To Catch Everyone Up....

So I realized I haven't posted a blog in like 2 months!! Sorry!!! Been pretty busy. Went to London, Granada, Barcelona, Valencia, and now I'm in France. Classes are over and I'm just relaxing now. Only a few more weeks and I will be home!!!!! Before then, I will be in Dublin and back in Spain for a week. When I see everyone, I will elaborate on my adventures and share pictures....keeping everyone on the edge of their seat! :-D Well just thought I would fill you guys in....felt bad that I hadn't written anything in so long. Until then.....

Kristen

Sevilla

Hello!!!

This past weekend I went to sunny Sevilla!! I actually got a little bit of color because the weather was just that amazing. I went with pretty much the entire group from University of Maryland which was great. We really enjoyed ourselves and we got to walk around the city and pretty much do whatever we wanted. I got to visit the Plaza de España and el Parque de Maria Luisa and lots of other things. I took a TON of pictures. It takes a while to load them all up, so I'm thinking I will just show everyone pictures when I come home, OR if you are really dying to see some pictures let me know and I can email them or post a few. I got to see a flamenco show there as well which was absolutely incredible. There is so much emotion in the songs and the dancing is mindblowing. I think that gazpacho is now my new favorite thing. Gonna have to learn how to make that!! This week is finals week...so I'll be doing some studying for that and then this weekend I go to London. Hope all is well in the States.

Os echo de menos
the travelling Fontanella

A Sunday in Madrid

This past Sunday I went into Madrid with my friend Bruno and met up with some of his friends while we were there. Awesome day!!! We walked around the Reina Sofia. Really great museum and Sundays are free so what could be better. We then walked through the Rastro which is really just a giant flea market. Not my cup of tea but hey, I enjoyed the culture. After that, lunch and a nice walk through the Retiro. Gonna have to take Dad, Aunt Hildee, and Barry there. It's beautiful. We then went to a show called Mayumanu. It was AMAZING. It is like Stomp and it just a huge drum show. Just what I like!!! After the show was done, the actors went out into the lobby with the audience and just kinda freestyled with the drums. It was awesome. Me and Esther (one of Bruno's friends) were dancing around to the music. So much fun. We then went to a Hawaiian bar and then an Irish bar just to relax. Really great night. Just a typical day in Madrid I guess!!!

with love

Ávila

Hey all,

This past Saturday I went to Ávila. It was great. No missing the train or anything along those lines which was nice. The trip there was about 2 hours though which wasn't all that great. It is pretty much in the middle of nowhere!! But it was fun. We got to see the Muralla, the Catedral, and the Casa de Santa Teresa. The Muralla was by far my favorite. We got to climb up it and walk around up there. Very interesting and very cool. It's interesting walking across something that was built hundreds of years ago. It was like the other Great Wall of China...just in Spain. It was fun. After the trip, I got to have dinner with Julio and Ángel. Always a good time!! Pictures to come!!!

Miss you all
--Kristen

Flamenco

Hello all,

So last night I went to a flamenco show with some friends. It was GREAT!!!!! The singing was really impressive and the dancing was amazing. I plan on going to more shows because my host mom can get free tickets for me. After the show, we got to meet the singer and she gave us autographs. It was really a great night. I love Spanish culture!!!

Missing you guys,

Kristen

Noelle

Noelle,
I love how your info says "just here to follow Kristen." Makes me feel so special...you're adorable.

Oporto, Portugal

HOLA!!!
Well now I can add another country to my list. This past weekend I went to Oporto Portugal with my friends Stacey, Emily, Kristen, and Rosa. We had a great relaxing weekend. I got to try some typical Portuguese food and the infamous Porto vino. It really was a great trip. The girls I went with were really laid back and we just did whatever came to mind, which was really just walk around and soak it up. We got to see the Atlantic Ocean from the other side!!! We watched the sun set over the ocean with our bottle of wine and ice cream. It was really spectacular. I really got to appreciate everything that we saw and did. It truly was an amazing trip. And best of all, I only spent 40 euros while I was there!!!!! I enjoyed exploring the city without any set plans. Everything was really just extraordinary. I was however very glad to get back to Spain!!! I missed the norm of Spanish life and my host family and just everything in general about Spain. Portugal is a poor country and it was at times a little depressing seeing all of the destroyed buildings. It was an awesome experience and I'm really glad I went!

Miss you all,
Kristen