We have traversed foreign lands, spoken several different languages and explored areas that have burned memories into our brains forever. This trip was a once in a lifetime experience. There is no way I could write down all of the significant stories and journeys from a month long study abroad trip in one blog post, so here are some of the highlights:
Madrid: Where it all Began
The view from outside our apartment was amazing. The market was down below and the sunsets were amazing!
Also while we were in Madrid, we did get to attend the bullfight and learned so much from it thanks to Omar and his fluent Spanish! There were 6 bulls total and, let's just say it was definitely a bloody endeavor but well worth it. A big thank you to the bulls who put up a good fight on their end yet were sacrificed anyway.
where we officially began exploring what it meant to eat good food!
Our bellies led us to the restaurant Txondorra where the girls and I had the opportunity to purchase our first bottle of wine: a Landaluce to pair nicely with my unknown meal. (P.S. we did and you should always drink responsibly). Mind you, I had no idea what I was ordering but I pointed to the menu and did my best to pronounce my choice; the Txipirones a la plancha con verdura, patata paja y bouquet de ensalada. All I knew was it would appear with something that was an attempted salad... you never know with different restaurants, especially in a foreign language.
What soon appeared before me were what looked like tiny little fish shapes with their tales and heads removed. And then I bit into one. What I had before me was no mere fish... it was calamari. Even more shocking: I liked it!
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| San Sebastian from the beach at night |
Next City: The Travel Change Up!
As a delightful surprise, a small group of us spontaneously decided to hop the boarder over to Biarritz, France for a day of lying on the beach and tasting some authentic crepes.
Also, it is customary to make a wish when you try a new fruit! Sarah and I can't reveal our wishes, but we can reveal that we LOVE figs!
Next City: See Bulls Run. Run Bulls Run!
We trained over to Pamplona and, for those of you familiar with the running of the bulls, this is where it all takes place.
One of the most common ways to eat cheap when you travel is at a grocery store and man did we become fast at identifying those stores. A little bocadillo and some olives and we were set for the afternoon!
You never know what you might find! There were a few members of our group who knew Hemingway (yes the author) used to frequent a bar where he would sit in his usual seat and write. They looked hard enough and, tucked away in a back corner of the restaurant, down a small flight of stairs and behind a set of doors, they found it. You can see him in the back of our photo! We thought he was a happy looking man considering how old he must be now :)
As our journey forged onward, this is the point at which our group became less afraid of looking behind closed doors and asking questions. We were a curious bunch! So, as you begin your own travels, start early, don't be afraid to look around you and explore. I don't want to miss the little quirks and secrets of a city just as much as I don't want to miss the big ones.
My Most Anticipated Part: El Camino
Our support van took most of the adventurer's packs, but the four of us weren't about to give them up. We made a deal to attempt the Camino while carrying all of our belongings (of which I originally intended because I had no idea the support van was even going to exist!). The four who started out dropped to three for the second day and two for the third and final day. Cameron
Our journey began in Pamplona and we walked to Los Arcos which was about 21 km per day. Thousands of travelers embark on the Camino every year and, every year, those travelers are guided by the golden shells. They are in all forms, some painted on the sides of buildings. Others on stone pillars sticking out from the ground. Others etched into the pathway. Each one unique and each one as helpful as the last in pilgrims reaching their destination. 
Along with shells showing the way, all of the Camino pilgrims wear the shell as a symbol of their journey. It allows residents of towns and restaurants to identify who is traveling (the big backpack is another dead giveaway).Many of us met several people along the way. When I asked why others were making this journey, I never received a response that wasn't tied with, "because I am trying to make a big decision in my life" or "I don't know what to do next." These responses resonated with me. I also am unsure of my future however, I do feel I have the confidence to discover it. And as they say on this journey to travelers: Buen Comino. It is a saying implying a safe and encouraging journey. Happy travels!
Valencia!
This city took us on an entirely different adventure in regards to food because we finally were in a place to cook for ourselves! We pulled together all of our talents and food knowledge and put our teamwork to the test. Food began flying into the oven, out of the oven, out of the pan, and into our mouths before we knew it! And it was delicious. Eating out has great benefits, but we all know how much a home cooked meal is appreciated on the road.
Our hostess was more than generous in providing all of the necessary materials to cook our new meal and it was a blast. Our version included rabbit meat, fresh peas, and a special sort of paella rice. It was served with gazpacho (a cold tomato drink) and it was mighty delicious if I do say so myself!
Next city: Alicante was indeed "Muy Caliente!"
Castles and knights and beach ... OH MY! Alicante's castle was a little taste of home. It was the Santa Barbra castle that sat atop one of the hills surrounding the city. We learned about the history of Alicante and it's beach. The city has grown to an incredibly large size and it was quite fun to navigate the streets. We found ourselves on an Alice in Wonderland themed street where every slide and mushroom had eyes. The cement was painted accordingly!
This castle has what reminded me of the Great Wall of China surrounding it. It was our mission to get on that wall. And, no matter how long Gavin, Sarah, and I walked around the base of the castle, or the group that visited the next day tried, we still couldn't find it... until we exited. It felt lke the greatest accomplishment because that walkway was AWESOME. It took us high above the city with a view on either side where we could see the ocean and the city. A marvelous excursion! Sarah and I then enjoyed the boardwalk and some ice cream. The days were hot so a break in the shade was exactly what we needed!
Grenada was My Favorite Stop!
To begin with, in this picture I am standing on the wall of our balcony. Yes, that's right, we got this view for 4 whole days! Behind me is the Alhambra which is the fortress, no, not a castle, but a fortress that was the start of the entire city of Grenada! This fortress held around 3,000 people back in its hay day. After the French attacked the fortress, it rested abandoned. Families and wanderers started moving into the houses within the city and, when it came time to restore it by orders of the city, the people currently residing there were allowed to stay. That means there are 6 or 8 families that live there and their houses have been passed down for generations. Talk about a sweet deal!
Resting within the walls are some incredible sights. The extensive gardens and fountains are exquisite while the architecture is magnificent. The fortress was desired for some of the screen work of Game of Thrones even but Hollywood wanted to shut the historical site down for months at a time and Grenada simply couldn't do that due to the number of tourists. So Grenada simply told them "no."
While there, Annabel, Melissa, Cindy and I decided to add a new taste to our pallets: caricoles (snails). One must suck a snail from its shell, for they are not easily taken from their homes. So that is exactly what we did. And they were CHEWY! I could see their little eyes and feelers poking out of their heads right before I stuck them in my mouth. After the first one, Melissa was done which left 5 each for the rest of us. Snail shots!
One of the days we were there Ariel wanted to visit the mummy museum. The dead people were cool but it was the interactive parts that drew me in. My obsession with whales had a glimmer of light while I discovered just how big a whales heart is. I had no idea but all the more to love the other whales with!
Another adventure was the Turkish bath. Kristin, Gavin, Omar and I decided it would be a fun treat to try the Turkish Bathhouse. I had no idea that we were actually going to get in the Turkish Bath let alone pick our scents, drink amazing tea, and get massages! Allow me to explain what a Turkish Bathhouse is exactly because I was confused too.
When we walked in, we were treated to a beautiful room where we put on little booties over our shoes and entered into the changing rooms. Once changed into our bathing suits, we entered into the cool down room. The mint tea was available and the cool pool was quite chilling. Turn the corner and you see the four different scents to choose from for your massage and then soak in the warm pool or one of the two hot pools. There was also a sauna for in between your pool hops. All of these pools were surrounded with terracotta walls and the lighting was dim for relaxation. After an hour of soaking, the host of the pools finds you and takes you to a heating stone to warm up before your massage and to cool down afterward. And then, when you hear the bell, everyone out. Our session was over and we were so sad to leave.
One of the most fun events we did was our own tapas cook off. We took everything we had learned from the tapas and pintxos bars and created our own. So what do you get when you combine young and ambitious cooks with a tapas challenge... THIS! And that night we feasted!
Last Stop for Spain: Málaga
Our travels (and a bus) took us to Málaga but not directly to our house. No, we had to scale a huge hill for over a mile and, there at what seemed like the tip top of Mt. Olympus, was our home. And it was gorgeous! The pool was an extra special treat that awaited us and it didn't take us long to drop our packs and change into our swim suits to take a dip! This is the city I was most sick in so I spent one of the days inside, holding down my bed and enjoying the poolside. It was a good thing too, strength and good health were going to be much needed for Morocco. 
While here we assembled shish kabobs for Grill-Master Cameron to char perfectly on the grill. We also spent an evening out enjoying a lovely, traditional flamenco performance. The guitarist had his masters in guitar from a university in California and we could tell. The talent coming out of that guitar was wonderful. I would buy his CD if ever he would compile one. The dancer was so fun to watch. Her face exuded raw emotion while her feet kept a steady beat. The flutist had some great improvisation skills and also had some surprises up his sleeve. And finally, the singer startled us with his emotional delivery of lyrics and story telling. Overall, the performance was wonderful!
The time had finally come to say goodbye to four of our members who were heading back home a week early. Our farewell dinner was a wonderful surprise of whole fish (complete with eyeballs and brains), sardines, olives, among
We pooled together some remaining euros and purchased some fun aprons for our leaders wishing them happy cooking and many thank yous for teaching us how to travel confidently on our own. As Jeff always says: The two things you need when you get to a city are what? 1: A map and 2: the address to your hostel"
The rest of us were on our way to a new adventure in Morocco, Africa! We loaded the giant ferry and, that starry night of the summer solstice, what else were we to do but lay under the stars, over the Alboran Sea and dream of our next adventures in Africa.
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