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.
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