Family Reunion in Ciudad Real

This past Friday I took the train to Ciudad Real (about 2 hours North of Sevilla) to visit the spanish family that hosted me during my stay in Summer 2010.  It was so nice to spend time with them and see some familiar faces.  Friday we went to go see some newborn Yorkie puppies that they were interested in buying in a few weeks; they were so tiny! Later that evening, I hung out with my host sister Sara. We went into town to do some shopping then stopped at a bar for a drink and panini with her friends.  Saturday I went with my host mom to her sister's apartment, then we walked around the market in Ciudad Real, stopped at a tapas bar for a couple of tapas, then headed back home for a big family lunch.  All the aunts, cousins, and even their grandma was there! It was so much fun.  Later I went with Sara to a park to hang out with her friends some more and when we got back, we had some sandwiches for dinner.  Sunday, we went to the local fitness center where Sara and Mer (2 of my host sisters) went to do Zumba; there was a race going on that day and lots of other activities as well (like Zumba).  Then, my host parents dropped me off at the train station and made sure I made it to my train! I got to ride the AVE which is the high speed train in Spain (it was fast and easy!). I had a great weekend with my old host family, but glad to be back in warm, sunny Sevilla!

LA FERIA!

La feria de abril is a festival in Spain and there is one in Sevilla every year. It was such a fun week of no classes and lots of activities! The festival starts at midnight on Monday night with the lighting up of the main entrance (this year it was designed to look like the Plaza de España). Tuesday I went with my host parents to their daughters "caseta" (tent) to have some tapas and drinks for lunch. We also got to ride in their horse drawn carriage around the festival for a bit.  Feria is like walking into a completely different city that only comes for a week. It was so beautiful and colorful! All the women are dressed up in flamenco dresses and everyone is dancing, drinking, socializing and enjoying life.  Wednesday I got to dress up in a flamenco dress with my host mom and her daughter! It was so neat, but also extremely hot with such high temps this past week! Thursday I went to Matalascañas which is a beach in Huelva with two friends. It was the perfect day to just relax on the beach after two full days of feria! On friday I left to visit the spanish family that hosted me during my study abroad experience in Summer 2010 (new post to come!). When I got back on Sunday, I worked on some homework, then met up with a friend to go see the fireworks at midnight which is the end of feria.  We stopped by a pub for a mojito on the way, then watched the fireworks from a bridge that crosses the Guadalquivir River. Such an amazing week! Can't believe I only have 3 weeks left!

In my flamenco dress in
front of the "caseta"

           

the beach in Matalascañas, Huelva

Mojito time before
fireworks

Mallorca

This past weekend I took a trip to Mallorca with my interest group. Mallorca is part of the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea. It was a great weekend with the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. We left Sevilla Friday morning in a bus to go to Malaga. We stopped in Malaga to visit a castle/museum, then we went to catch our flight from Malaga to Mallorca. When we arrived in Mallorca, we met up with our guide to go on a tour of the city. Saturday we went to the caves of Drach, where we took a tour of the caves, saw a classical music concert and went on a short boat ride through the cave. Next we went to a natural park along the coast and stopped or lunch on one of the beaches. Lunch was so delicious! We had some appetizers (croquetas, roasted green peppers, fish, and fried potatoes), salad, paella and vino of course! Next, we had free time to lay out in the beach and swim in the crystal clear water! Sunday morning we visited a castle in Mallorca, then were off to the airport to catch our flight back to Malaga, then our bus back to Sevilla. Such an amazing weekend and beautiful island!

Paris and Dublin :)

On one of the love lock bridges in
front of Notre Dame

Hike through the countryside in
Howth, Ireland

Well I don't have classes this week for Holy Week, so last Friday some friends and I headed to the airport to go to Paris and Dublin for part of the week! I had an awesome time & we packed so much into the little time we were there. Paris blew me away! Never thought I'd love it so much & Dublin was amazing. Already want to go back! Our trips went very smoothly, our hostel in Paris was a little sketchy, but we all made it out alive:) haha. I flew back into Sevilla on Tuesday and was welcomed by some warm weather! It was freezing in Dublin (so pretty much like the weather at home in good ole Indiana)! Sevilla is an amazing place to be for Semana Santa! They have different processions everyday of the week & it is so beautiful and such a neat experience! The rain has put a damper on some of the processions, but my host mom took me out Wednesday night and Thursday night to see some. Thursday night we left at midnight and didn't get back until 8:30 am! I definitely didn't know what I was in for that night, but it was a good time:) Today my main goal has just been to catch up on some sleep (I've done a pretty good job).

Watching the processions for
Holy Week with my host mom

Two more weeks of class, the. It's spring break round 2 for me!

Family reunion in Madrid!

I took the bus to meet Mom, Dad, and the two baby sisters this past weekend in Madrid! Saturday they arrived a few hrs after me & I joined their tour group for a visit to El Prado museum. Then, we went to dinner in a cute restaurant near our hotel:) Sunday morning dad and Mac went with the group to Segovia and El Escorial for some sightseeing there (rainy day!). Mom, Keelin & I stayed back in Madrid to tour the royal palace and cathedral, have lunch at the market & nap! Then, we met Dad & Mac for a cooking class for dinner! We took a taxi to the school (which didnt have a street number which made things difficult), but we made it there eventually. Keelin and I were in charge of making the tortilla espanola, Mom made paella, Mackenzie did the appetizers and lemonade, and Dad took pictures! It was delicious! Afterwards, Dad and I ventured out for some beers in celebration of St. Paddy's Day! I left on a bus Monday morning to get back to Sevilla in time for my evening classes! Great weekend & so good to see the family! They brought me some yummy treats and a new laptop, so pictures will be coming soon!! Morgan, you were missed!

Halfway through!

                                                         

Well, I just finished with all of my midterms! It's been a bit of a stressful week, but I'm so happy that exams are over. Just got back from an afternoon sitting by the river and getting a little sun with one of my friends to celebrate the end of our exams:) Tomorrow, I leave for Huelva to go on a hike through the countryside with my interest group, then Friday night/Saturday morning I head out to Madrid to meet my parents, Mackenzie and Keelin!! So excited!!

Granada

Last weekend I went to Granada with my program! We left Saturday morning by bus & ate lunch upon arriving to our hotel. To was delicious! Next we were off to tour a neighborhood, visit the mosque of Granada, and tour the church where King Ferdinand and Queen Elizabeth are buried. Then we had free time to enjoy the city and go out to dinner. Sunday morning we had the opportunity to visit a monastery which was really neat. It's only used as a museum today, but it was cool to see a building with such simplicity in some areas and such elaborate decoration in others! Then we went back to the hotel for another buffet lunch! After lunch, we dedicated 3 hours to touring La Ahlambra! It is such a beautiful palace with breathtaking views of the city! All in all it was a great trip:)