Espana!

Hola amigos y amigas!

I'm safely back in Nevers after my 8 wonderful days in Spain - luckily I flew in the day before all the airports closed because of the volcanic ash, so thank goodness I didn't get stranded! I'm supposed to spend 3 days in Reykjavik (on my way back to the US) in a few weeks, so I hope the volcano is in check by then... I'm looking forward to it and want to be able to go!

My trip went really well, even though the weather wasn't always what I'd hoped for. I started in Barcelona, where I arrived last Wednesday afternoon to a cool, grey, rainy day. I spent 3 days in Barcelona, and I really liked it. It's very pedestrian-friendly, so that always wins cities points in my book. It has a lot to see, and I spent tons of time just wandering around, seeing the sights, including lots of amazing Gaudi architecture. I visited the Sagrada Familia (which I walked to from the city center - it's FAR out there!), Casa Mila, and the Park Guell, and I have to say I'm a big Gaudi fan. Park Guell is a gorgeous park on the edge of the city - it was originally designed as an upscale housing development, but luckily for us, that fell through and it became a public park instead! One of the city's main thoroughfares, La Rambla, cuts right down from one of the main squares to the waterfront, and it has lots of street performers, stalls selling things (like flowers and pets!), and TONS of people. It's very lively, and great for people-watching. Barcelona also has a gorgeous cathedral in the old city center, and lots of great museums. Picasso spent several years of his youth in Barcelona, so the Picasso museum had a wonderful collection showing the progression of his work from "normal" to what we now recognize as "Picasso" - very interesting! It's a big city, though, and I did lots of walking - my feet felt like they were going to fall off by the end of each day...

After Barcelona I headed to Valencia, a gorgeous city about 3 hours by train down the coast. It was definitely one of my favorite parts of my trip; it was just such a pleasant place to be! It's not too big, and there's an amazing park that runs through a dry riverbed in the middle of town, which makes it perfect for strolling in the sun and sitting at cafés. I took a walking tour one day, and the city also has a really interesting history... Apparently the city got swapped between the Moors and the Christians several time, and one of the basilicas in town claims to have the authentic holy grail. Likely story, right?? Valencia is famous for its oranges, and I also learned on the walking tour that the orange trees all around the city are treated with something to make the oranges taste awful, to prevent people from picking and eating them all! It was also in Valencia that I discovered my favorite Spanish chain restaurant, which would become a daily staple for the rest of the trip. It's a chain of tapas restaurants, but the food was SO cheap; I never ordered any item that cost more than €1.20, and I would get completely full for under €5 or €6!! (And a beer only cost €0.60. Yes, you read that correctly - SIXTY CENTS.) Why is France SO much more expensive than every other continental European country?? My hostel was also amazing in Valencia - it was in a great location and was just great in every way. Normally you get really rough, crappy sheets and blankets in hostels, but this place had actual DUVETS and duvet covers, AND the beds were already made for you when you checked in!

I headed to Madrid after Valencia via a first-class train - I bought my tickets online beforehand, and the special web price for first-class was one euro less than the normal second-class price, so obviously I went for first class! It was AWESOME. It was almost like being on a plane; I got served breakfast, then sat and read my book while drinking coffee and watching Spain go by. I highly recommend the experience. Madrid was also wonderful, although it didn't feel big at all for being such an important city... I visited the Royal Palace, which was huge and ornate, and even had a peacock on the property! Unfortunately you're not allowed to take pictures inside, but it was a very impressive palace. The church next door to the palace was also amazing, with really gorgeous frescoes. It was pretty different from most grey stone churches I usually visit, and so pretty! I went to Madrid's main park one afternoon to enjoy the weather, and it was very nice to just wander. I spent my last day in Spain going to some of Madrid's best museums - it was a bit kamikaze, as I went to the Prado Museum, The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, and the Reina Sofia Museum all in the same day! (I spent 6.5 hours in museums that day...) They all have amazing collections - I got to see Picasso's "Guernica" - but it was A LOT of museum-ing to do in just one day.

I went for a day trip to Toledo on my second to last day in Spain. I wish I could say I loved it, but I'd be lying to you. The cathedral there WAS amazing, but other than that I just wasn't feeling it. It also didn't help that things close for "lunch" from 2 to 4 each afternoon in Spain, so I really didn't have many options as to things to do, and it was too cold and rainy to just wander around town for 2 hours...

Anyways, we're all having a hard time believing that our time in Nevers is really almost over. I only have 8 days of work left before I'm done, and I don't even want to start thinking about how I'm going to be able to pack up 7.5 months' worth of stuff into 2 suitcases! I hope you all are well, and I look forward to seeing everyone in just a few short weeks!!