A Month and Change

A month and change is how much time I have left here in Europe. My classes will be finishing up in May, and I fly back home on the 13th of June. It seems odd to hear about all my friends back at UNC finishing up exams while I still have a month of classes left. Even odder is the fact that a lot of my friends are graduating, and I will not be able to see their graduation. I suppose all reunions will have to wait until the summer...except a couple.

Spring Break 2 (Feria de Abril)
My London and Paris trips were cancelled over the Feria break because of the volcanic ash. In the end, I stayed in Sevilla for a few days and then went to Barcelona, which had been part of the original plan. However, I was extremely glad to get to see some of the Feria de Abril (April Fair) here in Sevilla. A large section of the town is decked out with lights and small pavillions called 'casetas' in which everyone engages in non-stop fiesta-ing. I actually met several new Spanish friends and went to the Feria with them, and I must say I had a delightful time. But it was pretty ridiculous...most Sevillanos head to the Feria in the afternoon and eat and drink NON-STOP. For real. They stay until the next day. My senora Marisol told me she was there until 9 am one day! Unbelievable. It was my bedtime by 2 am, haha.


The trip to Barcelona was a ton of fun. Barcelona is definitely the most industrial, modern city I've been to in Spain (Madrid is a close second). In the same vein, Barcelona is famous for its 'modernista' architecture, which is embodied by mastermind Antoni Gaudi. We visited Gaudi's cathedral (Sagrada Familia--still under construction after about 100 years) and some of the houses that he designed in Barcelona as well as Park Guell--a former Gaudi development that never took off and became a public park. Gaudi's stuff looked downright looney at times, but it was interesting to find out that a lot of his whimsical designs had practical purposes. Some other highlights of Barcelona were going to the Gothic cathedral, watching Sardana dances, seeing Alice in Wonderland in an IMAX theater, buying fresh fruit at the large Boqueria Market, seeing the Olympic Stadium from the '92 Barcelona Olympics, seeing Picasso's younger, more normal works at a Picasso Museum, watching a huge fountain show near Plaza de Espana, and (my favorite) climbing to the castle on top of Montjuic (small mountain) for a magnificent view of the Mediterranean sea and the ENTIRE city of Barcelona. It was a good trip and a great chance to get to know another city.



We'll always have Paris...but all roads lead to Rome
So, the other result of this botched Feria trip is that I have replaced Paris. In 4 days I am going to take a VERY long weekend trip to Rome (Wed-Sun) instead. I have got to say, I am sad not to see Paris, but I am really looking forward to Rome...probably more so than I was to Paris. Once again, I look forward to meeting up with my friend Rachel who is studying in Italy, and if this Italy trip is anywhere near as fun as the last, I know it will be unforgettable.

Well, for the sake of being brief (and leaving to walk around Sevilla in a minute), I'll leave off here. It's still hard to believe that my time here is down to a month and change. But change is good. I have a lot to look forward to...Rome, my cousin Phil's visit (Did I mention that before? Well June 1 can't come soon enough!), and even my return home. I imagine that going home will be a happy occasion. I certainly realize that there is a multitude of things I will miss about Sevilla, but when home calls, I think I will be ready to come. Until then, I'm yours, TJT.