3 Mes en Espana

 Although a few days late here is an update on my past month in Spain.

So where to begin. So the week before Semana Santa was nothing too spectacular, it was just the usual classes and studying. On Friday before holy week though I went to the river with some other students from my program and we just relaxed and passed the evening there. At night I went and caught a bus to go to Lisboa, Portugal, where I was going to spend the weekend at. On Saturday morning when I finally arrived to Portugal I caught the metro and headed straight to the hostel where I met my friend from Germany who had studied in my hometown 3 years ago. After we checked in and all we headed out into the city center where we walked all around. We started by visiting the Praça de Comercial and then we walked up and down the near hilly streets of Lisboa. We visited the neighborhood of Alfama and then walked up to visit Castelo de Sāo Jorge, which had an amazing view of the entire city. After we finished our adventure there we made our way down the hills and stopped by a little brasilian cafe so that I could get my fill of Açaí. Once we finished our adventure in the city we went and caught a train to visit Cascais, a beach city close by Lisboa. When we arrived to the beach city we walked all around and then decided to go visit the far west city of the city to watch the sunset. We also encountered the cliffs that laid on that side of the city. After waiting a while and admiring the beautiful view we headed back to centro and caught our train to go back to Lisboa for the evening. The next morning we woke up bright and early and caught the train to go to Sintra, another small town quite close to Lisboa. There we went to visit the Castelo dos Moors and Palacio de Pena, which was like a fairy-tale castle in the mountains. They both were so breathtaking and quite beautiful to see, even if the weather we not quite up to par. After spending the morning adventuring through there we decided to head back to Lisboa and just hang on the bay for a little. Then after another little stroll around the city it was time to say goodbye to the beautiful city and we headed out to catch the bus to Sevilla. Once back in Sevilla the morning was spent unpacking and reorganizing. In the afternoon I went and met with my friend and walked around the city and in the afternoon we watched a passeo for the Semana Santa. On Tuesday I woke up and me and my roomate headed out to catch our plane to Morocco. We were spending about 2 days in Marrakesh, Morocco. Morocco was definitely one of the most interesting and amazing experiences and places I have visited thus far. When we finally landed in Morocco we hopped on the bus and headed to our Riad. Finding the Riad though was quite an interesting time as we winded down streets, and admiring the food market that laid all around us and eventually we found out Riad. We did our check in and then to grab dinner with a friend of one of my friends from University. Her friend took us around the city and showed us the main places. After which we grabbed some orange juice, which is quite famous from that area, and then we headed back to the hostel for the evening. The next morning we woke up bright and early and headed out to explore the city. Our first stop was the Palace of Bahía, and then we stopped by the spice market in the area. After visiting those places it was time to use our haggling skills and visit the Souks (the markets in Marrakesh). It was quite an experience not only did we got lost about 4 or 5 times, and then finally found our way out, we also got to experience haggling at its finest. After spending a few hours there weaving our way in and out of the market we went back to the hostel for some rest. Then we went and grabbed lunch at a local restaurant near the hostel, we ended up eating Tajines with lamb, as its a traditional meal of Morocco. And of course to go along with that we had Moroccan Tea. After our lunch we went back to centro and walked around a little more. Then headed to bed for the evening. The next morning we woke up and headed to catch our bus as it was already time to head back to Sevilla. Once we finally landed back I met up with some other girls from my program and we went to watch Matrugada, which is early morning, but what it means during Semana Santa is there are passeos around 3-4 in the morning that represent the Passion. It was quite an experience to see. The next day some of us from my program got together and we just went to the river and relaxed for the afternoon. Saturday I woke early in the morning and caught a bus to Huelva, as me and some other girls were taking a beach day to Punta de Umbria. Even though the weather was not fully up to par as we would have liked it was a nice time to go to the beach and rest for the day.

Castelo de Sao Jorge

Exploring the Souks

Moroccan Tea

Visiting a Place in Morocco

Boca do Inferno, Cascais

Souks of Marrakesh 

Sintra

The following Tuesday I went to the city center with a friend and just walked around. In the evening I met with another friend and her parents who were visiting for a few days. We took them to a little bar and tried pink gin and tonic, as pink gin is something special from Spain. Afterwards we went and had dinner. I got to try Cuno de Toro...or otherwise known as bull tail. It was quite delicious I might add. Wednesday I met with some Spanish friends and we went and saw the movie Pride. Thursday evening I went into centro and met a friend and passed sometime with her. On Friday I woke up early and me and my program went to Malaga for the day. Its a city in the south of Spain that lays on the Mediterranean Coast. In the morning we spent the time visiting the Cathedral and the Picasso Museum. Afterwards we headed to the beach where we passed the rest of the time. It was amazing there, the beach was the beautiful black sand and the water was blue as could be. After spending a nice amount of time there it was time to head out and back to Sevilla. Once back in Sevilla me and another friend went to Alameda where I met some other friends for the evening. We just chilled for sometime there. Saturday was quite an adventurous day. To start off I went to a friends house to learn Sevillana, which is the traditional dance of Sevilla during Ferias. After spending sometime there learning how to dance I headed to the Barca contra Sevilla game. Which was AMAZING. It was such a great time and the energy of the people just made it even more fun. After the game finished, and it ended in a tie of 2x2, I went to my friends for the evening where we had a nice dinner with everyone. On Sunday I had another experience very typical touristy, which was I went and saw a bullfight. It was quite an experience. It was definitely something that I did not quite enjoy, but maybe if I understood the skill behind it I could have appreciated it more.

Beach of Malaga

Malaga 

Barca contra Sevilla game

Futbol Game

Bull Fight

The beginning of the following week was quite laid back. On Thursday night though I went out with some friends and we just hung out for the evening. On Friday I met one of my really good friends and we went to centro to walk around and do some shopping. Afterwards we met a friend of hers and went to the river and chilled for sometime. Then in the evening I met with another friend of mine and went to alameda with her. Unfortunately because I had to wake up quite early to catch my plane to go back to Italia I called it a night quite early.        

Evening in Alameda

Saturday began my 7 day journey in Italia and Ireland. To start the journey off I went it Bologna, Italia. Where I spent a year during my junior year of high school, so it was a trip of returning back to see my host families and friends. It was quite an experience, especially the first few hours as during the entire trip I attempted to speak Italian, but during the first day especially only Spanish and Portugues came out of my mouth. Finally though after some practice I started to remember the language and slowly got better at speaking. But the once I finally arrived to my bella citta and met with my 2nd host family and me and my host sister headed out to a birthday party where we met my host brother. After spending a nice time there and having some delicious sweets we headed back home. Later in the afternoon I got ready and headed out to met some of my friends as we were having a dinner together. It was such a great time with them and spending time catching up on life and all. After a few hours of dinner and catch up time it was time to go home and get some sleep. The next morning I woke up and we had a lunch to celebrate my host brothers birthday. We even got tortellini with pumpkin, which was one of my favorite dishes while there. Once we had our lunch and sang happy birthday to my host brother I said my goodbyes to him. And me and my host sister went to a festival della Zupa, or a festival of soup! It was quite fun as we got to try many different types of soup and just have a relaxing afternoon. Once we finished there we went back to the house and was greeted by my 3rd host mother who came to pick me up so that I could go to their house for the evening. Once we arrived to  her house I dropped my stuff off and then headed out to have dinner with her at a pizzeria. It was such a great time and amazing food. Monday morning I woke up bright and early and headed in the centro of town so that I could walk around and visit all my favorite places of the city. I also was able to met a friend of mine and we stopped by my favorite gelateria and had some gelato. Then I returned home for lunch time. After lunch time me and my host mom went to an exposition for Escher, who was a famous dutch artist that made many paintings in Italy. After spending quite a nice time there I said goodbyes and went back to centro and met another friend to grab a cafe with them. Then I had to go and met my host sister so that we could walk up to San Luca, which has an amazing view of the city. I was quite proud of myself after the walk as I was able to climb it without stopping, and when I climbed it before I would always have to stop and catch my breathe. After our nice walk there we headed back down and met with my other host sister and had a little dinner for the evening. Once our dinner was finished we went to centro go met with both of my host parents and said my goodbyes to them, as I was leaving the next day.  Tuesday I woke up and went back to centro for one last look around the city and to met with a friend of mine. I also stopped and picked up a coffee maker while I was at it. After walking all around the city, stopping to get gelato one last time I said my goodbyes and went back home to pack everything up to head out for my next adventure, which was to Ireland.

Dinner With my friends

2nd Host Family

Soup Festival with my host sister

Gelato

Around Bologna 

Ecsher Expo

Walking around downtown

Walk in San Luca

Evening with host sisters

So after I said all my goodbyes and I hopped on my plane the next destination for me was to head to Ireland, home of my ancestors. Ireland was such an amazing time and truly a wonderful experience. To begin my journey I arrived into downtown Dublin where I met a brasilian friend of mine and we went back to her house for the evening. On Wednesday I woke up bright and early and decided to take a nice stroll through the city. It was such perfect weather that I was able to really enjoy everything in Dublin. After walking around a taking in the sites it was time to go and met my friend to have lunch. She took me to a brasilian restaurant, which was great as I got to get some of my traditional brasilian food that I havent had since I left Brasil. After enjoying our meals I said goodbye to her and went and picked up my friend who is staying with me in Sevilla and was visiting Dublin at the same time also. Then we met back up with my Brasilian friend and we went to the Guinness Brewery where we even got to pour our own beers and enjoy them on a sky bar rooftop. It was such an amazing experience. After our adventure at the bar we went out for the evening with her flatmats and we went to some pubs all around the city. On Thursday morning me and my friend woke up bright and early and headed out to take a tour of the Cliffs of Moher. While on the way to the cliffs we stopped at Kinvarra, which we saw a castle, and also we stopped by the baby cliffs. We also had lunch in a little village quite near the cliffs. Finally after our lunch we arrived to the cliffs of Moher. Which we quite breathetaking. It is amazing to see the cliffs live and in person. After standing and admiring the beauty of the cliffs it was time to make our way back to Dublin. Once we arrived back in Dublin we met up with a sorority sister of mine who I had met during my trip to London and we went to the pub Whelan, where P.S. I Love was filmed. It was quite a nice place to visit. Friday we got up quite quickly so that we could go and have an Irish breakfast, with a friend I had met during my journey to Ireland. It was such a good breakfast, and I even got to try pork with blood, which was quite interesting. Once we finished our breakfast we headed out to explore the city. We walked past the docks and then headed to Marrion Square. Then Stopped by Stephen Green and Trinity College. Then we started to get hungry so we stopped in a pub and have a little bite to eat. Then we continued our walk around the city, our next stop was the Dublin Castle. Once we finished see what we could see we went back to the apartments and rested for a little. Then we headed out again to make a stop by the Jameston distillery and Fitzwilliam square where we saw all the pretty painted doors. Afterwards we stopped in Portobello neighborhood and saw George Bernard Shaw's house. Finally we decided to return back to the apartment and rest for the evening. Saturday we woke up bright and early and headed back to Sevilla. On Saturday evening I had the opportunity to dress in a traditional flamenco dress and attend feria, which is basically a huge car naval. It was such an amazing time and experience. The entire week was one of the best weeks by far and one of the best experiences I have had.

Cliffs of Moher

Downtown Dublin

Learning how to pour my own Guiness

Rooftop bar at Guinness Brewery

Tour of Ireland

Castle of Dunguaire

Historic Abby we visited

At the baby cliffs

Lunch in Doolin

Cliffs of Moher

Whelan Pub

Walking around Dublin

Merrion Square

At the Cliffs of Moher

Lunch at a Pub

Traditional outfit of Feria de Abril

Feria de Abril

Now I only have a little bit less than  a month left here in Spain. So  far I do not have many trips planned, as I want to stay near the area and enjoy the time I have here. We will see how the last month goes.

Until Then.