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Bennie Pride at the Segovia Half Marathon

I can officially check running a half marathon in a foreign country off my bucket list.  Today, March 27th, 2011 I, along with 8 other Bennies and Johnnies took part in the 5th annual Segovian Half Marathon. We all signed up about a month ago and have been working our butts off (or hardly working) training.  I trained with Alexa and Michelle joined us the last couple weeks of training.  All I can say is that Spain knows how to put on a half marathon.  As representatives for our university here, we got a bunch of equipment.  We got a dry-fit t-shirt with "IE University" (our school) on the front to wear for race day along with the shorts they gave us.  We got a cotton t-shirt from IE, too. Then from the sponsors of the marathon, we got another dry-fit t-shirt, a windbreaker zip-up, and a sweat rag.  I definitely got my 18 euros worth from this.

Parachuter!

On marathon day, aka this morning, we all met and took a picture for the university paper.  Then we just hung out til half marathon time and pumped each other up! It was cloudy and around 50 degrees with a 60% chance of rain.  The whole race had bipolar weather with rain, then sun, then just clouds. 

The Segovians put on quite a show.  Since we have a military academy in town they had a plane fly over Segovia and parachuters jumped out and landed right in front of the aqueduct.  When we got to the starting line, all of us were really pumped, but off course it started raining.  The rain didn't last too long.  It was pretty spotty all day.  The course is said to be one of the hardest that Spain has to offer with three major hills which reach max's of 1032 meters high, 1003 meters and 1065 meters.  Woofta.  Alexa, Michelle and I stuck together.  We recieved cheers of  "Venga equipo de verde" (Go green team--the color of our shirts), "Chicas, ANIMO" (Girls, energy!!), "Venga el trio" (Go the trio, or GO you three), Calientes (HOTTIES), etc. etc. 

Start of the Marathon!

Crossing that finish line was the best feeling in the world. I got done in 2 hours and 23 minutes which was the same time I got in my last half-marathon, but this was a WAY harder course.  I can say that I did not walk at all (I tried walking one time, but after 3 steps, I knew I had to keep running because it hurt too much, so I just kept running)

Alexa, Michelle & I finishing up (Las Tres Amigas)

Now, as I am laying in my bed with my feet up and having just woke up from a two hour siesta, I can gladly say that I am SO PROUD of us Bennies and Johnnies! Another great experience in Spain.  I only have about 2 and a half weeks left in Spain and I'm going to make the most of what I have left--but what a great way to finish up my last couple weeks here. 

Besos, xo

Katie

Holy Toledo!!

So once again, havn't been doing a very good job at keeping up with my blogs, but last weekend we traveled to the wonderful city of Toledo, Spain.  We took a 3 hour bus ride, and once we got to Toledo it was nice and sunny. 72 degrees and sunny, in fact.  The. whole. weekend. Be jealous :)  So we got there and visited Puerta de Bisagra, la Mezquita del Cristo de la Luz, Hospital de Santa Cruz and La Catedral de Toledo.  All of which were amazing.  We were free for the rest of the day after that so we made our way to Hotel Beatriz.  We all hopped into the bus and drove to our hotel.  When we arrived at our hotel, we found out that we were staying at a beautiful hotel right outside Toledo.  I roomed with Libby and Amy. 

Me and Libby eating authentic, Toledo marzapan

Dana and I with Toledo in the background

So we get into our room and check out the view from our balcony.  I swear the instant we started talking and American voices were heard, about 50 Spanish guys walked out on their balconies, bottles in had and just started cheering, chanting, calling over to us (the works)...and more and more came out.  So we are all thinking, "Awesome. This is going to be fun." Since it was so nice out we all changed into our bathing suits and went to tan down by the hotel pool (which was closed since it's "winter").  Well, I would expect nothing less, but when all of us girls were sun-bathing down by the pool, all those Spanish guys really started hootin and hollaring.  It was more funny than annoying.  Pilar, our art professor who came on the excursion with us, came down and told us that there was a group of over 100 guys from Sevilla who were there for a band performance. haha.

The crew for the night

After sun-bathing for a little, we attempted to do some yoga by the pool and then went back up to our room to get ready for the night.  We headed back into the city for dinner.  Baylee, Michelle, Libby, Amy and I went and ate at an outdoor pizzeria. It was excellent.  After that, Colin's girlfriend (who studies abroad in Toledo through the U of M) took us around Toledo for the night.

When we returned to the hotel for the night, Dana, Luke, Amy, Anna and I decided to check out the hotel's discoteca.  So we walk in and find a bunch of old couples dancing.  Welp, needless to say, we joined in and had the time our of lives dancing with all the old people.  Luke was popular with the "cougars."  haha. It felt just like a family wedding. It was one of the best times!

Libby, Me & Amy in the Plaza Mayor of Toledo

The next day we woke up and visited Santo Tome to see a famous Greco painted titled "El entierro del Conde de Orgaz," el Museo Sefardi, San Juan de los Reyes and El Puente de San Martin.  After visitng those places, we had a little lunch and headed home.  Overall, for being such a short excursion. Toledo was anothing GREAT city.

Muchos besos,

Katie

Andalucia--Granada, Sevilla, Italica & Cordoba

Our final large excursion of the trip was to Andalucia. Andalucia is a region in the south of Spain.  We spent 5 days in the cities of Granada, Sevilla, Italica & Cordoba.  We left last Wednesday at a bright and early time of 6:30 a.m.  After a 7 hour bus ride, we made it to our first city: Granada.  We settled into our Hotel (Hotel Los Tilos).  I roomed with Libby, Amy & Alexa.  After settling in and getting a little bite to eat while watching Spanish "Next" and "Fisica y Quemica", we headed out as a group to explore La Capilla Real and walk through Albayzin which is "a fascinating labryinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses with beautiful secluded gardens" (thank you to Brian's itinerary for that one). 

Anyways, so after that, my roomies and I just explored Granada in the rain.  We ended up finding an Ash Wednesday mass so we went to that and after we had a little feast of cheese and crackers in our room and stayed in and had a movie night. 

Erinn, Me and Alexa at the Alhambra

The next day, we headed to the Alhambra which is a big Muslim-inspired Palace in Granada.  It was just beautiful.  After we walked around that for a couple hours we headed off for Sevilla.

It was a three hour bus ride to Sevilla.  We arrived at our hotel (Hotel Baco) aroun 3 p.m. and ate lunch.  I roomed with Amy for this part of the excurison.  The rest of the day we had free time.  We took a siesta for a while, then we got up and explored the city.  Dana, Libby, Anna, Amy and I found the Jewish Quarters and a beautiful garden called "Los Jardines del Alcazar."  It was so beautiful.  After that we checked out the cute little street stores and sat down to test out "Vino de Naranja" (A Sevillan classic vine--which ended up tasting like liquor, but was still nummy).  After that we went home and got ready for the night. 

We ended up going to an Irish bar called P.F. Flanerty's and then a three-level discoteca called Buddha!  It was so much fun! We all danced the night away!

Sevilla sunset--exploring down by the river

Catedral at night

Friday, we woke up to breakfast in bed (yup, we got breakfast in bed at this hotel), got ready and then left to explore La Capilla de San Jose (a church that is one of the small gems of Sevilla), Alcazar and La Catedral.  All were completely beautiful.  The Alcazar (or palace of the Spanish kings at the time) was never-ending.  Amy, Libby & I might have pretended that we were princesses for a good chunk of the visit--it felt like we were in "Aladdin."  Then we went to La Catedral which is the largest Gothic Cathedral in the world.   After that, we had some free time so we went home, took another siesta, woke up and Dana, Anna, Libby, Amy and I went to check out the Plaza de Espana.  This Plaza was my FAVORITE part of the whole trip.  It was simply amazing! A huge building (I think it's used for goverment and military purposes today) with a small canal in front.  We just hung out there and took everything in. 

Amy, Me & Libby rowing :)

Saturday we woke up, had breakfast in bed again (yes, be jealous), and headed off for Italica--the Roman ruins about an hour outside of Sevilla.  It was a very cool place. My favorite part was the gladiator arena.  After getting home, I went on a run with some of the girls along the river and we ended up getting lunch outside in the sun right by the river.  I got the best salad in the world!  After getting a bite to eat, we headed to the Plaza de Espana again to see what it was like in the day.  We got there and ended up renting row boats to row in the canal surrounding the Plaza.  It was so much fun! Once that was over, we took a walk through some of the parks around the area and then headed home.  We ordered Dominos that night.  Then, a small group of us girls went to a free Flamenco dance performance! It was great! The Flamenco dancer was a very serious, determined (at times mean-looking) woman who sweated passion! ha. It was a great experience.  After that, we went and celebrated Monica's 21st birthday at Buddha again!

Sunday we left for Cordoba, our third and final city of the excursion.  Once we got there, we visited the Mezquita (a mosque turned into Cathedral) which was very beautiful and fun to apply something I learned about in Pilar's class to real life! After checking that out, we took a 7 hour bus ride back home. 

Andalucia was great.  San Sebastian is still number one on my list of favorite places, but Sevilla might just be number 2! 

Now it's time to do some homework (something I have not done for the last 5 days!)

Besos, xo

Katie

Valsain & Carnaval--A Little Late

So after going on a couple excursions and partaking in some big events in Spain, I thought I should finally post a blog about it. So to start off I will talk about Valsain. 



Hike to Valsain



John, Katie & Me in the Valain Forrest

 Valsain is a town in the "afueras" (outside of Segovia).  It is about a thirty minute bus ride to get there.  A big group of us went there a couple weeks ago because we wanted to check out the beautiful hiking paths and forrest that Valsain is known for.  We headed out at around eleven and made it to La Granja (a town right next to Valsain).  This was unintentional, but we ended up taking a beautiful scenic hike to Valsain through an amazingly lush and beautiful area.  Once we got to Valsain, we ended up eating our bocadillos that our parents (Olympia in my case) packed for us in the park.  Amy and I went to a local bar to ask for directions to the best trail to walk through and this very nice gentlemen told us where to go.  Once we made it to the start of the trail, we took about an hour long hike through the snow (note to self--don't EVER wear tennis shoes in the snow.  All of us did because we didn't really expect the snow and all of our feet were just soaked by the end--it was worth it).  Once we were done with that short hike, we went and got cafe con leche to warm up and then headed home for Segovia on the next bus. 

The next thing I need to mention is Carnaval in Spain.  Carnaval is the equivalent of Mardi Gras in the U.S., but to the EXTREME.  Carnaval started almost a week before Ash Wednesday.  Here are some ways you can tell it is Carnaval around here:

• People of all ages are dressed 24/7 in their disfraces (costumes)--it's very typical for boys to dress up as girls (that's my host mom's favorite costume to see).  The most creative one that I saw were little girls dressed as "Barbies" but they made cute little boxes to look like Barbies that were still in the box.
• There is a parade every other day, if not every day (with people parading around in their costumes..instead of throwing out candy to the children, I got handed a single peanut..bahaha)



Live band in Plaza Mayor

• Live bands in the Plaza Mayor (this was the best, so much fun just dancing around with the Spaniards)
• The churros stand is open 24/7 because we all need to indulge a little before Lent!

As a group, we all partook in the festivities! The boys all dressed up as sailors with mustaches and us girls got pretty masks to wear!  It was the best time ever!

Besos, xo

Katie


Noah, Amy, Me & Travis