The First Post of Many to Come

Let me set the scene. I am currently sitting in a cold Internet cafe with three of my friends from school, as the rain and wind absolutely rage outside. Our next stop is the mall to invest in sturdy umbrellas and hats. This morning dawned late after a fun night out with new friends, but it also dawned dry, so when the BC crew dressed, none of us heeded Irish advice and dressed for rain. Thus, our North Face's are soaked, but we are all the more wiser for it.

I haven't updated my blog before this because Internet has been hard to come by. Corrib Village, my off-campus student accommodations, promises wireless Internet, but barely comes through. Even when the weak connection works, my laptop doesn't hold the connection. However, I think this will be a good thing for me...a way to break my Facebook addiction perhaps?

Anyway, let me sum up my experiences in Madrid and Barcelona and then mention some key things about Ireland so far, and then it's off to the mall.

Madrid was a blast. My flight went from Buffalo to Detroit, Detroit to Amsterdam and then finally Amsterdam to Madrid. As it was my first overseas flight, I enjoyed the plane food, the massive size of the plane and the fact that I could barely tell that we were moving. I landed around noon on Sunday and was met by Michele and Jess, two of my roommates from school. I had been sitting in the airport waiting for them with no euros, weak Spanish skills and the knowledge that my luggage had only made it to Amsterdam, so it was fabulous to see them.

As we drove along the highway to Jess' house, I couldn't help but think how much the real Spain resembled my expectations of what it would be like and look like. It was warmish out, although it got colder at night, and the days were mostly clear and sunny.

After not having seen Michele since September, we had a lot of catching up to do, as well as a lot of eating and sleeping, which were the main themes of the week I was there. Here are some of the highlights:

1. Meeting Jess's brother and sister and their spouses. They are all wonderful, hilarious and interesting people. We had a blast together.

2. New Year's Eve dinner. Delicious food, twelve grapes at midnight (one for each "dong" to bring good luck - haha Jess), Jess's Mom dancing, her Dad accidentally breaking his champagne glass, etc.

3. New Year's Eve partying. Going to a club called Bisu. Getting dressed up, meeting Jess's friends from school, dancing to great music until 7am.

4. Meeting Robert, Angel and some of Jess's other friends from high school at a bar called Boss. Eating tons of chips and olives/aceitunas and taking a flaming shot.

5. Meeting Michele's senora.

6. The overall hospitality that I was shown by everyone I came in contact with, especially the Mullins family.

Here are some of the bad parts:

1. Losing my wristlet on New Year's Eve. This included my license, my Bank of America debit card, my two favorite lip glosses and some money. Way to go...

2. Jess's brother in law advising me that the airline was going to charge me an arm and a leg to fly my overweight baggage to Ireland, and having to deal with the stress of how to get all my stuff to school.

Moving on to Barcelona. After Jess departed for her study abroad program in Brazil, Michele and I booked night bus tickets to go and visit our friends in Barcelona. Last year we made friends with a group of visiting exchange students, mostly from Spain. Two of them, Albert and Beto, live in Barcelona, and we wanted to see the city and them of course.

Best parts of Barcelona:

1. Las Ramblas. This may have been my favorite thing we did. It's basically a long stone walkway in the middle-ish of the city that acts as a sort of outdoor fair. There are little shops and restaurants on all sides as well as many vendors. The best part is the performers. There were puppeteers, dancers, people who were dressed in weird costumes, people who would draw your portrait, etc. There was one guy who put a latex glove on his head and blew it up until it exploded...haha. The weather was perfect when we went and the atmosphere and environment were just so nice.

2. Park Guell. I don't know if I spelled that right, but it's a park in Barcelona that was designed by Gaudi. It's absolutely gorgeous. Michele and I went one morning but I feel like I could have stayed there forever. Pictures coming soon.

3. King's Day. Mich and I were lucky enough to be able to spend this Spanish holiday with Albert's family. It highlights the three kings that brought the gifts to Baby Jesus. (At least I think so, someone correct me if I'm wrong.) It involved "REGALOS!", haha Albert, which means presents, as well as a multi-course lunch and lots of desserts.

4. Tibidabo. (I hope I spelled that correctly.) A mountain top area with a little amusement park and a huge church. The best part is the incredible view of the entire city.

5. Riding bikes with Michele and Albert all through Barcelona!

The bad parts:

1. Getting violently ill for about 24 hours.

2. The overnight bus rides. Horrible. Bumpy, cold, uncomfortable.

All in all, I loved Spain. I loved seeing my friends and learning about their lives and their homes and their culture. Everyone was so nice, taking Michele and I in as temporary parts of their family.

Although I have only talked about Spain, it's time to go. I will try and update again on Monday since that is when I get Internet access at school.

I miss everyone!! Much love.