Brittany, Ella, Hannah, Barcelona

I arrived home this morning after, a 7 am flight and an all-nighter, exhausted, grumpy, and more eager than ever for my bed in Sevilla. After sleeping the day away, I started editing my photos from the weekend in Barcelona and the fond memories have once again outweighed the inconveniences of traveling. Thanks to the kindness of Hannah's friend Carlos, who for some reason agreed to drive three ridiculous girls around Barcelona for the weekend, we were able to cram so many things into 2 days.

Parque Guell, designed by Gaudí

Reasons I love Barcelona:
1. Gaudí and his whimsical architecture (that makes me feel like I live in a beautiful dream)
2. There are mountains and I 'hiked' in them (+the leaves were yellow and falling)
3. There is a fairy themed bar (Bosc de les Fades), that looks like a fairy tale
4. We found kebab pizza
5. The creative, unique energy

Reasons I am happy to be back in Sevilla:
1. Barcelona is way to expensive ($13 for one drink?!?!)
2. It is still warm and sunny in Sevilla
3. Barcelona is way too big and too sprawling
4. No more fear of pick pockets
5. It means I go to Morocco in just 5 days!

I promise to update with real information and photos soon but I have to go make up for my laziness and write a paper!
ps: I successfully shot and removed a roll of film from my Holga (to be seen in January I suppose)

It's the weekend...again

and I'm going to Barcelona with two great friends! I am so excited because there is so much to see!

In the meantime, here is a video of Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Sevilla. Semana Santa is one of the biggest and most popular celebrations here in Andalusia, especially in Sevilla. Every year in March, the week before Easter, people flood to Sevilla to see the processions of pasos (floats) pass through the streets. Brotherhoods of Catholics from a certain church are in charge of designing each paso and taking care of the sculptures that adorn them (usually, Christ during his Passion or the Virgin Mary mourning his death). Men, called casteleros, stand underneath the pasos and carry them upon their shoulders (these floats generally weigh a ton if not more). The object is to carry the paso gracefully and to move along with the music. Penitentes (which inspired the dress of the KKK, if you haven't noticed already) walk with the pasos carrying crosses. They are supposed to be making penance for their sins. The goal of the procession it to make people identify with the suffering of Christ; hence the carrying of heavy burdens, long hours of walking, and the sad nature of the images. It is very unlike anything I had heard of but interesting no less. Too bad I won't be here in March to experience it. These days, Semana Santa has become more commercial and less religious but remains very important!

Halloween Weekend

I know it wasn't supposed to be, but this weekend has been gloriously uneventful, relaxing, and just what I needed! I took a school trip to the small Andalusian towns of Osuna and Estepa, went to a cookie factory, and enjoyed the WARM Fall weather in Sevilla. Did I mention that I stayed in every night this weekend and didn't bother participating in Halloween festivities??? Oh right, well that's what I did and I don't regret it!



I spent today, All Saints Day (which is a national holiday in Spain), having a picnic in Parque María Luisa and strolling around the city! We also went to Plaza de España (every Spanish city has one), which is gorgeous! It houses all of the government buildings and other stuff that I am just not aware of.

Here are some better pictures of what I tried to capture here.


The roads and walkways around Spain are beautifully ornate




Brittany and Hannah in Plaza de España






Plus, I found Miles along the way...thanks Hannah for making me "snuggle up to it".

Pictures from Osuna and Estepa to come!

Midterm

I secretly want to be this for Halloween, my friend Olivia posted it and I fell in love

I've been really BUSY this past week.
(have you all noticed, been waiting with anticipation for a new post?)

I have been:
1. eating way too much peanut butter (even MORE sweetarts...)
2. studying, studying, studying (but midterms are over now!)
3. attempting to run everyday
4. sleeping as much as possible
5. finally getting really into my book

I am looking forward to:
1. developing the pictures from my Holga
2. seeing my dear friend Lillian this weekend
3. going to Barcelona next Thursday
4. recreating Fall in January
5. running more than 2 miles

I read something the other day that inspired me, so here you are:
"The present, after all, is the only time over which we have any control. I can't control the past; it's gone. As for the future, I don't know what will happen. Right now, however, I can choose to rejoice and so transform my life." -Mike Mason

To celebrate the season and so that I can live vicariously, here is an awesome carved pumpkin

and maybe I can attempt this because, guess what mom, I can now peel my oranges with a knife!
(In other news I found the word 'Ghettoblaster' in my Spanish-English dictionary. Apparently, it means cassette; who knew?)

I Am the Luckiest.

I have been feeling, ever so slightly, under the weather this week. Because of this, I came home early last night and dedicated myself to a thorough night's sleep (which I did accomplish and it feels great).

I awoke rested, to Encarna (my host mom), yelling my name as if there were a fire. Ok, so maybe that is an exaggeration, but in my sleepy state, her yelling in Spanish was mind boggling. She opened my door, said something, and left. After taking the next couple of minutes to review the situation, I realized that she had told me that a man was coming to bring me a package.


Complete with Fall decorations, pumpkin cakes, Holga film, and sour candy!!!!

The next moment, I was staggering out of bed and Encarna was thrusting a package into my arms. It was like reverse Christmas (you WILL take this package!!!). And I am sooo very glad that I did wake up to get it!



It was like a little piece of heaven and I may or may not have gotten a little bit emotional over it. Let's just say that fall has descended in my room (I can smell it, see it, and taste it). My Grandmother's creativity is too much, she evened managed to satisfy my desire for pumpkin pie!


This is what I get EVERY morning for breakfast, made amazing today by PEANUT BUTTER!

As I was going through the box, I realized how incredibly lucky I am. I have such great family and friends who have taken the time and money to put together these incredible care packages just so that I feel less homesick. I can't explain how much this means to me and how much I appreciate each and everyone of you! Thank you for making me feel so loved and so very blessed (I hope that I can return that same love as well!)

So thank you a million times Mom, Gary, Dad, Grandma,
Grandad, Zack, Rachel, and Aimee

You are all too good to me and I am so thankful for you all.
(now excuse me while I go give myself a sweetart stomach ache)

ps: Encarna just spoke to me in English (first time ever). She said, "thas ok"!!!

Birthday Shoutout

This post goes out to my one and only, awesome, friend for life...

Zack Hubbard!!!



I can think on no one else who would come over at midnight to remove mice from my ceiling or share in a mutual love of Shirley Q. Liquor. I hope that you have a wonderful 24th birthday (I wish I could be there to help you pluck those gray hairs)!

left, Zack saving someone's life from a snow drift. Right, tantalizing as always...

Because I cannot be there to embarrass you on your birthday, I will just do it on the interwebz (you are just lucky that iphoto won't allow me to access the archives, I think there are some real treasures)!
Love you forever!

Nerd Boyfriend

I couldn't resist posting this website/photo when I saw it on a friends facebook. How funny, a website to help skillfully dress your boyfriend as a nerd. Boys, watch out for NerdBoyfriend.com (hipster alert)!