Trying to get home from Spain......

I woke up at 6am to start gettin got the airport. I had to walk a ways, take a bus to the train station then a train the the airport. We took off just in time and headed for Glasgow. We were just above Glasgow when the pilot came on and said there was too much snow to land so we landed at Prestwick to wait for "a half hour". I sat at Prestwick for almost 3 hour...s trying to get to glasgow then had to stand in the rain sorting our soaking wet bags out on the taxiway THEN took the train into Glasgow where it got stuck a half mile down and we had to walk back to the airport where they got us busses. Was going down the carrigeway just fine, then we went off the road and turned on our side. sat in a freezing cold bus with a lady who had a broken arm, two kids, and tons of old people for two freakin hours. spent the next hour in the hospital.
My nice three hour journey turned into almost a 24 hour disaster. Ignas
and I made cookies and it made me feel loads better. Then he helped me pack for Newcastle. I am glad nobody else got seriously hurt but gosh it was a terrible flight.

Spain Day 5

This morning I woke up and met Arian to go to his leather-booth. Hung out there trying to chat to customers for a while then decided to take Seville by storm! I went to the bull ring, and the waterfront. When I was at the bullring there were a few other girls there and an elderly couple. There was a worker who was cleaning and askedif we would like to go inside the bullring. Of course we said yes and so he let us walk around when it was empty! He also said that we shoudln't take pictures because he is not supposed to let anybody into the stadium and if the pictures were found then he could lose his job. I'm not sure if the consequences are that serious but regardless I did not take any pictures :'( I really should havelooking back on it ugh, now I'm kicking myself for not :( I got to go by the waterfront and see some rowing teams. That was neat and gosh are they ever fast! Just four of them fly down the river.

After a relaxing morning I hopped on a bus and headed back to Malaga. I got here around 4 and started heading to my hostel. Showed up and found that a french guy who was here last time I had gone through was till here! So we had a nice chat. Went to go get free Spanish lessons at this certain school but it turned out that the spanish class was at a party and we couldn't find it so I went swimming! It was awfully late and cold but I can now say I have swam in the mediterranian! Two days before Christmas that is! Tomorrow morning I fly out to Glasgow. I am excited to go back because Lauren and Ignas and I are making cookies before I go to Newcastle but I will be sad to leave Spain. Ahh, all good things must come to and end eh?

Spain Day 4

Arian was the name of the boy that had helped me out the day before and he agreed to help me find my way to city center in the morning.He met me at my hostel in teh morning and walked me to his leather-booth that he worksfor his dad in this gigantic crafts fair. He showed me around the city a bit and gave me some breakfast that his grandparents had given him. I had allready made plans to go climbing in teh Sierra Nevadas with some people from my hostel so I met up with them and we went for a climb. It was perhaps the best climbing experience of my entire life. My first time climbing with belays and ropes and harnesses on rock. I would say it is the best place to learn too. The people I was with were quite good and they helped me out a lot.

We went back to Seville and I went to Arians leather-booth. He asked if I would mind watching it for a minute while he used the bathroom so I got to work a leather booth in Spain! THe leather work was all done by his dad and he did the painting. Some of the best leather work I have ever seen. Sold for absolutely nothing too. Arians grandparents came by and told me that I had to come to their house for Spanish dinner. I agreed and they told me when to come back to the booth. I went to look around seville. Got to see the cathedral and city center. I found out it is the biggest city center in Europe. It certinally is massive. Arian lent me his familys bike card which lets them rent the city bikes so I biked around for a bit. I also got to see a lot of street performers and a small parade going around the city center. I went back to the booth and met up with Arian and his grandparents and we headed to their flat. It was quite late when we got there. They had some mystery-soup and chicken, rice, and corn tortillas. THey also had loads of fruit and veggie dishes. It was a fantastic dinner with a traditional spanish family. even though I could not speak SPanish well and Arians grandparents spoke no english at all Arian translated when needed, I loved it!

Spain Day 3

SO excitment in Spain awaited me little did I know. I was getting ready to leave Malaga which was amazing. I woke up and headed to the cave dwellings. They are the biggest cave dwellings in Europe. Honestly, it reminded me a lot of a trailer park in Alaska. Loads of couches that are mostly broken sitting around everywhere and tires. Everybodys entrances to their caves are made of broken beds, fences, and cabinets. It was still incredible seeing people living like that. They have no running water, electricity, or sewage....bleh! There was an unbelievable amount of dogs running around too. My friend CJ and I joked about how Grenada is separated by this one little stream. On one sideof it is all teh cats and the other side is all the dogs. It is pretty much true too :) We hiked around the cave dwellings and over onto La Alhambra. An epic castle! I got a beautiful view of it from the back of the valley behind it that I hiked into. So I walked around town for a bit. Noticed that the streets are unbelivably little and hardly ever marked on a map. I went to the train station and asked for the next train going to Seville because I had heard that it was just beautiful. I got the ticket and then went to an internet site to look for a hostel. On the way to the train station I got 50 euroes taken off of me by a true-to-form pickpocketer. This left me with next to no money. I figured that since I had allready gotten the hostel it would not be a problem.

Got to Seville around 5 in the afternoon and started looking for the hostel. After a good hour and a half oflooking I finally came across it and started ringing the doorbell...ten minutes later and no answer I figured it must be closed down. Assumming that they close in the winter is the only answer that I can come up with. I thought it wouldn't be too hard to find another hostel because most towns they are sort of all over the place. Turns out that Seville only had hostels upwards of 50 euroes. I started getting pretty worked up when 9 and 10 rolled around and it was dark and I was alone. I was pretty freaked out. I was asking everybody for directions and either nobody coudl speak english or they just didn't care. I had been praying constantly for 5 hours just asking God to send somebody to me that could help me or that I would be able to find a hostel. I was also praying that God would tell somebody else to start praying for me. Turns out that my pastor back in my hometown just got a feeling right then to start praying for me, God is amazing. I was asking a guy on the street for directions and this random other guy starts talking to me in flawless American-accent English. He asks what I am doing, if I am lost, and if I would like him to show me to my hostel. I was so exausted, we, and tired, and desperate that I told him allright and he took me right there. It was probably a horrible idea to trust him but the combo of him speaking perfect english and me being exausted made it seem like a good idea. He ended up being a lifesaver for the next few days and a complete God-send.

Spain Day 2

This morning I woke up and headed out by 10 am. I was well proud of myself. Got a ride up to Granada and ended up arriving at 3:30. It was quite a while. Headed up to a hostel that I had picked up a fliar for at the previous hostel. The scenery was georgeous. We are just on the side of the castle which is totally epic. THe hostel we are staying at has a treehouse, chillout room, kitchen with loads of free food, and they are having a BBQ celebration just because it is Friday. It was slightly pricey, 18 euroes but totally worth it. We went out around 5 and headed up to the castle. It was almost like stepping back in time. There were stray cats everywhere that come up and rub up against you. THere was also a lady just singing in a stone hallway. The acoustics are great but it was just out of a storybook. She was a complete hippie from head to toe. We went around the castle until well after dark. I just keep imagining what it must have been like hundreds of years ago. Stumbled upon a crazy art museum that was attached onto the castle. It had a bunch of modern art that was all about babies, birds, Jesus Christ, and death. It was really quite strange. In Granada all of the pubs serve tapas with drinks. So we got a few mojitos and had a fantastic meal all for 5 euroes. We headed back to our amazing hostel and now I´m sitting here waiting for the burgers to get done cooking then we´re having a party!!!

Spain Day 1

So yesterday I arrived in Malaga greeted with intense sunshine. I was walking around in a tshirt and skirt the whole day! How bout that, it is 7 days til Christmas and I am in a skirt!!! (and not freezing that is). I got royally lost and walked around for about 5 hours before I found my hostel. I found the beach though, and it was beautiful. I am going to go swimming on my way back through. Arrived at my hostel late afternoon, it is the most interesting hostel ever. I walked in and this massive dog greeted me. He is a sheepdog but he is just enourmous. Then while I was checking in I heard a drum circle in the living room that was sort of constant until I checked out the next day. The hostel was just as if I was staying in somebodys house. The people there were all so fantastic and there was murals in every color of every thing you could ever imagine. I went out with a few of the people from the hostel to the Camerata Salzburg Salzburger Bachchor. It was an orchestra with a choir singing in the biggest cathedral I have ever seen. It is Malagas main cathedral. Absolutely Immense! I was just amazed by it the whole time. There were so many people there that we ended up sitting on the floor next to the wall BUT we were also just to the side of the orchestra so we got to have a pretty good view (I am working on that recital attendance even when on holiday!). Then we went back to the hostel for a birthday party of somebody who was there (I think he works there every now and then). Spanish birthdays are hilarious. Loads of singing and dancing. Then a Iranian, Australian, Barcelonian, and I went out to a few pubs around Malaga. We were pretty beat when we got back. Loved it though! I think I´m falling in love with Spain.

Heading to Spain!!!!!

I am all packed and ready to go to Malaga, Spain. Can't wait at all. I'm spending the first day just hopping around the town then I am going up to Grenada. Can't wait!!!!! I'll keep you posted :)

Christmas Travels!!!

My plans for Christmas: Last exam is evening of the 16th and I leave early on the 17th to Malaga, Spain. I'm heading from there over to Grenada (I'm gonna drink a smoothie, there's a s...ong we played a while back in jazz band called Grenada smoothie) and then I don't know what I'm doing after that. Just gonna wait and see. Then I fly back on ... See Morethe 23rd and morning of the 24th I am going down to Newcastle to stay with a friend of mine for christmas. Then we are getting two other friends and we're driving down to the southern tip of England where one of my friends dads lives. I guess it's just georgeous. Then on the 2nd I'm catching a train up to Fireseeds and I'll be there until teh 5th. Then it's back to glasgow. Maybe a day trip to the beach or something before classes start. I'll still have 6 days.See More

New Plans!

So once again I have changed my plans. I decided that I want to go to Spain for Christmas (part of it at least). So I will be catching a plane out of Glasgow right after my last final and head to Malago, Spain until the 22nd of December. I am actually gonna be able to go swimming two days before Christmas!!! How amazing is that? It is going to be around 22 degrees while I am there :D Then I fly back to Glasgow and catch a train down to Newcastle where I'll be spending Christmas with some friends THEN a bunch of us are piling in a car and driving down to the southern tip of England where I'll catch another train up to Fireseeds! whew! I don't think that this vacation is going to be very relaxing BUT it will be loads of fun!

Dublin Ireland Day 2

The next morning Grace woke me up letting me know she was gonna go catch the train and for me to have a good day in Dublin. I immediately went back to sleep :) Woke up an hour later ready to take on the big city. Since it was still 8am when I left the hostel I went for a cup of tea and a read of my book in a cute little cafe. Had the best liquorice-mint tea that left the perfect aftertaste in it. It was incredible. I then went across the street to the Old Jameson Whiskey Distillery. Had a little tour and got to see how some of the finest whiskey is made :) I made my way by the waterfront to the Guinness Brewery. That was INCREDIBLE! The building itself is massive and the exhibits inside are set up so incredibly well that is just amazing. I started sneezing horribly when I walked onto the first level but that soon wore off thankfully enough. I hung out there for a bit and had a bite to eat then it was off to the wax museum! The wax museum was pretty neat. I learned quite a bit about a lot of the people who were active in setting up settlements in Ireland and how that all went about. I went over to Dublina where I got to learn all about the English Invasion, Black Death, and the closures of monasteries in 1540. Dublina was set up really cool and they had a lot of real actors and shows set up that you could watch. Dublina is connected to Christ Church so I went across this covered bridge connecting them and got to see Christ Church. It was one of the most incredible buildings I have ever been through in my entire life dating back to 1030. Every little nook and cranny had a piece of history tied into it. The crypt is the oldest 'building' in Ireland and the cathedral is just massive. After that I went across the street to tour the castle. This was pretty amazing. It has been modernized quite a bit which took away from some of the magnificence of it but it is still completely incredible. I always just imagine a bunch of people in armour or big flowing dresses walking up and down the staircases. I had some time before going to watch the choir at Christ Church Cathedral so I decided to have a walk around the City Centre. The main roads going through city centre are incredible!!!!! They have street performers, people telling jokes and playing music, and loads of stuff to see and do. I did some window shopping and listened to a group from Jamaica playing some music. I made my way back to the Cathedral to listen to the Choir. This choir is just downright amazing. They were the choir that sang Handles Messiah in Dublin in 1742 and have had a resounding rep. for being the best choir in Ireland. Listening to them was like listening to a choir of angels and I'm not even kidding. It honestly has to be the best choir I have ever heard.

I met five dear ladies who were sitting behind me. We got to chatting after the choir and I found out that 4 out of the 5 had been missionaries in their earlier years. We got to talk quite a bit and they invited me to tea. We went to a cute cafe near the train station (I was due to meet Grace soon enough) and we had the nicest talk. I just love meeting nice ladies here and there.

I met Grace at the train station with no time to spare so we ran from one bus stop to the next jumping on and off of trams, getting to the airport, racing through security, and just bearely got to our gate before it closed. It was pretty crazy and we were praying the entire time that we would not miss our flight. As much as I loved Dublin I would not have wanted to miss my flight and had to stay and extra day but I cannot imagine a more magestic city to have to be delayed in :)

*pictures coming soon!!!!*

Dublin Ireland Day 1

The plan was as follows: wake up at 3:15am and have PLENTY of time to shower, finish packing for going to Dublin for the weekend, and get a nice hearty breakfast then be ready to leave at 4am with a taxi already ordered. The plan came off as follows: Phone rang, I picked it up and was slightly confused as to why Grace was telling me to get up (after all, I had set 3 alarm clocks making sure I woke up on time). She then informed me that it was 3:58, the taxi was probably outside and that I needed to get down there post haste! Needless to say, I was quite proud of myself. In two minutes I was in the cab, clothes on, backpack with me (no knowing what I had packed but certain I had a passport and wallet with me), and was waiting for Grace. She was woken up by the taxi cab driver telling her she had 5 minutes to get to the cab or he was leaving. haha, that was the start of our trek to Dublin :)

We got to the airport fine after discovering that airport security is not too fond of people trying to bring lethermans onto airplanes. Fortunately I apologized profusely, explained that I am not a terrorist and have no intentions of becoming one, gave them my puppy dog face, and convinced them to let me mail it back to myself. We finally got on the plane and made it to Dublin without a hitch.

We started the day by trying to arrange a train for Grace to go to Cork on Saturday so she could kiss the Blarney Stone. We spent the better part of two hours going from one bus stop to the next to the next. Finally got it sorted and headed to Trinity University. The uni. was absolutely incredible. The architecture is just plain magnificent. We got to go to the book of Kells exhibit that they have there. I did not know what it was and almost did not go it. I actually started crying when I saw the manuscripts :') We found these girls wearing red bull costumes and so we got some free red bull and got our picture taken...for their calendar....haha, we definitely do not live in their country, go to their Uni, or anything of the sort but we're in the calendar! I am going to try and track down one of the calenders so that I can have a little souvineer :) we went to an archiology museum next and got to see loads of artifacts that dated back to before Jesus time. Honestly, it was a slight letdown after seeing the book of kells. We decided to make a quick stop by the castle and look at the gardens and just have a small walk around. The castle was just beautiful. By this time we were both pretty beat so we stopped in for some epic lentil soup and headed to the hostel for the night.

*pictures coming soon!*