Joke's on me... It snows in Spain too!

What a weekend! I feel like I have been on a guided tour for the past 48 hours. We set off for Avila early Friday morning. I zonked out on the bus only to wake up in a freaking blizzard! Avila was absolutely freezing! I wish the weather would have been better because it was a beautiful city. We saw a cathedral, this place dedicated to Santa Teresa, and yes I even saw her finger that they  have displayed in a gold shrine. Pretty weird stuff if ya ask me. After the dead finger, we got to climb on top of the city walls. If was freezing, but I knew I would only get the chance once in a lifetime, so I had to do it. It's the closest I'll ever get to the Great Wall of China!

Me and Ali up against the city walls

Told ya it was freezing! Check out that hair! 

On top of the world! Or at least the city walls!

 After Avila we drove down to Salamanca, which was still freezing but not as high up in the mountains so there wasn't snow. In Salamanca we saw another cathedral (of course) and la casa de los conches, or house of seashells. The house is covered in shells on the outside. Pretty crazy!

We stayed the night in Salamanca in a super nice hotel! It was good to get out for a bit. In the morning we took off to Torro. We saw a sweet church with a painting of "the virgin of the flies". It's called this because there is a fly painted on Mary's knee. Who knew?! After Torro we went to Torresillas and saw another awesome church. Their floor was this intricate rock design. I wish I could've taken a picture of it, but they were super strict on pictures there. They had this burly Spanish woman follow us around in her security outfit to make sure we wouldn't take pictures. Pretty official. When we were done with that church, we went back to the plaza to find a band and a bunch of elderly people dancing in the street. They let us join in with them. It may have been my favorite memory of this trip so far! Just dancing carelessly with old people in the street. awh pure joy! All the dancing worked up quite an appetite, but I'm having issues with food here. I feel bad but I'm living off of junk food and Burger King. Who travels around the world to eat the food they have next door?! My dad would be so disappointed. We can't ever go to McDonald's on vacations because we "Have plenty of those at home". So sorry dad! Anyway I found a gas station for lunch and ate a frozen pizza and of course, drank a coke! This trip was nonstop tours, but so incredible! Can't wait to turn around and do it again on Tuesday when we head out to Andalucia!

The girls in Torro

Lookin good!  Dancing in the street!

Burned pizza with bleu cheese... not the best!

Seriously. I love these girls!

Holy Toledo I Love You!

Today was our first excursion outside of Madrid. Toledo is the most beautiful place I've ever been in my life by far! I seriously wanted to cry I was so happy and amazed by its beauty. I don't even know if that makes sense, but that's how I felt. It's covered in old buildings and hills like you can't believe. So first we went to the Cathedral of Toledo, the second biggest cathedral in Spain and in the top ten biggest cathedrals in the world. There is stain glass everywhere, every inch of the inside is covered in pure gold and intricate detail. The architecture inside was incredible! I had a lot of fun looking around at all the detail and GOLD! Next we went to see the Burial of the Count Orgaz, the most famous painting of El Grecco's. I'll be honest I'm not much of an art buff, but the paintings here in real life really take your breath away. The tour ended in a synagogue, just as inticately designed but in stucco instead of gold. Seriously, these pictures don't do the city justice.



After the tour, Ali and I went a little shopping crazy.... The pottery in the city was just so beautiful though! Not quite sure how I"ll get this home, but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I also bought a ring and earrings inlaid with gold. Who knows if it's real or not but it's what the city is known for. After working up an appetite shopping, I ate heaven on a stick... a chocolate covered waffle pop. A million times better than any marzipan that Toledo has to offer! They're supposed to also be famous for their marzipan, but it was not good! I'm kind of upset I only had one day here because it was absolutely beautiful! Ernest Hemingway once said something to the effect of "if you only have one day in Spain, spend it in Toledo." Now I can see why! Seriously, I get that this isn't my most comical or interesting post, but I'm just still in shock and awh over how incredible my day was today!

That's what you get Creepy Spaniard Man!

So the men here.... kind of creepers. They always blow us kisses or yell out guapa (good looking) and are CONSTANTLY staring. I think blondes are just really rare around here. Today me and Ali were waiting by the cross walk and a man in his car started staring at us. Like full on rubber necking and turned all the way around until... he hit the car in front of him. I caused a freaking car accident! Oh gosh me and Ali could not stop laughing!

To make the day even better, I wrote a paper for my Spanish class about my mom. I tried to write "My mom is shorter than me, but other than that we look like twins. She looks like a "menina" because her hair is big like a crown. I'm serious- me and my mom look like twins!" I thought menina translated to princess be cause of the painting "las meninas" by Velasquez. But turns out it translates to midget. haha my teacher just smiled awkwardly and said "uhhhh... bien!" Ya live and ya learn I guess!

Spain Week 1: Yo Hablo Espanol!

Happy one week in Spain to me! I can't believe it's only been a week. I've learned so much about the people here and about myself in the past week. Even my Spanish is getting better! Friday we went to El Parque De Retiro. It's basically a big Central Park. Oh my goodness it was so beautiful! Trees everywhere, people rollerblading and longboarding, even rollerblading lessons! Who knew?! And we saw the missionaries there! oh man that was great. One was from Orem and we could speak English and talk about things familiar. They were still in the MTC here, so I'm sure they were happy to talk to BYU students too. The park is filled with beautiful statues and monuments. I realize I probably shouldn't have climbed up on the statue, but it made for a great photo, eh?!

Then Sunday was my first day of church here. Talk about a wake up call! Actually this whole trip has been a wake up call. You know those people in America that are trying to learn English that say things like "Pick a color" or "You like?" or "You want flower?" That's totally me here in Spain! It's hard!!! haha So props to them for getting a job speaking English. I couldn't understand one bit of church.  It was freaking frustrating! Can't a girl just get some spiritual enlightenment around here?!

Then classes started Monday. First Spanish class.... 100 question test. Failed that one! But I am super excited about my classes. I'm learning so much Spanish, even just in the past two days. Seriously being here I've never been so stretched or so happy in my life. I'm in Spain! I'm living the life!

Spain Days 2 and 3: Getting to know the cities

TALK ABOUT LANGUAGE BARRIER!!! it's so hard for me to communicate with people here. Last night our host mom was trying to say we can use the blankets if we're cold or we can kick them off.... Somehow I got we can use the blankets if we're cold or if we don't want to hear her and husband getting it on! Me and my room mate, Ali, laughed our heads off. Also, everyone looks at me like I'm crazy. But I probably sound crazy!

Yesterday we took a tour of Alcala. it's very beautiful here, but the tour was frustrating because it was all in Spanish. The university is this beautiful old building. There are pelicans everywhere. Sometimes the city here makes me claustrophobic. The streets are tiny and the the buildings are tall and everywhere. I just need some wide open spaces! But I did find Coca Cola here yesterday... it's amazing! it's so strong and delicious and just what I need on a stressful day. I wonder if this means I have an addiction....

Anyway, and then today we took a tour of Madrid. I understand what people mean now by the cold bites at your ears. We had churros y chocolate for breakfast. Basically you dip unsugared churros in melted Hershey's bar! But it's delicious! ahhhhh.... HEAVEN! The mom told us she is going to start feeding us more because we are melting away. It's already so much food! and I'll admit at times I have to gag it down. I don't know how I'm going to get used to this Spanish food. But I know I will. We took the train in to Madrid and took a tour around. It's such a beautiful city. It's like-imagine Times Square in the 1500s. oh man I know I am going to love it here.

Spain Day 1: The Quaintest Little Town There is!

 After eighteen hours of flying, I finally made it! I left Monday morning at 7 a.m. and after all the tears and good byes, I was off. Saying good bye was a lot harder than I had anticipated, but I know it will make coming home all the more rewarding. I flew to Houston, Texas, where there were seriously the cutest little cowboys all over the airport. I was in heaven haha Then I flew to Newark, New Jersery.  I had a delay for that flight so I literally had to sprint to make it on time to my flight to Madrid. By the time I got there they had given my seat away, but said I could sit where ever there was a seat. I'm just glad I made it! Add another night of tossing and turning and a couple more movies and here I am! We met in a plaza in the middle of the city where our host families picked us up. It was a smack in the face to the fact that I can't speak Spanish. My room mate, Ali, only understands it and I can only speak it. We make a good pair! In the pictures, there is my room for the next three months, the view from the balcony out my room, the table where we all eat lunch, and even our very own dryer! I didn't do so good with the first meal. My host family is so nice, but I'm struggling with the food here! We had soup, bread, tortillas and steak for lunch. Which actually is noodles, an omelet and breaded beef. Already this trip has been interesting! I can't wait to fix my Spanish and learn to love the crazy food here!

Espana: Day -1

Soooo.... I'M GOING TO SPAIN IN THE MORNING!!!! Last Summer I decided I needed an adventure in my life. Why should boys be able to leave on missions and have these incredible two year experiences while girls just stay at home? I wanted to be able to have a growing experience myself. And I know I could go on a mission myself, and I still might. But that will be a later blog! Anyway, I looked up the different BYU programs and I found this one to fit me the best. People always ask me why I decided to go to Spain. In all honesty, I won't be getting any courses done for my major and it cost me quite a bit of money. But something about Spain has always drawn me in. It seems so real and homey to me. I think Italy, France or England would be great, but I also feel like they are so commercialized.
I'm excited to be able to experience life in Spain and refresh my Spanish. I took Spanish from 3-8 grade, but haven't kept up on it. Over in Spain, I'll be taking 2 Spanish language classes, Spanish Art and Architecture, Madrid walks, and the history of the church in Spain. Seriously... can I even count that as going to school?! It's going to be like a three month vacation! We all travel on the weekends and I have one week where I can go anywhere in Europe. I'm thinking maybe Rome, but I"m not quite sure. Anyway I'm super stoked for this trip! Keep up on my blog and experience the trip with me! Adios America, See ya in three months!