What To Expect When You Don't Make Plans

the beach had this massive rock in the middle

Me horseback riding on the beach

The lighthouse

Randi, Kelly and I on the top of the sand dunes

Matalascanas

This past weekend didn't exactly turn out like we had expected. We made the most of it though and still had a blast. So Friday morning 4am comes around and Kelly and I are grabbing the last few things around the house before we to the airport. I grab the bocadillos out of the fridge and we head to the airport. After we got out of the elevator, I went to put my purse into my rolling carry on and the zipper totally broke on it. This was only the beginning of my bad luck to start off this weekend. I had to rush back upstairs and throw all my belongings into my duffel and hope that it was Ryanair size approved. After that slight delay we were off to grab the airport shuttle. When on the bus, we were hungry, so we went to go eat the bocadillos that our senora packed us. We were horrified when we opened the paper to discover we had accidently taken Maria's raw meat and animal fat instead of our sandwiches! Once at the airport, we needed to wait for the ticket counters to open at 6am to see where we could possibly be off to.

We soon learned that showing up at the airport to buy tickets for Spains equivalent of Memorial Day Weekend, would not end well for us. We had the option of going to Barcelona for a mere 144 euros...one way. We passed on that option quickly and needed a new game plan. We decided we would rent a car and drive to Lisbon for the weekend...we were soon told that you needed to be 25 to rent a car. We had stuck out everywhere. We headed back to Sevilla to go to the bus station to see what it had to offer us. We ended up getting a bus ticket to this beachy town in the south of Spain called Matalascanas. We had no idea what to expect but we were off. 

We got off the bus and were instantly floored at the amount of elderly people we saw. What had we just gotten ourselves into. We knew we needed to find somewhere to stay for the weekend. We ran into this nice train driver who suggested we stay with this women who had 8 rooms in her house. We went there and it was so nice and cheap. We changed and headed right for the beach. Thinking it is only February, I stupidly thought there was no possible way I could get a sunburn. Three hours and a perfect bow imprint on my back later, I realized this was so not the case. We were all a little crispy to say the least. After the beach we went back to take a nap before heading out to dinner. Along the way we realized that it was opening weekend which helped us understand the lack of people that were there when we first arrived. 

Saturday was filled with more hours at the beach but this time dousing myself in my usual SPF 85 (seriously). We made a little picnic and attempted to frolic in the freezing Atlantic. It is crazy to think that it is the same water we bravely try and master in Wellfleet. After that we went on this amazing two hour horseback riding adventure along the sand dunes and beach. Horseback riding with a wicked sunburn on your calves and back is not for the weak. But then again my little retard horse Niebla wasn't helping my situation at all either. He loved to stop and graze on flowers and take his sweet time going anywhere, but then randomly decided to gallop at the most inopportune moments, like going down steep hills and what not. After the horseback riding adventure we were walking back into town and we ran into like 10 APIers. They were equally as surprised to see us as we were to see them. 

For dinner on our last night there, we went to this amazing seafood place and basically ordered blindly since we could barely understand the menu. We had this great appetizer dish of clams and mussels. Dinner consisted of a mix of shrimp, mushrooms and ham in a wine sauce. Sooo yummy. All in all we had a successful weekend. It wasn't what we has expected but then again what can you expect to do when you have no plans :)

Being Spontanous For Once In My Life

As I sit on my terrace writing this blog, I am wearing only a skirt and tank top (sorry I have to rub it in :)) I realize how lucky I really am to be here. Not only for the amazing weather that Sevilla brings but for everything that Sevilla has brought to me. I have challenged myself in ways I could never even dream of here. Setting up a Spanish pay as you go phone is nearly impossible but somehow I managed to make it though. Everyone here as been more than accommodating and speaking in Spanish all day, everyday is getting easier and easier.

When one of my best friends from home returned from her study abroad in Copenhagen last semester, I asked her what she missed most while in Denmark. She said the thing she missed most was signs being in English. I found that to be a strange response at first but now having been in Spain for four weeks already, I know exactly what she means. Being completely surrounded bu the unfamiliar is a huge challenge. I miss being able to read newspaper headlines and understanding the humor or understanding menus totally. I go through phases of having sever Amherst withdrawls or crusing around in tori, I wouldnt trade this for anything. Everyone needs to study abroad if they have the chance. I am going to do everything I can to ensure that my younger sister and brother do!

One of the amazing perks of being abroad is that it is sometimes easier to get to a different country than it is to get to a different state at home. I am currently in the midst of packing for my great adventure. My roommate Kelly, our friend Randi and I are all going to the airport first thing tomorrow morning and buying the cheapest ticket out of Sevilla. I dont know where it will lead us, so packing, especially for me, is disastrous. Who knows if we will end up in a beachy location like the Canary Islands or someone a lot colder like Austria. This is so unlike me to not have a perfect plan for this weekend. When I told my friends, I am quite certain they thought I was joking. I am majoring in event planning so having a back up for everything is what I am good at. Not having a Plan A is absolutely flooring me, but in a strange way, it is exhilarating. I'll update my blog when I get back to detail my grand adventures!! Europe awaits :) xo  

A Weekend Which No One Would Believe- Torcal and Granada!

So it is so amazing to travel to different places with API, but it makes it that much sweeter to come home to Sevilla! I spent this past weekend in Granada which is this gorgeous mountain city about three hours away from Sevilla. We would only be gone for one night but like my usual self, I packed four different outfits. My little pink suitcase was jam packed. I have no clue how I am going to pack for RyanAir's stupid luggage restrictions. Kelly and I were up bright and early with our little bocadillos that Maria had made for us. On that note, she made us turkey and cheese sandwiches but they weren't refrigerated which is a little worrisome but apparently that's how it goes here in Espana. We walked to meet up with everyone at 8:30 am and then we were off.

On the way out to Granada on Friday, we stopped at Torcal National Park. It is a good thing I was wearing my sneakers, because we did a two mile legit hike through insane rock formations and what not. Everything was so slippery and covered in mud because of all the rain we have gotten over the past week, making it that much harder to hike around. Being covered in clay mud was worth it. The landscapes were amazing and something that pictures can't even do justice to how beautiful it truly was. After our little hiking adventures, we all piled back onto the bus and continued on our way to Granada!

The drive there was literally blowing my mind. There were the usual palm trees lining the highway and then the occasional cactus, but then all of a sudden there were these massive snowcapped mountains that came out of no where. So in the same landscape were cacti and snowy mountains. Crazy! When we finally reached the hotel we had a few hours of free time before the flamenco show so about 15 of the girls went to this Arab bath that Granada is famous for. I feel like bath isn't the correct word to use but that is what they are called. They are more like spas. You go into different rooms and they have different temperature water, steam rooms and what not. We all got 20 minute massages as well, which might have been the best 20 minutes of my whole life. The baths were sooo relaxing and it was good girl bonding for the girls on the trip. We had about an hour before we had to head back to the hotel to shower after the baths so we decided to wander around a bit. We wandered into this teteria which is a tea house/hookah bar thing and tried some tea. After that we had the thrilling and daunting task of hiking back up the mountain to the hotel. To make a UMass reference, its literally like Ohill on steroids. Hiking up the mountain totally negated the relaxing massage but oh well.

After dinner we walked around Granada for a bit. Spain is a huge fan of awkward cobblestone streets and there was no exception. I have no idea how Spanish women walk around in 4 inch heels with no problem. I was practically falling over in my flat boots. We finally made it to this gypsy cave where we watched this crazy intense flamenco performance. It was very intimate and I was practically sitting on the singers laps. They danced with such passion and emotion that it was hard not to get drawn in. At the end of the performance, they grabbed people out of the audience to come dance on stage with them...and of course they grab the American in the hot pink pea coat. It was actually a ton of fun. I had such a blast!

After the flamenco show, we were allowed to do whatever we wanted. We went in search for free tapas that Granada is known for. Tapas are basically like little finger food snacks that you can get at bars and such. We came across this one bar that gave us free grilled ham and cheese with our margaritas. Oh how I miss grilled cheeses!!! We called it a night early around 130 because we had to get up at 730 for a walk around the city.

Getting up at 730 was so rough and I contemplated missing the optional walk around Granada. I am so glad I dragged myself up and went out. We walked around a 900 year old Arab bath and saw where Ferdinand and Isabelle were buried. As a treat for walking around all day, our trip leader Kepa bought us all churros and chocolate. We literally had enough time to check out of the hotel room after we got back from our walk before we were off the La Alhambra. 

La Alhambra is this breathtaking palace and fortress built by the Arab rulers of Spain in the 12 century. Alhambra in Arabic literally translates to red palace due to the fact that all of the walls appear to be red once the sun is setting. Walking around there, you would literally think you were in Morocco or something. The intricacy and detail of the tile work is unbelievable. Some of the views from the Alhambra are hard to explain to give it sufficient justice. The palace is at the highest point in the city so you can see all of Granada down below. We walked around for two and a half hours, exploring all the fountains and gardens the Alhambra had to offer! All in all is was an amazing weekend but I am so glad to be home in Sevilla again!

Inside the Arab Baths

Torcal National Park

Flamenco Show in the cave

Me at the Alhambra

Some of the views out the windows at the Alhambra

Insane detail on the wall

Reflection pool

 

La Lluvia En Sevilla Es Maravilla

Lies, lies, lies. The rain in Sevilla is not a marvel. It is actually rather depressing. This is the fourth day in a row of the rain in a city which supposedly only gets 17 days of rain a year. I just need to make it through tomorrow and I will be all set. On Friday, API is taking us on our first excursion since being in Sevilla. We are going to Granada  for the weekend! I can't wait for a change of scenery. It will be a little over three hours by bus away. When all 52 of us travel together, it feels more like an overnight camp rather than a college trip but nonetheless, its still such a blast. Granada is home to the amazing La Alhambra, which is Arabic means the red palace. It was a Moorish castle in the 14th century so I cannot wait to witness this. Another thing about Granada which I am pumped about...the pomegranates! Granada means pomegranate in Spanish and I hear that they grow on the trees as freely as oranges grow in Sevilla! Finally, Granada is known for their Arab baths and massages, so during some of our free time there, a bunch of the APIers booked a bath and massage!!! I should have some great stories after my weekend there :)

So since I love lists so much I figured I would do a list the best and worst things about Spain so far...

BEST THINGS

1. Alcohol here is ridiculously cheap...and drinking in public isnt frowned upon. 

2. Knowing that even though the weather sucks right now, it is so much better than the weather at home

3. Being able to go to another country for the weekend and its no big deal

4. The fact that I am getting college credit for being in another country for 4 months

5. I can never be in a bad mood here since everything is so beautiful 

6. Peacocks wander freely outside in parks

7. Everyone here is so in love, which is a little bit of a double edge sword. But it is precious to see

8. Not having to do any chores here. Our senora literally kicks us out of the kitchen when we try and help

9. I thoroughly enjoy the fact that Spain does not seem to know what homework is

10. The children here are so precious. I want to take one home with me

 

WORST THINGS

1. No one here appreciates hockey or even knows what it is for that matter

2. Everything being closed during siesta time from 2-5 and all day Sundays make it so annoying when I want to go shopping

3. They eat more carbs than ANYONE should 

4. Not being able to text whenever I want to

5. The awkward cat calls by the sketchy Spanish men for sure get old after a while

6. Being here makes me crave the most random American foods like peanut butter and salad dressing

7. The men dress so well here so it makes it very challenging to tell if they are in fact stylish or gay

8. Dryers are unheard of so air dried jeans really suck...oh and the fact that the neighbors can checkout your collection of lacy underwear is a real bonus

9. Spanish guys are so short, they make me feel like a giant...but a certain someone told me I really shouldn't be so judgemental

10. My bestest friends aren't here with me :(

My underwear are literally on display for the neighbors enjoyment

French Embassy

View of the city from the top of La Giralda

Casual bike ride with 25 American girls

Besitos

Whoever said Paris was the city of love clearly had never been to Sevilla. People on any given day are so in love, walking hand in hand and engaging in very public displays of affection...any and everywhere.Passing men carrying gorgeous bouquets of daises for their lucky significant others while walking to class just seems like a usual day. I'm glad the Spanish men know better than to just settle on roses. Here on this Día de San Valentín (Valentine's Day) it is no different. It is just like any other day except today has a name. I was walking home from my cooking class and I saw a woman get proposed to on the bridge right near my house. It was so cute, it was almost sickening. I knew there were places in Sevilla that I had to avoid, if I didn't want to be reminded that I did not have a boyfriend on this dia de los amores and the Plaza de Espana would for sure be that place. 


I am looking forward to tonight though. What better way to celebrate today than with an old fashioned beer pong tournament at the local American bar. I've gotta make the zoo proud :) I cant guarantee that this Valentine's Day will be as eventful as last years which was full of free skating at Mullins, Friendly's sundaes and wandering uptown, but I will give it a valiant effort. 

I'm off to go eat before heading out for the night....besitos xo (which is basically like slang for kisses and has become me and Kelly's new favorite word)

Oh The Little Things In Life...

So I have been in Spain now a little more than two weeks and I am finally settling down into a routine. The amazement of walking across the Puente de San Telmo everyday is starting to wear off and is just becoming another one of those things I do everyday. Being here as definitely made me appreciate the smaller things in life that I took for granted everyday at home. Not having internet at my apartment for the first week or so was beyond brutal. We instantly became friends with the local heladeria so we could use their free wifi (which is pronounced here as wee fee). Only being able to go on for an hour, every couple of days was rough and made me feel so disconnected from the world, plus the six hour time difference from home didn't help matters at all. Kelly and I were about to do just about anything for internet at our apartment at this point. We ended up finding a great deal on a router through a travel group just for study abroad kids here. Getting high speed internet at our house had to be the happiest day in the whole world for us. Its been two days now and I need to start weening myself off of Facebook and Skype again. Its comforting to know that I now have a constant connection to home if I ever need it. I feel like I might miss out on Spain if I focus so much on home, but my novel like inbox to my best friend does make me feel like we aren't 5000 miles apart and definitely gets me though the day. 

Since we don't have classes here on Fridays, I figured I would make the most of my day off and wander around the city. Kelly and I met up with a friend named Jessie. Jessie is one of my best friend Alex's good friend from Elon, her university. Since she has two weeks on me in Sevilla, she showed us her favorite plazas  and little side streets here. We wandered for hours, getting lost in the Parque de Maria Luisa and stumbling upon the Plaza de Espana. We were surrounded by Spanish couples so in love, taking row boat rides through a little river. When we couldn't take the Spanish PDA anymore, (the Spanish take PDA to a whole new level, most of the time I wonder if they realize they are in public) we went to a little kids park and acted like we were five again and spent so long swinging on the swings. It made me miss the 250 swing set...like a lot :( After that we had a nice walk back along the river, just as the sun was setting. It was gorgeous. I am so grateful to live in the beautiful city!

I literally spent all day yesterday telling Kelly how nothing in the world would make me happier than watching SportsCenter and finding somewhere with a chicken quesadilla and guacamole (I have no idea where this craving for quesadillas came from but I'll just go with it). It was like there was a higher power listening to my complaining because we went to this bar last night because they had cheap mixed drinks. Turns out it was a tex-mex restaurant so I knew we had scored on the quesadilla front. While everyone else was floored by the cheap mixed drink selections, I was in sheer heaven because my sports prayers had been answered. Not only would SportsCenter be on, but I found out that they would be broadcasting the Pittsburgh Penguins vs New York Rangers hockey game!!!! I am quite certain that I screamed when I found that out. I can hardly contain myself today with the anticipation of watching a hockey game again. I am going to go find my Sidney Crosby shirt and prance though the city with excitement now. I knew that shirt would come in handy here :)

I'll write again soon. Miss and love you all! xo

Plaza de Espana

Panoramic shot of the Plaza de Espana

Kelly and I on the swings :)

Living the dream

Escuela...Spanish Style

So I started classes this week. It had been almost two months since I had been in any sort of classes. Starting the spring semester in a cardigan and sunglasses is such a total 180 from the usual peacoats and uggs I have become so accustomed to wearing in Amherst until mid April. Getting all the emails from administration about yet another snow day or delayed start due to snow makes me appreciate the Sevillian weather that much more. 

I am now a student at the Universidad de Sevilla. I dont think I could ask for a more gorgeous school. It is an old tobacco factory, so it is just one building, but this place is massive. They have so many courtyards with beautiful fountains. So many students congregate there to smoke, which is gross but definitely part of the Spanish lifestyle. But apparently having a college campus is an American thing. Since the building is just one big square you would think that you would be able to easily find your away around. Yeah think again on that one. For example I have a class in Aula XXVII which happens to be on the first floor next to Aula XI and across from Aula 103, so go figure on that one. I can somehow manage to find my way around UMass but I can't find a simple classroom in one building. It will definitely take sometime getting used to it.

I originally wanted to take a joke semester and enroll in classes taught solely in English. When some of the classes I wanted to take got canceled, I decided to basically go big or go home and switch into all classes in Spanish. Never in my life have I ever taken a class in Spanish that wasn't all about learning the language. I only have two classes a day which is nice. On Mondays and Wednesdays I have classes from 11-1 and then 5-7. I have a class all about the Modern Arab World and how it influences the Spanish culture then at night I have one all about Spanish cooking and cuisine. As all my roommates are well aware, I should not be allowed within 10 feet of the kitchen. Hopefully I can bring to 250 Noho my newly acquired cooking skills but then again I can't make any promises. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, I have classes from 9-1. Kelly and I are taking this wicked interesting class all about Spain's Image Projected though Film. Its basically all about how everyone else views Spain based on Spanish cinema. The teacher is great so I think i am really going to love that class. Finally, I end the day with a thrilling Spanish Grammar issues class. As much as grammar sucks, it will be so useful to improve my Spanish. It is so challenging to take classes in a completely different language. I have never concentrated so hard in a class because I try so hard to comprehend exactly whats being said and then to take notes down in Spanish all while still trying to listen to the professor chatting away in Spanish.

But finishing classes early on Thursdays and having no classes on Fridays is convenient if I ever chose to travel on the weekends. Ive already booked two trips so far!! One is to London to see Sam the last weekend of March and it just so happens that Caroline is going to be there the same weekend....yeyyy 250A cuddlefest reunion <3 The next trip that I booked, I just did last night because I found a cheap flight, its to Barcelona!!! I'm going to Barca the second weekend in April. I cant wait to frolic in the Mediterranean with Lily :)

I couldn't be more in love with Spain then I am right now. Don't be surprised if I don't come home in May....but seriously, if I could round up tritown and Amherst and bring them to Sevilla, that would be beyond ideal. But its time for lunch now, which happens everyday at 230 but I'll try and blog again soon. xo

One of the courtyards at the universidad

Main entrance at school

Staircase in school

 

Bienvenidos a Sevilla!

After a thrilling 7 hour bus ride from Madrid to Sevilla, we finally made it!!! Our host mom Angeles was waiting for us near the universidad where the bus dropped us off. Much to our surprise, she didnt speak a word of English. Kelly and I had to work as a team basically to get whatever we wanted to say across. To top it all off, since both of our bags were too big to fit in the taxi, we had a fun 20 minute walk with all of our luggage to our new apartment. When we got to our new house for the next 4 months, we were greeted by our abuelita, which was Angeles' mom who lives with us. We were shown our room. Kelly and I share a room but we also have a common room and bathroom all to ourselves as well as an amazing terrace that looks out onto the street and has views of the rio. We live in such a good location. Its only a 15 minute walk to school and we get the pleasure of walking across the amazing river everyday. 

This city is absolutely gorgeous. There are literally orange trees everywhere as well as palm trees. The sun is always shinning and everyone is genuinely kind here. The weather is in the upper 60's to 70's everyday and its just FEBRUARY! I cant even imagine what May will bring. You wouldnt know it was this warm here though looking at the way that people dress. You would think that they are expecting a massive snow storm with the amount of pea coats and mittens I see. Our senora thinks we are crazy for thinking that its warm but I have to explain to her that this is our April weather.

My senora thinks I am such a picky eater, its actually kind of funny. Apparently it is unheard of for someone to not like potatoes and tomatoes. Of course it doesnt help that Kelly literally will eat anything! Oh well, guess I just have to try everything at least once. 

We are trying to be as intergrated into spanish life as much as we can and the  most obvious way is to partake in botellon. This is something that would never be allowed in America. It is basically a gathering of all the young people in Sevilla by the river to pregame and drink among national monuments. The police are totally ok with this as long as you arent destructive and loud! It blows my mind to even be allowed to buy alcohol since im not 21 but i am learning to love this! Alcohol is so cheap here and I am not lying when I say that wine is cheaper than water. The most expensive bottle of wine i have seen is 3 euros. I definitely will not complain!  

But I am off to siesta...I will write more about Sevilla and escuela later. Miss you all xo

Orange trees everywhere

and palm trees

Botellon with boxed wine :)

My terrace

My apartment right on the river

 

Wow, this is totally overdue!! Madrid and Toledo :)

Ok so this is going to be one massive first post so I apologize in advance. I just haven't had time to set one up until I was all settled so here goes. I'll divide this into different parts for now. I tried to write everything down in a word document so I could remember exactly how I was feeling at that specific time. I promise they all wont be this long!

January 28th-Departure Day

I usually dont have an issue being on my own for an extended amount of time. After I ran off to Pennsylvania for 12 weeks, I can handle myself pretty well. I knew the hardest part for me being abroad would be not having my cell phone and always being in constant contact with all of my friends. I would now have to deal with a six hour time difference and relying on skype to see my friends rather than a walk across the hall or a five minute drive down the street. It still didn't hit me until right before I walked onto the plane that I was seriously going to be living in Spain for the next 15 weeks. I would not know a soul there and everything there would be totally unfamiliar. In this strange way, I was oddly thrilling to me. I knew that my Spanish was no where near the level it should be at since I had not taken a Spanish class since last spring semester which was totally stupid on my part but ready or not, I was off to Espana.

 

This day started off so chaotic. Originally I was supposed to leave on saturday night, but of course being from Boston, we were in for a massive snow storm. I had gotten my flight changed to Friday morning so I would avoid all those issues or so I thought. On my way into Logan, I got a phone call saying that my flight to JFK had gotten cancelled leaving me a sheer panic. My dad manged to get me on a later flight that still got me to Madrid in time. So I had a fun 3 and a half hour flight to Miami of all places then an almost 9 hour flight to Madrid from there. 13 hours later and I was finally in Madrid and thank god so was my luggage. People must have thought there was something wrong with me because even in my extreme tiredness, I could not help but being the happiest girl in the whole world to finally be in Spain. 

Since I had gotten to Spain a day earlier than API (the travel company that I am studying abroad with) required, I ended up getting a hotel with my roommate in my home stay, Kelly. She met me at the hotel but her luggage was not nearly as lucky as mine and was still stuck in Dublin! We were both so jet lagged so we decided a nap was in order. We set our alarms for 2 hours and the next thing we noticed is that we slept literally all day and it was now 7pm. Oops! Oh well. We entertained ourselves with German american idol and CNN specials about ballet slippers and Beijing's secret trash problems. 

January 30th-Madrid with API kids

We met up with everyone the next morning at the airport and realized that out of our group of 52 kids there were only 5 guys. Odds were looking pretty good for them. We traveled to the hotel and everyone was busy chatting and discovering how small this world really is. Once at the hotel, while everyone was sleeping, Kelly and I decided to go discover Madrid. Everything in Spain is so much more beautiful than in the US. You can honestly feel the history everywhere when you are walking around. Madrid's post office is literally an old castle. When Kelly and I were walking around Puerta del Sol, the main square in Madrid, we were thurst into a flashmob and began to dance with the crazy Spaniards. It was so much fun and would usually never do that back at home. After that we ventured to El Corte Ingles, which is this department store that is like Sephora, Best Buy, Macys, Crate and Barrel and a grocery store all in one. We had to buy the essentials like a hair straightner and wine. I am literally floor at how cheap food and wine is here. I got two bottles of wine, a bag of clementines, a can of fanta, a red bull, a box of granola bars and a 2 liter bottle of water for 8 euros! 

The next day we went to el palacio real which is the royal palace in Madrid. Its honestly like the Spanish version of Versailles. We had a tour guide who spoke in rapid fire Spanish so I probably understood like 60% of what she was saying. What I understood was so interesting. After that it was time to embrace the Spanish cuisine. We had paella and tinto de verano for lunch. Paella is a rice dish with saffron and seafood and tinto is basically the drink of choice here in Spain. It is more or less red wine and fanta. So delicious!! Apparently the Spanish love Americans, especially American girls. Walking around, it doesnt matter where we go everyone always stops and stares. We became the main attraction at the local nightclub when we all decided to go out. We took over the dancefloor and people were literally taking pictures of us and high fiving the three guys that were out with us all. We left around 3am and that is early according to Spanish standards. There were flocks of people dying to get into the club when we were leaving which is so different from American standards. 

The next morning we went to El Escorial de San Lorenzo which was about an hour drive into the Spanish mountains. It was like a little Swiss town complete with snow capped mountains and all. El Escorial was the Austrian castle where the Hapsburgs lived when they ruled Spain. They had this crypt where every Spanish ruler was buried. It was so odd to be have all the Spanish royalty surrounding me at once. Once we got back from there, I literally had 5 minutes to say hi to my friend Alyssa from school who is spending the semester in Madrid. It was so nice to see a familiar face even if it was only for 5 minutes. Then is was off to the world famous El Museo Prado. I wish I appreciated art more because we saw the works of El Greco, Valasquez and Goya. For our last night, Kelly, Nora, Kim and I went to this cute little Spanish restaurant for dinner and our waiter was absolutely in love with us. Oh Joseul please come visit us in Sevilla!

Kerry, Randi, Amy and I at tapas

El Palacio Real

Paella and Tinto de Verano

Km 0. Where all distances in Spain are measured from

Mountains at Escorial

February 2nd-Toledo

Gorgeous Toledo in the background

  On our way to Sevilla we stopped off in the city of Toledo. It seriously has to be the most gorgeous city in all of Spain. Its located right in the valley of two mountains and there is a river flowing in it. The landscape is absolutely breathtaking. All of the roads there are so tiny and cobblestone. It made be realize why everyone in Europe drives small cars is because the roads are just so small.  All the hilly streets are really doing a number on my boots! Toledo is known as the city of three religions because there are Christian, Jewish and Muslim influences all around. The most important cathedral in all of Spain is located there. After touring the gorgeous cathedrals and temples we were off to Sevilla. Hello 7 hour bus ride!!!

Toledo from a far

Mountains and river

The Cathedral