Top 10 Moments in Spain

 These are my Top 10 Moments in Spain, accompanied by photos!


10. The walking, exercise!!

9. Flamenco shows

8. The Christmas Lights

7. Drinking at 2:30pm with Siobhan

6. Tapa Hopping

5. The views!

4. Going to Paris alone

3.Walking into Mae West for the first time!


2. The Botellon

1. Meeting ALL of my new friends!

The weed and the wine

   It was a Wednesday afternoon and we had just gotten out of history. I was supposed to have lunch with newspaper boy, David, but something came up and we changed the day. I had already told my señora that I wasn't having lunch at home so I couldn't go back and expect to be fed. I asked siobhan if she wanted to go get tapas and she said yes. Here's where the night begins...

   So we go to this one place, it was anything special really, and have some wine and tapas. I originally wanted tinto de verano but someone told you can just say tinto and they know what it is. I knew it wasn't true because red wine is known as "vino tinto" or "tinto" for short. So how can "tinto de verano" be "tinto" when it's "vino tinto." Anywho... To prove it to myself I said tinto and was served wine. That's one point for me on the scoreboard.

   The first place wasn't all that delish. So Siobhan and I head to sushi tapas!!! It was amazing!!! Good sushi and a glass of wine that was more than halfway filled and super close to the rim. We got 2 of those. Not to mention that the entire time, Siobhan and I are totally bonding and talking about everything, literally. 

   After sushi tapas it was about 4:30 ish and we decide to go to Supersol and buy a bottle of wine and drink it at the apartment. Once we got to the apartment and had more wine in our systems, we smoked a little. Well her more than me. My favorite thing she said to me was "I would love to turn you into a stoner." I was like "what?" And then we just laughed a shit ton.

  Here's the view from their window.

   I came up with a brilliant idea of going on an adventure. And walking around Granada.

   We continued down to fuenteneuva and took that street down. After that all I remember is goinghamallday to a gas station and getting another bottle of wine and having to go across the street to a bar since we didn't have a corkscrew.

  In this bar, we met these old guys abd I mean like grandfather age and we started talking to them and they were telling us stories and it was really fun. I then realized that we were close to Fran's place. So I go outside and call him. Pablo, one of his friends who I met before, was going to go over to his place and I told Fran that they should come meet us since we were close to his house. He said yes and we waited for them.

  This parts a little fuzzy but I'm pretty sure it's right: while we were waiting I told Siobhan we should down one of the streets because it's closer to his house and he'll have to take it to get to us. We stop at a little park that I remember ever so because I've been there before. 

   We were going to wait a couple more minutes and leave when I turned around and saw these 2 guys walking with a pep in their step. I don't even know how I knew it was them in the state that I was in. I yelled Fran's name once, but nothing happened. Siobhan was like "they're too hot, it can't be them" but I knew somehow. I yelled Fran a second time they turned around. I said hi and we did the besos and guys.. I missed him. 

  So we stayed with them for a little until I couldn't anymore and I felt terrible. But they were cool. Unfortunately I haven't seen him since. And that was maybe 2 or 3 weeks ago. Yeahhhh but I have gone 5 weeks, so it's not epically bad. 

   I got back at 11. I couldn't even make it to reggae Wednesdays! Ugh. I blame it on the weed, my system just doesn't take that shit. And even now, the smell makes me a little nauseous. It's not the first time it's happened though. So I do blame it on the weed and wine. 

  My goal before I leave which is tomorrow :((( is to get a picture with Fran and his friends. Tonight, the plan is to go to Mae West and end with a bang!!! My flight is at 1:45 pm Friday. I'm flying to Madrid and I spend the night, then the next day I fly to Algeria where my dad will be waiting for me!!! I'm excited to see him! Aaahhhh 

  Today I said bye to a lot of people and I said bye to David and Jorge. When I said bye to Jorge... I started crying. I'm gonna miss that guy. ALOT. He's been super busy and I haven't seen him but we made a bet that we'd only hung out 4 times and it was 7. I forgot a couple. But he remembered! Hahaha. Aaaah, I don't want to leave him or Spain. We get a long so well. Ugh! Okay I should really get back to packing. This is hard but I'm almost done and I have no idea how much they weigh... Rough life.

Is a date a date if no one says it's a date?

    For my POE class, we had to give a presentation and interview Spaniards about a topic. My partner was Caroline and we originally picked the topic of gyms and working out but later decided to change it to dating in Spain. I sure as hell was not about to ask random people on the street, so I decided to interview my friends that I had met: Antonio, Carlos, and Noelle.

     The presentation only had to be about 20 -25 minutes long, however, everyone chimed in and added their opinions and we had a big discussion about dating and PDA and what we´ve seen and how it´s different to back home in the States. In the end, our presentation lasted 1 hour. An hour!!! Can you believe that?! 

    During the presentation, I asked a question to the class that was relative but had more to do with me, it was "Is a date a date if no one says it's a date?" One girl, Asha responded back right away and said "Uhh.. If a tree falls in the woods and no one's around to hear it, does it still make a sound?" She had a point, but it still didn´t clarify it. 

    Here's the situation: I hung out with a friend of mine (not saying who), and we went tapa hopping. I cleaned up nice, put make-up on and made sure I looked good, just in case. I kinda like the kid and we get along well but I wasn't sure if it was a date or not. When I saw him, he cleaned himself up too, he looked.. good. And that's when I started questioning if it was a date or not. We took the bus to Plaza de Toros and went tapa hopping over there. It was a really fun night. It felt like we had been talking for less than 2 hours when I looked up and saw that the clock said it was nearly midnight! 4 hours had gone by and neither one of us had realized it. That´s how well we get along and we made fun of each other and cracked jokes, it was a great time. We were walking back and he decided to walk me home. There was even that awkward "hug or kiss" moment at the door, but since there were people outside, I decided to just give him a hug. I did't want to be awkward in public. 

    In this situation, case number 1, the question applies: Is a date a date if no one says it's a date? I cleaned up, he cleaned up, there was that awkward moment in the end, but still.... Was it?!

    Case #2: Everyone knows David, Newspaper Boy, who I always talked to, every day and got his number and went to see his soccer game... yeah him. One day he told me that his boss told him that he didn't have to work anymore because the promotion from the newspaper was over for the semester. I said "what? I'm never going to see you again? I'm not ready to say bye yet." And he said neither was he, so we decided to hang out and get tapas one day. When that day came, he met me at the CLM and he was like 5 or 10 minutes late and kept apologzing over text, but I was like 'dude, calm down, it´s okay.' So then we walked to wherever it was we were going. and on our way there, he would jokingly push me over and took out his glove, and gently hit me in the face with it. And I'd pretend like I was going to punch him, or pretend like I was going leave. We had fun and talked a lot but he had a soccer game so we couldn't stay long and I had to pack for Amería. When I said bye, he went for the two kisses, but I was getting my hug! I gave him a hug, but he wasn't expecting it so when I let go, he pulled me back in and gave me a real hug and then we did the besos and split ways.

    Again, in case number 2, the question is applicable. In both cases, we split the bill. In Spain, always go Dutch. I asked my friend Paloma who I met through David, and she goes "ERA una cita!" It WAS a date, (cita means date). And I said how do you know? She said that her definition is whenever you hang out with a guy who you weren't friends with before, it's a date... then she added "Pero cita!!" She also said that boys don't pay anymore and that chivalry is dead here in Spain. Kinda sad, gentlemen are becoming a rare breed.

    

   So this is the real question!! Is a date a date if no one says it's a date? How do you know you are on a date? What's the criteria for it to be a date? And have you ever had to make the first move?

 

Highlights of the week (Nov 24 - Nov 30):

- Thanksgiving dinner at Michelle and Lynn's apartment

- Going to David's soccer game

- Skipping class for the first time (that's a milestone guys)

- Thanksgiving lunch with the program

- Sleeping for 10.5 hours, (no lie)

- Hanging out with Taylor, her mom and grandma all afternoon

- Flamenco show!!

- Tapas with Paul :)

- Granada 10 with Katrina

- Zigzagging through the crowd to get away from creepers and making British friends!

- Staying away from the mustache man, and seeing someone's Spanish twin. I didn't get to talk to him though, almost but not quite

Thanksgiving in Spain!

   Seeing as how I haven't skipped a single day of class for any of my 5 classes, I figured it'd be okay if I missed one.
  Here's a little background information. In the CLM there is a newspaper stand where this guy, who is amazeballs attractive works. One day I was talking to Antonio and I saw him walk by. The next day, I told Newspaper Boy that I saw him and we started chatting. I learned his name and we became friends. I always talked to him on our breaks and between classes. My friends always ask me how I became friends with him and they're impressed. But I've always found it easier to be friends with guys than girls. Striking up a conversation with them  is just so much easier. It just comes naturally, I don't know. One of my friends, Molly, said "you're an inspiration to us all." 

  On Thursday, during my awkward 2 hour break, I was talking to Newspaper Boy, formerly known as David. We've officially become friends, I have his number and everything. I was telling him how I didn't want to go to class and how I was debating on skipping. That's when he told me that he had a soccer game and if I wanted, I could go. Hmm, I thought about it for all of 3 seconds and tried to find out how to play this in my favor.

  I ended up leaving with him and we walked towards Fuenteneuva. He tried to trick me and tell me that I was going the wrong way, but seeing as how I'm am expert of Granada now.. (actually we had our own games there) I led the way.

   Fun fact: during my first class, I texted newspaper boy and said "I'm so tired, I need a hug." And you know what he said back... "you are so cute" and then added the smiley face that has hearts as eyes and is smiling, you know the one I'm talking about. I wasn't about to read into that shit and go through a whole mind fuck process, so I let it be.

  Back to the soccer game though, he's really good! David's got skills! But then again, I'm in Spain, what boy doesn't have skills? His team was really good, but the other team was better. David's team lost 7-2, and David scored the 2 goals. One of the guys on his team reminded me of someone I knew and for the longest time I couldn't think who it was. I realized who it was the next morning.
   But it was fun hanging out with him and his friend that I met, whose name I do not recall, unfortunately. We all walked back to Puerta Real. My program was meeting there at 2:30 for our Thanksgiving lunch and we were going to be right on time. We crossed the street and I said bye to them as they continued and turned the corner. I still didn't get my hug though.. it's going to happen. I promise you that!
    We waited about 5 minutes and then headed to Plaza Bib-Rambla. There was a tree made up of lights in the middle of the square. I can't wait until they turn it on!!! We walked to the corner on the left side and there was a restaurant all set up and waiting for our arrival. 
   We took our seats and soon after we ordered our drinks, the food came. Unfortunately, we're not allowed to have alcoholic beverages at our program events. But whatever, I got my some Mozto (I think that's how you spell it). In my defense, I asked for apple juice and she understood Mozto but I've had it before and I wasn't about to turn that down hahaha. Mozto is a non-alcoholic wine. But it's still considered wine. To me, it kind of tastes like apple juice and Welch's white grape juice. No idea how it's made, but it's delicious.
  The first thing the waiters brought out was a salad with shredded carrots, olives, cucumbers, eggs, lettuce (obviously), beets, and a couple other things I didn't eat. I focused mainly on the lettuce and olives. Then it was appetizers! The appetizers were square pieces of bread with different spreads on them and then something else on top. I recognized pate right away from having it as kid. Pate as in duck. I snatched that baby right up and plopped it in my mouth, i don't even remember what was on top of it but it was delicious. I also ate the appetizer that had some white spread and then some type of fish on it. That was amazingly delicious as well.
   The next plate the waiters brought out had a scoop of potato salad in the middle and then there were cheese slices, shrimp, white asparagus and something else on the outside. I had been having a craving for sea food, so I kind of went H.A.M. on the shrimp. I ate all of the shrimp that was on the plate to my right, and about 3 from the plate on my left. In total, between 10 and 15 shrimps. Lynn, who was sitting next to me said that my plate was full of skeletons. Lynn absolutely hates shrimp and a couple guys were making fun of her. Talking in shrimp voices and playing with the shrimp making and making them move. Cruel jokes, yet entertaining.
   The waiters started clearing out the tables and then.. TURKEY!!! There was either the breast of the turkey or the leg of the turkey, I got the turkey breast and it was so juicy and tender. Cooked to perfection. There was gravy on the plate that was so good and two scoops of mashed potatoes. Unfortunately I completely forgot about the mashed potatoes until I was done eating the turkey. But with all the food in my stomach I was so full. I had to try the potatoes though, and they were delicious too. I just had no room in my stomach for more. Or so I thought.
   Dessert consisted of pumpkin pie with berries and whipped cream on the side. I just ate the whipped cream and give my berries to Lynn. The pie wasn't to my liking. I ordered some tea whilst everyone else around me got coffee. I like the smell of coffee, but the taste? I just can't do it. Not for me. 
   The lunch was at 2:30 and we started leaving between 4:30 and 5.

 Delicious food, and great company made for an amazing day!! 

Cops and Robbers

  Friday night, I went out with Danielle, Michelle, and Roxie to Camborio. 

  So as the night went on, I met these 3 guys: Alvaro (the hot one), Jesus (the dancer) and Jose (aka, Frico). I was impressed with Jesus's dance skills, his popping and locking and tutting... It was like America's Best Dance Crew was in front of my face. 

  I got to talking to them and Alvaro then told me he was a cop, and pulled out his wallet and opened it up. There was a police badge staring back at me. He told me that he is an undercover cop. But he was out with his friends so he wasn't on the job. And so I asked questions about about like schooling and how long and other shit. He had answers for everything and details to back it up.

  I ended up getting their numbers and I still talk to them. Today, (Monday), I go out to lunch with Maggie, Katrina and Taylor. I end up telling them about the night and then I realize... It was themed! The party was "COPS AND ROBBERS" and I met a "cop." I had completely forgotten about it. 

  At the entrance, you could pick between being a cop or being a robber. I ended up picking a robber. Bad guys always win, unless you're up against batman, but this wasn't a superhero party. Not to mention I like to live life on the edge, you know?

   Now that I think about it though, they weren't handing out badges, only hats. And he seemed to know a lot of information too.

   When I told Maggie, Katrina, and Taylor this, I started dying laughing. More like crying laughing. If you know me at all, you know that when I laugh really hard, my eyes start watering and the next thing I know, tears are running down my face. This was one of those moments. I could not stop but once I finally did 2 minutes later, I could barely breathe. That was a good laugh, I needed it. 

  Please take the opportunity to laugh, because this is a story for the books. 

Córdoba

We took a tour of Córdoba and then headed to the mesquita. 

  All of a sudden there were these huges booms going off in the distance and then they started getting closer. I don't know if they were bottle tickets or ever they're called but then we saw a huge Leroy's of oeople dressed up and the guy who was fireing the things was super close and every time they went off in the air I freaked out because it was still scary and took me by surprise.

Sevilla

I am too lazy to type so here is what happened in Sevilla.. Photo version:

Next stop: La Catedral

Journey to: La Giralda

Back in the cathedral:

Next stop: Plaza de España

Later that night:

  Ignacio on the left and Santi on the right. They are guides from Discover Excursions (who I went to Portugal with) and I stayed in contact with Ignacio. Obviously cause he's a cutie! Hahaha!!

  Unfortunately my crew and his crew got split up later on, so I didn't get to say bye.