Toledo, Segovia and Salamanca

Trip Start Aug 27, 2008
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Trip End Jan 02, 2009


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Flag of Spain and Canary Islands  , Castile-La Mancha,
Friday, October 17, 2008

Hey everyone, just wanted to let you know how everything is going. Last weekend me and 7 other students rented a couple cars and took a road trip! ROAD TRIP! haha, i know. We headed for Toledo, about a four hour drive north just south of Madrid. lets just say that taking a drive through spain is beautiful! i couldnīt believe it! that and itīs the first time that ive seen actually greenery for a couple months! We had such a blast! toledo is absolutely gorgeous and itīs situated on a hillside above a river! so cool. the first night we had an amazing dinner at this restaurant called La Abadia. We had a couple of beers at the bar while we waited for a table. they had the most amazing mushroom and olive spread ever! Me and my friend chris shared this quail and mozerella salad that was just amazing and later had some sort of meat...the translation was weird. i know it was beef. letīs just say it was amazing! haha. then we headed out to the bars. We went to this really happening bar that used to actually be a church...weird. lol. All the doorways and the set up were from like the 11th century! the next night we ended up sneaking four people into one hostel room cuz we could only find one room. The other four slept in the apartment of this professor we met the night before. haha. i was so not doing that! creepy. Turns out though he was a great guy and we hung out with him and his friends that night at a really cool discoteque!

We said adiós to toledo, and Bienvenido to Segovia the next day. Wow, breathtaking. I know I say that about everything, but in all honesty, i think segovia is my favorite city in spain. It has the largest aquaduct in Europe! Just saying that does nothing for the immensity of it! It was super cool. That and itīs at a higher location so we got to see the leaves change color and enjoy some fresh air. i needed it after all the city air ive been breathing! itīs not awful, but i swear my breathing is going down hill here. hypercondriack! We checked out the Alcazar, castle, which overlooks the cathedral and the city. it was so cool. Only bad party was the treck to the top that spirals straight up for about 400 steps and is about 2 and half feet wide. Keep in mind there is only one way for getting up and down! haha. We said goodbye to segovia to hit Salamanca, a well know party city as itīs host to the one of the oldest universities in Europe. Donīt worry, we didnīt get much partying in....we got to our hotel at about 10pm only to find they never got our reservation....well, come to find out it there was this fair happening in Salamanca that weekend that is basically the Oktoberfest of Spain! no hotels! We luckily found one room in the hostel that looked like something out of the Saw series.....seriously, i was a little scared for my life! but it was a room and i was wearing shorts in like 40 degree weather. haha. We grabbed a cup of coffee and a beer and had some dinner....lets say sketch balls! im pretty sure we weīre eating raw pork on a stick! that and we weīre eating mayonaise with potatoes on the side....eww. The next morning we saw the cathedral and the univeristy, had a quick lunch and hit the road back to sevilla! We didnīt even get to go to Lacoste! sad day! haha. Letīs just say a long weekend, but well worth it!

Last night was Halloween! not alot of people celebrate it here though....im no exception. I was supposed to be in Madrid for the holiday; however, Ive been laying in bed since Thursday. I had the flu and im still feeling awful. My entire body aches! aghh. ive been to the doctor four times since ive been here! my body hates spain and vice versa. Im feeling better tonight but my throat is seriously twice the normale size! ick. That and i have three midterms on wednesday and a 15 minute presentation on thursday! all in spanish! i have no clue how ill get it all done cuz i just feel awful! im trying to make the best of it though. Thanksgiving im hoping will be a little better. I booked a flight with a couple of friends to see Ireland! yayay. im so excited! But still sick. haha. I would do anything for a hug from my mom right now!

Itīs so funny! I can remember how much i wanted to get out of eugene/springfield. granted itīs only been a little over two months, but im already learning so much about who i am and what i want in life. Yes i want to travel, but thereīs nothing like home! I find myself seeing pictures of friends on facebook at parties or enjoying the fall weather. not to mention some crazy halloween pics. and i wish i was there....weird i know cuz i mean, hello, im in spain. but still a little piece inside of me just wishes i could be there! Ive been really homesick for the past week....probably cuz of my increasingly horrible state of health. I called my mom three times this week! i swear sheīs annoyed. haha. and guess what...im going to call her tomorrow too. lol. Im supposed to stay in Europe and be in Germany for Christmas and New Years, but im looking into getting a flight home for Christmas. I would love to spend it with my family. I always found myself pushing them away, but now i canīt stop thinking about them....itīs weird what 7000 miles of space and being on your own can do to ya...

Anyways, i should probably get to bed. itīs just after midnight and i should get some sleep. I know i have tons of stuff to do tomorrow. Miss you all tons and hope everything is going well!

P.S, sorry if there are any weird spellings. I swear like itīs kind of difficult to write in english sometimes cuz im constantly thinking and speaking in spanish. aghh.

Best Wishes,
Lance
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