San Sebastian, Spain

The group at the top of Mount Igeldo

Boats in the San Sebastian harbor

This weekend was our first free weekend because it was El Dia de Santo Tomas--thank you Saint Thomas! We didn't have any activities to go to this Friday as a class, so a group of 13 of us went to San Sebastian, a gorgeous town in Northern Spain (about 10-15 minutes away from France).  It was the best weekend yet, in Spain.

We departed bright and early Friday morning for the train station to take our 4 1/2 hour train ride to San Sebastian. It was my first train experience and I really liked it! I think a tall person created the seat spacing for trains because I actually had extra leg room (which never happens).  So we got to San Sebastian around 1:30 p.m. and walked about 15 minutes to our hostel: Umore Ona Bi. It was a great place. Great location, clean, and cheap..the way us college kids like it! After getting all unpacked and settled in, the group headed off to do some exploring.  We walked along the boardwalk and admired La Bahia de La Concha (Conch Bay) and La Playa de La Concha (Conch Beach). It was the cleanest water I have ever seen! We then made our way to the San Sebastian Aquarium which was a really good time. Some of the group got to touch an octopus in the hands on tank!

My roomies Friday night!

After the Aquarium we went back to our hostel for a little siesta. After resting up, we got ready and went out for some pixtos (Spanish tapas--appetizers). They were great! I had a cheese ball thingy (don't remember the name), some shrimp, and a vegetable-filled appetizer).  After getting full off of pixtos, we came back to our humble abode and got ready for the night.  Going out in San Sebastian is not as wild and crazy as Segovia or Madrid is (which is fine by me).  I think it is because more old people live there. We tried to find some bars and discotecas, but didn't have any luck. We ended up hanging out at an Irish pub for about an hour and then calling it a night.

"Pixtos"

Saturday we slept in a little big and then me, Alexa, Katie, Kim, Kalleah, and Amy hit the shops! There were a lot of great shops with a lot of awesome deals. Needless to say, it was a successful shopping day! After shopping, we all met to have a nice authentic San Sebastian meal. My stomach had been hurting the past couple days so I didn't get too adventurous. We had three courses: first course was a nice garden salad for me (others had spaghetti or beans), second course was chicken and fries (others had fish, calamari, or lamb), and then for dessert we all had flan (which was way too eggy for my taste--but I have had good flan before).  It felt good to have a nice meal. 

What a piece of chicken, huh?--Dinner fit for a queen

Saturday afternoon, we walked the beach to the other side of San Sebastian and took a funicular (trolly-like thing) up Mount Igueldo to an amusement park! We saw the greatest views and got to do bumper-cars for a euro :).  The park closed at 7 p.m. so we took the funicular back down.  It had started raining and we got caught in it without umbrellas.  So we started walking the beach back and then at  the closest part of the beach to our hostel, we went and JUMPED IN! When in San Sebastian, right? It was 6 degrees celsius and all the Spaniards that were there looked at us like we were crazy--I mean, who wouldn't think that 8 American girls in bikinis running on the beach, in the rain, and jumping into La Bahia de La Concha wouldn't be wierd?  Walking back to our hostel in our towels was even funnier, but completely worth it!

Playa de La Concha (where we jumped in!)

Me on top of Mount Igueldo (where the amusement park was)



View from the top of Mount Igueldo



We stayed in for the rest of the night and got some good sleep.

Sunday, we woke up and had to check out of our hostel by 11 a.m. So we got up, went to La Pasteleria (Pastry Shop) and I got a delicious chocolate covered croissant for breakfast.  Then, a couple of us went to mass at the beautiful Iglesia de Santa Maria (St. Mary's Church). It was absolutely gorgeous. After that, some of the group hiked up Mount Urgull to see "La Estatua del Sagrado Corazon" (A big Jesus statue).  I have never been so excited to see Jesus before after that hike! Again, the views were breath-taking.



La Iglesia de Santa Maria (went to church here)



After the hike, we went for some pizza, and by the time we got done we had to catch our train back to Segovia.

Overall, San Sebastian was a fabulous place to spend my first free weekend in Spain.  We had some great adventures!  Oh, and I came back to snow in Segovia--haha.

Mount Urgell- JESUS statue!

Madrid, you need to learn a thing or two about "Minnesota Nice"

La Plaza Mayor

This past weekend, our group went on our first excursion. Destination: Madrid.  We left around 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning and took the public bus from Segovia to Madrid.  Once we get to Madrid, we went on a "walking tour" on the way to our hotel.  Madrid is huge, and all the buildings are so classy looking.  My favorite place was La Plaza Mayor, although it was a little creepy because there were some odd people walking around (examples: man making monkey noises, guy making huge bubbles, and various mascots walking around in full costume).



Big bubbles-reminded me of my Grandma :)



After walking about a million miles, we finally got to our hotel.  I roomed with Amy and Jenny! The hotel was really nice and we had a spacious room.  We all ate the bocadillos (lunch sandwiches) that our parents made us for the trip and then took a little siesta.  After resting up, we went to El Prado--one of Madrid's most famous museums and spent about two hours admiring all the artwork of Ribera, Velazquez, and Murillo. 

All of us girls!

After the museum some of us girls went out to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe for Katee's 21st birthday.  A Cobb Salad never tasted so good :).  After that, all of us girls walked home together. It was around 10:30 p.m. when we left and we didn't get home til around 11-11:15 because our hotel was on the other side of Madrid. 

We all got ready and then we went out to experience Madrid night life. Our first stop was an Irish pub called "Dubliners" which was really fun. After that we went to "O'Connels" to dance a little. By that time it was around 3 a.m. and we had to wake up for breakfast at 9 the next morning, so a group of us headed back, got home around 3:30. 

Sunday, aka the worst day ever.  Sunday we woke up and had a nice breakfast and headed out around 11 a.m. to go to "La Reina Sofia" (another museum full of modern art). It was really cool, but we were all pretty tired from staying out the night before.  However, seeing Dali and Picasso was AMAZING.

After the museum we were all so hungry so we went to McDonald's (naturally).  I had a nice meal, but it was super packed in there, luckily we all found tables.  There were many new experiences while eating McDonalds.  First of all, there was a beggar going from table to table shaking her cup and asking for money, which was sad and I felt pity for her, but if we gave her anything, she would have never left us alone. Then, while we were eating, this Spanish lady walked by us and told us in Spanish to watch our bags because there were some sketchy people in the restaurant.  So all of us girls quick grabbed our bags kinda starting to freak out. We just wanted to get out of there. So we all got  up and went to the table where the rest of our group was, and one of the guys realizes that his backpack is missing..his backpack containing his computer and all copies of passport, credit cards, etc.  That is when we all started freaking out.  I don't think I have ever felt so helpless in my life.  There was nothing we could do about it, the backpack was gone.

This was the biggest culture shock I have had since getting here. I have always been hyper-sensitive about guarding my purse and belongings when I am out and about here, and have been told countless times that Madrid is where all the robbers and pick-pocketers are, but to actually have one of my friends experience it was so scary and sad.  I think all of us were sick to our stomachs.  Where is the Minnesota Nice in Madrid?? It obviously doesn't exist there, which left me with a bad taste in my mouth and a bad last impression.  I am very unlikely to return there again if I can help it. 

So after that experience, we all just wanted to get the heck out of Madrid.  So we took the metro to the bus station and left for Segovia. After getting home and recooperating, I ended up going out to a bar to watch the Packers v. Bears game. It was a really great night and made me feel a lot better.  Nothing like some good friends, a Diet Coke, and some American football to cheer a girl up :).

If anything, Madrid definitely made our group closer and it was a wake up call letting us know to NEVER let our guard down.  I know this type of thing can happen anywhere in the world, but it's a shame it had to happen on our first excursion, because it really ruined an otherwise great city for me.

Sittin in the Library

It is back to the grind on this gloomy Monday.  It is funny because my host parents and the copy lady at the local copy center commented about the crummy weather today, but I really can't complain about 50 degrees and no snow!

This weekend was pretty fun! Saturday I slept in and went shopping once again. The best part of Saturday night was going to "Metropolis" (a local bar) and watching the Packers play (Dad & Uncles--please don't give me crap).  The game started at 2 a.m. in Spain so we didn't get home til 5:30 a.m. Which is fine because that is a typical time to come in on a Friday and Saturday night in Spain. Crazy, I know.

I slept in til around 12:15 on Sunday and then went to my first Catholic mass in Spain at the Church of Saint Eulalia.  It was such a great experience and something I really needed! The church was mostly filled with older people. All the women had on these huge fur coats (that might be my next purchase..haha). The rest of Sunday was filled with napping, homework, trying paella (rice, saffron, and seafood dish), watching "Monster in Law" with my sister and a soccer game with my parents!

Today was a typical Monday. I had my Myths and Legends class with Juanjo, went home for lunch, and came back to school to do a little homework in the library!

Hasta luego!

Alcazar and Other New Experiences

Yesterday we had our first mini-excursion to Alcazar, a castle in Segovia which was Walt Disney's inspiration for the Cinderella Castle in Disney World! It was amazing! We toured all the rooms, including the royal dining room, bed-chambers, and climbing up the stairs from hell to reach the top of the castle and see the most beautiful view of Segovia. 

Some of the group on top of Alcazar

After that, some of us went to Valor (a Chocolate Place)--yes, I am Lorraine Cavanaugh's granddaughter (love you Grandma)--and had some churros with chocolate! We met Jesus, the owner, who is very good friends with one of my Spanish professors back at St. Ben's. 

After the chocolateria, we went to the art exhibition of Christian (the guy who matches us with our host family and is also the brother of my Art and Culture prof, Pilar). It was so cool and fancy schmancy.  Then, I came home and all my family members were getting ready to go out for the night! I had a tortilla espanola for dinner (eggs, potatos, and cheese all formed into a tortilla shape)..ahh it was delicious!

After that, we went to our favorite bar, Oso Blanco, to hang out with our favorite bartender, Jesus. We got to know the other group from the U.S. that is also studying here in Segovia!!

This morning I slept in, woke up and went to Dicano, a local cafe, to work on some homework..yes, I actually have to study while I am here. Came back and had lunch with my family! Now I am off to go explore some more! It has been nice and sunny here for the last three days, Minnesotans BE JEALOUS :)



Adios

View from the top of the castle! So beautiful

Alexa, John & Me

Back to School, Back to School

Today was the first day of classes! My school, Instituto de Empresas (IE), is SO COOL! It's a modern school with all sorts of history. Yesterday we got a tour from one of my profs (His name is Juanjo). 

Juanjo giving us a tour of IE

I am lucky and start class everyday at 11 a.m., so I started the day of with Linguistics class with my professor, Carolina.  After that I had Brian's (the program director's) study abroad seminar class.  Then I went home for lunch and watched a little basketball and a telenovela (soap opera) on t.v. with my brother.

Then I studied for a little and went back for an art and culture class at 4:30 with Pilar!

Class ended at 6 and Amy, Noah, Colin and I found a perfect study spot in our school's basement. We even got to hook up our computers to a stereo they had down there to listen to the European Top 40! I just got home and met one of my host mom's sisters and her daughter!

It was rainy again today, but it's not like it matters because we walk everywhere, regardless. I think I might have legs of steel when I get back to Minnesota!  Anyways, it's dinner time..then a little more homework and tapas (appetizer/snacky things) tonite with the gang!  

Exploring

Today our group had an orientation session to get to know the city a little better. We met at 11 and our director took us to a bunch of very cool places around Segovia: La Plaza Mayor, El Catedral, Instituto de Empresas (my university), etc. I just can't get over how much character these buildings have!

El Catedral de Segovia (Cathedral)

After our orientation session, a small group of us went for a little walk on the path that follows El Rio Eresma (a river). This is where we saw El Alcazar (a popular castle in Spain) and ended up at El Catedral in La Plaza Mayor. It was a very nice day of exploration. It was sunny here today and I got pretty hot on the walk so I took off my jacket--of course the group of Minnesotans are the random people in short sleeves in 50 degree weather :).

El Alcazar (Castle in Segovia)

I got home at three and had lunch with my family.  After lunch we watched La Bella y El Bestia (Beauty and the Beast) and then I took a little siesta! A little later I went to "La Colonial" (a local coffee shop) to meet up with the group and use their free Wifi. I tried "cafe con leche" (coffee with milk) and "un berlina" (donut).  The coffee was great, especially since I don't normally like it and the donut was the best I have ever had! 

It started to rain here this afternoon. I went home around eight and watched the Real Madrid v. Villarreal soccer game! Can't wait to go to an actual "partido de fútbol" (football game).  After dinner I showed my host mom and dad pictures of the Minnesota snow. Goll, I do not miss the cold weather one bit!

Where I will be living for the next four months!

Estamos en Segovia (We are in Spain!!)

View from on top of the Aqueduct

Segovia's famous Aqueduct

After our two hour flight to Philadelphia,7 hour flight to Madrid, and hour bus ride to Segovia, we are finally here!  What a day of traveling. Segovia is amazing! It is so beautiful. All the buildings have so much character. I love it! Today I moved into my house! Everything is so nice. My family is great. I have three siblings who are around my age: 2 brothers and a sister. We had a nice family lunch around 3 and then I hit up the stores with some of the girls in my group. They have "rebajas" (sales) going on right now. I didn't have any luck!  Now it's siesta time. Adios!  

The Adventure Begins

In t-minus 37 hours I will be boarding a plane and beginning my adventure to Segovia, Spain.  Segovia is a small town about an hour or so northwest of Madrid. It boasts a population of around 55,000.  I will be spending the whole semester there. 4 months. From January 6 to mid-April I will be taking 16 credits worth of classes to go towards my Spanish major. Then, for about two to three weeks after that I will be traveling throughout Europe.  I'm so excited to begin this experience with a great group of Johnnies and Bennies!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover"--Mark Twain

And so it begins...