So Dublin was a lot of fun. We went to Malahide about 30 minutes from Dublin with Hugh, Tarah's sister's friend from Spain who is Irish, and we met his friends and family who were extremely nice and generous. We watched the Hurling game of Dublin vs. Tipperary which was a really intense game! I had never heard of hurling before but it seems to me like a mashup of all the best sports: american football, lacrosse, soccer/football, rugby... great fun! We were told that Dublin hadn't made it so close to the finals in over 40 years so this was very exciting for the locals and jerseys were being sported all over town.
We had the best fish and chips ever and I discovered my new favorite way to eat french fries- with salt and vinegar- so savory!
We went out only once to the bars in Dublin but there was a lot of great things to see and people about at night. We missed Weylan's Pub where the adorable movie P.S. I Love You was filmed so that's on the ol' bucket list now for when I come back... ;).
We sent Jamee off at 3am to the airport to go back home Wednesday after doing our final day of touristy sites and gift-buying (everything still fits!). We then made our way the next afternoon to Kerry County to Ballybunion on the West coast- where Jedward performed only a week before our arrival. We heard that they were a teen Irish singing duo that was not spectacular at singing.
Tarah's cousin Jackie, two or three times removed I think was gracious enough to let us stay at his B&B and Pub on the main drag. Our first night we poured our own drinks then got stuck behind the bar bartending the whole rest of the night! This night was the same night that the Irish secondary students (our high schoolers) get their exams back (like our SAT) so its a very big night to celebrate or mope and therefore Alcohol (can drink at 18 years old here if you were surprised for a second). We got fabulous tips and had some really great company, including a couple honeymooning and some rowdy Americans on a golf trip.
Today we are very tired from closing up the bar at 0130. We plan on going to the seaweed hot baths at the beach here where 'the Iodine in the seaweed really relaxes you' but now we are taking a warm-up nap. Well, I'm being dutiful and sticking to my blog until the end... TOMORROW! We leave at 7am to the Airport about 2 hours away for our 11am flight to JFK together. Then Tarah and I split up to go to our respective California airports and I have a huge layover in JFK of 5 hours! Yuck! Maybe I'll buy a paper and have some good old American coffee again.
I can't wait to be home but I feel the same way as I do away at college sometimes- that I've left some sort of time warp and that everything stopped while I was away but it hasn't! So I'll have lots of catching up to do with all of you while you look at all my photographs! :) As they say in Ireland, "Cheers!" and I'll be seeing you all real soon...
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
DUBLIN!
Hey all! So Dublin has been awesome!! I love it here. The city is beautiful, the weather is unpredictable but fun, the houses are gorgeous, the water is calming, the pubs are lively and fun (I had a Bolmers (sp?) cider, called Magnus elsewhere- was soooo delicious!) and the people are so friendly! Oh, and the food is delicious too, especially the homemade stuff :).
We took a bus to Galway on the west coast, where we got to do some sightseeing along the way of things we didn't even knew existed so that was a nice surprise. The Cliffs of Moher were unbelievable to see and the fog cleared up just as we arrived so it was really breathtaking. The bus got us back in town over an hour later than expected but it was a great way to spend one of Jamee's last days with us.
Today we are doing more tourist things such as the Guiness factory, Jameson factory and private tour of Parliment thanks to Tarah's fabulous connections which have all worked out seamlessly.
We took a bus to Galway on the west coast, where we got to do some sightseeing along the way of things we didn't even knew existed so that was a nice surprise. The Cliffs of Moher were unbelievable to see and the fog cleared up just as we arrived so it was really breathtaking. The bus got us back in town over an hour later than expected but it was a great way to spend one of Jamee's last days with us.
Today we are doing more tourist things such as the Guiness factory, Jameson factory and private tour of Parliment thanks to Tarah's fabulous connections which have all worked out seamlessly.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Louvre
Saw the Louvre today! It rained again while we were inside so it was humid in there. We saw some great things including the Mona Lisa! Ate a croissont for breakfast and bolognese pasta for lunch with, of all things, flan for dessert! Interesting!
In a few hours to will metro with all our belongings to the CDG Paris airport for our 2 hour flight to Dublin where we will check in and meet Tarahs friend.
In a few hours to will metro with all our belongings to the CDG Paris airport for our 2 hour flight to Dublin where we will check in and meet Tarahs friend.
Friday, August 12, 2011
Paris
Evening 1
We walked to the grocery store, bought bread, cheese, salame, a four-pack of red wine mini bottles and lots of fruit then took our feast to the lawn of the Eiffel Tower! It was spectacular- we saw sunset and beautiful clouds in the best view ever. We gorged ourselves then ate gummi bears before we braved the long lines to get to the top of the tower via elevator (we are so over taking the stairs when theyre over triple digits in count!!) Oh, and one GREAT thing here is that there are discount rates almost everywhere for youths under 26 years old! So basically a student discount but better! So we went up at a slant (whoa... not the best feeling) then walked around at the first level before waiting in line for the real-deal elevator straight up to the TOP!
They packed us in like cattle but that also made me feel kind of more safe for some reason (I dont really like elevators ever since the Empire State Building 80 story one... ahhh!). We got to the top and it was so windy on one side- reminded me of OBX with the relatives atop lighthouses, including Kash losing her push-pop over the side only to find it pulverized on the cement below. :) We took lots of pictures of the city of Paris from the top, they even have a map of in what direction countries are located and how far away. Very cool to orient yourself! Theres even a restaurant at the top, cant imagine how expensive or not-tasty that food is- location location location?
Then we walked home, for a big and busy city, Paris felt surprisingly safe to walk at night in our gaggle of girls.
Day 2
So we got off to a rough start this morning with no sheets on the bed and kinks in our necks- only half of us (barely) made it down for a free but so-so breakfast consisting of muesli cereal, coffee, concetrate OJ, break and jam or butter and... nope, that was it. The coffee was plain but heavensent. We had to be out of the room from 11-4pm today for lock-outs so we went out on the town. Stopped at a bakery for more breakfast and first breakfast for those who missed the first breakfast (I sound like a hobbit with their many meals!) There were wasps in the bakery pastry displays so you dont need me to tell you they were good pastries!
We saw lots of things I cannot pronounce, much less spell (my French woes again). We waited two hours in line for the Catacombs which were very cool in an creepy sort of way, got cafe au lait the first hour and then, the second hour got crepes with banana and nutella while we waited in line- delicious!! We walked soooo much!!! I am so tired but also so energized about life! Yay! So much to see!
Prospective
Tomorrow we go to the museum of museums, the Lourve! I am excited but overwhelmed cause rumor has it that it is impossible to see the whole thing in a year so Im not really sure how much I will see just in a few hours... but I will do my best!
Tomorrow night we fly to Dublin!! Yay!! We are going on AerLingus and I am pretty sure that my bag is going to be overweight, I think I am going to dress in many, many, silly layers so as to make my bag lighter...oopsies.
We walked to the grocery store, bought bread, cheese, salame, a four-pack of red wine mini bottles and lots of fruit then took our feast to the lawn of the Eiffel Tower! It was spectacular- we saw sunset and beautiful clouds in the best view ever. We gorged ourselves then ate gummi bears before we braved the long lines to get to the top of the tower via elevator (we are so over taking the stairs when theyre over triple digits in count!!) Oh, and one GREAT thing here is that there are discount rates almost everywhere for youths under 26 years old! So basically a student discount but better! So we went up at a slant (whoa... not the best feeling) then walked around at the first level before waiting in line for the real-deal elevator straight up to the TOP!
They packed us in like cattle but that also made me feel kind of more safe for some reason (I dont really like elevators ever since the Empire State Building 80 story one... ahhh!). We got to the top and it was so windy on one side- reminded me of OBX with the relatives atop lighthouses, including Kash losing her push-pop over the side only to find it pulverized on the cement below. :) We took lots of pictures of the city of Paris from the top, they even have a map of in what direction countries are located and how far away. Very cool to orient yourself! Theres even a restaurant at the top, cant imagine how expensive or not-tasty that food is- location location location?
Then we walked home, for a big and busy city, Paris felt surprisingly safe to walk at night in our gaggle of girls.
Day 2
So we got off to a rough start this morning with no sheets on the bed and kinks in our necks- only half of us (barely) made it down for a free but so-so breakfast consisting of muesli cereal, coffee, concetrate OJ, break and jam or butter and... nope, that was it. The coffee was plain but heavensent. We had to be out of the room from 11-4pm today for lock-outs so we went out on the town. Stopped at a bakery for more breakfast and first breakfast for those who missed the first breakfast (I sound like a hobbit with their many meals!) There were wasps in the bakery pastry displays so you dont need me to tell you they were good pastries!
We saw lots of things I cannot pronounce, much less spell (my French woes again). We waited two hours in line for the Catacombs which were very cool in an creepy sort of way, got cafe au lait the first hour and then, the second hour got crepes with banana and nutella while we waited in line- delicious!! We walked soooo much!!! I am so tired but also so energized about life! Yay! So much to see!
Prospective
Tomorrow we go to the museum of museums, the Lourve! I am excited but overwhelmed cause rumor has it that it is impossible to see the whole thing in a year so Im not really sure how much I will see just in a few hours... but I will do my best!
Tomorrow night we fly to Dublin!! Yay!! We are going on AerLingus and I am pretty sure that my bag is going to be overweight, I think I am going to dress in many, many, silly layers so as to make my bag lighter...oopsies.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Paris!
We took the train to Paris from Lyon today! Only 2 hours so very easy. We werent all sitting together once again but Tarah and I were since we bought our tickets together. Finished the movie Flyboys and started PS I Love You- ah what a good movie- makes me ready for seeing Ireland in 2 days!!
Hotel room is very very lime green, bunk beds, sheets cost extra, towels too, one bathroom for the floor but we are on the first floor (so one level up from lobby) and very close to the Eiffel Tower! Tonight we are going to buy a small, grocery store dinner and take it to the tower to eat on the lovely lawn in front! How exciting! The weather has been great so far, I wonder if our luck will hold, some rain in Paris wouldnt be too bad except I dont have any waterproof shoes... oops. Ive learned its hard to pack for the heat of Rome and the rain of Paris in the same small duffel bag!
Hotel room is very very lime green, bunk beds, sheets cost extra, towels too, one bathroom for the floor but we are on the first floor (so one level up from lobby) and very close to the Eiffel Tower! Tonight we are going to buy a small, grocery store dinner and take it to the tower to eat on the lovely lawn in front! How exciting! The weather has been great so far, I wonder if our luck will hold, some rain in Paris wouldnt be too bad except I dont have any waterproof shoes... oops. Ive learned its hard to pack for the heat of Rome and the rain of Paris in the same small duffel bag!
Lyon
Lyon was so pretty, great walking, lots of shops and great views to see. We had crepes (pronounced crep we learned) for the first time, they were tasty! Especially with nutella which I normally dont like in the US due to the hazelnut..anyways). Getting a little homesick for English- I miss being able to turn on the TV and just have familiar things in the background, even if they are ads. Also not being able to speak French makes the simplest things difficult but I remember why I didnt pursue learning French: it doesnt sound like its written-so many silent letters, its like two languages! Maybe someday I will take the time to figure it out!
Also, theyre are different keyboards here again, confusing!
Also, theyre are different keyboards here again, confusing!
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Leon, France
Took the 5 hour train from Milan to Leon, crossed into France in the mountains- so beautiful! Got some photos out the window. We watched Flyboys on the train on Tarah's computer- great movie! Arrived in Leon tonight at 10pm, saw rats running across the parking lot of the train station then took a cab to our hotel that has the tiniest rooms with a queen sized bed and vanity table squeezed into it and a bathroom that rivals an airplane bathroom for size and efficiency of space (much cleaner though). On the 5th floor, tiny elevator so two of us took the stairs up and up and up and up and UP! We rerouted our plane tickets to cut London out of our trip this weekend due to the riots in the city center and tourist areas- a pretty penny. Peace of mind is priceless, one might say? Tomorrow we explore Leon with our newest member, Allison, who was staying in Switzerland before this.
Goodbye Milan
Leaving Milan this afternoon, going to the Museum of Science for Leonardo di Vinci exhibit (yay!!) then train to Leon, France! Everything fit in my suitcase so so far so good! Its another toasty day, can't wait for France weather...
Monday, August 8, 2011
Milan
In Milan, where cousin Kasia studied for a semester, its great! I love it here, a good mix of modern and old-time european with the most beautiful (and second largest cathedral in the world) I've ever seen! Lots of shopping too but we are all being very careful. We walked in the central gardens, the palace, the expensive shopping scene where the 'A-listers shop' as our hostel receptionist recommended. We got gelato, my favorite flavor seems to be crema or caramel! Yum! Yesterday it was cloudy and drizzly which we welcomed after the sweltering heat of southern Italy but alas, today was a deceptively hot day. Now its time for siesta then out again for dinner and lots of walking (my feet and shoulders hurt everyday now from walking and carrying my bag so much).
We take the train to France tomorrow where we will meet another girl from Tarah's friends bringing the total to 4 of us. We will be staying in Leon for 2 days and then to Paris for 2.
We take the train to France tomorrow where we will meet another girl from Tarah's friends bringing the total to 4 of us. We will be staying in Leon for 2 days and then to Paris for 2.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Train Warm Up to Milan
So on to Milan we went! A 4 hour train ride with a very touchy couple in the car cabin with Tarah and I... just lovely. Saw lovely countryside though and got to sleep some more (we have been eating dinner around 9pm, bed 12-2am, awake 730-9am every day). Milan is a welcome break for us because we get TWO WHOLE DAYS here, which *drumroll please* means that we get to sleep in tomorrow! No trains to catch!
We got to the hostel, very big room, better internet but still patchy, nice showers. 3 twin beds this time, usually its a double and a twin, or a double and two twins. We went out for aperativos in the rain (guess I have to break down and buy an umbrella), where you buy a drink and get free food from a buffet of sorts. An idea like this, where you can stuff you face and drink for only 9 Euros would probably make an American bar go bankrupt real quick, but here, guests linger over 3 raviolis, a few crappy french fries, and a dollop of canned peas with ham (Mom I thought of you when I saw those!). Needless to say, we got our money's worth. Traveling sure takes it out of you for whatever reason...
We walked the canals as we nursed our full stomachs. Now we are at home, each on our respective twin bed, relaxing before our first full day without travel! On the agenda for Milan is (lots of things are closed Mondays, bummer) the Science Museum, the Planetarium (yay I'm excited), lots of art museums if we can get in last-minute, Kasia's gelato recommendations (we take these very seriously), and the castle here in Milan! Horrah!
We got to the hostel, very big room, better internet but still patchy, nice showers. 3 twin beds this time, usually its a double and a twin, or a double and two twins. We went out for aperativos in the rain (guess I have to break down and buy an umbrella), where you buy a drink and get free food from a buffet of sorts. An idea like this, where you can stuff you face and drink for only 9 Euros would probably make an American bar go bankrupt real quick, but here, guests linger over 3 raviolis, a few crappy french fries, and a dollop of canned peas with ham (Mom I thought of you when I saw those!). Needless to say, we got our money's worth. Traveling sure takes it out of you for whatever reason...
We walked the canals as we nursed our full stomachs. Now we are at home, each on our respective twin bed, relaxing before our first full day without travel! On the agenda for Milan is (lots of things are closed Mondays, bummer) the Science Museum, the Planetarium (yay I'm excited), lots of art museums if we can get in last-minute, Kasia's gelato recommendations (we take these very seriously), and the castle here in Milan! Horrah!
Firenze Fever
Florence! This is the place Jamee studied (Tarah in Spain); thus, Jamee knew all the right places to go and see! We only had one day in Florence but we managed and had a lot of fun! We went to a big outdoor shopping flea market and I got lots of wonderful presents for people (and some for myself...). We had "cookie" flavored gelato at Jamee's favorite shop, it was delicious! Kind of like waffle crisp with chunks of tasty things in it if you were curious. We also ate the best (and well priced) family style meal -that included a bottle of wine- ever at a place Jamee's teacher and Kasia recommended. It was called something like the Gatto y Volpe restaurant and I highly recommend it to everyone if you're ever in Florence. We saw the very old Puente Vecchio where Jamee says a meat market used to be held many years ago until the Dukes who had to pass by finally got so sick of the rotting meat smell from unselling butchers that the bridge was banned for meat selling and now houses unsmelly jewelery sales. Also, this is the place where a common phrase was coined but Jamee wasn't sure which it was... some research for me later.
In the morning, we climbed the very tall, very narrow staircase tower at the Florence duomo at the church. (beautiful, pictures to come when I'm home, I'll let you all know when they're up).
Florence had a great, friendly, giant hostel with crappy wifi internet connection (too much competition?) and no air or fans as usual-- the hottest night of sleep I've ever not gotten. I was sweating even at 8am. Talk about humid. Anyways, it was beautiful.
Florence is a medium sized town with enough things to do and see to keep you busy for many days, but we went short and sweet. Maybe I will see you again, Firenze...
In the morning, we climbed the very tall, very narrow staircase tower at the Florence duomo at the church. (beautiful, pictures to come when I'm home, I'll let you all know when they're up).
Florence had a great, friendly, giant hostel with crappy wifi internet connection (too much competition?) and no air or fans as usual-- the hottest night of sleep I've ever not gotten. I was sweating even at 8am. Talk about humid. Anyways, it was beautiful.
Florence is a medium sized town with enough things to do and see to keep you busy for many days, but we went short and sweet. Maybe I will see you again, Firenze...
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Ciao Cinque Terre!
Goodbye Cinque Terre, sun and sand! Its off to Florence, Jamee's territory! Train station bound, what are we waiting for! Miss you all!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Monterroso: Beach Central
Spent a lovely afternoon at the beach! I didnt get burned and got to take a few cat naps! PS: The reason Im not using apostrophes is that they are really difficult to find on the keyboard, much less execute in typing speed... :P
Had gelato, it was better in Siena! Found some good, reasonably priced gifts here. Really cool pottery but would worry about breaking it the whole rest of the trip. Next time!
Going to enjoy the beach some more before dinner tonight since we leave for Florence (Firenze) tomorrow by train, its a long ride I believe. (I love my ipod)
Bucket list to go to the Amalfi Coast of Greece. Ive heard so many good things about it!
Had gelato, it was better in Siena! Found some good, reasonably priced gifts here. Really cool pottery but would worry about breaking it the whole rest of the trip. Next time!
Going to enjoy the beach some more before dinner tonight since we leave for Florence (Firenze) tomorrow by train, its a long ride I believe. (I love my ipod)
Bucket list to go to the Amalfi Coast of Greece. Ive heard so many good things about it!
Cinque Terre
We made it to the beach! Cinque Terre. Everyone raved about this place and now I see why. We stayed in the most beautiful hotel ever in Riomaggerie. The view and roads looked just like Monterey, CA but the breezes, humble and charming rooms, and sunsets were unparalleled. Today we are going to the beach after feasting on delicious lunch pizza. Hopefully I wont burn, going abroad with an italian and a costa rican has its risks for the irish-germans... :P
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Trains
So we woke up and quick taxi'd (yes its now a verb) to the Colosseum and the Roman Ruins in Rome. IT WAS SO HOT and STICKY. At 9am! Unbelievable. We saw the Forum, walked on cobblestone roads, among half-standing buildings, walls and plazas... it was really cool to be in somewhere with so much history. Not even famous history...but just to think that so long ago someone met his or her best friend in that garden that is now in shambles is... surreal? I don't use that word often so I'm not quite sure its the one I am looking for but yes. That eerie, humbling feeling.
Then we caught our train to Siena, stopped in a tiny village for 45 minutes where we ate train station thin crust pizza and drank Cokes. It was the first time Tarah had had katchup in a long time and she loved it. It was a fun break. We met two people traveling who were from Australia and one girl JayJay who was very helpful. She was traveling Europe all alone and was only 19. She deferred university in order to take this trip while the Australian dollar was up over the Euro. She said lots of Australians are traveling too for this reason. JayJay gave us some tips, like to stay away from Athens, Greece but that the islands of Greece were blissful. Good to know for my next trip maybe? ;)
We finally arrived in Siena, said goodbye to JayJay and caught another (ack) cab to our hotel very close to the main Plaza Campo here. Siena is the first town we have been to where I didn't feel like just another tourist. Its a town for starters. Its small, cooler than anywhere on my whole trip, has lovely views, old charming buildings and lots and lots of Vespas/scooters. We got gelato (tasty) and sat in the plaza on not seats but a slope...We walked across town (maybe one hour) to check out a wine tasting bar and discovered it was lovely and not at all unaffordable! We lounged there for hours with two glasses of wine, one white and one red chianti. Then we were hungry and strolled back towards the plaza to pick a good smelling restaurant. We found one that seemed to have a lot of Americans exiting so we thought we might give it a try. It was pretty good, I got pici pasta with tomato and basil in a garlic sauce but didn't really taste the garlic or basil. We walked back and are now getting ready for the beach in Cinque Terre tomorrow (another train). Horrah! Its the most expensive leg of our trip but comes highly recommended and will hopefully be a balance of relaxing and energizing that we need for the western Europe leg of our trip very soon!!! How quickly the time goes...love you all!
Then we caught our train to Siena, stopped in a tiny village for 45 minutes where we ate train station thin crust pizza and drank Cokes. It was the first time Tarah had had katchup in a long time and she loved it. It was a fun break. We met two people traveling who were from Australia and one girl JayJay who was very helpful. She was traveling Europe all alone and was only 19. She deferred university in order to take this trip while the Australian dollar was up over the Euro. She said lots of Australians are traveling too for this reason. JayJay gave us some tips, like to stay away from Athens, Greece but that the islands of Greece were blissful. Good to know for my next trip maybe? ;)
We finally arrived in Siena, said goodbye to JayJay and caught another (ack) cab to our hotel very close to the main Plaza Campo here. Siena is the first town we have been to where I didn't feel like just another tourist. Its a town for starters. Its small, cooler than anywhere on my whole trip, has lovely views, old charming buildings and lots and lots of Vespas/scooters. We got gelato (tasty) and sat in the plaza on not seats but a slope...We walked across town (maybe one hour) to check out a wine tasting bar and discovered it was lovely and not at all unaffordable! We lounged there for hours with two glasses of wine, one white and one red chianti. Then we were hungry and strolled back towards the plaza to pick a good smelling restaurant. We found one that seemed to have a lot of Americans exiting so we thought we might give it a try. It was pretty good, I got pici pasta with tomato and basil in a garlic sauce but didn't really taste the garlic or basil. We walked back and are now getting ready for the beach in Cinque Terre tomorrow (another train). Horrah! Its the most expensive leg of our trip but comes highly recommended and will hopefully be a balance of relaxing and energizing that we need for the western Europe leg of our trip very soon!!! How quickly the time goes...love you all!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Roma!
So we flew to Rome from Madrid, a two hour flight delayed 1.5 hours. So we got to siesta on the plane I suppose. Took a bus to a metro and trekked it to our hotel with our luggage- am sore today! Today we are going to hike the dome at St. Peter's Basilica, the vatican, then siesta and regroup for the Colosseum!
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Day 3: Domingo a go-go
El rastro!!! Swapmeet-fleamarket awesomeness. Got presents for people, postcards which I now have to figure out how to mail, as promised :)
We walked a LOT. Hunger kind of creeps up on you here, since its light so late I haven´t learned to realize how long its been since we left or since we ate last. Then you quick find the nearest ice cream tiendita and its the most delicious ice cream you´ve ever had, every time.
We went to more museums, saw some really creating artwork-display-room things and took lots of photos since they are so unique and hard to describe.
We went to the big park, el Retiro, where there`s fountains and landscaping and even a glass atrium-green house sort of art building- get this- with a giant cement slide inside it. I was wearing a skirt so I didn´t go down it after it was reported as being a toasty slide down. :P
Shoes uncomfortable. With that much walking I´m not sure if even my sneakers would do the job but I´m going to give it a shot. Tomorrow we fly to Italy. I´m finally getting my ´sea legs´ here in Madrid, of course just as we leave. But you know me, I love a learning curve so bring it on, Italy!
We walked a LOT. Hunger kind of creeps up on you here, since its light so late I haven´t learned to realize how long its been since we left or since we ate last. Then you quick find the nearest ice cream tiendita and its the most delicious ice cream you´ve ever had, every time.
We went to more museums, saw some really creating artwork-display-room things and took lots of photos since they are so unique and hard to describe.
We went to the big park, el Retiro, where there`s fountains and landscaping and even a glass atrium-green house sort of art building- get this- with a giant cement slide inside it. I was wearing a skirt so I didn´t go down it after it was reported as being a toasty slide down. :P
Shoes uncomfortable. With that much walking I´m not sure if even my sneakers would do the job but I´m going to give it a shot. Tomorrow we fly to Italy. I´m finally getting my ´sea legs´ here in Madrid, of course just as we leave. But you know me, I love a learning curve so bring it on, Italy!
Day Two: Recovery
Walking walking walking. So much walking. I don´t even remember what we did. We went to some museums. It was just great to enjoy the city that I was beginning to dread going out into alone. Thank goodness for friends, sweet, lovely, wonderful friends.
First Day Adventure
So Saturday I learned that communication is key...but not always possible. One would think with technology as advanced as it is today that phone calls should always get through...especially when four are made and missed and never even recorded as missed... So Tarah and I never ended up talking about final airport plans and I waited at the airport for hours waiting for her to meet me, she waited at the hostel for me... it was fun...BUT I got to people watch and I love that.
I also saw many cute children, some loud and unapologetic others cute and wide-eyed. My favorite was a little Spanish girl who looked like the spitting image of baby (not so baby) Sara. Or rather, Sara is the spitting image of this little chiquita since she´s older and what I think Sara will look like soon. After sitting alone bored out of my mind and exhausted at the airport, seeing this familiar face really made me smile. It´s funny how children can do that to ya. But I digress...
So after shelling out the 2€ for internet access in the hopes that Tarah was bored thinking my flight was at 9pm instead of 9am and sitting at a computer- and the first keyboard not working- the second computer hit the mark. Emails from Tarah wondering where in the world I was, freaking out. I´m glad I wasn´t the only one. So I hailed an expensive, but relieving, cab to my hostel in a jiffy and we were united at last! I was falling asleep at the airport and tried to stay awake in the cab and finally crashed at the hotel in bed for a OH SO it was indeed the most happy nappy for me (per Lamb Chop, love ya bro). Then we woke up, walked around, ate too-rich of tapas, got delicious ice cream, walked some more and came home to our lovely hostel for some How I Met Your Mother on the Mac. Sitting in that bunk bed I felt like I was at camp, and got to be a giddy kid again to think of where, in what city, in what country, in what continent I happened to be lounging at that moment. I am so lucky to be so easily filled to the brim with happiness by such a simple moment, something I hope to remember forever. Just to think of what the rest of my 22 days has in store for me left me again as a kid, having trouble falling asleep due to excitment in Madrid, España.
I also saw many cute children, some loud and unapologetic others cute and wide-eyed. My favorite was a little Spanish girl who looked like the spitting image of baby (not so baby) Sara. Or rather, Sara is the spitting image of this little chiquita since she´s older and what I think Sara will look like soon. After sitting alone bored out of my mind and exhausted at the airport, seeing this familiar face really made me smile. It´s funny how children can do that to ya. But I digress...
So after shelling out the 2€ for internet access in the hopes that Tarah was bored thinking my flight was at 9pm instead of 9am and sitting at a computer- and the first keyboard not working- the second computer hit the mark. Emails from Tarah wondering where in the world I was, freaking out. I´m glad I wasn´t the only one. So I hailed an expensive, but relieving, cab to my hostel in a jiffy and we were united at last! I was falling asleep at the airport and tried to stay awake in the cab and finally crashed at the hotel in bed for a OH SO it was indeed the most happy nappy for me (per Lamb Chop, love ya bro). Then we woke up, walked around, ate too-rich of tapas, got delicious ice cream, walked some more and came home to our lovely hostel for some How I Met Your Mother on the Mac. Sitting in that bunk bed I felt like I was at camp, and got to be a giddy kid again to think of where, in what city, in what country, in what continent I happened to be lounging at that moment. I am so lucky to be so easily filled to the brim with happiness by such a simple moment, something I hope to remember forever. Just to think of what the rest of my 22 days has in store for me left me again as a kid, having trouble falling asleep due to excitment in Madrid, España.
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