Update at last!

Im actually already home.  Since my last update, I have travelled through the North of Spain, had my goodbye dinner, and travelled on my own for a few weeks through Berlin, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris, and London. But first things first, Ill start with the North of Spain.

This was my favorite trip with my program, hands down. It was after finals, so it was nice to know that I was done with studying but not done travelling! We went to Galicia and Asturias, which for those of you dont know are the provinces in the Northwest of the country, above Portugal. In Galicia, they speak Castilian Spanish, as well as gallego, a provincial language. Galicia is beautiful-all green and lush, a stark contrast from the rest of the country. The north is rainy and very hilly, not like the middle and the south of the country, which is bone dry and flat.

Our first stop on the trip was Vigo, Spain. Its a small harbor city, and it reminded me a lot of Baltimore. Lots of ships, a pretty harbor, museums and big crowds. The similarities stop there though. It is the hometown of Maricarmen, our program director, so met up with a couple of her aunties and other family members for our time there. We took a ferry to a tiny fishing village on the other side of the bay, such gorgeous views!

The harbor

A view from the ferry of the other side of the bay

Picturesque

Leaving Vigo, we werent really sure of the plan. They dont really tell us where we’re going until we get there, the bus just goes. So we ended up going to Valenca, Portugal for lunch! Its a tiny fortress town just across the Spanish border.

Valenca

The far side of the river is Spain!

This trip was my favorite, mostly because I spent my time staring out the windows of the bus at some of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. The drives were breathtaking. All rocky beaches, windmills, wildflowers, mountians, cliffs, tiny villages, and the ocean. I couldnt stop staring.

There were rocky beaches with waves crashing violently everywhere

We stopped at Baiona, a little touristy beach town, which had a fortress high up on a cliff. From the top, there was a great view of all of the mountians, the sea, and all of the boats and sea towns. One of my favorite stops of the trip. Maricarmen’s aunties treated us all to a drink, so I had some sparkling sweet wine on the top of this mountian. It was great.

View from the fortress at Baiona

Then we drove to Finisterre, which was another breathtaking drive. I swear I saw more windmills on this trip than people. But Finisterre was my absolute favorite part of this trip. Its this cliff high above the ocean, you can see for miles. It is called Finisterre, because in Latin it means the end of the Earth. Its where they thought the world literally ended, and I can see why they believed it.

Lighthouse at Finisterre

Pictures cant even really capture it

Finisterre is technically the end of the Camino de Santiago, one of the largest pilgrimage routes in the world.  It starts in France usually, although you can start in Germany and other parts of Europe. Most people stop at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, because thats where the bones of St. James are. But technically the pilgrimage ends at Finisterre. The Camino de Santiago is the third most popular pilgrimage, after Jerusalem and Rome. Some people argue that it started globalization in Europe, because so many foreigners were brought into Spain, and hotels, restaurants, and eventually towns formed along the pilgrimage route.

Our next stop was Santiago de Compostela. In the cathedral, you wait in line, then you hug and kiss a statue that allegedly holds the bones of St James. Did I do it? Of course! How often do you get the opportunity to hug a saint?

Cathedral in Santiago where the bones are held

Walking sticks that are sold to modern-day pilgrims, with the shell, the symbol of the pilgrimage, and the cross

Our last few days, we left civilization behind. We stayed in a hostel on the beach, surrounded by fields and mountians and not much else. The beach was Praia de los Catedrales, famous for its huge rock formations.

Praia de los Catedrales

It was SO COLD! Absolutely freezing. Not beach weather, for sure. We had some quiet nights and TONS of food. I have never eaten that much in my entire life. Four course lunches and dinner, with each course big enough to be its own meal’ Soup, bread, salad, meat and potatos, plus a dessert. Delicious, but I just couldnt eat it all.

One day, we went to the mountains of Covadonga, where there are lakes on the tops of mountains. The mountains are also very important to the history of Spain. The Moors invaded Spain, but not the north completely, because they hid in the mountains, which protected them from the Moorish armies. In 721, Don Pelayo fought the Battle of Covadonga, and won against the Moors, which started the reconquest of Moorish Spain for the Christians. So where did we go? Covadonga.

The mountains

Lake!

Lunch, course 1: stew with beans, chorizo, blood sausage, and bacon fat. YUM

Our private beach at the greatest hotel in Asturias!

Spelunking in a cave on our private beach

The trip was a lot of scenery, not much else. Sorry for all of the pictures, but I feel like they still dont do some of the sights justice! It was a great trip to end my semester in Spain.

Coming soon! My solitary travels across Europe, stay tuned.

Spring Break-Prague!

My last real stop on my trip was in Prague. I was there for my birthday, but unfortunately I missed seeing Obama by a few days. Oh well!

I stayed with Kate, and her roommate Kim was nice enough to let me sleep in her bed so Kate and I were roommates again! Her apartment is great, its brand new and has all sorts of cool features like a TOUCH SCREEN ELEVATOR! Also, they had two balconys and MTV Germany, so life was good.

My first day there, Kate and my other friend who studies in Prague, Lisa, were in class so I wandered around on my own. I went to this fortress called Vyšehrad that is where Prague was founded. Its up on this high cliff and there are amazing views and a cathedral and a beautiful graveyard! I think the Czech word for John or something is Jana, because it was on basically every gravestone. Which was weird, but cool.

That night we met up with some friends and went to a beer garden. It was so great! I wish I had gotten a picture of it, but I didnt. Beer in Prague is the best beer Ive ever had. The dark beer is AMAZING. Its like sweet. So good. And you get like a pint or something for only a dollar! Kate and Lisa kept talking about how it would be so hard to go back to the US and its expensive crappy beer. I believe them! The Czech people drink more beer per person than anyone in the world. Not the Germans!

View of Prague from Vyšehrad

Then I walked up the river, past the Fred and Ginger dancing building to the area near the Charles Bridge, where of course I happened across a bagel restaurant. I went to the John Lennon wall, a wall that has layers and layers of cool grafitti, and across the Charles Bridge, where there are tons of vendors selling caricatures and musicians playing tunes.

John Lennon wall

Czech version of goulash! Different from Hungarian, accompanied by DELISH potato pancakes.

The next day, I did some exploring with Lisa. We went to Prague Castle, which is the largest castle in the world! Then we went to the Lennon wall again, and she took me to Old Town Square, which was packed with tourists waiting for the famous astrological clock to change.  On the hour, the clock has little figures of skeletons and the apostles that move. She also took me to the Easter market, because it was Easter weekend! There were tons of snacks and little gifts, including willow sticks that the men use to hit the women they find attractive in a celebration of fertility the day after Easter.

Lisa and I with a view of Prague at the castle

Willow sticks! Glad I wasnt there on Easter Monday!

That night at midnight I celebrated my 21st birthday! Kate had a bunch of her friends and friends of friends that were visiting over to her apartment, and I blew out some candles and everyone sang to me. Then we went out to a couple of places, drank (LEGALLY) and danced the night away! It was a great time. The next day we slept in, then went to go lie around in the park. Then Lisa, Kate and I went out for some Mexican food for my birthday dinner. Then another huge group went out again that night, to a club I LOVED called the Cross Club, which was a lot of fun.

We found a flyer that said masquerade for a free entrance, so we made masks. We were mistaken, but we got some pretty awesome masks!

The next day was Easter, and Lisa, Kate and I went to Petrin park to lie around again. Petrin park is this enourmous park on an even bigger hill. There is a funicular to go to the top, but it being Easter, the entire population of the city was there and the line was long, so we just found a spot in the sun with a good view. So pretty!

Springtime in Prague!

I had a great time. It was more relaxing than my other stops on the trip, it was more hanging out with my friends and relaxing, which was nice after such a long time of sightseeing nonstop. Prague was so beautiful! The Czech language seems absolutely ridiculous however. I miss Kate and Lisa already!

Spring Break-Belgium!

Second stop on my trip was Belgium. I was in Brussels, and I took a day trip to Bruges. Both were beautiful! I did a lot of sightseeing on my own, but there isnt tons to do in Brussels, so Bruges was a great idea. And it was gorgeous! Bruges was like a fairy tale, it was ridiculously idyllic. In Belgium, they speak French, and I got to use my meager French skills a lot. More than I expected, really. I even gave directions IN FRENCH! I was very surprised I could do it, to be honest. But happy!

Brussels!

Mannekin Pis, famous for exactly what it sounds like. Sometimes they dress him up in little outfits, but I got to see him au natural

Part of Grand Place, the major square in Brussels. Each side of the square was so pretty, but Ill only put up one picture. Take my word for it!

In Brussels, of course I ate waffles, frites, and drank some great beer. I didnt each much else, in fact. All of the food there was so expensive! Im talking like 30+ euros for a meal at a sit down restaurant. Non merci!

In Brussels, I did all of my sightseeing by myself. I saw the Palais de Justice, Parc de Cinqantenaire, other parks, explored the little streets full of restaurants around Grand Place, went to the cathedral, and the European Quarter. Brussels is of course the headquarters of the EU and NATO, so there are a ton of non-Belgian europeans there making a living. They are lovingly called “eurocrats.” It was a pretty cool atmosphere in Brussels, like no one was from there originally, but everyone loved it anyway.

EU Parliament room. Thrilling! The coolest part was everyone waiting for the tour to start, all posing with the respective flags and adjusting the language on their headphones. I think I may have been the only American. I felt left out-no flag to get a picture with!

Then I went to Bruges. I didnt know much about it beforehand, other than they made a movie set in Bruges, called-what else-In Bruges, with Colin Farrell, which I watched when I got back. But it was great! Just a little town, sort of filled with tourists, because its so small, there isnt much room for the tourists to spread out. Canals, swans, gothic buildings, little chocolateries. It was great. I touched the blood of Christ! How could I not mention that? There is a little church that claims to have a vial with three drops of Christ’s blood, which someone got during the Crusades. My first relic, and of Christ himself! Rumor has it that the dried blood turns back to liquid in troubling times.

Bruges

Flowers in this psuedo-nunnery

This priests job is to polish the little vial with the blood after every person touches it

Spring break Part 2 was very successful. Lots of fun!

Spring Break-Roma!

Life is crazy! For Spring Break, I made it to Rome, Brussels, Bruges, Prague, and Berlin. And Im still recovering!

Rome was AMAZING. So much to see and do! I did all of the touristy things: Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountian, Colosseum, Roman Forum, Vatican City, Piazza Navona, the Pantheon, etc etc. I even managed to get to the big places twice, once during the day and at night! It was a great time. Three other girls from my program were in Rome the same time I was, and I have a friend from school who I stayed with the last night, so I always had someone to hang out with. I did a pub crawl, ate some great pasta, and explored the less touristy parts of the city on my own. Rome overall was a really great time, I wish I had more time there. But I threw my coin in the Trevi fountian, so hopefully I will be back!

Spanish Steps!

Pantheon

Trevi fountain

St Peters Basilica in Vatican City

Colosseum

Roman Forum

I think my favorite thing was the Roman Forum. It was so beautiful, and really interesting. You can see the ruts in the stone roads left from Roman wagons hundreds of years ago. It was really cool. There was so much cool stuff in Rome though! Rome was nonstop for me, I was out all day sightseeing and out everynight. My hostel locked us out during the day, so I took a little siesta in the park one day. It was so worth it though, it was a great time.

More updates coming soon!

Budapest

I am constantly behind! OH WELL. I went to Budapest! It was FANTASTIC. I loved the city, it was so unique and beautiful. There was a lot to do and see, and we had a great time. I went with my friend Kim, and we both fell in love with it.

Our first night there, we went to the atm and ran into these Dutch guys who invited us to go to a “break beat” club with them and their friends. I dont know what break beat is, but it was a lot of fun! Everything was so cheap, and the music was…interesting. It was a lot of fun, a good way to start our trip.

The next day, we explored the city. We saw Hero’s Square, the opera house, a castle, and a market. I ate something delicious called longos: fried dough with sour cream, cheese and onions on it. Yum! Later, we met up with a Hungarian woman we met on the plane. She gave us a tour of the castle area and Fisherman’s Bastion. Gorgeous views of the city, and Parliament across the Danube River! Our friend Rita took us to a place to get pankcakes: basically crepes. I had onion soup and apple and walnut crepes.

Castle

Langos

Parliament building

The next day, we went to the baths. We went to the baths that apparently less touristy. They were beautiful! Nothing like the baths in Morocco, they were like actual swimming pools fed by hot springs. It was like being at a Roman bath, except for all of the Hungarians. I also got a massage, which was interesting. They dont really do massages like I expected them to.

Széchenyi baths

Later that day, we stumbled across this Hungarian festival. Loads of stalls with food and Hungarian knick-knacks! Also, there were Hungarian dancers. We joined the Hungarian conga line, and danced for what seemed like an hour with those guys. So much fun!

Dancers

Delicious sweet bread roasted over a fire, then taken off the spit so its hollow!

Then we went on a night cruise down then Danube. So great!

Széchenyi Bridge

Goulash! My favorite meal of the trip

Our last day, our friend Denes, who worked at our hostel, took us to get some goulash. It was so good! it was cooked over a flame and it was delicious. My favorite meal by far.

I dont really know how to explain Budapest. It was a great city, lots of fun. But it also had this weird atmosphere in some places, it was like you could feel the communism. Especially in the train station!  It was a great trip though, we did so many cool things. I had a great time!

Barça!

Im behind again! Last weekend, my group took a trip to Barcelona. It was fantastic! It was like a weekend of art. Barcelona is way more artistic than Madrid, with parks and sculptures and some more modern architecture. The city has a very different feel from Madrid, more laid-back and relaxed I think. Of course, it is a beach town, so it makes sense! Some of Spain’s most famous artists are from Catalunya-Picasso, Gaudi, Miro, and one of my favorites, Dali.

The first day, we took a bus tour of the city. We went to the Parque Guell, Sagrada Familia, Olympic village, Casa Milà, and more.

National Art Museum of Catalunya

In front of the city

Parque Güell, designed by Gaudi

Cathedral Sagrada Familia, designed by Gaudi. Its been under construction for more than 100 years, and when it is completed it will be the tallest cathedral in the world (twice as tall as it is now!)

Later that day, I went to the chocolate museum. Chocolate was brought from the New World to Barcelona, before any other place in the world! We also went to the Picasso museum, which was great. He did a ton of his own renditions of Velazquez’s Las Meninas, which I liked a lot. No pictures allowed though!

That night, we went out to dinner to this great restaurant right on the water. We had a ton of delicious tapas, and then some paella. We went out that night to a few bars, but I didnt stay out late. We had a lot of sightseeing to do the next day!

We got on the bus and drove about two hours to Figueras, the hometown of Dali. I LOVE Dali. Hes such an interesting person, and his art is the same. The museum is amazing, theres all different kinds of art, and its all confusing and surprising and weird, but beautiful at the same time.

Dali Museum

Abraham/naked woman

I explored the city a little bit, and went to a castle or a fortress or something. And I saw France!

Those mountains=France!

What did I do that night? Oh not too much, just WENT TO A BARCELONA GAME. Life goal accomplished!!!!!

BARCELONA GAME!

SO EXCITING

It wasnt the greatest game, it was against Malaga, who arent any good. Barcelona won 6-0. I have pictures of the team celebrating after each goal, but they definitely get repetitive. But it was so fun!!

After the game, we met up with the rest of the group who didnt go to the game and had a fancy meal. I had duck, yummmm.

The next day, we explored different part of Barcelona on foot. We went to this great market, and I had some tropical fruit. Some guy tried to pickpocket me, and I hit him (on the arm, but still). He didnt do a very good job, my purse was open far enough for him to get a finger or two in, but not get anything out. After the market, we went to the beach again!!! I havent been to the beach in such a long time, but now that Im in Spain, I feel like I go all the time. Its pretty great.

Fruta in the mercado

My favorite beach so far!

Its such a busy time for me right now! I got back from Hungary this morning (update soon), I have to write a paper for Wednesday, Cathy is visiting (!!!!), and I need to plan my spring break, because I leave on Thursday afternoon!! I have only two weekends left in Madrid, !que locura!

Dont you wish you were here? Im a lucky girl

Marrakech

What to say about Marrakech? Truly, it was undescribable. It was so different from anyplace Ive ever been.

We got to our AMAZING hostel on Friday. We stayed at Casa del Sol, and this place was better than some hotels Ive stayed in. Clean, comfortable, fun, and the manager, Mustapha, was the greatest guy in the world. We stayed right in the center, a short walk from the center of the city, the square Djemaa el Fna. This place is exactly what I thought Morocco would be. Snake charmers, monkeys, tiny shops where the men yell at you to come look, street food, henna artists, chaos.

The square

Pictures cant even really capture the atmosphere. I tried, I promise! But everything was happening at once and it was so hard to get a picture. A lot of the time, people would ask you to pay if you took a picture of them, or they would ask you to delete it.  Im a little unsatisfied with a lot of the pictures from Marrakech, just because I dont feel like they do it justice.

Spices

Vendors

We did a day trip to Ourika Valley in the Atlas mountians. We had breakfast in a traditional Berber house (bread with honey, butter, and olive oil) then took a quick camel ride. Then we went further into the mountians to the valley itself, and climb this huge, tracherous mountian to see the waterfall at the top. The mountian was insane, there wasnt really path or any other concept of safety. At one point I was pulled up a wet rock face by a Moroccan, at other times I crossed streams on slippery rocks, etc. Dad would have a field day with the risk involved.

Camel! When the camel stood up it was like a carnival ride, first the back, then the front. I thought I was going to fall off!

Mustapha and I at the waterfall

Need a souvenir? This guys ready for you, in the middle of the Atlas mountians.

We met these great Italian boys at the hostel, and we went out one night. Being a Muslim country, it was technically illegal to drink, but there are still bars. We wen to one called African Chic, which was ridiculous. It was full of foreign-looking older men suspiciously surrounded by young women with skimpy clothing, if you get what I mean. The music started off as normal European techno, but then the live music started. There was an African trumpet thing, drums, the whole thing. Dancers in traditional garb were doing traditional African dances on the dance floor while people in modern clothing danced in the modern way, it was crazy! NOT a club you would find ANYWHERE in the US, and probably not Europe.

I loved the food. It was delicious! There is this traditional dish called a tangine, and its made using this pot with a dome shape on top. Usually it has vegetables, meat, and lots of spices. We had this a couple of times, along with Showarma (kind of like a gyro), skewers, lots of bread, and sometimes no ustensils. We drank SO MUCH mint tea, which I LOVE. I bought some, and Mom, Im going to raid your mint plant and make some at home. In the square, they sell fresh squeezed juice for an incredible price. Orange juice is 3dh=.30euro. Others are 10 dh. I had orange, grapefruit, and blood orange, all of which were delicious.

Street food! I had some sort of red meat on skewers, bread, and a dip called epinard?

Tagines with veggies and meat

My favorite part of the whole trip was going to a hammam. A hammam is a bath. We chose to go to the real thing, not the tourist kind. We were scrubbed down by these two Moroccan girls from our hostal, shampooed, bathed, massaged. It was definitely an experience I’ll never forget. Its hard to explain without going into too much detail, but I felt like a new person. I was exfoliated so well, I feel like I lost ten years! (And Im only 20, so what does that say?)

The last night, we went to see a movie for 150 durham=1.50 euro. The movie? Om Shanti Om, the reknowned Bollywood movie! Haha, it was so great. 3 hours of ridiculousness. There isnt too much to do there, especially for only a group of girls (the Italians had left the night before) so a movie was definitely a good choice.

Overall, it was a great trip. I really enjoyed everything. Igot some cool stuff, and I’ll never forget it. It was unlike anything else Ive ever done!

Tomorrow, I leave for Barcelona. Cant wait to tell you about it!

Weekend Excursions

Im a little behind! This weekend I went to Morocco, and Ill get to that soon. But the weekend before I had a few day trips. We went to Segovia, where Ive been before. Its still beautiful! Its a city north of Madrid famous for its Roman aqueducts. The aqueduct is made up of huge arches that have stood since the time of the Romans, around the first century AD. Crazy, especially considering they didnt use any mortar, and they still work today! We also went to the Alcazar, the castle of Segovia. We roamed around the city for lunch, and I walked into a little pastry store and immediately recognized it from being there almost four years ago, from when I visited Spain before. It was a weird feeling, but Im glad I stumbled upon it.

Aqueduct

Alcazar

View of Segovia and the Cathedral from the top of the Alcazar

Another day that weekend we went even further north, to the Province of Burgos. We went to a monastary and then to a midday service and heard some Gregorian monks chant, which was very interesting. After that, we went to a winery that belongs to an old friend of one of our professors, Pau. We saw the process of wine-making, and got to sample some wine! Then we went to a ravine, where there was a crazy path. It would have been no big deal on any other day, but that day it was covered in snow and very icy. It was so fun!! Its weird to think that the week before I was on a beach in Portugal, and the next week I was in the snowy, cold mountians, and this past weekend I was sweaty in Morocco!

Snowy monastary

Bodega-where they make wine

Trying some wine!

Path through the gorge!

It was a very fun weekend. Morocco was amazing, but unfortunately I cant write about it right now. I have to study, and I think Ive forgotten how. Its so hard to focus here! But very soon, when Im done with some of my work, Ill update and share all about Morocco!!

Me eating the bagel that a friend's mother brought from the US. With cream cheese and lox. A great day for me!!

Update!

I havent updated recently, I know! Ill update when I come back. FROM MOROCCO!! Im off to Marrakech until Monday. Im so excited!!

In celebrity news, I have just found out that Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon were spotted at the Prado here in Madrid today! Same city, whatever, right? EXCEPT that usually on Thursdays I go to art history class at the Prado. NOT TODAY. AHHH MY LIFE. SO CLOSEEEEE

What luck. I think this is actually where we meet for class too!

Frustrating. But yay Morocco tomorrow! First time in Africa for me, Ill let you know how it goes!!

Portugal!

After Sevilla we made our way to Portugal. It was so beautiful! Its very similar to Spain, but different at the same time. It was the first time I had been in a country where I didnt speak the language.  I could understand written Portuguese, but nothing when it was spoken. It was a weird feeling.

On the beach in Portugal!

Sunset at Cabo da Roca, westernmost point in Europe

Sunset

There was a gang called TOYS!

Overlooking the old neighborhood of Alfama

Fountain is a gift from France in the Centro Rossio

Torre de Belem

Monument of Discoveries

Vasco da Gama, famous Portuguese navigator

Beach day two in Portugal!

Playa! Castle (?) in the background

Bullfighting ring-in Portugal they dont kill the bull in front of the crowd like in Spain, but elsewhere

I loved Portugal, I would love to go back another time. The day we got back, there was a football match between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Liverpool is my #1 fav team and Real Madrid is up there, and my friend Kim and I tried EVERYTHING to get tickets but we couldnt. So we went anyway. Liverpool won!! And let me tell you, if I ever need a confidence boost, Ill go to a stadium full of drunk men. People stopped us to take pictures with us, it was hilarious.

LIVERPOOL!

This weekend I didnt do too much, I wasnt feeling great. I feel better now, thanks to some foul-tasting mint aspirin Sensi gave me to dissolve in some water. Blech. I also went to an English bookstore this weekend and got a couple of books for 1 euro each, which was great. They also have American food there! Muffins and poptarts and such. I dont think Ill get any, Sensi has a weird toaster and no oven at all. I also got some pizza and went to the bars to have a drink, but it was a few early nights for me. Tomorrow Im going to El Escorial, the Palace that Felipe II built for himself. This weekend, Im going to Segovia, Aranjuez, and there is a rumor that we’re going to the visit the winery of one of our teacher’s family. Update soon!