those lazy spanish days

So I realize that I may have dropped the blogging ball, but do not fear! I am alive and well-traveled. I'm hoping to do quite a few posts in the next couple of days so that I don't have to pack all my stories into one post :)

Madrid.

I wasn't planning on going to Madrid, I had no interests in it whatsoever, but I started thinking about the next time I would be in Spain, and thus, I ended up in Spain. I hated leaving Sevilla, when I think the city is so beautiful and so rich in architecture and history but I decided Madrid needed a full day to itself.

And I'm glad I went!

Apart from the hostel crew I met in Stirling, I met some really awesome people in Madrid! I met Paktis, who also likes to powerwalk and see all there is to see. I must say, I don't think my legs have hurt that much since that one day in Coombe Abbey!

So with our one day in Madrid, we managed to see SO MUCH. We went to markets and to parks and to shopping and to a museum and to the palace.

gas mask stand in El Rastro market

El Retiro

El Retiro

Paktis, in El Retiro.

City Centre Madrid

Our day ended by us walking to the hostel after a somewhat bizarre adventure to find cheap food. The man at the hostel told us exactly where on our map to go, and that when we get there it would be 10 euros for all you can eat. Now, being poor travelers, we were up for all you can eat, and ten euros isn't too bad. And we were convinced that if we couldn't find this place, we would go for cheap groceries and make things at the hostel.

Instead, we ended up at a slightly pricey Indian restaurant eating and watching Bollywood film clips. I don't know why I don't watch more Bollywood - it is hysterical!

I was pretty tired by this point, and was convinced of going to sleep upon return to hostel but that also got thwarted! Ended up meeting some really cool people and talking late into the night!

I wish I had more time in Spain.

One of the weirdest things about my travels to Spain is that I was constantly told before I left about Spanish men, and about pickpocketers. You know, being a single traveling girl people automatically assumed I had never thought of these things. However, I did not encounter any problems! I did drop my wallet once, but that was my fault and it was returned in perfect order.

In Madrid, I still was carrying all my suitcases and stairs proved to be quite difficult. In times where my arms just couldn't manage anymore, there was always some man or woman who helped me lift my bags up the stairs, and with a smile!

People were definitely way creepier in Belgium.

Anyways, I will definitely miss Spain, and speaking Spanish. I am already making plans for 2013...

 

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I fell in love

I fell in love with Sevilla. Absolutely in love.

Now, this is a strange statement for a couple reasons. When I tell people this they give me weird looks because I also follow with the fact that I left the city earlier than anticipated and I had the worst weather while I was there.

It was actually the worst weather. I was told in Barcelona that Sevilla was beautiful, Sunny Sevilla, lovely weather in Sevilla. Now I get to Sevilla and it was POURING - as in, the streets began to flood. Naturally this was the first day I was there and also the day in which I decided (somewhat foolishly) to go exploring. I find it ironic that out of England, Scotland and Spain, I didn't find it necessary to purchase an umbrella until I got to Spain. And even with this umbrella, I still got soaked! I should also mention that I got absolutely lost, so there were hours of me roaming the streets in the pouring rain asking lovely Spanish people where I was. Check out my jeans after that..

But the hostel I stayed at was amazing. It had free sangria for an hour every evening, a breakfast crepe station and hammocks in the garden! I wish I had been there for nicer weather!

Also, where else are you going to see a horse-and-buggy in a roundabout?

I was only there for 2 days, but I managed to do quite a lot. I saw La Giralda and its church which is really interesting. Sevilla is a really interesting mix of Arabic and European architecture and the church's tower is actually the remains of an old mosque! In Sevilla's history, it was conquered by the Venetians, then by the Moors and finally by the Romans. In the end, the history of Sevilla is made up of stories of how Jews, Muslims, and Christians all interacted and got along - going into the Golden Age and the Spanish Inquisition! For just one city, it's absolutely fascinating!

If you climb to the top of the tower, the view is amazing!

About half way up the tower

 

Side note: this is the third largest cathedral in Europe and the final resting place of Christopher Columbus!

I also saw Real Alcazar, which is the palace in Sevilla modeled after Alhambra in Granada. I haven't been to Granada (very unfortunately) but if this is indication, it must be incredible! What made this extra cool was that the day I went to these two attractions was actually International Tourism Day so entrance was free! Yay!

the gardens were incredible! and it was raining so everything was sooo green!

I also managed to do a walking tour of the Jewish Quarter of Sevilla and I learned SO MUCH. I had a fabulous tour guide named Alice (with panchotours.com if you are ever interested) who showed us around and gave us a lot of stories and information. For example, every street in Sevilla (and there are hundreds... believe me I learned the hard way) has a story or reason behind it's name.

So now I will leave you with pictures of this amazing city and urge you all to go! I would go back in an instant if I could.

Plaza España

Plaza España

This is the tower I climbed!

Barrios of Santa Cruz

 

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Hola from Barcelona!

HOLA CLASE.

That is how all my classes started when I did my practicum. My students didn't find it as amusing as I did.

Anyways, I'm in Spain! After years and years of wanting to travel to Spain, I have finally arrived! It almost seems surreal to think that I am here. But it's been a real experience so far.

I got in pretty late my first day, so that was a write off.

But my second day I decided to go for it, and check out one of the most touristy things you can do: La Rambla. I picked up some souvenirs, and maybe a scarf or two... Just so you all know, I totally used one of the scarves, so whatever. You always needs scarves. I even made it to the Mall of Spain, which I didn't even know existed until I sought refuge from the heat! And then it had wifi. Amazing.

Then, because I decided to abuse my feet, I went out dancing. I had forgotten how much I love dancing. When you don't dance for 5 weeks or so, you forget how happy it makes you! Plus, I was feeling lonely and dance people are always so friendly. I even made a new friend there and she was so nice! She even gave me some advice on what to check out this weekend.

This weekend is La Feste de la Merce, which is basically a festival for the natives of Barcelona. There is music, activities and lots going on.

I went a few events. I went to one of the concerts where The Kooks played, and it was so good! It was absolutely packed though! And I went to the Sagrada Familia, which is probably one of the most famous buildings in Spain and the guest city of the festival had put on this amazing light show. The guest city was Canadian, obviously. Montreal. I don't think I have ever felt so claustrophobic in my life.

Unless you've been to Barcelona, it's hard to imagine the immensity of this building!

This is about half a block away, and it's still PACKED.

I met a couple of Brazilians while I was here and they convinced me out one night to go see some of the festivities. It was so fun! First of all, I ended up at this stage where it was a combination of lindy hop and karaoke, and I was teaching my new friends and it was so cool to just randomly end up here. The boy, Alan, was like "I thought we could learn to dance together!" So cute.

Then we found some animated events, and some robots dancing and this really cool exhibit where you go in front of a camera and then it copies your face and pastes it on someone else's?

for all of you wondering, my iphone case is an owl :D

And there was also this stage where it was human sized tetris. A massive screen where one person had to run on a pad to control where the block would go (left or right) and another ran around to choose which rotation the block would take. I took pictures, but it hardly does it justice.

Other than that, I have been frequenting the beach, walking many kilometres a day and sweating all of my available water stores in my body. On the plus side, I've also been wearing all of the dresses I own!

I went out for tapas tonight and it was so good. Besides the fact that I drank a bit too much sangria, the food was delicious, and the place played Eurovision songs and top 40 and I was singing along happily (probably much to the chagrin of all the other people there).

If any of you reading this are interested in Gaudí, I have lots of pictures for you! This place is full of really amazing architecture and I keep hoping Edmonton will be just as beautiful when I return! I have so many pictures and my camera broke. And then my camera connection kit began a tempestuous relationship with my iphone and that doesn't work either! These pictures come courtesy of me emailing myself pictures from my phone... So cool, right?

I'm heading to Sevilla on Thursday morning, so I'll probably update you from there!

Though, tomorrow I may add another blog post with the stupid things I've heard people say over the past couple weeks. People don't know I eavesdrop!

 

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Update on my life! :)

Needless to say, my life has been eventful the past while. I've had some stuff happen in my family and the in the family of a close friend and summer school started at work and Luke left for England. Yeah, pretty busy.

 

So this is a pretty cute photo, no? This was taken on one of our failed dates. Sometimes we try to have exciting/romantic dates and it usually doesn't work out. So we went to the legislature grounds to play in the pool but it was closed for maintenance... LRT fare gone. and it was a very hot day. But we got a nice photo.

We were trying to pack in everything before he went back to England so in one week we went to a football game, a pool party, played mario kart (don't ask, I'm rather bitter still!) and our families met!

My dance performance team finally had a gig on Canada Day so I was able to perform a few times before I take off to Europe!

Where am I off to in Europe? WELL.

England: I am heading there first to see Luke and hang out in the UK. For the most part, we'll be in his home town on Coventry, which is the picture above. It looks pretty nice if you ask me but apparently it's a dump. Guess we'll find out!

 

Then I will be off to Stirling to see my good friend, Brian who manages a hostel there. We are going to tour the highlands!

My gameplan from there is sketchy at best but I know not to plan too too much. Anyways, the plan, for now, is to go to Spain after, particularly Barcelona. I've heard incredible things about Barcelona and I can't wait to see it for myself!

Other plans include going along the Meditterranean but we will see how it plays out/how tight money becomes!

In other news, I'm still playing Draw Something. Thought I'd show you a couple of my gems.

Beautiful, no?

Last thing: I needed to share with the world that I got 3rd place in a laser tag game. Out of 33 people I should mention. Not out of 3...

 

xoxo

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