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!