Ciao Sevilla and onto Cordoba

Since we only did one day in Cordoba we took an early bus out of Sevilla. After a long bus ride full of on and off napping and gazing off at the Spanish country side (there are these short trees, almost overgrown bushes, that stripe the country side and it bothered me so much not to know what type it was!) we arrived in Cordoba. The tourist offices at each bus station (minus Madrid) were so helpful in giving us maps and figuring out how to get to our hostel. This hostel in Cordoba, Senses and Colours Añil was so lovely it made up for the crappy one in Sevilla. The computer has placed Anna and I in separate rooms and the lady working the desk noticed and worked it so that we were together. In fact, we found up getting our own room, with our own bathroom! That's right, Anna and I each got our own bed, not bunk bed, with a shower and bathroom to ourselves. It was lovely!

The hostel was also very close to a bakery, dangerous to my waistline, tsks on you Spain, and not a far walk at all from the Mezquita.

Oh the Mezquita, I think I rose out of my body with excitement when we went there! Brief explanation: huge Mosque, after Catholic reconquest, the oh so loving Christians with a "take that!" mentality plopped a church right in the middle of the mosque. Me and my desires to go to the Middle East, fascination with other cultures, goal to learn Arabic and so on simply basked in the beauty of being in that inmense Mosque. The collision of religions was insane though. There were altars to different saints all around the perimeter of the mosque and the huge church in the center, yet Arabic style architecture, designs and writing all over the place as well. I thank Anna sincerely for letting me linger there as long as we did.

From there we roamed around the Judería, the old Jewish district, right next to the mosque. (Ok, so although I much prefer to learn about Latin America, as compared to Spain, I absolutely love the mix of cultures found in Southern Spain due to huge Jewish, Moorish and, of course, Catholic people). The Juderia just had that "quintessential" Andalusian feel to it. Best part was when we came upon the Sinagoga, although we couldn't get in that day, about three doors up and on the other side of the narrow street we ventured into this bar. Anna's mom told her that we had to try fino, a wine specialized in Southern Spain. We went into this bar, asked if they had any fino. The bartender looked at us a little confusedly and said yes. After informing us that the only difference between a small and large glass was 5 cents, we each ordered a large copa de fino (only 95 cents!). To our complete bemusement, he turned around to the huge barrel behind the bar and poured our drinks from the tap; fino must be their specialty, everyone in the bar had it! We found a seat and enjoyed our delicious 95 cent finos at 3 or 4 pm in the afternoon.

After hostel time, siesta and dinner, we made our way to a flamenco show. A family owned operation: brothers on the guitar and 'drum' (more of a box-like thing used for percussion purposes... that drummer was oh so beautiful), father singing, others accompanying with vocals and palmas (clapping). The female dancer was out sick and so they had a male dancer perform; he was phenomenal. Although we missed a potential fan dance, we by no means felt deprived. It was an amazing show, I still don't know how they all coordinate so well, still can't quite hear the beats they each play at. with a pitcher of sangria and a Cheshire-cat-like grin on my face as I watched a most beautiful performance, we finished Cordoba in the best way

(by the way, all photos are from either right outside or within the Mezquita)

Easter Sunday in Sevilla

Woke in good company with the plan to go to the Cathedral with Anna and Brittney for mass. It didn't 'start' until 10, so we aimed for being there around 9, expecting it to be sort of like at home where mass fills up on Easter, especially it being the Cathedral in sevilla. Well, we needn't have been so worried. Mass didn't really start until 11. It was as though the priests were pregaming from 10-11. It was a lovely way to see the inside of the Cathedral without being charged as well as a good cultural experience: a pre-Vatican II like mass in Spanish. It made me really grateful for both mass at Redemptorist and the Newman Center (both very post Vatican II). No lie, this has been the most out of tune with my religious life I've ever been, not too fond of it, I'm hoping that that, along with many other aspects of my more structured US life will return when I go home... however I intend to start working on that (and those other parts that are off-balance) sooner, as in now.

After mass, we went to the cafe right under their apartment for lunch: empanaditas and a pastry for yummy dessert. I can't really recall the rest of the day, but I think we all just hung out for quite a while. Anna and I were unable to cancel our Sunday night hostel reservation. [Explanation: we'd made at least this one reservation beforehand. After finding our new friends, we thought about cancelling it. Website said that for Semana Santa they required a 7 day notice... so, we didn't think we could... once we got their though, and found it to be a shitty one (internet down, laundry out, cold water, found out we could've canceled it in only 24 hrs notice; worst hostel yet]. Well, we went ahead and took our siesta at the hostel before returning to our friends' for dinner. Wow, Marie made a delicious spinach, cream, garbanzo and potato dish and Hannah a veggie curry and rice dish, yum! We stood there til it got to being around 10 and then we went ahead and made our way back to the hostel. We stopped for our first (delicious) Spanish ice cream in the center.

Anna liked to do inventory regularly, just so that we could look at what was going on, and really appreciate it. I think that night was my favorite inventory. It went something along the lines of "Inventory: we are sitting on a park bench in Plaza Nueva in Sevilla, we are eating delicious ice cream on a beautiful Easter night (really, we need hazelnut flavored ice cream in the States!), we went to mass at the Cathedral on Easter, we had a delicious dinner, we saw everything we wanted to see in this city, we didn't have to sleep on a park bench once and we made five new friends!" Talk about being grateful!

Let's recap Sevilla, a week or so later

Flew into Sevilla from Barcelona on Friday April 10 without any concrete idea of where we were staying. We were hoping to be able to stay at the apartment of a friend of a friend. Problem: the friend of my friend was in the states and hadn't gotten in touch with her flatmates. Well, we had their address and their phone number. We arrived at their apartment around 11 pm. As if we weren't tired enough, we had no luck there. It was so disheartening because we were exhausted, the potential resting spot insight and within knocking distance, their lights on and all, yet no answer.

Out of desperation I called a girl I had met on the bus from the Sevilla airport to city center. On this bus I'd shared Anna's and my 'we don't know where we'll sleep tonight' story and this kind soul, Brittney, gave us her number and said that if we got into a real bind that she might be able to help us out. We wound up in a bind. When I called her I could tell she was pressed, they already had another guest staying and her flatmates were out and we'd only just met (!) but she said yes, God bless her. Anna and I got a taxi over to her apartment and I don't think I stopped saying thank you from the moment Brittney opened the door until she left us to sleep on their living room couch and floor.

Next morning I was the first one up, and as I started preparing to make some oatmeal that I'd brought, two of the flatmates woke: Hannah and Jen. I greeted them with a "Hi, I'm Jillian, the girl Brittney met on the bus and let crash on your floor." Brittney had written them a letter explaining it all for when they got in that night. They were awesome and just found the entire situation highly amusing, no awkwardness at all, immediate new friends formed.

With only 2 days in Sevilla, Anna and I wanted to explore and asked them for their advice. Not only did we get advice, but Hannah took us out, showed us around, and worked as the best guide and new friend we could have ever asked for! Hannah took us to the center through neat backways, giving us a fun feel for Sevilla. It was a beautiful sunny day as we strolled through the beautiful streets, and as though she knew how badly I had to see the Giralda tower of which the Plaza's is a small imitation (yetnot half as impressive now that I've seen the real one). She took us to a lovely local eating place where we got cheap and delicious tapas that we would have never found alone. I had tortilla española (a potato and egg torte/omelet... delicious, I'm making it for you all when I come back) and a spinach,garbanzo and cod tapa. yes, they were that good that I remember them. Goodness I did so much eating in Spain. I think it is maybe a good idea I didn't study there, instead of coming back 5 or so pounds heavier, I would have come back 20 or so after 5 months there! Oh, and I would have come back a lush b/c I'm a fan of sangria and the wines, which are delicious and cheap there... so maybe Ireland was a better choice for my liver and waistline, haha.

So, with Hannah we saw the Cathedral, along with the Giralda, from outside of course, we didn't go indoors or up the tower, not paying to see the inside of a church, sorry. Some part of me just believe that the house of God should be open access, but that's just me. Anyways, we went to the Alcazar, a palace originally inhabited by the Moors, subsequent rulers have added their own touches. So, as classic Andalusian architecture shows, you get both the Islamic and Christian touches, a mudejar style. Basically I was obsessed. This was one of those places that I went to and it made me a little less upset about not visiting Morocco and made me really want to learn Arabic even more. The style is so ornate, yet not overly so, so light, open, I loved the gardens. It was basically a lovely afternoon!

So we explored the center quite a bit and had to come back for a siesta, or at least a descanso (rest). However, it wasn't long. Anna and I left later with the other flatmates, Marie, Jen, Nora and Brittney to go watch some of the procesiones (processions) for Semana Santa (Holy Week, which is done biggest and baddest, the good 'bad', in Sevilla). That there was amazing too. We went by the Cathedrals and stood on the fences to watch as the Pasos, or different altars, were paraded through the city. I still am amazed at how men can lift such huge and extremely heavy statues of gold or silver, with candles and flowers all over. People do a lot for religion. Semana Santa is a big deal in Sevilla. I heard that if it rains, people cry because they spend all year planning it and if it rains they can't do it because these pasos are really really old and delicate and can't be risked in such a way. But there were no worries, it was a beautiful day and it was highly impressive.

For dinner that night, Anna and I made our new friends dinner, gallo pinto Costa Rican style. Later, Brittney, Anna and I went out to catch a flamenco show, one of the few free ones. It was packed in that bar but it was lovely. There was one guitarist, one man singing and a female dancer. I can't quite comprehend flamenco. I can't hear the beat like they do, but they all know when to tap their feet or clap their hands and the dancer knows how to move to what. It is so fascinating and I'd love to learn, ahh! Oh, and on the way back, we stopped for chocolate and churros. Biggest bag of churros ever. Although I'm not a big fan of the fried dough, I thoroughly enjoyed sipping my chocolate and enjoying Anna and Brittney's company at 1 in the morning on a lovely pedestrian street in Sevilla.

Last Day in Barcelona

I feel as though I have, well I will have after today, done everything that I needed to do.
I have met tons of lovely people, stayed in two hostels, eaten tapas, paella (got ripped off but will tell that story when I get more time) drank sangría, visited Parc Guell, la Sagrada Familia, Montjuic, the beach, saw the Cathedral, saw Picasso's museum. Funny story about that. So we walked towards the Picasso Museum, but, used it as a reference point as to when to turn in order to reach Museu Xocolata (the chocolate museum!). Yeah, I happened to see that on my map, thought to myself that that sounds an awful lot like how the Aztecs (or is it mayans...) spelt Chocolate. Anna googled it, found out it was indeed a chocolate museum, and we decided that that Museum was the one worth paying an entrance fee. Our ticket upon entry, a bar of 73% dark chocolate, delicious! As we exited, I had to buy a big bar of it as well as have a small cup of chocolate. I will have to forget it because hot chocolate will never be the same. It was so thick and beautiful, almost as if they had simply melted the stick of 73% and managed to keep it in liquid form. I was a happy camper.

Today we have a bit of time to roam and see whatever we feel as though we have missed before heading to Sevilla. Barcelona has definitely been a win, I am a fan, but I am so terribly excited to go to Andalucía as well.

Wish us happy, lucky, and safe travels!
¡Besos!

Barcelona

I´m here!
So yesterday my arrival was the longest day ever. I napped from 11pm to midnight then woke up again to work on my essay. Then left my apt at 2:40 to make it to the bus stop. Caught a 3:30 bus to the airport. Didn´t sleep at all on there because I talked to a US guy headed to Venice the whole way. Slept a bit on the plane to Girona but talked to another guy on the bus into Barcelona. I did, however crash once I arrived at the hostel. I did off and on wolf management research and napping; napping helped with the bad headache. I went out exploring a bit looking for fruit for dinner, not at all really hungry but craving fruit.

Back at the hostel I met some really cool people.
hahah, internet is about to go off, I´ll have to finish this later, want to let Anna onto the computer. Besos

I leave for Spain, tomorrow

Can't hardly believe it!
One, because I'm going to be screwed as far as hw goes. When I return, I'll have 2 days to write 2 ten page papers, one of which I need to research for (kill me after I've enjoyed Spain before the 20th when the papers are due) and the next day I'll have an exam. Papers are worth 60% of my grade and exam is worth 70%.
Why did I do this to myself?
Possible solution: finish all the wolf management research tonight. Take it with me and work on outlining and brainstorming while waiting in the airport and on the bus. Take exam notes with me to study on plane and bus rides. When I am back, don't sleep and write like crazy. Pray really hard during Semana Santa that my muse will come back from vacation to help me out.

So Spain, here is the travel plan
Leave at 2:40 am for the bus station. 3:30-4:30 am ride bus from Galway to Shannon. 6:45-10:45 flight to Barcelona. Check out Barcelona sola until Anna arrives late at night from France.
Spend April 6, 7 8, 9 and first part of 10 in Barcelona.
April 10 take a bus back to Girona, fly to Sevilla and arrive in the evening. Spend April 10, 11, 12 in Sevilla.
Take a bus early on the 13th, spend the 13th in Cordoba.
Take a bus to Granada and spend April 14, and 15 there.
Take a bus to Madrid, spend the 16th and 17th there

After all of that couch surfing, only one couch found, in Madrid. And not through the website, but one of Anna's friends. Oh well, it was a try I guess.
No real plans of what to do when in Spain, just a list of recommendations of things to do. I'm excited. I think the only things we need to still take care of are buses, which should be easy enough to either get there or do online at a computer at the hostel in Barcelona, and make a reservation for the Alhambra in Granada. other than that there are only a few bumps in this road that I have faith will work itself out, but I'll wait to share after they do, so as to only have good things to share, hopefully ;)

First emotional break down of the semester

And on the last day too, go figure

Well recap: I think i did we on that test that I studied last minute for. I got both papers due this week turned in. I went out to Monroe's Tuesday and have a lovely time, saw bunches of lovely people who make me happy. Also met a really hot and attractive personality-wise (he's into the idea of volunteering around after graduating for college, I didn't realize there were more of us!) American guy who was in two of my classes this semester. Really bummed that I hadn't met him earlier. For all of my loudness and out-going and adventurousness in worldly things, I'm still shy/not out-going with guys, esp when I find them attractive. That and people just don't interact in classes here. Another thing I don't really like about the school system here. Ok, so Wednesday I had classes. That evening I went out to a friend's bday party but didn't go out once it went to the clubs b/c I had to study for a test. But I had so much fun, I really don't know why I've been so antisocial I do it b/c I'm supposedly working on my hw but no hw is ever actually achieved... wasting time, fruitlessly, on couchsurfers.com.

Anyways, Mandy came back to my apt to use my reliable internet for class registration. Well, we wound up not studying/paper writing and just hanging out. My plan to wake early fell through when I misset my alarm... wound up being just fine. The teacher gave us the test prompt beforehand so all i had to do was write out my answer before hand and remember it. I think I did well on the test today. So today I finished all of my classes for the semester. Weird, that was so short/fast.

It has actually been a bunch of lovely days back to back to back here in Galway. Today it was 59 and sunny. I just love sunny days. They make me all happy inside. today, in between my test and class, and then on the walk home I just sort of strolled along, listening to happy music on my ipod, with my eyes closed as the sun kissed my cheek. I love it.

Well, so I was in a lovely state of happiness until later today when I, just recently had a breakdown. Damn. So Anna and I decided Couch surfing is not working out and it's time to book hostels. Well, I let us both down by holding out so long b/c things aren't available or what is is expensive. So, we got Barcelona taken care of for decent prices, I guess. It was searching for hostels in Seville that I started to breakdown. Goodness I'm ridiculous. One, i think staring at the computer for that long and dealing with money just gives me a headache, no bueno. Then the unavailability of anything under 60 euro sort of set me off. What I hate more than the fact that I waited so long and now will have to spend a lot of money on a hostel when, had I booked it sooner, I could have found a much better deal, is that Anna now has to suffer the monetary consequences as well. I just am disappointed. I don't usually do spontaneous things, as far as housing goes, and the one time I try with couch surfing, it doesn't work out. Goodness, I realize this is ridiculous, money is just money it'll be ok. But, maybe a person just needs a break down everynow and again and well, I haven't had one at all this semester so, maybe it was time? So, yeah, I wound up calling Mom's cell to talk and she, the heavenly soul that she is, helped calm me down and remind me that 60 isn't too bad and that if that is the most money I spend in one night then I'm ok. Now, in a calmer state, with a headache after that cry meltdown (I hate crying/being emotional, it gives me a headache), i realize many people spend more than 60 on drinks in a single weekend. I don't drink and so I haven't done such a thing and I guess this money was overdue to be spent? Whatever, I still feel bad that I'll have to spend so much on a night and that Anna will have to too. Oh well, Spain will just have to really rock our faces off, which I'm sure it will.

Blah, ok, so, don't judge me too much for being an emotional woman. I'm ok now. Just lost a whole day's worth of time for doing hw and now am exhausted/headachy and so I'm going to go to bed early instead of going out... I'm one cool college student. I'm working hard tomorrow and going out tomorrow. I need to enjoy this experience, which wont be done crying over prices, so no more of that!

And, who can really stay upset when listening to Michael Buble? Thanks Jen for the music.