Los viajes: Grecia y Italia

As I’m writing this I’m in the plane on the way back across the ocean to the U.S. It’s hard to believe that I’ll be back in the U.S. in just a few hours! Leaving was definitely bittersweet. I am excited to see everyone at home, but it was really hard to leave Segovia. I didn’t even realize how much it had come to feel like home until I had to leave it.

            So to sum up my last couple weeks in Spain…

Two weeks ago was Spring Break, and we went to Greece for 4 days. I loved it! We stayed in this cute little family owned hotel that was 5 minute walk from the beach. It was warm and sunny and there were flowers everywhere. Greek people have a very chill attitude towards life, so it was very refreshing to get away and rest for several days. We spent the first 2 days on the beach and walking around the little area where we were staying. There was a grocery store several blocks away, so we walked there and bought some food. The second night we were there we decided to take a taxi to downtown Chania to find some Greek food for dinner. We found this restaurant that was recommended to us by the son of this cool pottery workshop/store that we wandered into. The restaurant was really nice and the Greek food that I tried was delicious. There were 3 guys sitting next to us at dinner and after we were finished they came over and started talking to us. They were nice and it turns out they were from Bologna, Italy which was where Annie, Jenn, & I were going next, which was really random. (I’ll come back to this later…)

The next day we decided to rent bikes and bike through this gorge. However, 20 min. into the ride when we still hadn’t even reached the beginning of the gorge (which was going to be a long ride uphill), we changed our minds and biked to Chania instead. We walked along the port and went in a few stores. 

The port 

The next day we went back to Chania and did some shopping and then got on the plane to Bologna. It just so happened that the guys we met in the restaurant that night were on the same flight as us and one of them sat next to Jenn. He offered to show us around Bologna the next day and we decided to take him up on his offer. The next day we slept late and then went into downtown Bologna. We walked around the old part and saw Bologna University (the oldest in the world), leaning towers, and other old buildings. That night we met up with the guy we had met in Greece and he showed us some more historical places in Bologna, sharing the history of them with us, which was interesting. One of the neatest buildings we saw was the church of San Luca on top of a hill and there are 666 arches that create a pathway leading up to the church. It was dark, so we couldn’t go in the church, but it was beautiful from the outside.

We also went to this unique bar where people bring in their own food from outside. The bar only sells wine and beer and people bring in food and then share it with other people who are there. For example, one person might bring bread and another meat and they then trade. This creates a cool sense of community and brings people together.

After that we went to an authentic Italian restaurant and tried tortellini, tortalloni, lasagna, and spaghetti (which Italians call something different, but I can’t remember the name). It was seriously the best pasta I’ve ever had. After that we went and had gelato, which was also amazing.

The next day we hung around the hotel for the day and then caught our flight back home, which was uneventful until we reached Madrid. After we arrive at the airport in Madrid we have to take the metro to the bus station to then take a bus back to Segovia. When the metro came it was really crowded, but we managed to squeeze on. However, because of how crowded it was we were all wedged in really awkwardly (with all of our luggage!) and we weren’t right next to each other. I was a little nervous because people were pressed up really close to me and I couldn’t see my purse of my backpack, but I figured everything would be ok. However, a few minutes into the ride I felt something tug on my purse, so I grabbed it and pulled it in front of me and started checking to make sure everything was still there. I couldn’t find my wallet and I was just starting to panic when it fell at my feet. I grabbed it and opened it and all my cash was gone, but my cards were still there. I reached across and grabbed Jenn and said “My money’s gone! I think someone took it!” Jenn couldn’t hear me very well so she just gave me a confused look. At this moment the train arrived at the next station and a ton of people got off and I moved over next to Jenn and  now really starting to panic, said “Someone took my money!” Jenn and Annie grabbed their purses and both of their wallets were gone too. We were all 3 in shock. It was especially crazy because Jenn had her purse zipped and in front of her the entire time and someone managed to get it out and then zip it back up.

When we got to the bus station Jenn and Annie called to cancel their cards while I went and talked to the bus station workers to figure out where the police station was. We went to the police station and they were really nice and helpful, but we ended up not filing a report because we didn’t have time because we had to catch a bus back to Segovia. So, the next morning Jenn and I went to the police station in Segovia and filed a report, but we haven’t heard anything. I was really frustrated that we let it happen especially since we had been warned so many times about pickpockets. I really wish I could see how they did it though, because it was really smooth and well-organized. Everyone we’ve talked to has said that there was most definitely more than one person involved.

Although it was a stressful experience and a bad way to end our spring break trip it makes a good story. We spent the rest of spring break hanging around Segovia and getting ready for our last week of school (and finals!) I took my last final of my college career on Thursday, which is really hard to believe.

Well, sorry this was so long. Spain has been and adventure and it’s hard to believe that I’m almost home! It still hasn’t really sunk in. 

Keep Calm and Carry On

So, keeping up with my blog has definitely gotten pushed to the backburner lately. We’re on spring break right now, and I got back a couple nights ago from a week in Greece & Italy. Traveling around Europe has been fun, but I've actually found that I miss Spain when I’m visiting other European countries.

Last month 4 girls and I went to London for the weekend. Even though it was rainy and cold most of the time (typical London weather) it was still a lot of fun, and I loved getting to see so many famous places. Almost every stop on the metro was a name that I’d heard of before. Riding the metro (or “tube” as they call it in England) was an experience in itself. It was fairly easy to navigate, but it was always really crowded. One day we were waiting to take the metro and when it came it was more crowded than usual. The doors opened but there really wasn’t space to get on. However, one of the girls with us, Jenn, squeezed on, but before any of the rest of us could follow, the doors closed. We started frantically pushing the button and banging on the door, but it was too late. Jenn yelled, “What stop?” and as the train pulled away Susie answered “Waterloo…” hoping that Jenn had heard. We caught the next train and when we arrived at Waterloo station, Jenn was waiting for us. But, it was a funny experience. 

Here are some of the highlights from our trip: 

One of my favorite parts was getting to ride in the London Eye. It’s a huge Ferris wheel where we got an awesome view of London.

London Eye 

 Big Ben 

Abbey Road (where the Beatles took their famous photo) 

Oh, and we also randomly got off on the Baker St. stop on the metro and there was a Sherlock Holmes statue outside. I’m a big fan, so I was super excited about that.

Some of the other landmarks I got to see were Westminster Abbey, the Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace. We wanted to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, but we didn't know that they only do it every other day and Sunday was not one of those days. But it was still fun to see the palace and the gardens. 

Then a couple of weekends ago I got to go to Álcala to visit a friend from Bryan for the weekend. On Saturday we drove to a camp in the country to help out with an English camp for the day. I spent most of the day having conversations with people who are learning English, and I also helped lead a session for the children. This weekend I started to realize how at home I feel in Spain and how much I’m going to miss it when I return to the U.S.

Lynnette and I at English camp. (It was Hawaiian themed). 

Oh, and the title of my post? It’s a British quote from World War II that we saw everywhere in London. I’ve adopted it as my "saying" with all the craziness we encounter while travelling around Europe haha. 

Well, I think this is enough for now, but I'll post about Greece and Italy in a few days. I can't believe that in 8 days I'll be back in the U.S! It definitely hasn't sunk in yet.