Cordoba......Granada.....1 crazy week

This last week was CRAZY busy. On monday I was asked to accompany a school field trip to Cordoba with 45 students and 4 other teachers. It was an addition that it came with FREE housing, transportation, visits to La Mezquita y Medina Azahara (arabic city ruines from 940 a.d) food and drinks. Not bad, eh? It was so much fun to travel with them. The field trip was for the music class who was having a competition near Cordoba. We had that on the first day and then the rest of the time was just seeing and enjoying the city. We stayed one night and came back the late the next day.

Then, on friday, I had to give a mini-concert for the music class. The music teacher made me sing on the bus and then she made me promise to sing in class. It was hilarious.

Then, after school on friday we road triped it to Granada. I had been to Granada with my parents but it had been raining and very cold. This time it was perfect weather and I got to see parts of the city I had never seen before and with people who know the city. The best way to travel. We spent two nights in Granada and had an amazing time. Granada is beautiful because it is found at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and it also possesses one of the most beautiful gardens known to man, La Alhambra. It is the only place to ski in southern spain and still has loads of snow on it. It was gorgeous.

This is the "teteria" - the tea neighborhood, HA. It is an old arabic neighborhood that now how has tea restaurants all over the place. It's some good tea!!

While driving we came upon a sweet run down house, so we snapped some pictures. Here's some sassy pictures, yikes!

Here's a good view for you. Those are all olive orchards....olive country!! Too bad I hate olives, ehhh.

Church Conference

After the Danes had left on thursday of Semana Santa I headed off to Sevilla. In Sevilla my church reunited with 2 other churches. If you didn't know, my church in El Puerto has maybe 6 -7 people in it SO, I'm sure you can understand my excitement to be with a larger group of believers. It was absolutely amazing. The main speaker was from England and he spoke in English with a translator. This was perfect for me because I understand all that he said but also got to hear the translation. At first it was really weird because I didn't know anywho but the people in my church. I got to stay in a house of a mother and her two daughters. Her daughters were around my age and we hit it off right away. They introduced me to their friends and we made some good relationships. They showed me around Sevilla and took me to try some tapas (little plates). It was such a blessing to be with believers my age. Not having that kind of fellowship has really been hard for me. It makes such a difference in a persons faith when they have a community around them holding them accountable. I love it and miss that. I have realized how blessed I am with the friends that God has given me and the relationships we have. I LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Here is the Plaza de Espana in Sevilla at night. Isn't is gorgeous.

Here are some of the girls that I got to know. They were hilarious and I am definitely going to make a trip back to Sevilla to see them and go to their church. They also want to make a trip down south to visit me. God is good.

Semana Santa

My Semana Santa was spent with two Danes. My Danish exchange students from my senior year, Christina, and her brother. Christina and I are basically sisters. When she came to live with me 5 years ago we hit it off and have been like family ever since. David, her brother, and Christina met up with me in Madrid. We spent 3 days in Madrid sightseeing, watching flamenco, shopping, taking lots of pictures, EATING, and relaxing. We all travel the same way so it worked out perfectly. Getting our Starbucks...sooo good!

The crystal house in Retiro Park in Madrid.

We went to a bullfight in Madrid...it was cool to see but SUPER sad because they kill the bulls by stabbing long swords into them...sad.

This is us being discusted by the killing of the bulls....mrrrr.

On Monday, we rented a car and started our 7 hour trip from Madrid to my town. However, along the way we stopped by two towns, Caceres, which is one of the most well reserved medieval towns in Europe, and Merida, a small town where Roman architecture and ruins are around every corner. It was an amazing road trip. Even the last part as we were about an hour away from my town. We were driving on a side road through the country and the sun was setting. It was gorgeous as the blue sky, the colors of the sunset, and the green of the countryside were so distinct. Gorgeous!!!

Christina and I in Merida and roman ruins behind us.

Once in my town, we spent three days relaxing, enjoying the sun, seeing the sights, visiting Cadiz (the oldest town in Europe), eating GOOD tapas (small plates), and enjoying our company. It was awesome!! I hope I get the opportunity to travel with those two again.

These our processions for Semana Santa. The people dress like that and hold candles as they walk the streets.

Barcelona

Two weekends ago I took a quick trip to Barcelona. I had a friend, Angie Florence, who I played volleyball with at Whitworth, had decided to do a spring break trip through parts of Europe. She decided to head down to Barcelona and we made plans to meet up there. I arrived early saturday morning and had to spend the rest of the day alone sightseeing. Not a problem at all but when I arrived it just happened to be raining and I was without an umbrella and I was wearing the worst shoes possible. I forget they had a hole at the bottom so 15 minutes later, my socks/my little footies were sopping wet. Not fun!! I went the rest of the day walking around Barcelona in a little puddle in my shoe, very pleasant. I decided to screw sightseeing but go to the mall to search for a new pair of shoes...instead I found myself pitying myself and buying a muffin and nice Carmel Macciato at Starbucks, haha. This is luxary anytime I find a city with Starbucks, ha, sad.

The next day, Angela and he boyfriend, Josh, arrived at about 4 o´clock. It was SOOOO good to see them. They were the first peeps that I had seen from home other than my parents. It was so nice to spend time with people who are familiar. We quickly set out and saw the famous cathedral made by Antonio Guadi, La Sagrada Familia. It wasn´t my favorite style of cathedral, but it got the unique award. We spend the rest of the day seeing sights and walking around.

My last day, we decided to rent some bikes and head up to one of the most famous parks, Parque Guell. It was a long bike ride but so fun to see the town and sights we wouldn´t have seen otherwise. The park was amazing. It reminded me of candyland and was designed also by Antonio Gaudi. He definitely has a unique style. We spent a while there and then it was time for me to go. Altogether we only spend about 24 hours together but it was well worth it. Fresh of breath air. I am so glad Angie made the effort to come to Spain, it was a blast. Thanks Ang!!!

La Sagrada Familia

Parque Guell

Our sweet sassy bike ride across town.