This weekend I went to Valencia! It is about a four hour bus ride from Madrid, but I slept both ways so I didn't even realize it. I had my first hostel experience! I was in a room with my five other friends and we all shared six bunkbeds. Tiny and warm, but not too shabby, there was wifi? The only downfall was the community bathrooms and showers and walking in a towel getting catcalled at by strangers. A little terrifying.
We went to the beach right when we arrrived and surprisingly there were not very many people. Spainards take their month vacation to the beaches in August... Even more surprisingly women were taking their tops off left and right. European. I'm obviously American and will be enjoying my tan lines.
Once on the beach we all gathered under these cute beach hut sombrero type things. I chugged three redbulls (why?) and was a machine.
I saw a group of people running along the beach and decided to join. They were a high school cross country team and I was chatting in Spanish for about three miles up and down the beach. SO fun. This blonde gal in front leading a cross country charge and passing by my group like five times left and right... ha their only English phrase was BYEEEE JESS when their workout was over. Running companions.
Afterwards I played a game of soccer with some Germans in the sand. I kept trying to speak to them in Spanish and they kept having to remind me that they speak English. Ha the language thing is already hard to switch on and off. After that I played beach football in the water. So many activities. I overextended my knee or pulled some muscle at some point and was limping the rest of the weekend. Probably worth it.
I'm a very low tolerance person and so three red bulls had me WIRED. I passed out face down in the sand a few hours later. Face submerged in sand. Ultimate caffeine crash. It was a sight.
That night, I stayed in for a bit while everyone went out. Getting broken up with by someone your in love with is probably the worst experience. Cried to my fabulous mother via skype. Technology rocks. She does too.
The crew came back from apparently a terrible paella experience and dragged me out. We went to some crazy club and danced on couches and all along the wall they had this ledge to dance on. I went home in a taxi with Stephanie and decided eating a buffett was a good idea at four am. Comfort food? I woke up on a sandwich sticking to my back in the morning. Kind of smelled like old Taco Bell? Sick.
When we finally emerged from our styrofoam hostel beds we went to a plaza nearby and ate delicious crepes. There were fountains and little kids playing with pigeons. Beautiful sight. We walked over to the 15th century gothic style cathedral, went inside, and walked up the bell tower. We saw the whole city of Valencia from there as it is the highest point in the city. Stephanie and I shoved our note in a crack on top--every city we go to! such nerds.
We decided to go to the beach again becuase it was SUCH a beautiful day. I feel like I unfortunately saw more boobs this time. There were little tents set up by the beach so all the gals went shopping. This one lady named Lolo kept putting bracelets on my wrist so I bought five. Why am I such an excessive person. Accessories make the woman! We relaxed that beach time, no sporting events since I was newly handicapped.
We took a tram (not a metro- becuase if you dig there would just be water.) to the largest aquarium in Europe. These extremely nice Spanish ladies were chatting with my friend and I and told us all where to go.
It literally looked like a different planet--the architecture was UNBELIEVABLE. Like star wars kind of. Ultra modern. The aquarium was part of this like strip of museums. There was clear blue water all around, large large buildings. Honestly can't explain it. Goggle Valencia. I saw a six person bike, and would've indulged in that fantastic activity but there was a show at the aquarium we wanted to catch. On our way to the aqarium we passed this lady laughing hysterically at her husband who was wearing her high heels and she was wearing his shoes. They had switched, and it was the funniest sight. They had to be drunk. It was a ridiciulously funny scene.
Inside the aquarium there were all of these tunnels with water and fish all around you that you could walk through. The sharks exhibit had one as well. There was a dolphin show that we watched and it was unbelievable. I felt like I was at seaworld. Dolphins are so strong. They were jumping so high in the air and throwing their trainers in the air. How do you get into that? "I'm a dolphin trainer." Do they get dates?
Everywhere we walked there was this elevator music going on. It was a dream world.
That night we had the most delicious paella. Paella originated in Valencia, so it was a must have while we were there. It's rice and vegetables and meat. Seafood or chicken. I had chicken and it was spiced with rosemary, very delicious.
Overall, it was an enjoyable trip. I'm going to try to not let this break up overshadow what an experience Spain is, and just hope for the best for the future. Who knows, maybe later it will work out. I just feel so terrible right now, but God has a plan that I cannot change. In Mother Theresa's words,"I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish that He didn't trust me so much."
Today I traveled back home and went to a bull fight. UGH it was not my favorite thing, watching a bull getting stabbed to death. First they have this grand display of all the people involved in their fabulous attire. Then, these matadors, like eight of them or so, wave their pink cloths and try to tire out the bull. Meanwhile, these two men on horses come and stab the bull with spears in its back. The bull was like gutting the horse with his horns and while the horses have armor, I'm pretty sure this one was pricked pretty badly. Then the matadors tire him out some more and these other men come out and stab hook like things into the bulls back so there are these things hanging from its back and blood everywhere. Finally the real matador with the red cloth comes out and messes with the bull and eventually submerges his entire sword into the bull so it staggers, falls down, and dies. Mules come and drag the bull out of the arena and blood is all over. It's so gross and kind of sad. HAD to go to one while in Spain though-ah. We only stayed for not even all of two bull fights and then left, not seeing all six. Too gruesome for my taste...
I really wanted a hamburger before that experience, but after changed to craving chicken and went to Burger King for some comfort food. I'm an American forever. They don't have Ranch dressing though and that is a bit depressing.
I'm just going to stay busy, and focus on bettering myself while I'm here. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional and what you overcome will only make you stronger. Right?
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