For the long weekend at the beginning of December (called the "puente" which means "bridge"...don't ask), Nicole, Abigail and I took a bus to Lisbon, Portugal. We left Madrid a rainy Sunday morning and arrived in Lisbon around 6p. To keep this post short 'n sweet, I'll make a list of pros and cons of our trip. Also, check out the slideshow below!
Lisbon Pros:
1. Lots of waterfront property
2. Trolleys (since the city is hill after hill after hill)
3. Belem Tower, Jeronimo's Monastery and St. George's Castle
4. Neat waterfront park with Oceanarium and cable cars
5. Locals know more English than Spanish
6. Great transportation system in general: bus, trolleys, metro and train
7. Two awesome bridges that cross over from wherever Portugal to Lisbon. The Vasco de Gama bridge took at least five minutes to cross. At times, it felt like we were crossing the ocean itself!
8. Super Bock beer
9. Beautiful men everywhere (I thought that's how SPAIN would be. But no.)
10. Wonderful hostel-apartment thingy with the sweetest staff, full kitchen, and in a great part of town (http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Albergo-Odisseo-Old-Albergo-Olisipo/Lisbon/17935)
...and my friends by my side when the Lisbon Cons hit full-force.
Lisbon Cons:
1. Deluge the 1st night = ruined camera, iPod, cell phone, soaked money and crucial documents :(
2. Other than bacalao (cool!), the food reminded me a lot of Peru, which I'm obviously still sick of. Think french fries, white rice and red meat with little seasoning. None of which I eat on a regular basis, let alone all together on the same plate.
3. Rain the entire time = gray photos and blah mood
4. Not being able to meet up with Abby the 1st day for the Oceanarium, trolley and cable car ride
5. New boots, necessary for rain + soaked tennis shoes + cobble stone streets = footsore
6. No gifts/souvenirs to be found at the recommended street market since they sold the same cheap scarves, bags and earrings you can find in Spain
7. Realizing each time my hand shot down to my bag to grab my camera that it was broken
8. The loooong bus ride to and from with way too many stops and detours (sin iPod)
9. Santander, my Spanish bank, refusing to take my card in their Portugal banks
10. Too little time to give Lisbon a fair chance!
Dec 19, 2010
Dec 12, 2010
Long Weekend Part II: Sevilla
It's been a long time coming, but here are just a few of the pictures I took in Sevilla.
So far, this sunny city with its broad, tree-lined streets has been my favorite city in Spain. If the Ministry of Education let me pick my placement city next year (and not only the region), Sevilla would be it! The tapas was amazing, the flamenco was mesmerizing, the monuments were breathtaking, the pace was slow and the climate...perfect. While in Peru, I found myself loving the cities that reminded me of Charleston, SC -- sunny, relaxed cities, with bright-colored buildings with white trim, lots of churches and parks, and palm trees. The cities in Peru like this, for me, were Trujillo and my hometown, Arequipa. My Charleston in Spain (and it's way cooler, sorry SC)...is Sevilla. I can't wait for an excuse to go back!!
So far, this sunny city with its broad, tree-lined streets has been my favorite city in Spain. If the Ministry of Education let me pick my placement city next year (and not only the region), Sevilla would be it! The tapas was amazing, the flamenco was mesmerizing, the monuments were breathtaking, the pace was slow and the climate...perfect. While in Peru, I found myself loving the cities that reminded me of Charleston, SC -- sunny, relaxed cities, with bright-colored buildings with white trim, lots of churches and parks, and palm trees. The cities in Peru like this, for me, were Trujillo and my hometown, Arequipa. My Charleston in Spain (and it's way cooler, sorry SC)...is Sevilla. I can't wait for an excuse to go back!!
Dec 3, 2010
For Soulful Struts down Gran Via
It's scarf, hat and mittens weather. The sky is a perfect robin's egg blue. Snow whispered threats, but the wind blew it away, revealing the mountains long lost behind the skyscrapers and smog.
I'll go for a walk.
The concrete and walls of windows will blind me with pearly light. The cold will numb my nose, cramp my lungs, and sting my cheeks. There will be static -- in my hair, crackling in my sweater and coat, between my finger and the metal door handle. But I feel like walking with purpose to anywhere.
Nov 29, 2010
Happy Birthday, Mommy!
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!
I love you! See you in less than a month!
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!
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