So this might be a superfluous last blog post as I will be back in Tulsa in approximately 4 days, but oh well. Umm since I last posted a lot has happened, most exciting being that I survived a sandstorm in the SAHARA and road a camel. No big deal ;) I also had a lovely Easter with my friends in Sevilla and am now chillin in Italy. No worries guys, I have tons of pics and stories for when I return. But for now I'd like to reflect how perfect it is that I'm ending in Italy where they use ciao for both hello and goodbye. So in 4 days I will say ciao Europe and ciao friends and family
Has it really been 4 months already?
Friday, April 29, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Slainte!
Oh btw, I'm still alive! Yay! There were a few close calls . . . nah, it's been really good. I left the parents on Monday to begin my long journey northward. Made it to London in a very timely manner. Saw a few sights before eating delicious fish and chips (even on a budget I couldn't skip that). We went to see Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty's Theatre. SO good. We adventured London and stayed at Terri's house . . . man am I excited to have a home bed again. Next was off to Dublin. Mmmm . . . Guinness. And small world, ran into Ben Shroeder at the hostel. Crazy! Galway has been really nice but we are headed to new places! Adventure awaits . . .
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Verano . . . y PADRES!!!!
After my last week in Santander, it appears that I am on summer vacation! So crazy I know. . . but that's definitely part of the reason I chose my program. So nothing really exciting happened after all the busy-ness on Monday, I mean technically I still had class on Wednesday and Thursday, but really. . . I was pretty much done. I was real sad to leave my host family on Friday, but life must go on, and it definitely helps that when I got to Madrid my parents were there waiting for me. Such adventures with the padres! Apparently before I made it to Madrid, they managed to super get themselves lost (like 2.5 hours trying to find the hotel from the airport; it only really takes 5 min). But they practiced a bunch after that trauma and managed to come get me at 430 on Saturday morning. YAY for parents and a rental car, no airport sleeping that weekend for me!
So a break-down of what we've been up to so far. . .
Saturday: We slept in super late thanks to the 430 airport visit, but we managed to find a restaurant open around 100 for a "brunch" which was real tasty (especially since the parents hadn't had a good meal since they left Wichita). We then travelled into actual Madrid (our hotel was on the outskirts) and visited the Museo de Sorolla and saw the Prado. We wandered around a bit before heading back to the hotel, then out to dinner. We had some tasty raciones on a teraza and headed in fairly early since we were off to Toledo on Sunday.
Sunday: We got a later start than expected (the parents didn't realize that the sun doesn't rise until around 9 up here). We had some tasty fruit for breakfast as well as a cup of cafe con leche, claro! We headed out to Toledo after that and found our hotel relatively easily (thanks to my amazing ;) Spanish skills and the nice man at the gas station (that had fresh bread; dad couldn't stop raving)). Also, dad could not stop raving about our hotel in Toledo (mom on the other hand didn't like being sneaky: we only reserved the room for too people). We visited the old part of Toledo and saw the Cathedral, but quickly headed back as it started raining and we had walked. We went to a super fancy pants restaurant for dinner. We went to bed in order to hopefully get a sooner start on our journey to Córdoba on Monday.
Monday: So ya, the whole "early start" thing didn't really happen and we barely got out the door in time to get to Córdoba by lunch time. This unfortunately meant skipping breakfast :( But we got to Córdoba in time for lunch(ish) but the hotel it turns out was right next to the Mezquita and thus was kinda tricky to park. We ended up driving around for like an extra half an hour just to go down the street we were practically already on (in our defense, it said you weren't sposed to drive up it). We eventually got a lunchtime meal (at like 400). Then we did our lil tour of the Mezquita--so amazing (I might get some pics up soon). And we did a lil shopping (or rather I). And we ate dinner at a lovely place with tasty sangria and olives (as well as fried eggplant, tortilla española, and gazpacho esque soup).
Tuesday: For realz, we were gonna get an early start. I got up at 800 in order to shower and be ready to go. We ended up leaving about the same time as the day before (I just don't understand), but at least this time we had a big breakfast at the hotel buffet (not free, but tasty). And we headed down to Cadiz. So far, it's not the best city, but at least it has the ocean. We shall see what I think after dinner (lunch was less than impressive).
Anyways, I still have about a week left with the parents and I know we will have tons of fun! Plus, I get to eat well for a whole 10 days! But, I think this might be my last big blog post. I'll try to still write something about my travels but the laptop will be headed back to the US with the parents. So. . . hasta luego!
So a break-down of what we've been up to so far. . .
Saturday: We slept in super late thanks to the 430 airport visit, but we managed to find a restaurant open around 100 for a "brunch" which was real tasty (especially since the parents hadn't had a good meal since they left Wichita). We then travelled into actual Madrid (our hotel was on the outskirts) and visited the Museo de Sorolla and saw the Prado. We wandered around a bit before heading back to the hotel, then out to dinner. We had some tasty raciones on a teraza and headed in fairly early since we were off to Toledo on Sunday.
Sunday: We got a later start than expected (the parents didn't realize that the sun doesn't rise until around 9 up here). We had some tasty fruit for breakfast as well as a cup of cafe con leche, claro! We headed out to Toledo after that and found our hotel relatively easily (thanks to my amazing ;) Spanish skills and the nice man at the gas station (that had fresh bread; dad couldn't stop raving)). Also, dad could not stop raving about our hotel in Toledo (mom on the other hand didn't like being sneaky: we only reserved the room for too people). We visited the old part of Toledo and saw the Cathedral, but quickly headed back as it started raining and we had walked. We went to a super fancy pants restaurant for dinner. We went to bed in order to hopefully get a sooner start on our journey to Córdoba on Monday.
Monday: So ya, the whole "early start" thing didn't really happen and we barely got out the door in time to get to Córdoba by lunch time. This unfortunately meant skipping breakfast :( But we got to Córdoba in time for lunch(ish) but the hotel it turns out was right next to the Mezquita and thus was kinda tricky to park. We ended up driving around for like an extra half an hour just to go down the street we were practically already on (in our defense, it said you weren't sposed to drive up it). We eventually got a lunchtime meal (at like 400). Then we did our lil tour of the Mezquita--so amazing (I might get some pics up soon). And we did a lil shopping (or rather I). And we ate dinner at a lovely place with tasty sangria and olives (as well as fried eggplant, tortilla española, and gazpacho esque soup).
Tuesday: For realz, we were gonna get an early start. I got up at 800 in order to shower and be ready to go. We ended up leaving about the same time as the day before (I just don't understand), but at least this time we had a big breakfast at the hotel buffet (not free, but tasty). And we headed down to Cadiz. So far, it's not the best city, but at least it has the ocean. We shall see what I think after dinner (lunch was less than impressive).
Anyways, I still have about a week left with the parents and I know we will have tons of fun! Plus, I get to eat well for a whole 10 days! But, I think this might be my last big blog post. I'll try to still write something about my travels but the laptop will be headed back to the US with the parents. So. . . hasta luego!
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