For you...your favorite Christmas movie (and probably mine, too) and because it is snowing here in Madrid on your special day:
I love you! See you in less than a month!
Nov 29, 2010
Nov 24, 2010
Long Weekend Part I: Granada
It's been a month since I was there, and I could write pages about this city, so I'll let my pictures from our two days in Granada tell the tale instead...enjoy!
La Alhambra
Exploring the city
La Alhambra
Exploring the city
Nov 22, 2010
Field Trip!
Last Friday a week ago, I decided to make up (in advance) one of the two school days I will miss at the start of Christmas break. Conveniently, it was field trip day. :)
I went with the 3rd and 4th grade from my Wed./Thurs. school to a type of wildlife park near El Escorial, just outside of Madrid. I knew I would have a blast from the get-go since the trip was with my favorite kids (the 3rd grade) and because we would be seeing many animals native to Spain. I'm such a nerd.
On the bus ride, we watched Shrek 2. I don't know if I've seen the movie too many times or my Spanish is better than I thought (probably a little bit of both), but I understood 90% of the film! So, when Puss in Boots did somersaults through the air during his introduction, I was laughing just as hard as the children were.
When we arrived, I monitored the children during their mid-morning snack, then I left with the teachers for our own special coffee/breakfast break. I felt awful grown-y, sitting up in a log cabin lounge on the top floor, looking out over the park and discussing hiking options with the other teachers while sipping my cafe con leche. It was also good Spanish practice! Afterward, we set out on our own to see all the animals. I saw wild Iberian boars, different types of deer, falcons, un zorro (fox) and some shaggy ponies. My favorite part, though, had to be seeing Iberian wolves up close. As soon as the children left that enclosure, the wolves came right up to the fence, so I was able to get lots of great pictures!
For the last hour of our excursion, we rounded up the students and watched them make keepsakes of footprints stamped in blocks of putty. Of course, as soon as the children were finished, they all wanted to give me hugs and touch my face with their clay-colored hands. With a few nimble dodges and clever excuses, I managed to stay un-puttied. Later, on the quieter bus ride back to school, I realized that I was as exhausted as the kids when my head started to sink down toward little Pedro sitting beside me. I had had just as big of a day as they had.
I went with the 3rd and 4th grade from my Wed./Thurs. school to a type of wildlife park near El Escorial, just outside of Madrid. I knew I would have a blast from the get-go since the trip was with my favorite kids (the 3rd grade) and because we would be seeing many animals native to Spain. I'm such a nerd.
On the bus ride, we watched Shrek 2. I don't know if I've seen the movie too many times or my Spanish is better than I thought (probably a little bit of both), but I understood 90% of the film! So, when Puss in Boots did somersaults through the air during his introduction, I was laughing just as hard as the children were.
When we arrived, I monitored the children during their mid-morning snack, then I left with the teachers for our own special coffee/breakfast break. I felt awful grown-y, sitting up in a log cabin lounge on the top floor, looking out over the park and discussing hiking options with the other teachers while sipping my cafe con leche. It was also good Spanish practice! Afterward, we set out on our own to see all the animals. I saw wild Iberian boars, different types of deer, falcons, un zorro (fox) and some shaggy ponies. My favorite part, though, had to be seeing Iberian wolves up close. As soon as the children left that enclosure, the wolves came right up to the fence, so I was able to get lots of great pictures!
For the last hour of our excursion, we rounded up the students and watched them make keepsakes of footprints stamped in blocks of putty. Of course, as soon as the children were finished, they all wanted to give me hugs and touch my face with their clay-colored hands. With a few nimble dodges and clever excuses, I managed to stay un-puttied. Later, on the quieter bus ride back to school, I realized that I was as exhausted as the kids when my head started to sink down toward little Pedro sitting beside me. I had had just as big of a day as they had.
Nov 21, 2010
MTV's EMA 2010: Free Concert in Madrid
On Sunday, November 7th, Nicole and I ventured out of our cozy apartment and headed toward the Puerta de Alcala where a crowd was gathering for a free concert at 6. We worried that we would be chilly that evening, but as soon as we were sucked into the mob in front of the stage, we realized staying warm wouldn't be an issue. For about 2 hours, the herd of people around us shoved and shifted, making us wonder if we should just leave. When the music started, though, it was all worth it. (see below)
Nov 18, 2010
You'll See
"After the Storm" - Mumford & Sons
And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.
Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot.
And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That's why I hold,
That's why I hold with all I have.
That's why I hold.
I will die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and mine so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
And after the storm,
I run and run as the rains come
And I look up, I look up,
on my knees and out of luck,
I look up.
Night has always pushed up day
You must know life to see decay
But I won't rot, I won't rot
Not this mind and not this heart,
I won't rot.
And I took you by the hand
And we stood tall,
And remembered our own land,
What we lived for.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
And now I cling to what I knew
I saw exactly what was true
But oh no more.
That's why I hold,
That's why I hold with all I have.
That's why I hold.
I will die alone and be left there.
Well I guess I'll just go home,
Oh God knows where.
Because death is just so full and mine so small.
Well I'm scared of what's behind and what's before.
And there will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears.
And love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.
Get over your hill and see what you find there,
With grace in your heart and flowers in your hair.
Nov 16, 2010
Nov 14, 2010
Sunday Stroll to Retiro
One Sunday evening a few weeks back, Nicole and I decided to leave our apartment in Royal Madrid, stretch our legs and walk the 2 blocks to Gran Via and follow it to Retiro Park. We had seen the Puerta de Alcala at a glance but had never entered the park itself. It was late October, the sun was out, the leaves were changing, and so we knew the sights would be stunning. I'll let the pictures do the work...enjoy!
Nov 13, 2010
Part 2 of the Weekend: Murcia and Cartagena
After spending the 1st part of our weekend in Toledo, Nicole and I took Saturday night and Sunday morning to rest and repack for the 2nd part of our weekend: a trip to Murcia, where we would meet up with our friend, Caleb. Sunday afternoon, we went to the huge metro/bus station Mendez Alvaro to catch our 4:15 bus. We got to the platform at 4:15, waited around a few minutes, bags in hand, then realized -- our bus had already left. (Dang, Spain, why are you on time now?) So, we parked ourselves in the station cafeteria and waited for the next bus, the 7:15. I spent the hours reading my Spain travel guide book, researching the region and city of Murcia. I was pretty pumped for our trip by boarding time.
Later on the bus, as we left Madrid and crossed into the region of Castilla-La Mancha, it occurred to me this was the furthest I had been from the city. We were traveling 5 hours away from what we had just come to know. I smiled, plugged my headphones into my iPod, and looked out the window. In the growing dark, I could see gigantic windmills, red lights at their centers, glowing eerily across the plain like robot eyes. I thought, Don Quixote didn't challenge these windmills.
When we arrived at midnight, Caleb and some friends met us at the station and led us back to his apartment. Caleb, being the definition of a gentleman, gave us his room (where we quickly crashed), and he slept on the couch. We didn't wake up until almost noon Monday. The weather was supposed to be cool for the usually arid Murcia, with a chance of rain. We decided, therefore, to take a 45 minute bus ride to Cartagena and sight-see there, hoping to miss the bad weather. In Cartagena, we rambled through the sunny, date palm-lined streets, never forgetting to crane our necks and check out the magnificent skyline. We visited a few Roman ruins, including a theater, and then walked to a park along the battery. (I swore I would dunk a toe in the Mediterranean when I first saw it, but there was no where to do it! :( Reason #1 to visit again.) Later in the afternoon, we needed a snack, so we raided a local supermarket for fruit and wine, and returned to the park for a picnic. When the sun got low and the air turned cool, we walked back to the Cartagena bus station and caught a bus back to Murcia.
That night, we had a homemade, Spanish dinner with plenty of wine to go around, blanco or tinto. I got to know Caleb's roommates a little better (a girl from the U.S. and a girl from Portugal), so that was fun. Later, we decided to explore the club scene near the university, but nowhere really appealed to us.
I woke up the next morning to a warm, sunny day, but I felt off. Within minutes, I was covered in hives, and I realized it wasn't my lack of sleep but a severe allergic reaction to something that had me feeling this way (and I still have no idea what caused this!). Nicole, thank goodness, had some Zyrtec. Soon, the three of us were out the door and exploring Murcia city. While walking, I felt the medicine starting to kick in and the fresh air reviving my spirits. Then I hit a sudden low. My vision narrowed to a pinpoint, my ears started to ring, and I felt like someone was covering my head with a bag. I slumped onto some stairs until the feeling went away. My friends decided we should grab something to eat, hoping that would help me feel better. We walked a couple of more blocks to the city cathedral and found a restaurant with tables out on the cathedral plaza.
Honestly, I felt like a party-pooper, slowing the group down. It was our last day and our only day to see Murcia! While sipping my Coke, though, I began to cheer up as I talked with my friends and sat in the cathedral's grand shadow. My hives disappeared, and I started to feel more like myself. We ordered paella and chatted for over an hour, watching some children play in the square and some little birds flying from table to table, searching for stray crumbs.
When we finished our meal, Nicole and I only had an hour until our bus back to Madrid, so we meandered around the outside of the cathedral and then strolled to a river-side park before saying our goodbyes. I really enjoyed my time in Murcia, especially because I love any place that has plenty of sun, vegetation and a slower pace. Sometimes, the brightly-colored buildings and waterfront reminded me of my favorite southern city, Charleston. I was sad that I didn't get to spend more time in some places, like the inside of Murcia Cathedral, but hey, Reason #2 to visit again!
Later on the bus, as we left Madrid and crossed into the region of Castilla-La Mancha, it occurred to me this was the furthest I had been from the city. We were traveling 5 hours away from what we had just come to know. I smiled, plugged my headphones into my iPod, and looked out the window. In the growing dark, I could see gigantic windmills, red lights at their centers, glowing eerily across the plain like robot eyes. I thought, Don Quixote didn't challenge these windmills.
When we arrived at midnight, Caleb and some friends met us at the station and led us back to his apartment. Caleb, being the definition of a gentleman, gave us his room (where we quickly crashed), and he slept on the couch. We didn't wake up until almost noon Monday. The weather was supposed to be cool for the usually arid Murcia, with a chance of rain. We decided, therefore, to take a 45 minute bus ride to Cartagena and sight-see there, hoping to miss the bad weather. In Cartagena, we rambled through the sunny, date palm-lined streets, never forgetting to crane our necks and check out the magnificent skyline. We visited a few Roman ruins, including a theater, and then walked to a park along the battery. (I swore I would dunk a toe in the Mediterranean when I first saw it, but there was no where to do it! :( Reason #1 to visit again.) Later in the afternoon, we needed a snack, so we raided a local supermarket for fruit and wine, and returned to the park for a picnic. When the sun got low and the air turned cool, we walked back to the Cartagena bus station and caught a bus back to Murcia.
That night, we had a homemade, Spanish dinner with plenty of wine to go around, blanco or tinto. I got to know Caleb's roommates a little better (a girl from the U.S. and a girl from Portugal), so that was fun. Later, we decided to explore the club scene near the university, but nowhere really appealed to us.
I woke up the next morning to a warm, sunny day, but I felt off. Within minutes, I was covered in hives, and I realized it wasn't my lack of sleep but a severe allergic reaction to something that had me feeling this way (and I still have no idea what caused this!). Nicole, thank goodness, had some Zyrtec. Soon, the three of us were out the door and exploring Murcia city. While walking, I felt the medicine starting to kick in and the fresh air reviving my spirits. Then I hit a sudden low. My vision narrowed to a pinpoint, my ears started to ring, and I felt like someone was covering my head with a bag. I slumped onto some stairs until the feeling went away. My friends decided we should grab something to eat, hoping that would help me feel better. We walked a couple of more blocks to the city cathedral and found a restaurant with tables out on the cathedral plaza.
Honestly, I felt like a party-pooper, slowing the group down. It was our last day and our only day to see Murcia! While sipping my Coke, though, I began to cheer up as I talked with my friends and sat in the cathedral's grand shadow. My hives disappeared, and I started to feel more like myself. We ordered paella and chatted for over an hour, watching some children play in the square and some little birds flying from table to table, searching for stray crumbs.
When we finished our meal, Nicole and I only had an hour until our bus back to Madrid, so we meandered around the outside of the cathedral and then strolled to a river-side park before saying our goodbyes. I really enjoyed my time in Murcia, especially because I love any place that has plenty of sun, vegetation and a slower pace. Sometimes, the brightly-colored buildings and waterfront reminded me of my favorite southern city, Charleston. I was sad that I didn't get to spend more time in some places, like the inside of Murcia Cathedral, but hey, Reason #2 to visit again!
Nov 9, 2010
Toledo's Twists and Turns
Mid-Friday afternoon, October 8th, Nicole and I boarded a bus here in Madrid and took a 45-minute ride into the Castilla-La Mancha providence and to the Spanish city of 3 cultures: Toledo. Christian, Muslim and Jewish populations over the past 1,000 years have shaped this city into the historical gem that it is today.
Once we had hopped off the bus, Nicole and I decided to walk from the station to our hostel since it was a pleasant day and an hour until sunset. During our leisurely walk, following the river around the city and to the Alcantara Bridge, we took many pictures of the city glowing in the perfect lighting. After crossing the picturesque bridge, we found our hostel...an 11th century castle! We went inside, paid less than 15 euros for a 2-person private room/bath for the night, regrouped, then headed out to find dinner.
We got lost almost immediately. *Understand* Spain is already against big, clear road signs. Here in Madrid, you may find a decorative tile square sporting the name of the street along with the picture of a queen or saint, but in Toledo...you are lucky to find a sign at all. The people who constructed Toledo also didn't believe in a grid system. The narrow, cobblestone streets twist and turn like spaghetti noodles thrown onto a map. If this maze of alleys hadn't been so enchantingly European-looking, we would've gotten discouraged and headed back to the hostel, I'm sure. We were rewarded, eventually, with a restaurant near the Plaza de Zocodover that boasted a fairly-traditional and fair-priced Menu of the Day. I had some delicious gazpacho, baked chicken with a salad, a little pre-packaged ice cream cup, bread and olive oil, and a drink for less than 12 euros. Nicole opted for the paella over the gazpacho (see pictures).
After dinner, Nicole and I wandered through the streets again, peeping into bars here and there, seeing what looked good. At one point, we found a supposed "cider" bar (I was VERY excited), but the bartender informed me they hadn't served cider in over 5 years. Well, drat. Eventually, my partner and I ended up at a popular bar called "Picaro" and had some good conversation over mojitos and daiquiris. We also had a good laugh at being the only single people there. "Dear Spain, why must there be face-sucking couples everywhere we turn? Sincerely, Devon and Nicole." Our walk back to the hostel was gorgeous, especially when we crossed the bridge and looked back at the city against the nighttime sky.
We woke up Saturday morning to cold and drizzle. Rain jacket, umbrella and guidebook in hand, I headed out with Nicole to explore the city like a real tourist. We had a quick pastry for breakfast in the Plaza de Zocodover then visited the Museum of Santa Cruz, full of ancient tapestries and tile exhibits. Then we headed toward Toledo Cathedral...at least we thought we were. After about an hour, we finally found it (it's the tallest building in the city, how could we not find it?!) and spent a few hours inside. I split from Nicole and did a rewarding audio tour, which pointed out works by famous artists like Caravaggio and El Greco. I may or may not have squawked with joy. After several hours of complete bliss (I'm finding that I'm addicted to visiting cathedrals), we left and visited an old synagogue/museum. By this point, it was later in the afternoon, pouring and our feet were hurting, so we didn't linger. We also had a bus to catch back to Madrid. When we did, we were two exhausted, drenched but happy gals.
Once we had hopped off the bus, Nicole and I decided to walk from the station to our hostel since it was a pleasant day and an hour until sunset. During our leisurely walk, following the river around the city and to the Alcantara Bridge, we took many pictures of the city glowing in the perfect lighting. After crossing the picturesque bridge, we found our hostel...an 11th century castle! We went inside, paid less than 15 euros for a 2-person private room/bath for the night, regrouped, then headed out to find dinner.
We got lost almost immediately. *Understand* Spain is already against big, clear road signs. Here in Madrid, you may find a decorative tile square sporting the name of the street along with the picture of a queen or saint, but in Toledo...you are lucky to find a sign at all. The people who constructed Toledo also didn't believe in a grid system. The narrow, cobblestone streets twist and turn like spaghetti noodles thrown onto a map. If this maze of alleys hadn't been so enchantingly European-looking, we would've gotten discouraged and headed back to the hostel, I'm sure. We were rewarded, eventually, with a restaurant near the Plaza de Zocodover that boasted a fairly-traditional and fair-priced Menu of the Day. I had some delicious gazpacho, baked chicken with a salad, a little pre-packaged ice cream cup, bread and olive oil, and a drink for less than 12 euros. Nicole opted for the paella over the gazpacho (see pictures).
After dinner, Nicole and I wandered through the streets again, peeping into bars here and there, seeing what looked good. At one point, we found a supposed "cider" bar (I was VERY excited), but the bartender informed me they hadn't served cider in over 5 years. Well, drat. Eventually, my partner and I ended up at a popular bar called "Picaro" and had some good conversation over mojitos and daiquiris. We also had a good laugh at being the only single people there. "Dear Spain, why must there be face-sucking couples everywhere we turn? Sincerely, Devon and Nicole." Our walk back to the hostel was gorgeous, especially when we crossed the bridge and looked back at the city against the nighttime sky.
We woke up Saturday morning to cold and drizzle. Rain jacket, umbrella and guidebook in hand, I headed out with Nicole to explore the city like a real tourist. We had a quick pastry for breakfast in the Plaza de Zocodover then visited the Museum of Santa Cruz, full of ancient tapestries and tile exhibits. Then we headed toward Toledo Cathedral...at least we thought we were. After about an hour, we finally found it (it's the tallest building in the city, how could we not find it?!) and spent a few hours inside. I split from Nicole and did a rewarding audio tour, which pointed out works by famous artists like Caravaggio and El Greco. I may or may not have squawked with joy. After several hours of complete bliss (I'm finding that I'm addicted to visiting cathedrals), we left and visited an old synagogue/museum. By this point, it was later in the afternoon, pouring and our feet were hurting, so we didn't linger. We also had a bus to catch back to Madrid. When we did, we were two exhausted, drenched but happy gals.
Nov 5, 2010
New Laptop = New Posts!
Hal-le-lu-yer. I finally got my laptop today (after several hours of dealing with postal service red tape), so expect many catch-up posts soon! I promise stories about Toledo, Murica, Sevilla and Granada (and Madrid, of course). Also, once I figure out how to load my camera's software and can edit all of my pictures, I'll start posting a select few. For now, I'm off to bed after a loooong day!
Thanks for your patience, dear reader!
All my love,
Dev
Thanks for your patience, dear reader!
All my love,
Dev
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