I'm Home!

I'm now home after spending almost three months living in Spain. It's crazy how it almost feels like I didn't actually go, but I did and it was such a blast! Here's a review of the past week...

Kiersten and I went to our usual market for our last napolitanas together while finishing up our final school assignment. So great.

This was my last lunch made by the wonderful Luisa: Rice with tomato sauce and an egg with a HUGE piece of salmon. I had to ask her to share it with me because it was so large. But it was a great meal, as always. 

After our graduation ceremony on Thursday from Alcalingua, Leigh and I decided to venture off to Madrid for one final time. We bought napolitanas for our families to bring home on the airplane to share the goodness. Madrid was great as always and we took one last stroll through the Plaza Mayor and by the Palace and by Sol. It was a great farewell to Madrid.

Then on Friday, Luisa helped me with my luggage to the train station where I met some other students who were on the same flight back to the United States. Thanks again for everything Luisa! 

After over 9 hours of flying, I was welcomed home by my wonderful family and I got to see Jessie for the first time in 18 months. It was fantastic to see them all and especially her!

Then we decided to indulge in the napolitanas I brought for them to try. They all enjoyed them although it was definitely a sugar rush. I'm glad that they made it through all of the security and customs I had to go through in the airports.

The next day, Emmy made us delicious Dutch Baby Pancakes for breakfast. It really is great to be home!

What an Experience!

It's hard for me to believe that this experience in Spain is coming to an end. Last week it seemed like this was my life and how it would stay forever, but I'm leaving on Friday. What?! How does time play these tricks on us. At times it seems like forever and at others it is like the blink of an eye. This week I've been feeling sentimental and I know there are so many things that I'm going to miss about Spain, Alcalá, Madrid and the people that I've met. Luckily we pretty much all go to the same school at BYU, but it won't ever be the same as seeing each other every single day and pretty much only each other.

I'm going to miss Luisa. Not just for her amazing cooking, but also for her amazing personality and ability to care for the people around her. She really treats us as her daughters. I feel so blessed to have met her and experience her kindness, learn from her, talk with her and laugh with her. I love that we will have this bond and memory forever and that I could communicate with her in Spanish. That's something else I'm going to miss. Spanish. It is a really cool experience to communicate with people in a language that is not your own and to grow into the language. I'm so thankful for that experience. 

I'll miss my daily routine and walks through Alcalá. For instance, seeing the bright yellow wall with Don Quixote on it every day when I walk to school. I finally took a picture with it today. I'll miss the feeling that everyday is a new adventure with something different to see or try. But I'll try to keep that feeling in my life when I get back. Everyday really can be a new adventure. (sorry if I'm getting too cheesy here (: )

This experience has been amazing and I am so thankful for it. I don't think it's possible for me to fully express it. But thank you Spain for being so welcoming and enriching. 

Gracias por todo.

My trip to Paris, France

Here's a quick run-down of my trip to Paris, mostly through pictures and a few words.

First, wake up at 4:30 AM to take a taxi to the airport to make our 7:15 flight. So excited!

Eat a chocolate croissant immediately after finding the hotel

See the main sites

Buy a beret, eat a crepe and watch the sun set by the eiffel tower 

See the twinkling Eiffel Tower

Go to Angelina and splurge for deliciously rich hot chocolate

Go to the Louvre

See the Mona Lisa

This reminded me of Max :)

See the bridge where you and your love lock a lock to the bridge and throw the key in the water

Eat more delicious crepes

Notre Dame

Climb the Eiffel Tower while wearing a beret

Try to look French

Visit the Tuileries Gardens

Musee d'Orsay

Eat the most delicious quiche of my life from the same bakery we went to every day

Eat a delicious blueberry tart from the same bakery

And fly back to Madrid with another chocolate croissant in my backpack for later. 

It was a great trip!

Granada

I have to catch up on the last trip before leaving on the next! So on Friday, of last week we were in Granada. We got to our hotel and a bunch of us went to an Italian restaurant for lunch. The Margherita Pizza was delicious. Then we drove to La Alhambra, which is a beautiful palace that has even more pretty grounds/gardens. When we got out of the bus it was super cold and rainy, but we tried to not let that get us down. Luckily it eventually stopped raining, so we could actually see the things around us. It was a blessing.

This building was cool, because it was built in a similar style as the Colosseum.

Kiersten and I trying to keep dry:

Awesome tiles were everywhere!

Here's Annika and I inside a courtyard of the Palace:

Brian and I working on our modeling...and Kiersten...

Lexy and I with an incredible view of the city behind us. How gorgeous is that? 

Annika, Me, Marcela, Jessie, Jeannette and Michelle loving the gorgeous grounds of the palace. The white building in the background was the summer home or something like that. I wouldn't mind staying there :)

Unfortunately my camera died while we were there, but I could occasionally grab a quick shot. But the gardens were definitely my favorite part because everything was super pretty after the rain. It was ideal.

After we got back to our hotel, it was dark and rainy, so we decided to mostly stay in for the night. But first, Leigh wanted to get some food so I obliged to go with her...of course I had to get a napolitana de chocolate since we went to a pastelería and it was only one euro and it was a goal of mine to eat one on every trip. I think I was successful, except I didn't eat one in Toledo...but I think I've definitely made up for it ;) Speaking of delicious pastries, I'm headed off to Paris tomorrow early in the morning, so I'll be eating some more deliciousness when I get there!!!!! Hopefully some chocolate croissants and crepes will be in my future ;)

p.s. WELCOME HOME HERMANA LIVINGSTON!!!!!!!!!

9 more days!