Friday, December 12, 2014

Un Viaje a Toledo y Madrid

Okay I know I am behind on posting, however there is a lot to talk about. I have refrained from putting up a lot of pictures in this week's blog because most of them you can browse through on my Facebook.

On the 4th I was all packed and ready for my trip to Spain but before leaving I had a delicious breakfast with Jacob at the Crepe and Croissant place on Byres road: 

As always the chats were good and the food, well food never disappoints me as long as I have some. 

I took a bus to Edinburgh where I caught a flight with EasyJet to Madrid, Spain. I got there at night but was welcomed with open arm by Naomi Forman. I will talk a bit about her at the end of this blog, for now let's continue with the adventures in Spain. The airport in Madrid might seem like it goes on for hours and when we finally got to the end, we took a metro and a bus to arrive about 2 hours later in Toledo. I probably spoke Naomi's ear off because I was so excited to see her and just catch up on everything and anything. Her host family who I lived with for the next 5 days really was such a blessing and I am so thankful for them hosting me as well. Christina and Pepe. Now I haven't spoken Spanish in over a year and a half and man did I have to remember it quickly. Christina and Pepe didn't speak a lick of english and my broken Spanish didn't really help, however I soon found that I actually remembered a lot of it. After a delicious meal Christina made me, Naomi and I went to a pub nearby to meet some of her friends. The pub was called O'briens, and Irish pub. After the introductions Nay and bumped into another South African at the bar. Such a small world because I haven't met anyone from South Africa since I have been abroad. After the pub we went to Dragos and La Nuit, some local places in Toledo.

The next day was exploration day in Toledo. Christina made us some breakfast, and in Spain, they eat olive oil with bread, and you heard me correctly because none of their dishes are made without olive oil! Nay was my personal tour guide who showed me the library: 

The city streets who are all this narrow and old looking. Apparently Toledo is one of the oldest places in the world and the true capital of Spain. I think. 

We went to the Catedral del Toledo and found a back entrance without having to pay. 

As we continued to explore some places, we found a staircase that was extremely narrow and something out of the Lord of the Rings,which led us to the top in an encaged square: 

While we were at top there was no openings except some holes in the walls, but even with those there were wires put in to keep pigeons out. We spotted one pigeon inside and had no idea how it had gotten in there. Determined to set it free I finally grabbed it after bouldering some walls, and taking out wires. When the pigeon got out we followed it and saw that other pigeons were waiting for it's return and as if a couple hadn't seen each-other for a while they embraced each-other with their beaks and bodies. We kept walking around and enjoying the sun. Toledo is pretty hilly so we got to the top of one and saw this beautiful view. We sat and just embraced the moment: 

After we walked around Toledo it was time for Lunch. So everything in Spain is done way later than expected. Lunch is from 1-4, dinner is normally around 8 or 9 and then people don't go out until 1 or 2 in the morning. We had lunch with Christina, Pepe, their son and daughter in law, and their grandchildren Pablo and Sarah. Pablo is quite popular on Instagram, Nay and I still can't figure out how. After lunch we met up with Emily Collins: A Cali girl who goes to San Diego. Most of my time was spent with Nay and her. She is quite the character but really nice and on point with her comebacks. Quite the sassy one. The three of us walked by the river side exploring what sites Toledo had to offer us: 

When it comes to climbing, I am always willing to do so without hesitation. This time it had me in quite the pickle tho. I got to the top and getting down wasn't so pretty. Emily and Nay were having such a laugh watching me trying to get my big butt down. 

We walked back and met up with Chris and Delaney. Chris came to visit Delaney for the weekend and they both are from Cali also. We walked up to the Rock in order to watch the sunset over Toledo: 

After a massive dinner, a PDN was needed. Post dinner nap. Nay and I woke up to meet up with the gang again at a tavern called Livingston. It was an African Tavern where I found St. Johns College:

We met a couple of Spanish guys, Mario, Miza, Edu and Rodrigues and just talked for a while before departing and going to bed. 

The next day we went to grab some Churros with Emily in the park close by. When the two girls went to grab the Churros I was sitting down at a table, a guy came by to clean it when this conversation happened: Guy: De donde? 
Me: Soy de SudAfrica.
Guy: SudAfrica? Pero no eres Negro. 
Me:.... no comment 

For those of you who don't speak spanish. The guy asked me where I was from and then when I told him South Africa he said you can't be because you aren't black. (Really) After Nay and Emily returned we were enjoying the Churros with Chocolate when the guy returned and ask the girls where I was from. After repeating my answer the guy said that I have to be from England because the background of South Africa is not white. Very interesting way to start off the day. Before lunch Nay and I grabbed some rays in my ENO hammock:

We hammocked in el parque de Mozarabe. Lunch was packed as always with some delicious food: Lentejas con verduras y croquetas de jamon. I also tried some spanish fruit called Chirimoya which tasted a lot like a Leechie. The rest of the afternoon Nay and I took a bus to Madrid to meet up with Sarah Johnson, Emma Burns and Lauren Ulrich. We saw the palace, the cathedral and a park that is easily bigger than Central Park in New York. I had my first tapas at the market. One thing I realized is that Madrid had so many people in it that even on the streets it was hard to move: 

After the short trip to Madrid, Nay and I spent the next day along the river side, watching people lead climb, and enjoying the blue skies in Toledo: 

Easily one of my favorite dishes prepared by Christina was the Tortilla Authentica. Made with eggs, and potatoes this was hands down the best thing I have eaten in the last four months. We went to Emily's house to get some homework done and studied for our finals. This was the view from her balcony: 

We went for a walk with Pepe at night while he was trying to show us the best place to view the sunrise. We didn't wake up because I have been too sick this past week. Nay had her finals on Monday so I went to Madrid for the day to meet up with Sarah: 

A very hipster coffee shop called The Bicycle Cafe. During this time I learned a great deal about Sarah and her story. I didn't really know much about her but I am so thankful that she shared with such detail. She is truly such a nice girl who made me realize just how much I value listening to someone. Also she is 4' 11 which makes her such a funsized person, genuinely so happy to have spent the day with her, getting to know her more. We explored Madrid's parks and restaurants. We ended up just going to the market instead because there were no spaces in the restaurants: 

The night was spent back in Toledo with Nay watching a movie. The morning after we went to a market with Emily and Nay before my departure back to Scotland. This is a picture of the kitchen and Christina. The table had a heater underneath it, so awesome: 

So Naomi Forman: She's a Vegan. She is short. She is a hippie. She is almost fluent in Spanish. She is friends with the only two South African's at DU. Those are just the basic facts about her and what I knew before actually staying with her for five days. One thing I knew before however was that she is very accepting. What I mean by this is she is always open to hearing things and accepting them for what they are. One of the nicest girls to be around because she makes you feel welcomed. She is always willing to listen, and willing to try new things, except food. Such a blessing to be around honestly. 

Before I got my flight back to Scotland I had lunch with my flat mate Brooke Edelson, just one of the three beautiful people I will be living with shortly! 

The rest of the week I am just busy working on my final essay and while u procrastinated a little bit I found it well worth it. I read this amazing book and it flipped my head upside down! Seriously read it if you want some awesome perspective change: