Friday, October 21, 2011

Hiking in Aracena

Today we went hiking in a small pueblo outside of Aracena, which is about an hour and a half outside Sevilla. Our program took us on a day trip there and it was so beautiful! We hiked 9 MILES though the mountains and outskirts of the town. During the hike we passed by multiple pig farms (yummmy jamon ;) haha) and horse farms as well. We also saw plenty of sheep, even a few baby ones that were precious! We stopped in one of the small pueblos (towns) for lunch and some tinto de verano which was delicious. All in all it was a great day but we are all so exhausted from the hike...were not told it was going to be 9 miles that was a surprise.

Tomorrow will possibly be going to Rhonda--this very small cool town outside Sevilla for a day trip with some of my friends.

Weekend is off to a great start!

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Week in Sevilla

Hola! This was our first FULL week/weekend in Sevilla since we've been here. Seems crazy, but the past two weekends I was traveling and the first weekend we were here it was more of settling in etc. My classes this week went well, I'm really enjoying all of them. For my Flamenco class, we got our first paper assignment; to compare and analyze two different types of Flamenco. We can hand in the paper whenever we like as long as its before the end of the semester, so I'm going to get started this week. We have to go to different flamenco bars and watch the different types of flamenco...rough life I know.

This weekend was great especially because my bestie Marie came to visit me! She is studying in Barcelona and came to Sevilla with some of her friends for the weekend! It was a great weekend and SO nice to have her here. I feel so lucky to have been able to see Camilla, Marie and my Dad all within these past two weeks :). I took Marie to Alcazar (the Moorish palace) and to the back streets in bario Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is a very traditional Sevillian district with tapas bars, winding streets, flamenco bars, small plazas..very magical. We had delicious paella, sangria and dulces at a wonderful restaurant. (My first meal I've splurged on since I've been here!) On Friday night we went to see flamenco at La Carboneria, a very well kept secret in Sevilla. They are famous for their traditional, non-touristy flamenco shows and for Agua de Sevilla. Agua de Sevilla is a traditional drink here that is four different liqours, champagne, pineapple juice and whipped cream..definitely lethal but delicious!

Marie met all my friends and they all loved her! Showed her nightlife in Sevilla and took her to a bunch of bars and discotecas. We had tinto de verano on the river last night which was great. I also took her to plaza de espana, a very big plaza that was built to commemorate Spain. They have a little waterway that runs circular around the fountain and you can rent mini paddle boats for 40 minutes to go around the plaza so I took Marie to do that with my friends and I. Today, my host brother invited Marie over for lunch. Amanda, Marie, Felipe (host brother), two of his friends and I had a delicious lunch that Felipe prepared..Lasagna and Cruzcampo (Spanish budlight)!

Tomorrow starts another week of class, more updates coming soon :)

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Locks of Love, Paris

Dad & I at Madeline Church

Holly & I at the Eiffel Tower

You all know what this is

Holly, Becca and I at Hotel des Invalides

Weekend in Paris

This past weekend, my group (API) took us to Paris! We were there Thursday-Sunday and had an amazing time. I'm really happy I ended up going with my group because I probably wouldn't have otherwise--so expensive and also a lot of other places I want to see! Anyways, it was great we got a panoramic bus tour of the city, stopped at the eiffel tour, notre dame, a lot of other historic places and had a private tour of the louvre! The louvre was one of the most beautiful museums I've ever been to. My favorite part of the museum was the moat that used to surround the city. The remains are still in really good condition and there's this pathway that takes you through the moat walls. Very cool.

It was my friends 21st birthday while we were there, such a lucky girl to spend it in Paris! Also, one of my best friends Camilla is studying abroad there so it was great to see a familiar face. We went out to dinner the first night I was there, and went shopping on Saturday. My Dad was traveling back to NY from Holland and made a pit stop in Paris on Saturday! It was so so so good to see him and he took my two friends (Holly and Becca) and I out for coffee and cake which was delicious. The food in France is definitely incredible..I think I probably ate a dozen pains au chocolat while I was there.

On Saturday night Dad, Camilla and I went out to dinner. It felt very surreal to be in Paris with them and I feel so lucky that I got to see my friends/family while I was there. The dinner was deliche..first meal I haven't had to split with a friend in a very very long time! Spain isn't NEARLY as expensive as Paris, but still when we go out to eat we try to spend as little as possible and end up splitting a bunch of different plates so it was so nice to order a meal just for myself. Thanks Dad :)

Back in Sevilla now and our host mom prepared some soup and eggs for Amanda/I. Unpacking and going to classes tomorrow.

XO

Monday, October 3, 2011

The cliffs in Lagos!

Becca at Dona Ana Beach. Lagos, Portugal

Weekend in Lagos!

This past weekend a couple of my friends and I went to Lagos, Portugal! It was absolutely incredible and probably the most charming, beautiful place I have ever been to. The small windy cobble stone streets, white washed houses and small coves are a lot like Greece. We went with a big group that is coordinated by a company that plans/offers trips for students studying abroad in Sevilla! It was a ton of fun and the beach was absolutely beautiful!

The food was delicious, very different from Spanish food. On Saturday night my friend and I wandered into a bar with live music! The guitarist was incredible and we stayed the whole night listening to music and hanging out with the locals. One of the coolest things I've ever experienced.

On Sunday, the group we went with had coordinated a surfing excursion. We went to this secluded beach right under the natural park of Costa Vincentina about 30 minutes outside Lagos. I only stood up once but it was such an amazing experience since I've always wanted to learn how to surf...and what better place than Portugal! Costa Vincentina is right near the town of Sagres, the farthest eastern point in Europe. We went to see the sunset there on Saturday night as well, it's called "the end of the world" because people used to think that the world just dropped off right there since there's nothing visible besides the ocean. It was absolutely breathtaking.

All in all it was an amazing weekend, but we're back in Sevilla now! Off to Paris on Thursday, this is not real life! Too good to be true :)