The best part of a year

When Kerensa and I were in Santander we were talking about how long we'd actually spent in Spain; we say a year but in reality it's only about eight or nine months - an academic year. I called it, "the best part of a year," and that got me thinking. When we say "the best part of," we mean the majority, the longest part - not actually the most enjoyable or successful part. But this year has been "the best part," in both senses; the longest and the most fun. I went off on a little pensive turn and realised how lucky I am that the majority of my year has also been the best. My time in Oviedo has been both.

I'm in Santiago de Compostela now; I arrived yesterday but more about that later. First I have several weeks of fun to fill in.

Santander

I finally made it along to Cantabria and Santander with Kerensa a few weekends ago as she was sailing back  home (how much cooler than an easyjet flight is that?!) 

Expecting horrible weather - as the forecast told me - I was dressed for winter and arrived in summer. Unimpressed. Nonetheless Santander was really gorgeous and I'm so happy we got to see it in the sunshine.

The very lovely views from our very lovely window of the very lovely hostel.

We spent the day walking around and taking pictures. Kerensa pretended to be a lion beside the Post Office to match her pretending to be a lion picture from Barcelona. 

We took a long walk along the front of the town by the beach and out on to the Penisula at the end. Which has a huge building called the Palacio de Magdalenas - and just happens to be where my FAVOURITE Spanish period drama is set!! (Okay, the ONLY period drama I've watched in Spain.)

We took a wander back down the hill and found the Cantabrian Children's Day was going on in the park so sat and ate some awesome food, listened to music and I'm pretty sure I witnessed the first training sessions of a future Barca player!

We also had a very odd interaction with some people selling raffle tickets to support the "Cantabria libre," movement. I really had no idea that CANTABRIA wanted to be independent too! Spain; seriously - get your act together. The guy also said, "Free Alba," when he found out I was Scottish; unfortunately my Spanish isn't good enough to give him the reply I wanted to so I simply smiled politely. 

The next day the weather wasn't as great in the morning so we explored the Cathedral and ate ice cream! 

Then it was bye bye Kerensa time - something I was not looking forward to. I packed her off on the ferry and then wandered around by myself for a few hours. My love affair with ALSA almost ended when my super swish Supra bus to Oviedo was cancelled because of a strike! But I got home eventually! Thank God.

The Scottish Invasion

The Celtic invasion of Oviedo has been long overdue and finally last week after lots and lots of planning I received my first visitor who wasn't related to me! 

Of course, the huelga meant that Sarah's journey was more than slightly hindered on her arrival in Asturias; a wait of two hours in the airport. However she finally arrived - I had to race the bus along the road to the bus station (stupid traffic lights slowed me down). After a quick stop for some food we watched My Week with Marilyn!

Our next day was one I had been looking forward to for weeks. CEILIDH DANCING!

All of my first years in one room with ceilidh music - how could it possibly go wrong? 

In reality, they managed the Virginia Reel rather well - although the Grand Old Duke of York bit at the end confused them slightly. Then, I over-reached: Gay Gordans. I forgot that the hold is something every Scot is born knowing how to do but it's really difficult to try and explain; I got to the point where I didn't even know how it worked any more! Regardless; the kids really enjoyed themselves and Sarah only had to break out the; "I teach five year old's who are better behaved than you!" once.

Now, there has been a theme that has emerged whenever Sarah and I visit each other - it tends to involve a lot of sitting about watching TV and this trip was no different. Mostly because we became a little nocturnal instead; three words - Five Night Bender. 

So that night Sarah was introduced to Oviedo night-life and the next we went to an Espicha at Tierra Astur. An Espicha is basically a huge meal served on long tables with music and cider and wine. Tell me any part of that that sounds bad?! The huegla still going the actual getting to the restaurant which was out in Colloto proved difficult but we survived. I cannot even begin to explain how much food we ate. Oh God. So much. 

It was also Tom's last night. Bye bye Tom :(
Epic trip in general completed by Sarah and I having a national anthem battle in the taxi home - we won.

Friday was the arrival of Emma-Lou and Jacqueline; also hindered by the huelga.
(Seriously Alsa - it's over, we're done.)
They arrived an were immediately introduced to the joys of Menu del Dia and taken for an explore around Oviedo.
Despite my promises and my praying for good weather; we were met with a severe lack of sunshine - but no matter; to Calatrava! We went shopping on Saturday which I had previously hoped would have been our beach day - the joys of Zara soon placated the Scots and a walk around Campo San Francisco filled out culture quota for the day.

Saturday. Three letters. BNO. (Big Night Out)

Yummy food. Cocktails. Calle Mon.
I also drank out of a coconut at one point; I'm still not entirely sure why.
Jacqueline and Sarah gifted us with a full dance routine to Call Me Maybe which had (thanks to a fantastic video of Barrack Obama) been stuck in all of our heads all weekend. I could put all the pictures in here; but that would take forever. Needless to say - it's genius.

Sunday. Jacqueline slept; we three went to Mass. When will I learn to remember when special holidays are?! The Cathedral was full for possibly the first time I've ever seen; and all the children were dressed in their Communion dress.  My usual speedy 12 o'clock Mass took over an hour. I shouldn't moan but.... it was finally sunny outside!!
After rising Jacqueline from her stupor we took off to Gijón. Hello beach!

The required by law picture beside the sign.

After saying lots that day that I didn't mind only seeing the second half of the Spain - Italy match, once knowing that we'd be back for kick-off I almost ran up Gascona to get to a TV. My drink had to be taken off me more than once for fear of it going over my head and smashing. 

Emma-Lou didn't enjoy the game much; commenting that it would be  more fun if they fought. 

So after watching De Rossi and Torres fight (clearly over my heart) we went for some lovely dinner and once again for cocktails - running theme.

Monday morning was Adios Sarah time - very sad as its the last time I'll see her until September :(

It meant I had to get up suuuuuper early to go to the bus station with her, nonplussed.com

It was still raining; my plans for things to do epically failed and so Emma-Louise, Jacqueline and I enjoyed the eating of pinchos and drinking of coffee; not to mention a few more trips to Zara and Mango. 

We finished their visit with a trip to Peggy Sue's - where Emma described the food as, "the best burger," she'd ever eaten; I've yet to inform the management to place a plaque somewhere to that effect. And of course, the standard Sparkly Bar trip. 

Jacqueline was shocked.

It was amazing to have them visit - even though the weather was quite rubbish I'm glad they finally got to really see what my life was like in Oviedo; and why I'm never going to stop talking about it!!

On Wednesday night Holly and I went for our first meal out together EVER. (We had eaten at the dining room table together for the first time only the week before!) A drive to Gijón and some very tasty food.

And there you have it. The end of my time in Oviedo. 

I still can't quite believe that it's over. I think I'm in denial. I feel like this is a little holiday to Santiago de Compostela but I'll be back in Oviedo in no time. But alas no; soon it's back to reality.

BUT NOT YET! Two weeks here and then a week travelling with the family around Castilla-la-Mancha.

I want to say thank you to everybody I met in Oviedo (if any of them actually read this!) especially to the ones I won't see for a while. I really did have the most amazing year there and it wouldn't have been the same without any of you! 

Gracias, y hasta luego!

"I don't get it?"

Toooootally promised Kerensa that I wouldn't use that as the title, but it had to be done. Apologies.
Although Kerensa spent a lot of time not exactly, "getting," Barcelona, Tarragona or La Granada - it's safe to say we had a rather lovely and sunny time.

WARNING: I broke my camera (again - boo) so there is a distinct lack of photos after about 10am on the Saturday morning. But I got it fixed last week (yay) so will make up for lost time!

To begin with I would like to ask a question of RyanAir; I wish to know what idiot told them, that not only was it a good idea to use a decorative palate so painful on the eyes that you feel like you're bouncing around inside a giant packet of Solero Shots, but that these sherbet coloured seats should be placed nose-distance apart? And, why are they so obsessed with talking to us so much?! Throughout the (HOUR) long journey to Barcelona from Asturias, I think they allowed us a grand total of two minutes uninterrupted engine noise. Every other minute was filled with sales pitches, telling us to buy smokeless cigerettes and other nonsense. How does that work?! Do they just plan to annoy their passengers into buying something from them?! Never thought I would be so grateful for the comparative serenity of an EasyJet flight - only interrupted once every 20 minutes instead.

Anyway, rant over.

Thursday night consisted of getting to the hotel - slightly more complicated than planned and getting food. Once these two jobs were complete; we slept. The excitement.

The next morning was glorious. As an example - 20 degrees at 10 am in the morning! I think from that revelation I knew it was going to be a good weekend.
Our first stop was the Sagrada Familia.

Although its a sight to behold; the queue was circling several times around the Cathedral to buy entrance and so we decided to just admire from the outside. Not to mention the sheer number of tourists (damn tourists) was stressing me out majorly.

However! At a touristy shop just beside the Sagrada Familia I managed to purchase the Spain shirt I have been wanting FOREVER - or rather since they won the World Cup. 

Number 1. Casillas. World Cup star. 

I was ripped off completely but at that point I didn't really care and bought it anyway; apparently it's an "official" shirt. Aye right.

Continuing with the standard Gaudi theme of any Barcelona trip we went out to Casa Batilo.

This time we did go in. It was absolutely rammed with people; but still awesome.

Next was lunch. Quite possibly the most exciting moment of Spain so far. Wait for it.... like seriously, brace yourselves.

KERENSA HAD OPTIONS. 

I cannot put into words the exact incredibleness, awesomeness, ridiculousness of that. The menu of a restaurant we just glanced at, had a grand total of six completely vegetarian options. As proof of the happiness, I took this picture. 

She was very happy.

After a rather lengthy walk around the Port; we reached the cable car which connects the top of Moutjuic with the city. That was scary, dangling on what is quintessentially a glorified rope over the Med and hoping that the wind didn't pick up too much! However, the views from the top were incredible. 

At this point my camera ran out of battery.

WHY DO CAMERAS HATE ME SO MUCH?!

*stealing photos from Kerensa's facebook*

From the point that the cable car dropped us off we walked across the hill, past the Theatre Royal, some museums and stopping to appreciate the epicness that is the MNAC (Museo Nacional de Arte Catalan)

 

Every time I see this picture I get "Go the Distance" from Hercules in my head. 

There followed another successful meal, this one of tapas which was also filled with vegetarian options. And included a gin and tonic flavoured desert. (No joke.)

After a far-more-stressful-than-it-needed-to-be journey to La Granada we arrived at the flat of the lovely MJP.

Day Two and we were off bright and early (minus one camera) to Tarragona. 

It was an absolutely beautiful place and had lots of Roman ruins all around. Plus, a beach. What more could you ask for?!

   

This is a tradition in Cataluna; as in they actually decide every now and again to get all of the men together and build a giant human statue. Sometimes, I wonder about Spain...

 Had to be done.

A lovely afternoon spent on the beach; not to mention ice cream, wine, paella and a very spectacular lightening storm finished off the night. 

As a disclaimer I should also mention that we hit the bar in La Granada, tiny as it was. Also, I'm sorry, but how complicated is it to understand "malibu y coca cola light?" Seriously! MJ says it's cause they're Catalan, not cause I can't speak Spanish. I like that reason.

The next day Kerensa and I had to leave for Barcelona and leave MJ behind - very sad, I wanted to take her back to Oviedo with me!

The weather wasn't as great on the Sunday although still pretty nice. Our FOURTH successfully vegetarian meal out. (At this point it was just getting silly - I was considering the idea that we might have been sucked into some parallel universe where the Spanish understand the concept of vegetarianism.)

We decided to hit one thing and enjoy it so we took the Metro up to Parc Guell which we hadn't done on the Friday and have a walk around. 

 

That awkward, asking other tourists to take a photo of us moment....

Sight of the most amazing America's Next Top Model final ever. It was almost like a pilgrimage for me! 

According to my model expert (Emma-Louise) I needed to put a hand on my hip; but it was a good effort. 

And that ends a rather lovely trip to Barcelona. Concluded obviously with Solero Shot express back to Oviedo. 

Don't have much time left here. Said goodbye to my Primero B class today - although they don't know they still have a ceilidh dancing extravaganza to come! Only two days left at school (tomorrow is a holiday - standard) Then at the weekend I'm off to Santander with Kerensa and waving her off on the boat. And then, the arrival of Sarah, Emma-Louise and Jacqueline! Wwwwooooooppppppp.

Around Asturias in gin and tonics.

A few weeks ago I had the company of my lovely Mum for the weekend and I thought she would appreciate a blog post about her!

Firstly, I think it’s very important to note that our hotel – WAS AWESOME. I booked us into the “Spaceship” (AKA Calatrava) which is a huge building in the middle of Oviedo; part hotel, part shopping centre and part office building. Our room was very, very, very high up, giving us amazing views of the mountains out of the floor to ceiling windows.

AND! We had flashing lights above the bed…

Mum wasn’t just celebrating her (belated) birthday that weekend but also the happy news that she would never have to study archives again, having just passed her diploma. Me being the very good and alcohol obsessed daughter that I am (they brought me up well!) bought her a bottle of bubbly to celebrate with – this was much appreciated. 

We spent most of the weekend alternating between eating, drinking and shopping. Visited the Bellas Artes Gallery in Oviedo which I had only recently discovered existed! On the Sunday of Mum’s visit we took a trip to Gijón and were rewarded with some very sunny weather, interspersed with the inevitable rain showers. After a bus tour and walking around for maybe a little bit too long we managed to get ourselves a gin and some food. You have to love any barman who when you ask for two gin and tonics replies, “What gin would you like?” gesturing to the array behind him. 

Look Dad, we both have glasses the size of our heads!!

I’m finding it more and more difficult to realise why I don’t want to go home!

Llanes

I feel my trip to Llanes should also be mentioned. Llanes is about an hour and a half to the East of Oviedo at the coast and I had been told on several occasions that it was a must see. So, Kerensa, Libby and myself took off one Sunday to explore.
It was beautiful! We were incredibly lucky to have sunny weather.

I had made it clear already that with a weekend of flying coming up the next week I was definitely in need of going to Mass, so to avoid missing time in Llanes I went there instead. To all my fellow Catholics; there should be a system of some kind to find out Mass times anywhere in the world! It took me hours to even find out the name of the Church, and short of Google Street viewing the square it was in and zooming in to the point at which I could read the Mass times hanging outside; I was a little bit lost! Mass ended up being really fun, and I’m not just saying that! The other two came as well! It was a children’s Mass and because it was the beginning of May and Mother’s Day in Spain there were lots of, “Who’s special day is it?” MARIA!! Not to mention that as the sermon was basically directed at the kids I found it really easy to understand – which makes a change!!

These huge blocks were part of an art project to make the port look more attractive and although some of them just look a bit like graffiti from afar there were others that were really beautifully painted.

Inside the village there were metal plates along all of the roads which we later found out were all words from a poem about Llanes. 

During the day we (well two of us) had a nice menu del día and Kerensa once again found herself at the mercy of un-vegetarian-friendly Spanish cuisine. Luckily ice cream and cakes were bought later. The whole place was beautiful and I’m really annoyed that I won’t get a chance to go back again because:
DUM DUM DUM! I only have a month left in Oviedo.
PANIC STATIONS.

Viaje con los finlandeses

Even though it’s been a good few weeks since I went there I want to show off some more pictures of the pretty places I’ve visited! At school we had an exchange group from Finland visiting and I was invited to go with them on their tour of Asturias. This included the prehistoric caves in Ribadesella; of which I have no photos because they try and protect the caves from any damage. All the visits have a limited time in which to walk around and a limited number of people who can be in each group, because even our breathing was damaging the cave paintings. The paths through the caves were only lit as we passed through and then put out again; obviously the Spanish are not exactly the most Health and Safety friendly people in the world but in this case it was clear why they hadn’t built a safe path through or lit the floor well so that people could walk through – they were fiercely protective of the paintings; to the point that when one of the students tried to take a photo inside, he was only not reported to the police because he was foreign!

After the caves we travelled to Covadonga, which is a really important area for the Asturians. It’s a shrine to Mary who is said to have appeared to King Pelayo during the Moors attack on Asturias and told him how he could beat them, and as Asturias was the only part of Spain never to fall to the Moorish invasion it’s quite important!

Apart from the Cathedral there’s also a boarding school for children who are very talented musicians – where the conductor of my choir went!

The shrine itself is a fount inside the cave, the legend is that if you drink from the water there you’ll be married to the person of your choice within the year. Despite Rosa’s best efforts it was a little bit too slippy to venture along. Gutted. Introducing my Spanish mother and my Mum was probably the worst idea ever as Rosa is now under-taking it as her personal mission to find me “un novio!” She’s also recently brought this mission to the ears of all the women at choir. This can only end badly…

Blog from Barcelona coming very soon. As soon as I pick the exact silly thing Kerensa said to use as the title.... there were just so many...

I throw my giraffe in the air sometimes!

This Semana Santa the city of Granada was treated to a visit by the Fantastic Six (minus core member Emma-Lou, and obviously it wasn't the same without her!) Any prolonged period of time which involves any of us will be sure to involve hilarity... I just wasn't expecting quite so many giraffes.

Last Tuesday I travelled to Granada. I was once again treated to the wonder that is Asturias Airport - it feels a little bit like a second home now. My first flight was delayed by half an hour, not a good start with a very tight hour turn around in Madrid, I had already texted Sarah in dismay with something along the lines of "I'M NEVER GOING TO GET THERE!" not that I lean towards the dramatic or anything.. Luckily, the whole of Barajas Airport was backed up because of a strike in France, classic Spanish logic - when in trouble, blame the French. Sarah and I then acted out a bit of a farce when I arrived in Granada, with me on the bus missing the bus station (which I have now discovered we didn't actually go to!) and her in a taxi on the way to the bus station. Finally we met up and had the first tapas of the holiday. Granada, does good tapas - as in, it comes free with a drink (Oviedo - take note! this is the second place I've been to that does this!)

The next day had been planned for some weeks. Our favourite Spanaird Mario Casas was in a new film called Grupo 7, so after a morning of shopping and eating we walked to the cinema to watch the film. We were the ONLY girls in the showing, and I don't think everyone else appreciated our squealing. However, the film itself was amazing.


Thursday was tourist day. After the scariest bus ride of my life through the tiny streets of the Albacyin, we arrived at the prime photo-taking point.

Alhambra

It's our new summer house for when the Palacio Real gets boring.

Or more factually, its where the Queen Mum of the Moors lived.

I would like to point out that in Madrid it took us three days to finally ask someone to take a picture of both of us, first tourist spot of the holiday and Sarah did it. Very proud. We also picked well as the girl was a pro and took three different pics for us to choose from - score.

Even from this distance the Alhambra was amazing. According to legend it just rose out of the mountain one day and it will eventually sink back in. Since I didn't get a chance to go inside I'll have to get back to Granada sharpish!

The girls arrived at about 3am, after a late flight to Malaga and some tapas whilst they waited for the bus. The next day the real tourist holiday began, as per (like seriously I've been on these things everywhere now!) with THE TOUR BUS! Love those things.

A trip around Granada and a few mermaid impressions later we were back in town at a place very special in the hearts of myself, Sarah and Roisin

Ice-cream break.

Now, although it looks sunny on the tour bus, rain followed soon after and we found out that the Good Friday processions were delayed by an hour - hence why I didn't get the chance to go to the Alhambra. Instead we stayed in town and looked out an ideal spot for procession watching. 

The spot was chosen and guarded by Sarah - who started an argument with a Spanish girl who tried to get past us! And our resident camera woman Roisin, stood on a tree for a better view. The processions were amazing, I can't even guess at how many people were involved in them; from the penitentes, to the mourning women, to the bands and not even considering the leagues of men who were carrying the floats! The whole thing was just incredible.

Saturday was greatly anticipated as it was the only day when Mercadona was open! Plans for our Spanish Easter Lunch had been made days in advance. So while Sarah made us some chocolate Easter cakes, I had my third (and probably most successful) attempt at tortilla.

Sarah almost died when she saw how much oil was needed to make tortilla - so not Spanish.

Thank you very much to Sarah's mum who sent the ingredients. Look how cuuuuute!!

After we had finished our cooking for the day, we went for another shopping trip - AKA an attempt to find Sarah the perfect t-shirt (it was unsuccessful.) And obviously, more drinks.

The classic in height order picture of the Fantastic 6 - BUT WHERE'S EMMA-LOUISE!?

Okay, so I should probably explain the giraffes. These came as stirrers in our drinks, even though we only got five, Roisin stole another one for Emma-Lou, we precedeed to give them all names beginning with G; George, Gertrude, Grace, Ginebra (Gin in Spanish, that one was mine!) they then came everywhere with us for the next two days. 

No, I don't think we will EVER grow up.

That night Sarah and I went to see Yerma by Lorca at a theatre in Granada, which was really amazing. After some teetering up and down hills in our heels we met everyone else and began our night out in Granaaaaada.

The giraffes couldn't hold their drink....

We're "Made in Scotland" too!

Okay so I love these adverts. It basically translates as something along the lines of "Before 3am in Spain, isn't the time to go out, it's the time to eat." 

McDonald's has been way too central a part of my Year Abroad....

Easter Sunday, and we were all up like the good Catholic girls we are and at Mass with the Archbishop. 

In Spain, children have bells to ring on Easter Sunday - so obviously we bought some too. I decided that trying to explain to my Mum why she had to take a bell home for me at the end of the year wasn't worth it! But I got to ring Roisins. 

After Mass we attempted our HUGE Easter meal, complete with ham, cheese, bread, tortilla, patatas con alioli and bravas.... 

After lunch another procession came along Sarah's street so we ran (literally - down 5 flights) to watch it. 

Roisin and Sarah made some new friends.

It was sunny so we went for a sunbathing sesh after lunch.

Then on Easter Monday, after a bit of stress relating to more strikes and flights, I travelled back to Oviedo leaving them in Granada for another few days.

Totally amazing way to spend Easter! 

 "Dale limosna mujer, que no hay en la vida nada como la pena de sen ciego en Granada"

(Give the begger a coin woman, because their is nothing worse than to be a blind man in Granada)