliets alarm that vibrates the entire frame of our bed.
-Paula's music that makes it seem like we live in a concert hall.
-The phone almost literally ringing off of the hook.

emotional, to say the least.

This week is so bittersweet. At the drop of a hat I start to cry, happy to go home, yet so, so sad to leave Europe and these amazing, crazy people.

Just a word on parking in Spain:
There seem to be virtually no laws in place about parking. Therefore, double parkig is a very common thing, the system works like this...If you are the one that blocked someone in, you simply leave your car in neutral, the person who needs out pushes your car out of their way, and goes on their merry little way. Parking spots are merely a suggestion, you can park in the space, in between two spaces, whatever you want, and the rest will follow suit. Sidewalks, sides of the road, and blocking an intersection are all fair game.

Two finals down and three more to go, almost done!

the christmas season in seville

The other day, Juliet and I tried to go see Harry Potter in english, we went to two different theaters, no such luck. Hopeful that it will still be playing somewhere when I get home.

Yesterday, and tomorrow, are both holidays in Spain, so no classes. Yesterday Juliet and I just wandered around, I FINALLY got a falafel, that I had been craving so much. It was well worth the wait, I had two of them, ha.

Today, Mileen and I went on a shopping excursion and there are so many christmas lights, and trees, and decorations all around Seville. Then we stopped into Cien Montaditos and when we came out, ALL of the bells in Giralda were ringing at one time, it was so beautiful!

13 days, eek

what a silly goose i am

In my laziness and distaste of blog-keeping, I realized, I have left out some things that I just can't let myself forget about. This has been one of the greatest trips of my life, hopefully I'll be back to Europe soon enough, but there will never be THIS same experience...

-Like the first week in Madrid whenever Lindsay and I, with our baby friendship, went out to lunch and she had BABY EELS, well, I knew that they were baby eels because of my Travel Channel obsession, but she found out for herself the hard way ;)
-And when Juliet and I took our long weekend to Barcelona, I can't just let myself forget about how it was POURING the rain when we got out of the club, and we hid underneath the lip of an awning, if you want to call it that, and we took a cab back to Las Ramblas. And the pitcher of sweeeeet sweet cocktail and the hot bartender who gave us lollypops :)
-My business professor, one of the coolest guys and greatest TEACHERS i have and will ever know, took us all out for tapas...well I don't eat meat and Spain LOVES their meat, so I just ate a couple of things, and drank a few beers and it was a really nice time..Well, then we went to Alfalfa, and my experience with Alfalfa is always fairly similar, but nevertheless, he keeps getting us stuff, and I'm a tank, it is a fact of life.. But let me just put it this way, those mojitos, they get me EVERY time.
-And I need to document that when Mike and I were in St Marks Basilica in Venice, there were signs that said the usual No Phones, No Flash.. and then there were also the usual phones so you can pay and have a tour, basically. Mike looks at me and he says, what are those? I tell him and he says, Kaitlyn don't think I'm stupid but..I thought they were payphones and that they were charging you because you can't use your own phone in here. HAHAHA I love you<3
-After Venice Mike came back to Seville to see where I have been living for these past few months, he stayed at a hotel near the Cortes Ingles, and we had a nice time. I showed him the Cathedral, we met Juliet's friend from home and got Rayas and Cien Mondaditos (he loved the Crema de Queso just as much as I do) and overall we just had a really nice time. Showing him Seville, I realized just how well I have gotten to know the city and how well I am at navigating. I was really impressed, surprised, and proud of myself. When I first got here, all I ever did was get lost, but Seville, I think I won the war.
-Speaking of Mike's hotel, there was a little incident that I also can't allow myself to forget. He had to take a taxi super early to catch his flight, so I just went back to sleep in the hotel..Well I go to leave and they show me this bill, I think, what..Ok not a big deal he paid half then whenever we got here, so then the machine won't take my cards, so I have to find an ATM, take out money, walk back, they say no, the whole bill, I get so mad, I don't know what to do, so I just take off running with them yelling after me. I have to go back, crying, asking my roommate for the rest, she really helped me out, I went back a couple hours later and gave them their stupid money. Needless to say Mike still feels bad about it. Many people love hearing the story. It was NOT funny at the time.
-Recently it was our host sisters 18th birthday. I've never exerienced a birthday party quite like it, her mom bought 10 liters of beer and 10 liters of coke, was cooking for days and days, and then a bunch of teenaged girls come and there is all this food, and sillyness, it was cute. The cake was really good, it was a 3 chocolate pudding cake, I will have to get the recipe!
-This week at school, we were leaving class for the day and it had been POURING the rain (seems to be a normal thing in Seville all of a sudden, whatttt) and I look out the window and scream, LOOK OH MY GOD LOOK. Tamara thinks that someone is being murdered, but no, it's just the brightest rainbow I have ever seen, a full, entire, bright rainbow, with a lighter one behind it. A double rainbow..what good fortune :)
-The last thing that is a specific memory that I need to hold dear happened just today, actually. had a migraine, and was finally taking a nap and was planning to nap for at least 4 hours, I wake up to the sound of a horrible spanish song. I might not have been as mad if this didn't happen every single morning at 8 am, and then from 2-8 every single day, music BLASTING, usually the same 20 American songs that I heard the entire summer. Juliet is banging on the bathroom door, no answer, I just about bust the door down and no answer. Juliet and I have decided we really don't like the girl.

Less specific memories include all the nights that I have gone out with these crazy amazing friends I have made. One time I had to intervene in between a girl in our group and this too touchy guy and he choked me so I felt like it was everyones obligation to buy me drinks, well, fast forward, later that night I was on the phone and slammed smack into a tree. It was beyond hilarious. That same night I met these Spanish guys at a botellon with people in our group, and one of them had gone to high school in America, specifically WEST VIRGINIA, I probably launched myself at him at the speed of light, I could not sop yelling, I was just thrilled. Or like the night in Fundicion when Juliet's "money got stolen" haha kidding and we somehow recorded us singing and me yelling, and just this past weekend at this club Abril, someone keeps tapping on my shoulder and won't stop, I get so mad, and it's Toba who is now laughing so hard. And then walking home in the POURING rain, with James Doherty, whom I love more than life and have more hilarious moments with than anyone else in this city. And Mileen's birthday dinner at the mexican place, how I managed to not blog about mexican food I will never know, with the creep waiter, who put sombreros and cowboy hats on us. I just can't even remember them all, but I know they will come back in spurts and I will just laugh.

And there are only SEVEN, yes seven, more times that I have to go to Pablo de Olavide, I have classes tomorrow, then it's winter break, then classes Thursday and one on Friday, and then finals, and that is ALL. Where in the world did the semester go? Oh, that's right, to Europe.

I changed my plane tickets, I will officially be home December 20th. That's soon. As ready as I am, my heart will ache for Europe. I think an Ireland-Scotland trip should happen soon, I owe it to my ancesors, right?
There is a freedom I never thought I would LOVE in moving alone to a foreign country.

thoughts & feelings

Thanksgiving itself wasn't so bad, the mashed potatoes were delicious, I had been missing them. And it was all-in-all a good holiday, afterwards a few of us went to a bar to watch the football game and have a few brews, which really only made me sad that I have managed to miss the entire season :/ But it was definately on my list of favorite Thanksgivings!

Just looking back on my posts, I remember how homesick I was when I got here, and now it's just normal to take the subway to class every day, and be able to order drinks, and be away from family and close friends, although I must say, I met some real keepers :) I have seen SO many amazing places, I don't know how I managed to be such a lucky girl. Tomorrow is the last day of November, and I'll be in the home stretch. So much to do, so little time.

All I want is a taco salad, my dog, and my boyfriend. In that order.

feliz dia de accion de gracias

well, it's that time of the year again, the holidays.
Happy Thanksgiving!

Maybe I shouldn't be so emotionally attached to food, but I am really going to miss all the food of Thanksgiving, even though I don't eat the staple, turkey. I guess I just miss being home, regardless of the holiday. It doesn't really help that I haven't heard from my boyfriend since he landed in America, so I'm just going to worry myself sick until I hear from him, great... :(

Nevertheless, API is having a Thanksgiving dinner for us, which, minus the food, could potentially be better than spending Thanksgiving at home because it wouldn't be as much fun. :)

And in just ONE month from today, I will be on my way back to America. I remember when there was just one more month until I embarked on this crazy adventure, and the time sure flew by, so I'm assuming the same will happen from here..its all just a little too bittersweet for my taste.

Birra alla spina

Venice is basically all that I ever imagined that it would be, romantic, quaint, old, beautiful. My boyfriend met me in Venezia and we stayed in this little B&B, so adorable. They literally brought breakfast (which included a plate of cookies, yes please) to our room each morning.
While Venice is certainly not known to have the best cuisine in Italy, it is still yummy. I had some of the best pizza I will probably ever have, we went to this little place near our B&B and just ate pizzas and drank beer, IN VENICE. And it was so good, and so nice.

For dinner we went to the Hard Rock, YES I KNOW it's so touristy but I knew he would not mind and I just really needed some American food I have been missing in Spain (mac&cheese!)

St Marks Basilica is beautiful, but really the whole city is beautiful.

The winding alleys that seemed like they were a dead end, but never were...those Italians with their hands talking for them, and the gondolas, and the ever-present sound of lapping water in the canals, wandering through the city holding hands with the love of my life...This is the life for me.

bonjour

I was never the girl who dreamed of going to Paris one day, I never saw it as somewhere I wanted to get engaged, or go on a honeymoon to, none of the romance, for me, that place, it was always Venice..
But Paris crept right in, and I fell in love.. I think it was the food that really won me over, I've never eaten such delicious food before. From the Champs-Elysees to the Eiffel Tower, even Versailles, everything is so beautiful. Notre Dame was my favorite though, gorgeous. And I stepped on the little star outside, which means I'll make it back to Paris one day, I look forward to it.

longest post ever? yep.

The best word to describe my life these days : whirlwind.
Since I last updated I've been to Barcelona, Amsterdam, and right now I happen to be in Paris. nbd.

Barcelona:
The hostel was surprisingly nice, I did a good job. We napped. A lot. The men there, and really just the people in general, seem to be on a whole different level of crazy spanish. La Fira is this club that is decorated from old carnival equipment (right up my alley of course), and I ate it up, it was so fun. We went to the beach one day, and ohhh, I miss the beach. Naked men everywhere. A very nautical city, which was perfecto para mi. The Picasso Museum was great, I loveeee his work, he was quite the master.. I was just wandering through the museum awestruck. Las Ramblas were INSANE, but so interesting..tons of street performers, tons of history.. the whole time I was in Barcelona I just kept thinking about Shadow of the Wind, but then, I do that with every city it seems like..

midterms. boo.

Amsterdam:
Highly, highly considering studying abroad my junior or senior year in the Netherlands. Absolutely gorgeous. My whole life I have had this weird fantasy/dream of Venice, and it is always because of the canals, and Amsterdam has the same situation going on, it's so beautiful. The weather is like home, the leaves were yellow and orange and falling everywhere. The air was crisp and cold and left your face feeling fresh. First impressions of the red light district- a little stomach turning, as a woman, it's hard to see. But the more I walked around and the more nights I spent there, it just seems to be such a part of their culture, but I think live porn shows and a million prostitutes in windows is always a little shocking. But oh, the swans in the canals, and the Homomonument. Just literally everything about Amsterdam is perfect to me, I really really fell in love with the place. It's that perfect mix of huge city but small town feeling.. We went to the Anne Frank house, so sad but really encouraging, the Heineken brewery which was soo fun! I didn't want to leave, I of course, love beer, but learning about it and seeing different aspects of the industry was really neat for me. We also went to Madame Tousad's but I really missed my mom being there since we went to the one in DC and had such a fun time..and we went to this haunted Amsterdam Dungeon thing because it was HALLOWEEN. Best holiday ever. I dressed up as the devil and we went on this pub crawl with a bunch of australians and one mexican girl, and everyone loved that I dressed up, because it's a very North American holiday. And oh, the Van Gogh Museum, talk about awestruck, his brushstrokes have always astounded me but to see them like that..I was enthralled and beyond impressed.

Paris:
So far, so good. I was a little apprehensive and terrified actually, with everything that has been going on with Americans/Paris/Middle East.. But Paris has pretty much lived up to its hype. The food, ohhh the food, why doesn't everyone get to eat like this? I just had a 3 formage (3 cheese) crepe, mm mmm good. And for lunch I had this salad, with the BEST dressing I have ever tasted, and slices of goat cheese, oh yes. We walked from our hotel to the Louvre, and on the way I saw the Eiffel Tower, and could kick myself for not going today because it's supposed to rain all weekend, and Notre Dame, and the Seine, and a bunch of other cool buildings. But oh, when I got to the Louvre, I said "oh my god i feel like im in the da vinci code right now! " It was the besttttt, I am obsessed with Dan Brown, so I probably took 600 photos of that right there, and we saw the Mona Lisa, and you probably have a vision of the painting being this impressively large painting, but in reality it's the smallest painting in the room, but still quite impressive, how many people can say that they have seen the original Mona Lisa? Now I am laying in this huge queen size bed in this luxury hotel, I just could not possibly trade my life in for anyone eleses, except maybe a millionaire..

I am taking a weekend off from travelling next weekend, I think, and then Nov 17th I am meeting my amazing amazing boyfriend in Venice Italy, yes please.

thoughts on home

if nothing else,
I realize now that as much as West Virginia drives me INSANE and sucks my soul right out of me, it's home. And home is where the heart is. Yes, I still want to move out of the state, and yes, I will. But living halfway across the world has taught me one big lesson, I need to be able to get home when I want to..

lagos: the weekend of poor decisions

Well, I will open with an explanation of the title of this blog post, the poor decision making was not on my part.

So Friday we got up fairly early and boarded one of the 3 buses, almost 200 kids went this weekend, crazy! When we got to the hotel and into our room I was so happy, really nice bathroom and kitchen/living area, and 2 pools! We got ready and made our way to the beach, SO GORGEOUS. I kept asking people if they have ever seen the Leonardo DiCaprio movie Beach or whatever, which I never have, but it just reminded me of it..ha. The water was like ice, but it was really refreshing, different than the east coast Atlantic. We played around and laid out there for a couple hours and then went and got ready and left for "the end of the world" to watch the sunset. It was so windy and freezing but so beautiful, but a little too romantic for me when I'm all alone here. BOO.

So, how to begin the description of Friday night..I don't necessarily need to write about it, because I don't think I will ever be able to forget. The entire group went out to this place called Joe's Garage, it was just as classy as the name hints. I was tired from the sun and just travelling in general, so I walked back to the hotel and went to bed around midnight or so, little did I know I would need those extra 2 hours of sleep..Around 2 am or so I hear a loud poppping sound, which happens to be the sound of our other roommates head cracking the cement floor. The rest of the nights events were along these same lines.

Fast forward to Saturday morning..BEST FREE BREAKFAST BAR EVER. The scrambled eggs were so yummy and the hot chocolate out of the beverage machine was so great. I chose to think that it was God's way of saying thank you for being a good person the night before. We got ready and went to a different beach, it reminded me more of beaches back home, but still really nice. We were there all day, a few of us went to this restaurant on the beach, yum. And that evening we went to this place called Nah Nah Bar for dinner..nothing reallyyyy special. At night we had a private party at some bar, it was much classier, there were mirrors everywhere, and the ceiling was pretty cool, very spanish..It was a fun night :) Much better than the first night.

Sunday was not a good weather day, but we went to this lighthouse overlook and it so beautiful. If I was a mermaid I would definately inhabit the place.

All in all a pretty fantastic weekend!

Now its back to the daily grind of schoolwork, but oh wait, I'm leaving for Barcelona for a 5 day weekend, what a boring life I live :)))))

bruises & strikes

My roommate and I went to go extend our visas, what a trip that was, in Spain, they have no sense of a line..you literally have to say, I am the last person in line, or you will not even be recognized as being in line..WHAT. And then when someone else comes along, they will ask who is last in line, and it is just the craziest thing I have ever heard of..Oh Spain..

Wednesday there was a national general strike in Spain, and the international office sent us an email saying if we felt threatened to not come to class, and apparantly some crazy stuff went down, but i slept all day :) Because Tuesday night was a little much for me. Let's leave it at that, shall we?

I am almost positive that I have injured myself here more times than in the entire 19 years I lived in America..for example, today I was trying to shave my legs in our teeny bathroom, and I slammed my foot in the toilet, ripped my heel open on the corner of the shower, and discovered some huge spider bite. Great Spain, just great.

Now I need to pack for LAGOS PORTUGAL! I am so very excited. :)

free and easy down the road i go

Since coming home from Granada (was that a week ago already!?) it has been smoothe sailing. Just going to class, hanging out with the host fam, and wandering around Sevilla, almost seeing something new each day.

Last Wednesday, I think it was, I went out, to Alfonso with people from the group. THEY PLAYED CUPID SHUFFLE. Let's just say it made my night :) and then Thursday, James and I went out with Janet and her intercambio and his friends, it was so fun, I learned a lot of spanish just listening to them, and got to see how the Spaniards go hard or go home. We got literally the largest cup of mojito imaginable, so funny. Then we had quite the adventure when I didn't realize I didn't quite have enough money to pay for the taxi all the way home, so it let us out and I succesfully got us home without getting lost, woo. Spain-20, Kaitlyn-1.
Saturday just a couple of us went to Cordoba for the day, to see the alcazar that is there and the mosque. It was a fun and adventurous day. I have never been on a realllll train before, just a scenic train, I felt like I was in Harry Potter! sort of.
Sunday was our mom's surprise birthday party, how fun! But it was quite strange, her friends wanted us all to dress up like little girls because it was her 50th. Oh, Spain. But it was really cute, she was so surprised! She must have the greatest friends.

Today I was up at the crack of dawn to renew my visa, decisions decisions. I am more than ready for a nap, going to watch the new episode of Brothers&Sisters and then take a nice one, then sooo much homework..No me gusta.

7 deadly sins aka Granada

Oh Granada...the things you do to me:)

On Friday we got up bright and early and hustled it to the bus meeting point, of course getting a little lost on the way, would it be a day in Spain without getting lost? We get to the hotel in Granada and it's so nice, our room was great. I was so excited for the regular sized shower! Then we went to see the Cathedral where Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand, for those of you who aren't too familiar with history these were the two that granted Christopher Colombus to come explore the new world. It was rainy so Juan and Marta took us to get warm chocolate and churros. It was one of the greatest things that I have ever eaten, so warm and crunchy and soft on the side and DELICIOUS.






After the churros I went wandering through the Indian market, of course purchasing some goodies. That night, since Granada has cooler weather than Seville, I could actually look decent..I was excited to not be sweating..A few of us went wandering and found a chupeteria, lets just say it is amazing yet highly detrimental to my health. We met these people from England and Ireland and probably a few other places as well.. SO much fun :)


Saturday morning came too early, we went to visit the Alhambra, which is one of the most visited places in Europe..for good reason. It was gorgeous, the garden was so nice and the architecture was stunning. When I closed my eyes later that evening all I could see were arches.


After the visit we went for tapas, which was nice, this creepy shadow of a man placed a lighter and a little note on the corner of our table aaand it was hilarious, I need to document the hilariousness of this because I don't want to forget it. Then we took naps but it was NOT a long enough nap..then dinner and then we left for a flamenco show. OH, and let me just mention that Granada is one big hill so every time we would go to town it was downhill so then when we would come back it was a hike, no good, but my butt is going to be the best one in town when I get back.


The flamenco show was amazing, it was in this little cave-like room, and the seats were situated so that you were right there, in fact, where I sat I kept getting hands and dresses in my face, I've never sat with such nice posture in my life. After flamenco we went to the chupiteria again, uhoh, and met up with our new friends and then went to Granada Diez, which is a theater also, and it was huge and so nice. I was a dance machine, Elvis came on and I was doing the twist like you have never seen before. Other things went on this night, which are unnecessary to write down, but they were extremely hilarious. I will say this though, thank God for my roommate.


Sunday morning again came too soon, and we had to leave Granada. But let's just say that I will be back before I die.
We went "hiking" in Malaga on the way back, the drive up the mountain in the bus almost made me puke, I'm used to windy sketchy roads but this was unreal. It was nice though, and beautiful.

Then back to Seville, where you know you're back because the sweating starts immediately.

happiness isnt having what you want..its wanting what you have..

Haven't really done a whole lot, just been getting adjusted back into school, and this new life.

I went to this HUGE store called Cortes Ingles and bought mexican food, I made burritos for my host family, it was funny to watch my senora struggle with the fact that there were no forks and knives.

I did have THE greatest icecream yesterday, I had strawberry and lemon cream flavors aaaand they were delicious. It must be a weekly tradition from now on.

Tomorrow I think I might venture to Plaza de Espana just to take some pictures, maybe take my homework. This weekend we are going to Granada, it should be fun! I have heard only the best things about Granada, and one of my professors told me this spot to watch the most beautiful sunset and the best street to get tapas.

besos

first day of classes

Yesterday and today were the first day of classes, I think I am really going to like all of them, besides spanish, just because I don't know what she is saying sometimes and it is frusterating. And today of course we had to have a discussion about the food system in America and most if not all of you know how I am with that stuff, I was shaking I was so mad. It ruined the rest of my day.
I think I am just really homesick today, I want cheetos, iced tea, and to curl up with my boyfriend and my dog. Honestly all that I want.

We went out last night and it was fun, it was like an outside dance place...good times. :p

Its a bummer that we have classes tomorrow, to make up for Monday.

Excited for the semester ahead[=

Dios mio

I really need to keep a blog if for no other reason than I am terrible at remembering. I can barely remember what we did yesterday, ay ay ay.
But we did not do much of anything [= I love my senora, she is such a sweet mom.

Today we got up early and went to Pablo de Olavide, it kinda reminds me of Marshall but it's crappier, I know that's hard to believe. We took a Spanish placement test, and it was pretty difficult, I'm anxious to see what I get on it.
We took a tour around the campus but it wasn't a very good tour, I know I will get lost and be late for my classes, its a given.

We also went to the cathedral here which is the biggest in the world if I am not mistaken. It was gorgeous, but then they all are. Cristobal Colon is buried there, exciting! And there is this whole chapel where sailors would go to pray before their voyages, we all know how much I love sailor things. There was also a thorn from Jesus' crown when he was crucified that almost made me cry.
We went up into the very top of the bell tower, and the view was amazing. It reminded me of the Empire State Building, just because you get the same sort of view of the city.

Chao

La playa

Yesterday in the morning we all went for a bike tour around the city, it was nice, but I was so intently focused on not slamming into a pedestrian or another biker that I feel like I need to do a walking adventure.
The city seems beautiful though, and the people too.

Last night we went to a "meeting" with the guys from Discover Sevilla because we all decided we wanted to go to the beach, and they said they could take us for the day for 20 euro, so whatevs. We had a bunch of sangria, much like jungle juice only in my opinion not as tasty, danced and laughed and sweated, and then went to this cute little bar, saw my first spanish drag queen, yay!

This morning we got up rather early and left for the beach in Cadiz, it was so beautiful. The waves were rocking me pretty hard though, and there were so many surfers it made it difficult to swim, I almost had my head taken off once.

Sleep now for more fun filled days ahead :)

Toledo & Arrival en Sevilla

Yesterday we got up super early and left Madrid, we stopped to visit Toledo, which is a World Heritage Sight, it was a religious center for Spain. The Jews, Muslims, and Christians all lived there and had their own part of the city.

The architecture of the mosques, synagogues, and cathedrals was seriously breathtaking, I'm such a dork when it comes to architecture like that.

We took a walking tour of the city and we went into this old synagogue that is being used right now as a place to showcase this artwork that is aimed to bring muslims and jews together again, I wish I could have taken a picture of some of them because it was amazing.

And we went into this cathedral that almost made me cry, I'm just dumb like that. But honestly it was so elaborate and beautiful. There were like 300 some stained glass windows, this huge choir area with organs and wooden seats and stone carvings of all the main characters in the Bible.

We went and saw one of El Grecos original paintings, his technique is amazing, the way he can make things look transparent.

After seeing a bit of Toledo we made the 6 or so hour bus trip to Sevilla, we got picked up by our host fams, and Dios mio, our family is so gorgeous. They only speak Spanish, which is a challenge for me, but I think the longer I hear it and once I get back into class, I will hopefully do much better. I can understand, it is just hard for me to say what I want to say.

But we have internet, and air conditioner, which is really all I can ask for. It is still an adjustment but that's what I signed up for, right? [=

Last day in Madrid

The Madrid soccer team, the Supercampeones won the Europe Cup yesterday, and me and a couple other people went out the be a part of the celebration, SOOO many fans gathered in the plazas, and then the team rode through on the bus and got out and did some speeches and then went on this overhang and lifted the cup and everyone was cheering and singing, they even played We Are the Champions by Queen. It was so cool to be a part of it, it's like one of those once in a lifetime deals.

If I get more pictures from one of the people I was with I'll post them later!

A bunch of us went out last night to this irish pub type place, it was fun, but I missed my dance partner! And it was so strange to walk in and hearing Ke$ha, I temporarily forgot what country I was in.

Today we went to El Escorial which was cool, I love cathedrals and the architecture in places like that.

I went to lunch at this nice italian place, it was a struggle to order in spanish because you have to use it so on the fly that I tend to forget everything I know. But I had this four cheese risotto and it was so delicious. And gelato for el postre. (dessert)

We had a meeting this evening about Seville, and I am pretty nervous about meeting my host family and classes. The chocolates that I got for my family got all melted and squashed and gross looking, I'm going to feel dumb giving it to them and being like sorry, they got melted...its the thought that counts..right?

Tomorrow will be a long day, and I'm not sure how the internet situation is going to be from now on.. so many unknowns!

En Madrid

so, i made it, safe and sound!

We are staying at Hotel Moderno, it's really nice. Yesterday was crazy, I met so many people from so many places, it will take forever to remember them all.

We all went to dinner, I had gaspacho and a salad, vegetarianism definatley isn't that prominent here, but in Madrid I would say it is more so.

A lot of people went out the first night, but I was so exhausted I just went to bed at like 11 although I was awake at 1 and could not fall back to sleep for anything until like 4. Jetlag is so not enjoyable.

It is a lot different travelling this time, because I am completely alone. And I have been constantly home sick, it is always in the back of my mind. Once we get to Seville and get settled in I hope it isn't as bad, because I definately can't do this for 4 months.
But being here I remember all the reasons why I love big cities, there is so much to see and do. Just walking around the Plazas and main streets you see so much.

Today we went to the Royal Palace, it was the craziest thing I have ever seen. It has 2800 rooms and we went into like 28 of them and it was just breathtaking. They are so intricately decorated, each room has a mural on the ceiling and at least one chandeliar made of bronze or gold and crystals. I wish we could have taken pictures because it is literally impossible to describe.

Here are a couple I took in the courtyard outside of the Palace.

This is the view from the overhang in the courtyard.

Just a few of us.

Right now I am just resting, in half an hour we are going to the Prado Museum, so still a pretty long day ahead!

5 more days

I'm not quite sure where the time went, but it sure did go by fast. I feel like it was just yesterday that I made the decision to begin the application process.

Nevertheless, on a daily basis I go through every emotion that there is. Mostly excited, nervous, and sad to be leaving my loved ones. But I know that when I finally get there, and get settled, time will go by just as fast as it did here anticipating the trip.

Trying to fit a life into one suitcase is a bit of a daunting task, but every day I get closer to being all packed and ready.

I truly do suck at journaling, or blogging I suppose, but I wanted to do this to look back on, and for my family and friends to read to see what I have been up to.

Sunday will be here before I know it

anxious

one more month!
so much to do, so very little time.

(: