As promised, the long overdue Seattle posting...

I'm so sorry that I've been making you all wait for so long to hear about Seattle. Life's been a little crazy with moving into my new apartment, and school starting up again.

Seattle was a very nice trip, it wasn't one of my favorite places that I've been to, but all the same it was fun to go somewhere new. My family and I travelled with some of our long-time friends, the Albares', so that was exciting. Nancy and Paul Albares used to live out in Seattle so we kind of had some insider tips on where to go and what to see.

Let's see, where do I begin.

Well, there were a few highlights: Orcas Island; Vancouver; and downtown Seattle.

Orcas Island

Orcas Island was a very beautiful place. This is a hiker's paradise people, so if that's what you're interested in doing, go there. We spent the night in Anacortes which is just about a

90-minute drive outside of Seattle. We took the ferry to Orcas Island the next day. The Ferry cost $12.15 for adults and $9.75 for people under 18.

My parents had rented a car which we took around the island and used for sight-seeing. I highly recommend going up to Mount Constitution and checking out the view from the top of the tower there, especially if you are blessed enough to have a sunny day.

Here is a picture of what I saw that day:

San Juan Islands through a window in the tower

I would also recommend that you hike the trails to the waterfalls. As we were short on time we only saw Cascade Falls which is pictured below.

After our reservation in Anacortes ran out we took a short day-trip to Vancouver, Canada. It is a very beautiful city as the following photos show you:

This is Gastown

This is the waterfront

This is downtown

and this is the Olympic torch

We drove back to Seattle and we went sight-seeing downtown on our second to last day there. We saw everything, Pike's Market, the Gum Wall and of course the Space Needle.

The Must-See

Pike's Market is a must-see. It's a combination of a huge Farmer's Market and a bit of a tourist trap with all kinds of little souvenir shops to buy trinkets in. You can find everything from fresh fish to flowers and sweatshirts here and everything moves to it's own soundtrack of the street-performers, and the hustle and bustle of the crowd.

The Gum Wall

The gum wall is exactly that; a wall of gum...it's a tourist thing and it's really gross. What you do is chew some gum and put it on the wall. This is the end result:

Word to the wise: watch where you're walking or else every second step you take will be sticking to the ground for the rest of the day.

Last but not least: the famous Space Needle

We lucked out and got to go up it for free because a contact solution company was covering the cost of admission for the day. We had epic timing as we got to the top of the tower just as the sun was setting over the city. The line was very long but the view was well worth it.

And that is my Seattle trip in a nutshell!

Until next time,

Avery

I've been trying to find this for awhile

I'm big into quotes. After life-forming experiences I usually find something that can express my thoughts much better than I can ever express them myself. Words usually never fail me but during these times of reflection I find myself beyond words. The only word I have found to describe my experience in Spain has been "Amazing!" but that doesn't seem to suffice.

I found this on a friend's facebook profile, it's from a book that I have yet to read but it sums up what I've learned from Spain much better than I ever could put into words.

"You can kiss your family and friends good-bye, and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world, but a world lives in you." -Fredrick Buechner (from 'The Shack')

"because we do not just live in a world but a world lives in us."

How amazing is that?

Keep an eye out for updates: my family and I are heading out on our annual road trip on Aug. 8th. This year's destination: Seattle, Washington with possible stops in Oregon and a day in Vancouver. I'll update when I can.

Until Next Time,
Avery

UN MONTON DE UPDATES!

Hello!

The whole city is going crazy right now because Spain just won in the World Cup against Portugal. I watched it on TV at my host-mom's house because I had to update this and do some studying for my tests on Friday. But I live right across the street from a bar so I heard all the disappointment, all the celebration, all the positive and negative reactions, all in unison, like the whole world was existing, living, breathing, just for this game. A unity I haven't experienced since after 9/11.

The Spanish are a passionate people, a loving people, A kind people. They are a people rich in history, tragedy, success, and culture that has shaped their lives and made them who they are. I can't believe that I'm leaving this place that has become my second home, in just a few short days. Time flies rapidly, too rapidly. It's a sad and happy thing at the same time.

I vary between the two extremes of never wanting to leave, and wanting to go home. Like the orchestra that I'm hearing play over at the Palacio right now...I have had high points, I have had low points, I have experienced parts that never seem to end, I have experienced parts that are nothing but a flash of memory in the recesses of my mind, and all of it has made a beautiful symphony of a trip: Life-changing, moving, and amazing.

There are no other words to describe it: Amazing covers all bases. And a part of my heart will always, always, always be in Spain.

The friends I've made, the people I've met, the experiences that I have had have formed a new person, a new me, a new outlook on life and it will be difficult to get used to that when I get back to the United States, because I will have changed but no one else has, and they'll expect me to be who I was before I left.

I don't think you can expect that after someone has been away on their own for two months in a country that was at first foreign but now feels like home. It's hard to describe, and I am usually not without words Congratulations Spain, you have successfully struck me deaf, dumb, and mute in your awesome presence.

Until Next Time,
Avery

24-hours of Barcelona Mayhem

June 26, 2010

We got up at 5 to catch our flight at 7:40. I had some trouble getting to sleep because travelling always makes me a little nervous so I probably got just a few hours of sleep. I slept on the plane though so that gave me a little more time. We got to Madrid-Barajas at 6 and I printed off my ticket and we headed into the terminal. I got stopped by security because I forgot to take my metal clip out of my hair. We got on the plane and then we got to Barcelona at 8:50 a.m. and that's when the clock started. I had 24-hours exactly because my plane left at 8:50 a.m. on Sunday morning.

What an experience!

What an experience! Our first stop after we checked into our hostel was to go to Parq Güell which is where some of Antoni Gaudi's works are. It was so cool! I couldn't believe that I was there! I kept telling myself that I was in Gaudi park just so that I'd believe it! Since everyone I've talked to has no idea what I'm talking about I'll put up some pictures.

It was so beautiful and there were tons of gardens that we walked through as well. Here we met up with Merissa's friends who are super nice. I had a fun time hanging out with them.
We went to Sagrada Familia after we met up with them which was also a very cool experience.

never in my life did I ever think I would be here. It's amazing! It's so amazing that I've been able to have this experience.

After Sagrada familia we had lunch, hit the beach, and then headed back to the hostel to change for the night. we went for tapas, and some drinks and then I went home around 1 since I had my flight early in the morning the next day. Of course, knowing me, I met some more people from Europe and the States and talked to them for an hour before I did get to bed.

4 hours later I got up, packed up, checked out and headed back to the airport.

An amazing 24 hours.

The experience of being a swedish poser....

Friday June 25:MIDSÖMMER!

How cool is it that I am meeting all these people from all around the world and learning more about their culture than I would in books. There's a big difference between reading about something and actually doing it. Midsömmer is a festival in Sweden that celebrates the longest day of the year. We met up with Mikaela, Viktoria, Dennis and some of their friends at Parque Retiro in order to celebrate. I love hanging out with these people. I'm going to miss them so much when I leave, they're just so much fun. Dennis was wearing a Swedish flag around his shoulders like a cape, and they had a roller-suitcase packed full of Swedish food.

We hung out with them for awhile and then Viktoria tried to teach us a Swedish drinking song. She eventually gave up and said "all the Swedes who are here right now gather round." And they all sang it together. Before the song they had filled some glasses with Swedish Snaps which is a popular drink there. The last line of the song translates to "now empty your cup and drink up."

The drink was 38 proof. Needless to say I was a bit drunk for awhile. I thought it tasted good but had I known it was 38 proof I wouldn't have asked for the other little bit. Then we walked to the metro to catch a train to Chueca where Mikaela and Viktoria had bought some flower crowns that look like the ones they have at the Renaissance Festival in Minnesota. They were so Beautiful, as you can see below:

After we picked up our crowns we dashed home, had dinner at Manuela's and then went back to Retiro for more celebration.

When we got there we danced around a tree since they couldn't find a pole at Ikea that day, and sang a song about frogs, and pigs. It was so silly but so much fun. We sang a couple more songs, and hung out for awhile and then the sky opened up and it totally down poured! I was pretty popular because I had my umbrella with me. I think there were about 5 of us under it at one point. Good times.

They all said that we had the total experience of Midsömmer. I guess it always rains when they have the festival in Sweden. I wouldn't mind going to the real thing one day. I think that would be a very cool thing...and hey I already have some built-in tour guides.

I'll make it there when I have some money if that's okay with you all?We left about midnight so that we could get some sleep before we left for Barcelona the next day.
Until next time,
Avery

last week

Hello all!

So what is there to update you on since the 22nd. I've been busy so I apologize for the bloglessness.

Weds. June 23:I felt like a local today because I heard some people talking in English, and they were completely confused about where to take the metro in Madrid. So I helped them find their way! I was quite proud of myself. There were a couple of other ladies from England who were also confused about if they were on the right line. I told them we were and then we talked for the whole time while we waited for the train to show up. I didn't know their names but it was cool to make a connection, however briefly.

This afternoon we went to Museo Sorolla with school. This was really cool because it was a museum that used to be the actual artist's house so it was cool to see how he lived while he was alive. He paid great attention to light and color, and his works are absolutely amazing!

Merissa and I went for chocolate con churros at San Gines after the tour and they were just as good as everyone said they were supposed to be. After this we went to see the movie Robin Hood with Manuela. She really loves us. She told me as we were waiting for Merissa that she hadn't been to a movie since her husband had died. They used to go to the theater every weekend. He's been dead for some time. So I felt honored that she chose us to go back to the theater. She was super cute she got all dolled up to go out with us and even put on some make-up. She's a very beautiful lady.

Viktoria and Mikaela invited us to celebrate Midsömmer, a swedish festival, with them on Friday.

Thursday June 24:We went to a bar, Ojos Negros, with school tonight and it was fun to hang out with some people from school. It was an open bar for Sampere so it was a lot of fun. As we left the bar this huge thunderstorm blew up and Merissa and I got drenched on our walk home. But it was a fun experience anyway.

Until next time,
Avery

Time for an update

Hello!
It's been awhile. Sorry about that. I've been fighting a nasty cold for the past few days and I couldn't find time to update.

Anyway, on Thursday I went with school to a winery tour. It was a lot of fun. It wasn't really a tour of a vineyard but you learned how people make wine which was cool to learn. The place was called Rebelion de los Mandibles.

The exhibits were very interactive. There was one where you hopped up on this cart, and it took you on a virtual ride. We were the grapes. The cart moved, air that smelled like grape got blown on us (which was quite nice since it was so ridiculously hot outside), and at one point where the cart dropped its grapes off the thing went forward like a rollercoaster it was super cool.
There was one other exhibit where you stomped on "grapes" like in the old days. The grapes were plastic, but it was like a competition. There were three barrels and you partnered up with one person and stomped on the things like crazy. Every time you stomped more "wine" would show up on the screen. Viktoria and I lost but it was still a total blast.

The final exhibit was cool too. It was a guess the scent station. They had everything from leather to pineapple, thankfully I still had a little bit of my sense of smell so I could do it and it was fun I guessed almost everything correctly.

Of course in a wine tour you have to have some Spanish wine. It was delicious but with my cold it went straight to my head so I only had the one glass the whole night. Afterwards they took us to a bar where they are affiliated with and I had some water. I came home after that because I was pretty exhausted but it was a lot of fun.

Friday I looked and felt like death warmed over so I stayed in but Merissa had a wonderful time going out with Mikaela. I also stayed in Saturday simply because I couldn't make myself go out. After a whole lot of sleep on Saturday night, I was feeling a lot better and went to El Rastro and the Zoo with Merissa and Mikaela.

We went to El Rastro for just a little bit of time, and we were at the Zoo for about five or six hours. It's called the Madrid Zoo Aquarium and the place is HUGE! They have animals from every continent, and if I'm being completely honest I was done by Africa. But we made it to all the continents, and saw all the animals (they have pandas!), and by the end of the day our legs were about to give out on us but overall it was fun.

We came home after that and met our new compañera. She's a 46-year-old French lady, her name is Veronica, who thinks she's right about everything. She's very nice but she knows how to get on our nerves easily.

Example: We get back from the zoo, we're tired, and she asks about the metro. We tell her she has to take line 3 (PLAZA DE ESPANA) and switch at SOL over to Line 2 (RETIRO) which will take you to where school is.

She says "Mah, noh, Francisco dice que linea 2 es directo a retiro" We've been here for two weeks, we know how to get to school, and she's telling us we're doing it wrong. Irritation.

She keeps insisting that she's right and we are wrong and then keeps switching between Spanish and French so it's totally impossible to understand her. I eventually said the same thing at least five times in Spanish, Spanish and English (since she speaks it), and finally in English. And she tells me all 5 times that I'm wrong. I could've backhanded her!

Poor Merissa had to go to school with her on Monday and help her find her way since they have classes in the mornings. She was ready to kill her when I saw her in school. She's a character the next week will be interesting. Yesterday Merissa and I went out for some wine after class at the cerveceria near my house and it was very nice because we were able to sit in the sunshine and enjoy the afternoon for a bit.

Today we are going on a mission to find puppy chow ingredients since no one here has ever tried it before in their lives. Wish us luck!

Until Next Time,
Avery