Seeya Sevilla!

The last week in Sevilla I was in denial, not realizing that this was actually the end, that I had to say good-bye to dear friends and teachers whether I wanted to or not.  I'm more fond of saying "See you later" than "Goodbye."  Hannah and I went to our favorite spots one last time.  

     I studied by the river to even out my tan.  A policeman rode up to warn me about my purse, that a woman just like me got mugged the other day... that was comforting.  I read my notes for the final exam and watched ego-driven boys jump off the 30 foot tall Puente de Triana bridge.  Most of the time though I read a book called "Me Talk Pretty One Day" (it's funny for a certain humor).  

   Meals were filled with final laughs and jokes with José  and Amparo.  We found a lock on the bridge that had "Siempre Juntos  Jose y Ampy."  The locks are littered across the bridges.  Lovers write their names and a promise, lock it to a bridge or another lock and throw the keys away to symbolize the bond they have.  I bought locks for my sister and parents!

   Hung out with Kike one last time, we went to an Alcazar garden concert with a Spanish guitar player.  We then went out for churros con chocolate, which I could not possibly finish at midnight.  I got sad saying goodbye to my real Spanish friend.

   The exam was intense, but went well.  We had to describe 5 photos of something we had studied - art or architecture.  I will miss that class a lot; Carmen was a phenomenal, interactive teacher.  

   After the exam we all went out for Hagen Daas - the school was paying so I got an 8 euro waffle with ice cream and summer fruit!  We hung out for a little while, then it was off to switch gears and pack for flying out.  I ended up sending a bag by ground transport because it was too heavy for a flight.  I'm hoping to distribute things amongst my family members for the plane ride to the states.  If in doubt, people, pack light!!!

   Hannah and I watched the Office that day and prepared our gifts for Jose y Amparo.  Hannah drew a riverside view of Seville.  I bought them Coffee, air freshener for after we leave, and DIET chocolate for Amparo to treat herself.  

   I saw Hannah off to her taxi at 4am the next morning and I left in a taxi at 12pm that day.  I started to tear up bad when I kissed my parents goodbye.  They said I have a room in Seville for whenever I come back!  I will surely be back...

I met my family in Barcelona and we're now in Vic, Catalonia.  Gotta go - the Spain trip is far from over!

4th of July Spanish Version

Hola a todos!  I hope your 4th of July was filled with friends and fireworks.  Mine was a bit of a different story.  

Saturday: Hannah and I caught a 60 person bus to

Matalascañas beach in the South of Spain for the day.  Every seat was filled, roads were packed, it took 2 hours with traffic to get to the coast.  We finally arrived at the windy, lush, very popular beach.  There is a massive 40 foot tall rock protruding from the ocean about 20 yards from shore that used to be a naval blockade; now it serves for a wonderful jumping platform for the local daredevils.  One of the brave souls who jumped off (and got scraped up) was an American graduate from UT named Ryan.  He and his friend Paul were traveling throughout Europe and they spent the patriotic day with us American girls (Maycee and Deanna joined us later).  The guys were really nice and we had incredibly encouraging conversations about the Lord and what great things came from the 80's!  There is a common theme with the people we befriend here:  1) American boys   2) College graduates

  So I put on 60 sunscreen that morning, and sweated some of it off on the 30 minute walk to the bus station.  Then it washed off a bit in the chilly Atlantic water.  All this to say I left that day looking like a spotted tomato!  I'm infamous for uneven tans with my fair skin and determination to develop a tolerance for the sun.  

   Friday:  backing up a bit.  I decided to not go to Salamanca on this last travel weekend b/c I only had a week to book hotels, trains, and coordinate meeting up with friends from Auburn, who would have arrived the weekend I visited.  Too many logistics convinced me to just chill in Seville this last weekend.  So Friday was a free day and Hannah and I took full advantage of it.  We enjoyed a full morning of taking advantage of the July sales at our favorite stores: MANGO, Stradivarius, H&M, and Sfera.   After a filling lunch and quick siesta, we walked to the Centro in search of the Arab Bath house.   Tucked away in an intimate alley in the Jewish quarter of Barrio Santa Cruz lies an original Arab bath that is a perfect break from the monotonous hot days of Sevillian summers.

    We confirmed our reservations for a 32 euro 1.5hrs of bath-hopping and a 15 minute massage.  While waiting I naturally struck up conversation with an Irish woman named Kera who had just spent some time with her boyfriend in Portugal.  She was in Seville for a  night before meeting her friend on Malaga's Mediterranean coast for the weekend.  She did not know much Spanish, so she stayed close to us throughout most of the process.  We all put on blue booties over our shoes and entered the dressing rooms to change into our swimsuits.  Fortunately nobody went "all-natural" that afternoon.  

    We started our on the bottom floor in the warm salt bath.  Then tried the sauna, but I felt like my face was going to melt off!  Then it was off to the jet pool.  There were jets that shot at your back, legs, and even a seat with bubbles coming up the bottom.  I laughed a lot of the time we were in there.  On our way to the next pool sequence we three girls took  a tea time break in the dimly lit salon with arabic designs gracing the room from floor to ceiling.  The next room consisted of a medium temperature pool that you had to wade through to reach the hot tub and ice cold tub.  I cannot describe the intensity when you sit in the hot tub for 10 minutes and then dive into that cold pool - BRRRRR!  Kera got a kick out of our girlish excitement to be so pampered for the day.

   After frolicking in the baths, it was off to the massage (my favorite part!).  Mind you, Hannah had NEVER experienced anything like this.  We were ushered into the dark room, greeted by a man and woman masseuse.  I went in first and the woman  patted the bed, so I went to her; not thinking how awkward Hannah would get having the man masseuse.  She was so funny afterwards, worried what her boyfriend would think!  I tried to explain that it was his job, and nothing personal...but she still flipped out.  There's nothing like a bit of pampering at the end of a long trip to feel back to normal again.

   After the Arab baths we hung out and got a snack in the Centro.  Hannah wrote in her journal and I walked around a bit.  We had a concert in the Alcazar royal gardens that night at 10:15 and were waiting to meet up with Joel at 9:15pm.  That night must have been the official "Let's get married" weekend because Hannah and I saw at least 5 brides and grooms followed by photographers and horse carriages.  A violinist played Cannons on the street corner for tips.  Bell towers joined in the celebrations and the night carried a bit of magic with it.  Little kids were wide-eyed with excitement as well and we laughed at their shrieks to the horses.  

   How often do you go to a live acoustic concert in the royal gardens?  Much less for 4 euros?!!!  Hannah, Joel and I went to the back entrance and were greeted with a thick program and 20 song CD of summer night performers.  At dusk the gardens were so romantic, regal peacocks called to one another from atop 15th century old walls, swarms of ducks guided their chicks into nearby ponds, anticipation for the concert mounted.  The pace of life slowed down as the temperature cooled and the seats filled with eager locals.  Manuel Iman was the artist whose fingers on the classical guitar moved with such ease and created stores of sound.  Each song correlated to a plaza that affected his youth.  He also surprised us with some American classics like "Sweet Home Chicago," "Moon River," and "Dancing Cheek to Cheek."  The last one he pronounced "sheek tu sheek" ;)  Hannah and I were overjoyed with it all.  I got a bit teary the first song when it sounded a bit like how my dad plays guitar.  I will forever love the acoustic because of him and my brother.  What a beautiful night in Spain under the stars amidst wise palm trees and ancient  castle walls.