Weekend in Valencia!!

We got up early and walked to the bus stop, rode the bus to the airport. We didn't have to wait long and the flight to Valencia went well. We picked up a map and wandered around and found our hostal and checked in. It was fairly nice, nothing special but clean and a bed for pretty cheap, with breakfast included. We had an Italian guy as a roommate, so that was interesting. We had quite the language barrier and he seemed a little weird, but it was alright and had the hostal experience. hehe We got some lunch and had some wine then walked around Valencia and saw some of the more modern architecture and the alameda, which was pretty. We went to a friends apartment who we met while they were visiting Sevilla a few months ago. They made us dinner and had a small party with some of their friends. On Sunday morning we walked around and looked at some stuff at the market on the streets. We even saw a cafe/bar named Nebraska!! Then we rode the metro to the beach. All afternoon we laid on the beach and took some fun pictures. We loved just laying on the beach and relaxing! We went our for dinner and decided to try something new, which ended up being little octupus-looking things, maybe squid? It was really chewy. Then we went on a bar tour with the hostal. It was really fun. We got to see a few different bars and try some different drinks! The next day we went on a walking tour of Valencia. We learned a lot about the history of the city and lots of the buildings. It was pretty interesting. We tried Horchata, a special drink of Valencia made with Tiger nuts and it looks kind of like milk. Then we got ice cream and walked around and sat in a park for a while. Then we rode the metro back to the airport and waited there. The flight back was the rowdiest flight we've been on. People were talking so loud, shouting to friends on other sides of the plane, getting out of their seats and walking around. It was crazy, but kind of fun. It was a great weekend overall and Valencia was very pretty!

~Morgan

Semana Santa

The 2nd-6th we did not have class for Semana Santa, or Holy Week. The whole city was transformed for this week before Easter. The churches make huge "floats", or pasos, with scenes that depict the last parts of Jesus's life. There is also another float they usually carry with the Virgin Mary with candles and an elegant cape. They are very intricate and detailed. It is sort of like a parade, but more serious. A band plays loud, moving music and there are many nazarenos wear capirotes, the pointed hats and walk along carrying candles or a large cross to symbolize repenting their sins and many in the processionals walk barefoot throught the streets, as well. Someone carries incense. Some children even dress up and walk, too, which is cute; and some of them pass out candy. Some of the processions last 14 hours! Starting Thursday some women wear black veils to represent mourning the death of Jesus. It is all quite expensive, so they do not go out if it is raining, which it did most days. We were lucky enough to see probably seven different pasos throughout the week. Some at night, as well, which was very cool because they rely on the candles. Here is a video of a paso close to our house. We got to see them exit the church, which was very cool. They have to bend down because the paso is too big! There is also a common food eaten during Semana Santa called torrija that we had to try. It is a little bit like french toast but it is made with honey, eggs, and milk or white wine. We learned a lot this week and saw a lot of new, cool things. It was a great thing to experience!

~Morgan

Portugal!

On Friday night, we were invited to our house sisters birthday party! She had a few friends over and had some food to eat.  It was really fun to be able to talk to some of them!  They even asked us to sing the National Anthem! HA! It was funny

The weekend of April 1st we went to Portugal!! We went with a company called We Love Spain so they organized everything and we just went along for the ride!  We left on Saturday morning and dropped our stuff off at the hotel and then went to explore the city!  This actually ended up being the only day that we could lay out :( so we took advantage of that!  We made a few friends too!  We had dinner with our new friends both nights!

We also went to this place they called the End of the World!! Many people thought that if you went off this coast that there was no other land, until they discovered America! Here we are at the end of the world:

One of the days we got to go to a beach where you could see through the water!! I have always wanted to swim in one of those, sadly though it was too cold to swim that day!! But heres a picture anyways!

When we returned back to Sevilla, we were greeted by lots of rain!! This was the first time that we had encountered rain in our time here in Sevilla!

Next blog we will post about Semana Santa or Holy Week!!:)

WOO!

Adios!

-Kelli :)