Two Trips in One Week

First Italy, then Granada...it's been amazing! I think that those are the last trips I'll take until I finish the term here though. I might do a day trip but the time spent organising and travelling and co-ordinating is, to be frank, exhausting. I get more stressed than I thought possible booking flights online, always freaking out about 'is this the best [timing and price] flight' and 'what if I miss it' and gaaah...

So, Italy. I flew to Bologna last sunday afternoon and was met at the airport by Giulia and her Dad, Franco. It was so good to see her again! I lived with Giulia last term and we became good friends. I have now visited her twice in Italy and her family is just so welcoming...they are all invited to visit me in New Zealand when they can make it over. It's a different culture, Giulia has just turned 23 and still lives at home (apart from the 5 months she spent in Spain), and her 28-year-old brother has moved out...into the flat across the hall. I do envy her a little bit sometimes. But it's so worth it to spend this much time in Europe.

We hung out with a few of her friends that night, some I already knew, and had Pizza for dinner (what else!). Yum. Northern Italian Pizza is second only to Southern Italian Pizza. Anyway, we went to a cafe called Cafe Concerto in Modena which is a gorgeous brick building, before heading home to bed about midnight. We had to get up at 6:30 or so the next day to get the train to Bologna, to get the train to... Venice!!!

Venice is a lot smaller than I imagined, considering the size of it's reputation. However, it is packed with interesting things to do. We only had the one day there so we didn't really cover it but we walked around the streets and bridges, and visited the island where they do most of the (beautiful) glasswork. I got a few souvenirs.
It is also frighteningly expensive. We spent more on travel around the city than we did on travel to and from it. I'm glad we didn't stay there in the end, although the Carnaval (held each February) would be really something to see! I bought a little porcelain mask.
It was foggy the whole day, which while a little depressing, was very picturesque and a nice break from the incessant blue skies of central Spain. Please see facebook for pictures, they do a much better job of showing the city than I can here!

Monday night we travelled back to Bologna, and home to Giulia's, where her Mum had made a regional specialty of some pasta - giant tortellini filled with blue cheese. DELICIOUS!! They have never let me help with the dishes yet, which makes me feel a bit guilty watching her mum slaving away and knowing she has to get up at 5am to go to work. Maybe one day I'll convince them! Her mum doesn't seem to resent it though, she is lovely.

The next day it was time for me to head back to Spain. Giulia said if I wanted to stay longer I could, but my ticket was non-refundable and I had classes to catch up on before going to Granada. I look forward to going back some time, although it might not be for several years.
Thankyou Giulia & family!

So I had two and a half days to catch up with stuff here before it was time to get up early (again!!) and get to the bus stop. For you information, 'early' now means any time I have to set an alarm clock. Even if it's for 10:30am! Anyway, the bus left about half past nine and we pulled into Granada shortly after 1pm. I took my guitar which proved very popular on the bus and during down time at the hotel.
We went to the Alhambra that afternoon which was lovely, although in my opinion it would have been better to go the next day when we would have had more time. We only had a couple of hours which is definitely not enough to look round the gardens and the palace! But it was still amazing. I would love to go back one day, it is truly beautiful. I don't wish I lived there (that's more the castles in Scotland!!) but it was fascinating.
The city of Granda is great too. It's kinda touristy but it's fun and the views of the hills are spectacular. I miss hills. I like hills.

We went to a flamenco performance Saturday night, and it was ok but I'm glad we got a heavily reduced price. Flamenco doesn't really capture me to be honest, and the clapping of the dancers when they're not dancing (percussion really) is unbelievably and unbearably loud. So unnecessary! We stopped off at a lookout on the way back, and took photos of the Alhambra at night time. It looked even better with the trees all lit from the river below.

The next day we went back to the lookout for something to do, and had a good time wandering the alleyways of the older part of town trying to find it. We did, eventually. The mountains behind it are the perfect backdrop. Then we had to hurry back to the hotel to pick up our bags and jump on the bus. There is so much more to see in Granada and I'd love to go back one day. NOT in summer though. The heat was about right in November.

It was hard to get up on Monday morning.

So that's me! Now it's head down and nose to the grindstone to see what credits I can get before a final sojourn to France for Christmas. I can't believe how fast the time is going but I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing everyone on New Zealand again! Miss you guys!

'sta luego :-)

Doo de Doo de Doo...

Hi everyone! I haven't got an awful lot to say about the past couple of weeks, only that I've had a good time. There have been quite a few fiestas, one of note is the reggae party hosted by some italians in a nightclub. So. Much. Fun!!! I also spent this past weekend at the country house of a friend who works in the international office at the uni.

It was her birthday last week so she had a barbecue to celebrate. It was so good! I haven't had steak for so long! The people who turned up to party were great too, although my favourite has to be the little dog. He was one of those handbag-sized dogs and is called Toy. Yes, in english. WHAT AN AWESOME NAME!!!

We also saw a flock of sheep, which is not in itself unusual, except for the fact that I haven't seen sheep for months and one had (as in gave birth to) a lamb about 20m from the gates while we were watching. It's so out of season but who cares? So cute! I love lambs! It was also interesting for me to watch the sheepdogs, as we don't have dogs at home. The farmer was talking on a cellphone and the dogs knew exactly what to do without instructions. They kept the sheep from wandering onto the road until the farmer was ready to move on. Fascinating.

Oooh, I got a letter from Natalie yesterday!!! Just sayin'.

The next couple of weeks are going to be amazing. This Sunday I am going to Italy for two days to visit Giulia, with whom I lived last semester. We will spend a day either in Venice or Milan. I am hoping for Venice but if it rains the water can get quite high, and seriously a day in Milan is not something to turn your nose up at! Then, at the end of next week there is a trip for international students to Granada! I signed up as soon as I heard about it. Included in the price is transport, accommodation, breakfast, and entry to the Alhambra. Two nights. Not bad for 75 euros!! I am looking forward to meeting people from the other three campuses too.

Also I have FINALLY sorted out what I'm doing for Christmas! I'm going to France!!!!!!! Some of you may remember Ana (Anaelle), who lived with us for a year in NZ? I left home to go to uni halfway through her stay. Anyway, I get to spend Christmas with her and her family in Nantes and I'm so excited. Also relieved, because I was very lonely the only other time I've spent Christmas in Europe.

So. That's me. I'll write a better blog entry once I've done all that traveling. See you in a couple of weeks!