Las Fallas

This past weekend a couple of us went to Valencia for Las Fallas. Las Fallas is a crazy festival that celebrates the end of winter and the beggining of spring. Definetly not a festival for the ill at heart or the sensitive. It was insane. From the moment we got there it was a party. Fireworks exloping everywhere, firecrakers being thrown, and mini bombs exploding creating a sound that could make you go deaf, a brass band marching through the streets and gigantic puppet sculptures, or ninots, made of cardboard and paper-mache in every plaza. By 8 oćlock the streets were filled with about 2 million people. firecrackers exploding everywhere and everyone drinking cervezas in the streets.

Valencia, oh what to say about our adventure in Valencia. We didn't have a place to sleep so we walked around Valencia until 8 in the morning. It was awesome. We came to find that getting lost in Valencia's city center is very easy. We spent most of our time getting lost in the narrow alleyways. The festival itself was a trip, definetly everything about it was illegal back in the states. Starting at around seven they begin the celebrations by lighting the paper-mache puppets on fire creating bonfires everywhere. At around 1 in the morning they were going to light the largest puppet on fire and have a massive firework show. This was the craziest thing I have very seen. I got some great footage of it. And what else do you do for 8 hours wandering the streets of Valencia, many cervezas later, but eat churros. Everywhere you go you see a churro stand and they never close. I can't tell you how much money I spent eating churros and chocolate. I think I be happy if I never ate a churro ever again.

The next day we were so exhasted from our all nighter so we had a really nice dinner at an authentic restaurant that made the best Paella, since Valencia is known for Paella, we had to splurge. Continuing our journey through out Valencia, I was amazed by the culture. At around 1 in the morning, it seems that all the Valencians take a break from bar hoping and head to the nearest gelato stand and then continue on partying till 6 in the morning where they head for the nearest Churro stand. It was interesting to watch. I loved it.

So I now have seen the Mediterranean Sea. It was beautiful.

Toledo

A gorgeous medieval city surrounded by a water. It was all cobble stone streets and small alley ways. We went to the steel museum there where they made all the swords in Lord of the Rings. All the houses and structures have been there, untouched for 1000 years. It was amazing to see a city that has been there that long. I like the history as well, itś a city of three cultures, christians, Jews, and Arabs, and they all lived together. We went to the synagogue, and a monestary, and the Cathedral of Toledo which was beautiful gothic architecture. Inside the cathedral I couldnt believe the intricate details and gaudiness. The choir room was my favorite, one of the organs in there had over 600 pipes, it was so majestic, I was almost terrified of it. I realized at the cathedral that I have a new love for El Greco´s paintings. The colors that he uses are truley amazing, I have yet to be dissatisfied with one of his paintings. He uses darker colors and vibrant reds, delicate, elongated figures. Also, Toledo is known for it´s Marzipan (almond paste) pastries..delicious!

Tapas

First off, yesterday I spent a couple hours at the botanical gardens in Madrid. Everything was bare, nothing was blooming, but it was gorgeous. There were interesting sculptures in the garden, and it was a great way to spend a cold winter day.

Yesterday was the big Futbol game in Madrid. A group of us attempted to watch it at a bar in Plaza Mayor but it was unsuccessful. After walking into three different bars, a couple of us decided to forget about the game and go wander the streets of Sol. We heard about this place called El Tigre. After many wrong turns we found it! This place was amazing! It was jam packed with people, we could barely manuever through the crowds. There was heaps of food all along the counters, legs of ham everywhere, which I found a bit gross, a gigantic boars head was propped on the wall, the music was great, the ambience was fantastic! The best part, for a mere 4 Euros, we each had two beers and a large plate of tapas. For those of you who don know what tapas is, its just a small serving of food to go along with your glass of beer or vino, my first tapa experience was not exciting, i got a plate of piemento olives..but at El Tigre we got Jamon with a tomato paste on top of bread, chorizo, potatoes, and croquettas. It was a cool experience.

Tomorrow we go to Toledo. I have been anticipating this excursion! The Alcazar, aqueduct, the cobble stone streets, ah I can wait!

After a crazy day of airport lobbys, delayed flights, cramped airplane seating next to a snoring german, I´m finally in Spain! After settling into our apartments, which is alot better than imagined, we celebrated our first night in Madrid with Sangria!

Day two in Madrid: VIPS, a restaurant nearby school, i discovered has the most amazing cafe con leche and crossiants for under 3 euros! We spent the day wondering around the cobble stoned streets of Plaza de Sol. I experienced my first Menu del dia, which is the traditional bargin lunch in Spain as Lunch is the biggest meal of the day. I was overwhelmed with all the food! Paella is so delicious. We ate at a chain restaurant called Museo de Jamon. They have hanging legs of ham everywhere. (I´m so sick of ham already). and apparently they give away bottles of wine if you order food, no complaints here.

On another note, it is freezing in Madrid, it snowed on Saturday night. I was not prepared for this! In the past couple of days we have done so much. The Royal Palace, Prado, exploring the city. Iḿ a bit overwhelmed. Hopefully Iĺl get the hand of writting in this every day with more details!

Just a few more days

I am surprisingly very calm. I don't even care anymore, just get me on the plane please so I can just forget all my troubles and live a new life for a while. Half of me doesn't even want to pack my bag, just get on the plane. It's hard to fathom the thought that in three days my life will be different. Things change so quickly. Looking back just a year ago, I was a completely different person. The people that have come and go in my life, my goals, my beliefs, it's amazing how everything is so different in just a year. I think I'm in transition mode right now. I've been way too excited to leave for Spain for the past couple of months and now, I feel like I'm trying to distance myself, put myself in a new frame of mind to cope with being away for so long, even though it's not that long, to make things easier I guess. Sometimes I feel life is easier to have people just come and go. I think I'll do better on my own. This is just the beginning. After thursday, I don't think I'll ever want to settle down in life. I am curious to see how this trip abroad will change me.

All I know is that I can't wait to get on that plane.