Whirlwind of a two week, nonstop, gogogo... : Weekend in Madrid with American friends, then day-trip to the north of Madrid to visit little "pueblos" (one of which is famous for having life-size dinosaur statues all over the town(?), and then my parents and sister came- (the real, biological ones). This week... I'm going to have to sleep. and sleep.

Thanksgiving was very un-thanksgiving-ish, but enjoyable nonetheless. My family and I went to a Rotary function where we had some "turkey" (hey, they tried) and some typical Spanish sides. And the next night, my family and I went to FLAMENCO dancing, which was wonderful- how can anyone move their feet so fast? And Saturday we did touristy things, we took a walking tour, went to the Royal palace, bought overpriced souvenirs, things like this.

And we ate Mexican food, Indian food- o how i've missed my spices.

And seven hours ago, the family left for Paris (don't get jealous, its just a layover), and then the USA. And now I go to school tomorrow, study for a poetry test and do math homework. How strange is this double life.

Andalusia. is. beautiful.

But not in the breathtaking-white-sand-white-beaches way. Its beautiful in the way that when you're walking along a narrow cobblestone street at night, you hear flamenco music and have to go flat against the wall to let the motorcycles pass. And that outside of the mesquitas and catedrales there are dancers and gypsies and accordion players.

And in the way that there are little "pueblos" in the mountains where all the houses are white and where the kids hang out in the abandoned castle (a real castle) on friday nights.

Basically, andalusia, where I went this past week with a school group, is wonderful. We went Sunday morning and arrived in SEVILLA where we met students from Northern Spain and Southern Spain. We explored the Giralda and did tourist-y things. Monday we spent in CADIZ, which has beautiful streets and good ice-cream (:

Tuesday was a hike in the mountains with churros and then to RONDA for shopping. Wednesday we went to MÁLAGA and did the museum route. Thursday we rode bikes high in the mountains in via verde and then had the afternoon to explore the castle in the little pueblo where I was living for the week. Later I played soccer and got the chance to ride a motorcycle. Which was AWESOME. Then Friday we set off for CÓRDOBA where we visited the mosque/cathedral and other places that they told us were very important and historic (but I can't seem to remember the names of...?). We ate at a buffet and walked around the beautiful, narrow streets with names like "street of the flowers" and "street of good health". Saturday we had mostly free- to shop, walk, explore, eat at burger king... things of this nature. We then left beautiful Andalusia.

Andalusia....

I HAVE POP-TARTS! and Duncan Hines home-style cream cheese frosting, and reese's peanut butter cups. Why? because there just happens to be a little market in Madrid called "Taste of America." The frosting is now hidden behind the books on my shelf with a little spoon. Shh, don't tell.

So comfort food: check.

Weekly dose of family bonding: check. (We went to another family birthday party and I played with transformers and barbie dolls with the host cousins. This week, no lighters)

Halloween: Check.

Someone asked me how halloween works in Spain. And here is how it is:

First you get lost looking for your friends in the wrong place. They call you and you tell them that you are near the "house of the youth" they tell you that you are in the wrong part of town. You find them after 30 minutes of searching and realize that you probably should have dressed up, because you look like a freak in jeans and a sweatshirt. So your friend gives you some wings and a witch hat and your on your way. You ride in the back of a van to get to a farm in the outskirts of your town. You pay 3 euros and your in. You talk to people from your class as you drink coca-cola. then you go into the 'passage of terror' which is possibly the most ridiculous and fantastically lame thing you've ever waited an hour for, in a pushing, angry croud of spanish teenagers. And then you listen to screamo music and pretend to like it. Then you go back in the van and listen to Britney Spears the whole way home. And you had a good time.

I missed the pumpkin picking, the carving, the candy and scarecrows, but Halloween here in Spain was definitely memorable. When would I ever have the opportunity to go to a farm party with screamo music and a 'passage of terror' in a barn in the U.S?

And God fix: check. Missionary church today.

Good week: check.

Going to Cadiz, Spain next week: check. I'll tell you all about it next blog (: