Madrid (9/2-9/4)

Well we finally left Mallorca after 6 blissfully relaxing days and flew to Madrid.  To be honest I think all of us were getting pretty anxious to get to our programs.  Olf drove us to the airport and after a 6 hour layover in Valencia, we finally arrived in Madrid.  This hostel proved to be a pretty good one and we were happy.  We had delicious kebabs for dinner and the next day Jake left us early in the morning for Seville.

Jenna and I were on our own for the day!  We were in Madrid, Spain's capital, we needed to go sight-seeing!  I would like to say that we were pretty proud of ourselves navigating around Madrid without the map-masters Jake and Whitney.  We saw the sights (even though we weren't quite sure what we were looking at... "okay so is THIS the palace?"), payed an excessive amount for a tiny little baby salad, and had Kebabs for dinner again.  Then we hit up El Corte Ingles, which we had seen ads for in every city we stayed at, and I got a new camera!  Then we went on a romantic date and split a pitcher of sangria and tried the "spanish omelette" tapa which turned out to be extremely tasty, and talked about how weird/nervous/excited/scared/anxious we felt to be leaving the next day to finally be going to the cities we were going to spend the next 3 1/2 months living in!!!  It was a lovely evening and the next morning Jenna left bright and early to catch the train to San Sebastian and I made the hour trip on the metro back to the airport.  Finally, I was on my way to Aix-en-Provence!

to quote Jenna: "Erica with some dead Spaniards"

The square where we had our date

Mallorca (8/27-9/2)

Our arrival in Mallorca went smoothly, and as soon as we got there we decided to take a nap.  And then we decided to keep on sleeping for the rest of the night.  We were exhasted, and Mallorca proved to be just what we needed.  Beautiful beaches and sun.  The beach we were staying near was a very touristy spot, for what seemed to be entirely all German and British families.  I was quite entertained listening to all the little childrens' british accents as they played on the beach.  After exploring a little we found what became our favorite spot, secluded little lava rocks that jutted out into the ocean next to a small little cove-like beach.  We spent many hours just soaking up the sun.

The hostel we were at was run by a german couple and we all fell in love with Olf.  He bar-tended and hung out with us several nights at happy hour and we really came to enjoy his company.  We made some Australian friends at the hostel who were quite entertaining and friendly.  I think Jake was relieved to have some guy time too, he had been such a good sport hanging out with us three girls for so long.

We made a trip into the main city of Mallorca called Palma, where the Spanish king spends the month of August.  It was a really cool city and we ate one of the best Menu del Dias (2 course meal with wine and a dessert) we'd had on the entire trip there.

The Australians and Olf

Palma

Valencia (8/24-8/27)

Well after I escaped unscathed from the almost robbery, we took a bus down to Valencia with high hopes.  A little town just outside Valencia called Bunol has an annual tomato festival, called Tomatina, in which tons and tons of over-ripe tomatoes are poured into the streets and a gigantic food fight ensues.  We were advised to wear white shirts and goggles.  However, the festival was not until the next day and we needed to get to our "hostel" first.

We quickly found out that we had been deceived by the internet ad for the hostel when we booked it.  This "hostel" was a house 30 minutes outside the city, in a residential area, owned by the scariest woman I've ever laid eyes on.  She had some sort of bubbly rash all over her face and chest and didn't seem to know anything useful, like if there was a market nearby or how to get to the train station.  The house itself was filthy, the beds were dirty, the bathrooms had snails on the walls, a window had been shattered (replaced but the broken remains from the other one were still there).  We were officially creeped out.   Luckily Whitney had brought her own sheet and Jenna Whitney and I all squeezed into one bed (very sweatily I might add) and Jake dragged his mattress into the same room as us.  We spent 2 nights there and really just made the best of it.  At least we had each other to make jokes about our unfortunate situation.

Tomatina was insane!  Everyone was completely covered in over-ripe tomato slop.  The streets were jam packed with people, and at the end we went down to the river to rinse off.  It was quite a smelly ride back.  After our 2 nights in the "shit hole" of a hostel we stayed at we went into the city to stay another night in Valencia at a different hostel.  Red Nest Hostel was a God-send and we took much appreciated showers sans snails, and went to Valencia's famous aquariam and saw an IMAX film.  We had paella for dinner and then awoke early the next morning to part ways with Whitney as she flew to Granada to start her program and Jenna, Jake and I flew to beautiful Mallorca for 6 days of much needed r&r.

The IMAX next to the aquarium

Jenna, Whitney and I in Valencia

Paella!

Barcelona! (8/20-8/24)

Well I was lucky enough to fly out of the states not alone but with Jake!  I really appreciated him lifting my carry-on into the overhead bins for me.  Three flights, a bus ride and 26 hours later we finally made it to Barcelona.  Saint Jordi hostel was wonderful.  The staff was incredibly friendly and always eager to tell us the quickest ways to get around and what restaurants to eat at.  With the staff's tips and Jenna's sisters suggestions (she had studied abroad in Barcelona), we had a really fun and fulfilling 4 days.  We saw the sights and lived up the nights!(sorta).  It's no wonder why the Spanish people take siestas, we found out that a night out typically entails going to a bar at around 10 or 11, hanging out and drinking there until about 1 or 2 and then hitting up a club, and dancing all night until 4 or 5 am.  Needless to say, we were the pansy Americans who always went back early.  But at least this allowed us to get up at a decent hour (okay well noon may not be that decent) and see some sights.  Park Guell, a really cool park on top of a hill designed by Goudi with spectacular views of the city, was a definite highlight, as well as Las Ramblas, a street in the city center with shops and vendors and performers galore.  Also on Las Ramblas is La Boqueria, a huge open air market with every kind of food you can imagine.  

After many pitchers of Sangria, patatas bravas (our favorite tapa), and jamon (the spanish are obsessed with ham, it is literally everywhere) it was time to say goodbye to Barcelona and head to Valencia.  As we trudged our way through the metro with our backpacks (for me a rolly-suitcase) I was almost robbed.   As we got onto the metro, I lifted my suitcase in before me and set it on the ground.  Then the guy in front of me grabbed the pole, and then wouldn't budge.  I was just inside the metro and people were still behind me trying to get in.  I was confused because there was so much space in front of the guy, and I couldn't figure out why he wasn't moving!  Then a man behind me starts yelling and hitting my suitcase. I was so confused and I was trapped.  I couldn't move, these guys were surrounding me.  Finally I managed to burst out "excuse me!"  and Jenna who had gotten on ahead of me turned around and said "hey!" and reached over to grab my arm.  The guys backed off and when I looked down, the little red purse I had hanging off my shoulder right in front of me, had one of its zippers unzipped.  Thankfully they weren't able to get anything from me, but we quickly moved down a couple cars to meet up with Jake and Whitney.  I was shaking for about the next half hour, but it was definitely a wake-up call!  I thought I was careful about that, but from then on I was extra aware.  

Here I will give a special thanks to Whitney and Jenna for the pictures I have of Spain.  My camera managed to fall out of my purse while I was in the bathroom straight into the toilet the second night we were there.  So thanks guys!

The view outside our room at the hostel

In front of the "Magic Fountain"

At Park Guell

Park Guell again.  The Gaudi architecture and design was so cool!

Las Ramblas.  Gelato was a big staple in our diet during our stay in Barcelona.
I believe that particular one I'm devouring is Nutella flavored!

One of the stands in La Boqueria

A little slow to start...

Well true to form, I have managed to live in Aix for about a month and been traveling Europe for over 6 weeks and I am just now starting this blog.  But better late than never right?

Well I'll try and do a little recap of Spain and Aix.  Here it goes...