june 23: paris, part 1.

Once upon a time, I went to Paris at the end of my study abroad program. Unfortunately, as I was blogging about this experience, my body could not take any more and I fell asleep. Since then, jet lag has been trying to kill me. So, I'm going to try and pick up from where I left off on June 23 and hope I don't fall asleep again. It might happen. Just a heads up.


June 23, 2012
Right now, I'm situated in a quaint little Parisian hotel in the Latin Quarter, kicking myself for not getting the wifi password earlier. Hence, this will be posted late. Our hotel is precious. The rooms are very small and strangely shaped, the halls are like a maze, and the hair dryer looks like a vacuum cleaner attached to the wall. Can't wait to try that one out tomorrow! The wallpaper is toile and is basically a bunch of small scenes on wallpaper. And it matches the sofa/bed I'm sleeping on. Also, the wooden beams are exposed in the ceiling and all I can think about it Beauty and the Beast. 

Saturday never really started for me because Friday never really ended. We ate, I showered, Sara napped, we said goodbye, and hopped on the metro at 12:30. Sitting in Madrid's airport for five or so hours was harmless enough, except for the two boys beside me. I'm used to staring. I'm used to people saying things about me in Spamish, but this was too much. I was being verbally accosted by an idiot who didn't stop to think I might know Spanish and understand every nasty thing he was saying. 

When we finally were able to checkin and wait at our boarding gate, many people made it a point to walk by and comment on how my three friends were sleeping and not keeping a hand or eye on their bags. A lot of people were sleeping, including a man who slept at the desk at our gate and had to be woken up by a team of paramedics because no one else could force him awake. While all of this is happening, the four of us board the plane. Instead of using a system like that of Delta's, seating for EasyJet is a free for all. Sara and I found one row of three and Cynthia and Olivia took the one across the aisle from us. Everyone was joking and dreading the fact that the man in the floor at the gate might have to sit by one of us. By one of us, I mean Sara in her middle seat. The people in front of us were very protective of us and wished he would go. He fell asleep as soon as he hit the chair, coughing violently every once in a while. We were terrified that this sleeping man that smelled very strongly of alcohol was going to puke his guts out during the flight, but we got lucky. He didn't even talk.

We landed in Charles de Gaulle airport and spent way too long trying to find out how to get to our hotel, which Metro passes we needed, and how to get 9,00€ in only coins. (Seriously, Paris? What machines ONLY take coins? Rude.) I don't remember much about this part of the trip except that while waiting in the airport, the first song I heard was a Bee Gee's song. Really? We finally found the metro and coins and hopped on the train towards the city. About six stops in, the rest of the people living on the outskirts of Paris hopped on. You couldn't breathe, there were so many people! The family beside us was Italian, and I spoke to them a tiny, tiny bit. After speaking Spanish for so long, my Italian is as rusty as the Tin Man after being stuck outside in a hurricane. 

We metro-ed, we Italian-ed, we asked for directions, and we waaaaalllkkkkeeedddd to get to Hotel Minerve, which has already been described. After dropping off our bags, we headed out with two immediate goals: 1. food. 2. Notre Dame.

Food was easy. There's a little crepe stand right down the street from our hotel. Good grief, I can taste that banana, nutella, almond crepe right now. I had one Saturday and one Sunday; that's how delicious they were. The man that owned the stand was precious. He knew a few words in English and he would correct our pronunciation of French words (amandes=almonds, pronounced "amanday") and smile so big when we got it right. I hated to tell him goodbye on Sunday. 

Finding the Notre Dame wasn't as difficult as we originally thought, especially with bellies full of nutella and banana crepes. To get to the cathedral, we had to walk across a bridge. This particular bridge is covered, COVERED, with padlocks. The Pont de l'Archevêché is a small bridge near the Notre Dame, and you can't see the wrought iron on the walls of the bridge because of all the "lovers' padlocks." It was breathtaking. There were locks of all different shapes and sizes and colors. I'm assuming the couple places the lock and throws the key into the Seine. But, Europeans are strange. It may not be that way at all. 

As we expected, the line to get into the Notre Dame was hideously long, but it was free admission, and who in their right mind would go to Paris but not go in the Notre Dame! Let me tell you, it was worth it. The inside of that cathedral is absolutely beautiful. I don't think words will even do it justice...I'm going to have to put some of my pictures in all of my blog posts to help explain things. Anyway, my toe kept cramping up while in the Notre Dame and I fully expected to see Quasimodo swinging down to the bottom level with his gargoyle friends. Needless to say I was disappointed when that didn't occur. 

At the moment, I am disappointed in myself for letting jet lag get the best of me. More later. 

hasta luego, españa.

We finished class today before noon and waited for everyone else to finish at 1:30. Perfect score on my exam, almost perfect score in the class. Roberto was sad to leave us, I think. We were definitely sad to leave him. I'm going to miss his neatly trimmed beard with unavoidable five o'clock shadow at 9am and the shirts he wore everyday for two weeks straight. Spaniards.

It's Friday, June 22. The trip's pretty much over. Here I am, saying goodbye to a city that's so graciously been my home for the past four weeks. Madrid is a money pit and a time warp, but oh how I adore it.

We haven't had to tell Paloma goodbye yet, but we will soon after dinner. Good thing I get to come back and see her on Sunday!

So dinner, shower, packing everything up, and then taking the metro to the airport at 12:30 tonight. Our flight to Paris is at 6:40am...so I'm about to be BFF's with Madrid's airport for the first time this weekend.

So here it is. The official goodbye to Madrid. Goodbye, creepy people that stare on the Metro (you secretly made me feel good about myself. Exotic. By you always stared for too long...). So long, land lady and friend (I WILL come back to see you if I come back to Spain, thank you for the invitation!). See you next time, Retiro. Palacio. Puerta del Sol. Plaza Mayor. Toledo. Sampere Institute. Luki that lives downstairs. Cute kids with down syndrome I see every morning. Man that sings Queen across the courtyard. Churros. Donuts that might be better than Double K. Adiós, tapas and meriendas and eating meals at really strange times. See you NEVER, jamón (at least not for a few months). Bye bye, New Yorkers, beautiful weather, unmentionables hanging outside to dry, and walking to a historic monument older than my country everyday.

I have to come back here someday. Have to.

sneaky madrid.

I think Spain is trying to make me stay here for good. In class, we reviewed all of the information we've covered this week, from about 1740 to present day. We finished watching a really great movie about post-war Spain. And, to top it off, we watched my favorite Spanish movie of all time: El laberinto del fauno. Núñez had us watch it in AP once upon a time in high school, and since then I've written more than one paper on it and used it in my AP exam. My professor laughed at me when he pulled the DVD box out of his satchel because I was so excited about seeing it. I can't help it!

Besides class being great, Sara and I met up with Joy and Cecilia to say goodbye to San Ginés and the most delectable churros and chocolate Madrid has to offer. We stayed for over two hours, and it was wonderful. We split an order of churros, dipped 'em in some chocolate, drank the leftover chocolate, and talked about everything. The Civil War, Franco's regime, Hitler, Afghanistan, Grissom High, Bob jones High, Huntsville High, camp, our professor and whether or not he has a kid, etc...

A guy came by for an hour or so to sing and play his guitar. He was the best street performer I've heard these past four weeks, and there are TONS. He had such an amazing voice and played music I love: soft, slow, mellow. He left before we could give him any euros, but I pray he keeps playing and singing. He absolutely made my day.

Sara and I were the only ones at dinner tonight (score). Aka, I got to talk politics and banking and bailouts with Paloma. Terribly interesting, educated, and opinionated that woman. She's not afraid to share her opinions either, which is typical of Spaniards. In a way, I really respect it. It all leads back to how much passion they have for every facet of life. A Spaniard runs the gamut of emotions twice a day, I believe.

See how sneaky Madrid was today? Making me fall in love with the city all over again, right before I have to leave. I've thoroughly enjoyed my final Thursday in Madrid, but now I HAVE to study. (Read: recopy my messy notes and hope the facts commit themselves to my memory. It's a multiple choice test; I'm not too worried.) Then, I'll dream about Paris and hopefully forget that this weekend will be full of traveling and hanging out in airports. Yikes. Paris, you better be worth it, buddy.

la corrida de toros.

Madrid is beautiful at eye level. It's beautiful as bus level. But it's even more magnificent from the top of a building.

We galavanted off today to view our favorite city from atop the ayuntamiento or city hall, basically. I'm not a fan of heights. It's not that I'm afraid I'll tumble, I just get a wave of vertigo if I'm too close to the edge. I didn't let that stop me today. It was so worth it. Madrid was extra windy today atop the ayuntamiento which made for some funny hair pictures with the perfect backdrop of a beautiful city.

I'm really going to miss exploring Madrid. I went off solo today after our adventure to the top of the ayuntamiento in search of final gifts for my family and friends. I spent more time in the Plaza Mayor and had the most wonderful six minutes with an artist. His name is Daniel, and he paints flamenco dancers, bull fights, and silhouettes of Don Quijote. Perfect for tourists.

The painting I bought from him is a depiction of a torero (bullfighter) ignoring the bull. Why? I'm not sure. What's called in Spanish? I'm also not sure. I've been googling for a while and can't find anything about it. If Daniel is making it up, that just makes the experience funny. The colors are bright and the painting is wonderful. He showed me how he wraps it and rolls it in a tube to protect it while I travel. All of the paintings were 30-35€, but he said he would give me 10€ off any painting. The one I loved was 35€, and I very honestly and disappointingly told him I only had 20€. He gave it to me anyway! I haggled and didn't even mean to!

The best part? Obviously, he signed the painting when he finished it. But, before he rolled it up for me, he resigned the back, wrote today's date, Madrid, España, and Plaza Mayor. I know I'm a nerd, but I'm never going to forget that conversation. Perfect souvenir. Plus, I don't think I could handle seeing an actual bullfight, so this is as good as it gets!

Sara went salsa dancing tonight and I decided to stay in after dinner and re-coup. New blisters formed during my three hour shopping adventure today and I needed to rest. Insomnia hit me like a ton of bricks last night. It's been nice to listen to music without headphones and paint my nails without having to worry about bothering someone.

Big plans for tomorrow to start wrapping up my stay in Madrid. We're re-doing some of our favorite things (churros) and saying goodbye to some of our favorite places before hunkering down to study for a final on Friday. Sweet dreams, dear friends. Here's to hoping I actually get a chance to dream tonight!

free finger and patrick swaz.

I loved today for the following reasons:

1. My finger is no longer in a splint. I no longer have to wear a bag over my hand when I shower and I don't have to worry about my finger smelling funny from sweating under a bunch of medical tape. Hallelujah!

2. We visited the Palacio Real today. It was incredible. It's hard to believe that kings and queens actually lived there until the past twenty years or so. There are 2800 rooms in that palace. They still use it when foreign dignitaries come to visit, and we got to see all the rooms they use for dining, gaming, smoking, coffee-ing, etc. Carlos III was the first king to live there...he mandated that most of the important monuments in Madrid be built. He's kind of a big deal, and he has a strange nose. Had.

3. Taking pictures outside the palace was fun today. Some people jumped, some people smiled, lots of people laughed, and Ted made us take two group photos. Ted is one of our professors from Auburn. He's awesome.

4. I finally got to Skype with a dear friend today! Who knew Vienna and Madrid are on the same time zone?! I'm so proud of her going off on her own and following God's plan for her. She is constantly making me examine my own walk with God, whether she means to or not!

5. I learned how to say that someone wears the pants in the relationship today in Spanish. Llevar la voz cantante, to wear or carry the singing voice, like in a chorus. How interesting, no?

6. In class today, our professor wanted to know where the word Yankee came from (ironic?) We told him it was from the Revolutionary War, we think, and that now it was just used to describe people from the North. He told us he loves the movie "North and South" with Patrick Swayze, except when he says Swayze it doesn't sound at all like it should. It came out like...swaz. Everyone had a good laugh at that. Our professor is so personable. I thought at first he only cared about history and teaching, but he's warmed up more to us and we all love him.

7. Paloma is letting me leave my big suitcase in her house this weekend when I visit Paris. Bless that woman. She told me today I would have to get Gonzalo's email address before I leave so I can keep her updated on my life and see how she is, too. Leaving her is going to be rough.

8. I also got to Skype with the female part of my family today (mom, AM, and Becca). They crack me up every time we skype. Something always happens that gives us all the giggles, and makes Sara giggle too. I'm sad I can only Skype when daddy is at work. How was I blessed with such an amazing family?

9. Lastly, I need to tell you about the man who talks to our landlady. Every morning, we leave at 8:30am to walk to the university. Every morning, the landlady is sweeping or mopping or something with both the doors open. There are a couple of people out there with her. She always says "hola" but rarely smiles. One of her friends, an older man with a slight pot belly, says good morning to us everyday. Everyday! He makes eye contact and smiles, but it's not the least bit creepy. Yesterday when we were coming home, he saw us from way down the street and waved his arm waaaay over his head at us because he had to leave before we got there. So, this morning, I waved really big at him as I walked out the door and he just laughed and said good morning. I love my new friend. I don't even know his name.

donut lovin'.

I just want the world to know that there are donuts in España that are just as good, if not better, than Krispy Kreme. I know, I was shocked too after my first bite.

There I was, walking down calle Ibiza, hoping to ward off hunger pangs and restless ready-to-be-home-but-not-ready-to-leave-yet feelings with a small donut. My favorite dessert. I love them over ice cream, cupcakes, and cake any day (unless it's Nan's chocolate chip pound cake or made from scratch brownies. They are both in a league of their own.) I thought I'd give it a try here in Madrid, thinking nothing could beat the Double K.

After that first bite, I literally stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and stared down at the delicious, fluffy morsel in my hand. Did that really just happen? Had my faith in Krispy Kreme faltered? Did it just fall from #1 to #2 behind this precious little donut? Did that man think I was crazy for studying my donut so intently?

It did. It happened. It all happened.

And I'm so glad it did, but now that's just one more thing I'm going to have to say goodbye to and miss terribly when back in Alabama. This donut...oh this donut. Perfectly cooked, perfectly iced. I can't get over it. I'll never forget it.

In other news, one of the New Yorkers just brought a boy into Paloma's apartment without asking her. The New Yorker is only changing bags and grabbing something, but still. Paloma is fit to be tied, I can hear it in her voice. She told the poor boy it wasn't a big deal, but it is. The first thing they told us in the orientation at the university is that you don't have anyone over without permission first. It's not your home. Nan would whip me if I invites someone over without telling her first, and she's my mom! It's a huge cultural thing in Spain. Paloma already doesn't care for this girl because she's rude and has bottles of alcohol in her room, also without permission from Paloma.

Also, it rained today. It hasn't rained since April! Granted, it wasn't very hard rain and it only lasted about ten minutes, but still. Everyone was rushing to the windows of their apartments to see what was happening. It was beautiful.

I was so hungry all day today. I think we just walked so much this weekend and only really ate bread with Nutella that my body just couldn't fill up. I think Paloma knew it. She made some kind of creamy cauliflower casserole, pork, salad, and bread for dinner. So dadgum good.

One more week and I'm home. Let's do this, Madrid.

ay de mi alhama.

I honestly thought today was never going to end. Don't get me wrong, I adored Granada. The Alahambra was outstanding. But it was hot. And Granada, you are full of baby mountains that make walking feel like I'm running another half marathon. I'm not exaggerating. The baby mountains were so bad that when we came down from the Alhambra, we PAID to take a bus. You know they're rough when you don't even want to walk down the mountain. Plus, we had to take out bags with us. Yucky.

I'm glad I got to see and experience the Alhambra, even though I was worn out and tired of Europeans not having any sense of personal space. In high school, we studied a poem called " Romance de la pérdida de Alhama." it's from the viewpoint of the Arabic ruler of Granada when the city was conquered by the Reyes Católicos. It's very sad and full of adoration for Granada and despair at having lost it. Besides it being one of the most important things in Spain, I wanted to see the Alhambra because Núñez (I think) made me study about it in high school. I can't believe I'm seeing and living down the street from monuments and buildings and palaces that I've spent the past six years studying and pining after. The closer I get to leaving, the harder I know it's going to be.

I'm glad I ended up going to Sevilla and Granada this weekend instead of leaving the country for a day and spending tons of money on plane tickets. I love Spain, why wouldn't I want to see as much of it as I can?

We made it back to Madrid after a five hour bus ride complete with loud phone talkers and a noisy small child. Luckily, Paloma was ready for us! We had fried pork chops, fresh cut tomatoes, and mashed potato soup. I imagine it was puréed and it was incredible. She talked with us for a long time during dinner, telling us about her trip to Disney World 20 years ago and how the plane almost crashed. She loves roller coasters and hit up every one of them at Disney. Obviously, she loved Epcot. She told us she loved Disney just as much if not more than her kids! I know I say this a lot and gab on and on about Paloma, but she is such a blessing in this experience. I don't know what I would have done here with a different adoptive mom for four weeks.

My body is yelling at me again; the shoulders demanding sunburn relief, the feet calling out for band aids for the open blisters, and the muscles are still mad but thankful for the weekend's workout. To bed I go.

P.s. my best friend leaves for Tanzania tomorrow. Please say a little prayer for her sometime. She's going to need a lot of strength to keep up the courage she's already demonstrated and a lot of patience to deal with traveling and a new culture. I have every faith in Deacon Krista, but it can only help if we all lift her up in prayer. Love you, dear future roommate! Stay safe, and keep in touch. See you in August!