Alcazar, 21st birthdays, and Carnival

Okie Dokie. so my last update was just before Carnival in Cádiz. Well, It was fun for awhile and then it was the worst night of my life. Drunk people everywhere, trash everywhere, and we had to wait for the nine a.m. bus to go home. ugh. Staying up all night has never been my forte, and it was just miserable. Fortunately, it did not rain, but it was freezing cold. And my roommate, Lisa, managed to get a ticket on the 8 am bus and she traded it with me! how sweet of her. Anyway. We did not sleep at all on Saturday night, and I barely slept on Sunday, and Monday was awful, cause I was just so tired. Kiri (the girl that lived in my room last semester) came on Saturday and was here till Wednesday. She is such a sweetheart too, from Australia.

Monday and Tuesday went by in a blur...but Tuesday I got a Valentine's package from Dane, and a package from Mom. Both were amazing packages. Wednesday morning we woke up super early and went into the city to see Kiri off on her train to Madrid where she was flying from. We had some coffee and made it back to school for class at 10:30. Wednesday afternoon we had our first intercambio event at school (mingling with spanish speakers trying to learn english etc.) and wednesday night was traditional 100 Montaditos.

Thursday we packed a bag lunch (bocadillo - well that means sandwich, but we use the term collectively) and headed into the city for our intercity excursion to the Real Alcazar, Sevilla's local palace. haha. It was pouring rain off and on (as it has been for the past week yick) but it was still a really fun trip...so beautiful! Thursday night was my friend Travin's 21st birthday, and true to American tradition, he gathered up all his friends for a night out on the town. I was resident photographer, so that he would not misplace his very nice camera between drinks. It was a lot of fun, we stayed out dancing until 5:30 in the morning. Then we walked a long way, so as not to over pay a taxi, and then I caught the metro home around 7:10 am. yes. that's what i said, 7:10AM, I made it to bed around 8am. phew. so fun though, and Travin had a blast.

So far so good here, the rain has been a little bit of a downer this week, but today is beautiful out, and I could go on a run outside. And this time next week, I will be living it up in Ireland!

Italica! The Cathedral! Tiana y el Sapo! and 100 Montaditos!

Pictures! the cathedral, the cathedral ceiling, the main altar in the cathedral, the climb, and a view from the top!






Ok. SO SORRY...i am way behind here. haha oops. Like I said before, Spain is a blur and time just slips right through your fingers, and before you know it, you are a week and a half behind on your blog. how does it happen??? oh well.

Soo. I am going to start back where i can remember...Ok two wednesdays ago (not yesterday, but the one before) we went to Cien (1oo) Montaditos....the coolest little restaurant ever. And Wednesdays are everything for 1 euro! it is awesome. they have a million little sandwhiches and drinks and its amaaaazing. SO FUN. We met new people, and bonded and had a grand old time.

Friday we went on the trip with school to the Roman Ruins of Italica (not in Italy, but in Spain..20 minutes from Seville...leftovers of Roman occupation a million years ago). It was pretty awesome...not going to lie. It was a beautiful day after rain the one before, and we had a fun tour guide and, you know me, I love ruins. haha. It was really fun.

The remainder of the weekend was spent mostly doing homework, but Saturday night we went to see The Princess and the Frog (new favorite movie) in SPANISH! Fortunately I could follow along because I saw in in english over Christmas with Dane's family. But it was still really great in Spanish...quite an experience. And, Sunday morning, Lisa and I ventured out to the Mercadillo in Montequinto (just to clarify because there is one in Sevilla too) before church. The mercadillo was really fun, like a flea market, but everything is new! its awesome...and Very cheap. haha. they have everything you could ever want there: fresh produce, underwear, clothes, jewelry, candy, shoes...its amazing. I bought red boots for 5 euro and a chunky sweater for 8 :-) its awesome. Then we went to sunday school at Lisa's church...such an experience! it was great though...pretty different, yet the same. it was nice.

Tuesday this week we packed a lunch and headed out straight from school into the city center to go on our tour of the Cathedral. A-MAZ-ING. it is incredible there! SO HUGE! ginormous! Truly awe inspiring...i cant even describe it well enough to try. Christopher Columbus is (allegedly) buried there! Wow. After the self-guided tour (spent mostly with our mouths open) we climbed the Giralda. The Giralda is a huge tower that you climb up (yes climb - 32 stories or something like that) But the views are incredible! the best in the whole city they say. This whole trip was free for us because we are UPO students...how awesome. After that, Lisa and I headed to Starbucks to meet with our bible study group. Also really great; it was nice to be with others in the same boat as us and in the Word.

Last night (Wednesday) we returned to 100 Montaditos for more fun. And Mary, Arianna, and I purchased tickets to Ireland for the last weekend of this month! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO holleration. SO PUMPED. This weekend we are going to Cadiz for Carnival (big festival/costume party) and it is going to be a blast! Time is continuing to fly...but I am loving every second here! Cannot believe I am so blessed. finances are a little tight due to the school screwing me over a bit, but God will provide...and prayers would be appreciated (so that my funds can last!) Anyway, I love you all, and miss everyone tons.

Books, la copesteria, shopping in Spain, tree climbing, and Star Wars

What a ride being in Spain is...never a dull moment I tell you! I have been busy busy busy, exploring the streets of the city, sightseeing, and finding good deals on awesome clothes and things. I have discovered the beauty of the city on a night tour, seen the Plaza de España, shopped with the locals, conquered the copestería at the university, climbed trees in el parque de maría luisa, and made it through my first few days of classes. Whoosh!

Today we went to go see the Cathedral...it is beautiful and huge...the largest in Spain I believe, however, it closes at five, and we arrived at 5:02, they mean business! I ate my first ice cream cone in Spain, and it was delicious. Way better than your average, every day American ice cream ;-) We then went to see the Plaza de España, and it was beautiful even under construction. It is where part of Star Wars was filmed. Queen Amadala's palace! woooo! Anywho, I posted a photo album on my facebook page with all the pictures of Spain thus far. I am going to post more here, but not all of them. I don't have much to say except that I have yet to encounter a Spanish food I don't love, I was told that one of my teacher's was dead (he isn't) by a lady laughing hysterically (at me) in the copestería, Lola is wonderful, Lisa is wonderful, my classes are hard as crap, but wonderful, I am a metro pro, and I got to meet little Lola (Lola's daughter) and her cute dog Audrey.

I love you all and would love to hear from any of you! send me an email if you would like!
hugs and kisses to all at home!