Living in Spain

 Santander, Spain
I'm sorry for such the long delay, but I have not been able to access the internet from my own computer so adding pictures and staying motived has been very difficult...but that has all changed!!
So I have officially been here for a month and a half after this next week and I have to admit that I am getting to the point where I am ready to come home. BUT! I did get the best surprise this weekend!! 

So, Rick's parents live in Barcelona and sometime last week Rick text me saying that they were going to be stopping in Santander and would love to take me to dinner.  Of course, I was thrilled to not only get a real meal (other than my host mom's cooking :0( ) and spend some time with people I know.  The plan was to meet Friday afternoon at the hotel they were staying at and go from there.  When I arrived at the hotel I was waiting in the lobby sitting on a couch when I saw MY MOM and RICK walk around the corner!! I'm pretty sure my chin hit the floor when I first saw them.  I was so happy! My mom fooled me good! 

Things are going pretty good though.  I did however catch the flu last week that is going around here and had to miss 2 days of school.  School isn't too bad. Class from 9:30am-2pm Monday thru Thursday and the professors are pretty cool.  It's A LOT of left brain thinking speaking in Spanish for 4.5 hours but I have learned so much and my spanish is improving daily.  I've                    

posted some pictures of my room and the apartment I'm living in so you 

 can all see.            

The weekend of the 10th we had a four day weekend because Columbus Day was on Monday (obviously a big holiday here) so 2 friends and I decided to go to Dublin, Ireland that weekend. I was really disappointed with Dublin to be honest.  I guess I was expecting more green fields, lots of Irish dancing, and bag pipes which I saw none of the above! We did visit the Guinness brewery, Trinity University, the Jameson distillery, did some shopping, and St. Patrick's Cathedral.  This was also my first time staying in a hostel.  Not the best sleeping setting, but it's all about the experience, right?  

Living without the internet...

Ok, so things are going pretty well here and I have A LOT to catch you all up on but the past 3 weeks I have been living without the internet! For those of you who know me well enough, this is life threatening for me. My point however, is that because I have to walk 30 minutes to the University computer lab to use the internet I can´t upload any pictures to share with you all. I am SO bummed about this because there is so much that is going on here and I have already planed trips to Dublin, Paris, and London. I guess you all will have to be creative with your imaginations and just plan on getting together when I return to see all the pictures!

The beginning of the longest trip EVER!!

So our last day in Barcelona we did not plan very well...It was pretty much a half day in Barcelona because our plan was to go to Valencia, however we did not buy a train ticket in advance so when we arrived at the train station at 10:30am hoping to catch the 12:30pm train we were stuck in the station for 4 hours because it was sold out and the next train was at 2:30pm. Yeah, not fun!! Anyways, we finally made it to Valencia where my dad decided to rent a car and drive the rest of the trip (do you see where this is going...). 

In addition to the car we rented a navigation system which is just as helpful as a boat that doesn't float! So after a 3.5 hour train ride and thank goodness a 15 minute drive to our hotel we were finally settled. 

It was a really cute hotel right on the beach but let me remind you that we arrived around 6:30pm so the day was pretty much gone and a lot of restaurants were closed for "siesta" and wouldn't open again till about 9pm. So we decided to walk along the beach for awhile which was nice, BUT it was night time and NO ONE else was out there and just kinda out of place. Really what I'm trying to get to is that going to Valencia was a complete waste of a day and a little bitter about it...

But here are a few things I have learned about Spain in general:

1. Taxi's think they own the streets

2. Motorcycles/scooters are the best and easiest, yet most dangerous, way to get around

3. There are NO speed limits when driving through the city so ALWAYS look both ways before crossing the street

4. The napkins here are like tissue paper

5. Almost everything closes from about 2:30/3-9 for "siesta" which leaves almost nothing to do but wonder around town or nap

6. When visiting Spain you eat A LOT and walk A LOT and then eat some more

7. You do not really leave tips here, like maybe 5% if the service was spectacular 

(more to come with pictures)

~Barcelona~

Ok, I have A LOT of catching up to do (because I've basically been in a car the last 4 days) so I will do my best not to leave out important parts...

So Barcelona was AMAZING!! I spent 3 days here which is the longest amount of time I have been in any city in Spain and I'm glad I did. For those of you who love the city like I do, you would love Barcelona even more.

From Madrid we took the train to Barcelona where  we spent the rest of the day walking around and getting to know the city. That evening we walked to the main street "La Rambla" which the closest thing I can relate it to is like a much smaller version of Saturday Market down just one long street. Very good place to people watch! Also, all along the street there are people who dress up as VERY random characters and do different things for money. This was one guy we saw.

At the end of "La Rambla" you reach the port where we walked along the water and ate dinner at nearby restaurant. 

The next day we toured "La Sagrada Familia." This monument and the story behind it is by far spectacular! "La Sagrada Familia" is a massive Roman Catholic cathedral under construction that began in 1882 and is estimated to be completed in 2026! The original design was by a man names Antoni Gaudi (who, if you ask Rick & I, did a little too much crack in his day). But the detail and beauty of this cathedral leaves one speechless because there is SO much to look at and depict. Seriously Google this one! My dad and I actually waited in a line for an hour and a half to go to the top of a tower and see the city sky line. It was worth the entire 2 minutes we were up there and the 15 minute walk down the continuous spiral stair case...

After the cathedral we visited Park Guell where Gaudi's estate is located. Here there are acres and acres of all these creative ideas Gaudi had with tile and rocks and plants. It was here that I realized this man was on a whole 'nother level than the rest of us.

Our last night there we went to "Barceloneta" (just a location in Barcelona near the port) and had a seafood dinner with plenty of Sangria!

Our third day was cut short seeing as we hadn't bought tickets for the train in advance to Valencia. So we headed to the station around 10:30am hoping to catch the 12:30pm train but it was sold out...we were then forced to sit in the station for 4 hours waiting for the 2:30pm train :0(

MaDRid!

Can I first just say how much I LOVE it here! So all of you who said I may not come back...

I only got to spend one day in Madrid due to some horrible planning (not on my part) but I did get to see a lot and I will most likely go back for a weekend once school starts.

The hotels are rather interesting. First, the elevators are tiny! They can barely fit 5 people in them. All of the beds are very hard and if you do not request "matrimonio" the beds are set in 2's like the picture shown.  They are very energy efficient though because in order for the power in the room to work the room key has to be placed in a socket. Pretty clever! 

Our hotel was located right in the center of the Puerta del Sol where there were tons of shops and cafes. It was a perfect location. We also visited La Plaza Mayor which is the central plaza of the city. The plaza has been the scene of many events including markets, bullfighting, soccer games, even public executions during the Spanish Inquistion. (who knew this was going to be a history lesson right...)

We also visited Palacio Real "The Royal Palace" of the King of Spain. Juan Carlos and the royal family do not actually reside in this palace but it is still used for state occasions.

Lastly, we visited the Jardines del Buen Retiro. This place was HUGE (350 acres to be exact) and is the main park in Madrid!! Located here is a Crystal Palace that is beautiful. 

Other than that, we just walked A LOT and enjoyed several glasses of sangria while resting at the nearest cafe. 

Barcelona is next....

P.S. Mom and Rick, we should really look into investing in an european toilet/sink. I know that's not correct but I having a brain fart thinking of the name...help a girl out here!

*SPAIN*

So after a long 9 hour flight to Germany and another (what seemed long) 3 hour flight to Madrid I have finally made it to Spain!! There is SOOO much that I have to share but not enough time right now. I promise this post will be followed by one this is much more informative (and with pictures). 

Love and miss you all!

*Summer Recap*

I cannot believe how quickly this summer has gone by! I have not talked to many of, and my sincere apologizes, you so here is a quick summary...I completed an internship with Peter Jacobsen Sports in the beginning of August and had a blast. With this internship I worked on operations for the Jeld-Wen Tradition and lived in Sunriver, Oregon for a majority of the summer, or should I say the Crosswater Golf Club. I really had a good time participating in this event and learned a lot not only about golf but about this work "field" itself. Thanks Ya'll!!!

When I finally made it back home Paige, her brothers and myself drove to the Gorge and camped for the weekend to see Dave Matthew's Band. This was one of the most amazing venues I have ever experienced! Anyone who has not participated is truly missing out! GO! Though the trip had its up's there were definitely its down's...like the 6 hour drive to the Gorge, Paige's car over heating, Quincy being a whiner in the back seat, and me getting food poisoning while camping with 

                                                                 

only port-a-potties! But, there were far more good memories then bad that's for sure.

                                             

Additionally, I think I had the best birthday this year than any I can actually remember. Being home in Portland allowed most of my closest friends to come out and celebrate with me where the last four years I have already been back at school at this point. I cant believe I'm 23! The festivities started with Allie and I driving to Eugene to watch U of O play USU. Good times! That night I had a BBQ with some family and after went out on the town in Portland with some friends. 

(Disclaimer: Partaking in activities such as dancing, drinking, socializing, or breathing at the club titled "Dirty" may lead to hepatitis, AIDS, rape, and possibly never wanting to travel to Asia) 

But more importantly, I cant believe I leave in 6 DAYS!! I am really excited right now. No I am not packed yet! But, the whole idea of being in a different countries for 3 months is kind of starting to hit me...