My dearest and devoted blog-followers, how I have failed you these past two weeks! Nothing too terribly exciting has happened since I wrote to you last besides touring yet another handful of cathedrals that if you can believe are all starting to look the same to me, visiting the beautiful cities of Ávila and Salamanca, and spending a significant time on my studies. (Yep, you read that last one correctly.) I know what you were all thinking, I thought it too, but yes I actually go to class four days a week and do have some homework to do from time to time. In fact, these past two weeks have been the worst for homework in my opinion and I am currently writing to you in efforts to avoid the 16 flash-cards sitting beside me just begging to be memorized. Tomorrow I have my first exam of the semester in my Cinema class in which I have to write two essays on the lives of two Catholic Kings of Spain which will be chosen at random from a total of nine kings and a define a few words used in the Middle Ages. Enticing, I know. Actually, each day I am finding the history of Spain more and more interesting. I'm no history buff by any means, but by being required to learn this material I have grown fond of yet another school subject, go figure.
Throughout the last two weeks Michelle, Libby and my post-trip plans are becoming more and more concrete. We have the basis of our first two weeks of travel mapped out and are still working on the last two weeks. We have decided to go ahead and purchase a Eurail pass which in my opinion will be a great and new way to travel. Some of the travel destinations include but are not limited to: Cinque Terre, Venice, Rome (for Easter) all in Italy, a few days in Greece, Interlaken, Switzerland and London for the royal wedding. Although super excited is an understatement about my feelings towards this European adventure, it simultaneously makes me so sad as to how close our departure day actually is from today. Which one of you said time could fly so fast?! I try not to think about the dwindling amount of days, but I suppose to every beginning there must be an end and therefore to every amazing four-and-a-half-month vacation there must be an excruciatingly painful brickwall of reality that will hit eventually...
As for this week in Spain and most of Europe there are festivals galore in honor of Carnaval. Carnaval is somewhat of a cross between the United States's Halloween and Mardi Gras. The main event of the festival happens on Tuesday, Fat Tuesday like we call it in the US, to celebrate the beginning of the Lenten season which begins on Wednesday. Everyone has been dressing up since Thursday night in everything from police officers, penguins, indians, etc. Our very own clever group of guys went and purchased sailor hats and proceeded to make sure everyone knew that they were Seamen. (Let's see if y'all get the pun, you can assume that the Spanish did not.) I have yet to purchase my costume, but I am running some errands after this "study sesh" to see what the costume stores have to offer me. Also, I am already half finished with my week of school as we head to Andalucia on Wednesday morning for the remainder of the week. With all of the festivities happening on Tuesday I plan to travel the "Spanish way" to Andalucia which means that I will celebrate until the wee hours of the morning, run home to shower, grab my bag and hop on the bus headed south. When in Spain, right?!
For all of you lucky enough to experience spring break in a warm climate, I hope you all are enjoying yourselves. For those of you stuck in Minnesota, well there's always next year and a still extended invitation for you to come here to visit the beautiful country of Spain! The invitation is always there, for the next five weeks that is. You can look forward to stories and pictures from Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada upon my return to Segovia early next week. Until then, hasta luego!
P.S. I want to give a little shout-out to one of my most special blog-followers. Grandma, HAPPY 86th BIRTHDAY! I hope it's great this year even without the endless amounts of scratch-offs with your name on them! Love and miss you, mucho!
Baylee, seems to me both Karen and I mentioned how fast the time would go! I am so glad you are enjoying it and can't wait to hear about your adventures in person (with pictures to back it up!)! The Eurail pass is a wonderful way to travel - just don't do what I did and change the dates on it so you can squeeze out a few more days. Luckily, I didn't get caught, but . . . it would have been a little hard to explain. We attended Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in Rome - very jealous that you will be there for Easter! It will be incredible! I will always remember my stay at Balmers Herberge in Interlaken - for lots of reasons! And London . . . now you are really making me jealous!!!! Enjoy a stroll through Hyde Park and think of me jumping the fence to get away from the Bobbies that were chasing us. Head to the Leinster Arms Pub and imagine me learning how to play darts with a charming older English gentleman. Make sure you try and of the "_ _ _ _ _ _ and the Firken" pubs and imagine me joining in a rousing round of early karoake. And be sure to head to Covent Gardens, the wonderful markets, and . . . oh, I think I should just come meet you there!
ReplyDeleteTeri! All of that sounds wonderful! I think I should have a chat with you before I depart for this adventure. Since London is going to be extra busy during the time that we are there we have already booked our hostel and we are actually staying in Hyde Park! School is getting a little crazy right now but let's schedule a time where you can share more stories and help us decide what we should do and where we should go! Later!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great, Baylee - I do have a Skype account as well if that helps (although someone has my webcam at the moment). Skype name is durblady. Otherwise you know I am usually on FB and, if I'm not, Morgan is and can get me!
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