Tweets from Spain
I’ve been meaning to go through some of my recent travel memories and write up summaries that I didn’t take the time to do while traveling. Turns out, I’m having a hard time doing that regardless of how much free time I might have.
To try to get the ball rolling, I’m just including all of the “tweets” I wrote while traveling around Spain. It will be a good memory jog for me once I take the time to write more about it, though it probably serves as good as any summary I’ll be able to come up with anyway.
Note: The dates & time listed below are Pacific Standard Time; so, if you’re paying attention to that information on the tweet, just jump ahead 9 hours from what’s posted.
- Oh hey, did I mention I’m heading to Spain this weekend? Excitement building up … Trying to not think about it today else I might explode.
- remembering a time when the only item in my suitcase in need of a power/plug adapter was my hairdryer.
- Pre-flight beer & whiskey regiment in the D-concourse.
- Giant plane from PDX to Amsterdam practically empty (40 passengers). Now boarding crowded flight to Barcelona.
- Wandering through charming little side streets and an open market in Barcelona.
- Walking, walking, walking. Tapas y cafe. Sunshine and more walking. #Barcelona
- Lost. But, there’s the ocean. And Cuban music!!
- Can’t tell you how disappointed I am receiving an invitation from a friend in Barcelona for one night only, 24hrs after it was sent.
- @serrat They sell bunnies, chinchillas, and turtles on the street here.
- Wide awake but super comfy in bed. Would like a refund or a do-over for last night’s dreams. Meeting a new friend in a few hours.
- Espresso at Crema & Caffee on La Rambla.
- Heading out for guitarra española here at this church: http://is.gd/99js
- Outside “Font Magica” (freezing!) waiting for the lights and music and the magic!!
- Thawing out in the metro. Totally worth it. Hopefully I can get pictures up tonight.
- Feeling like a bit of an idiot trying figure out how to operate the machines in the laundrymat.
- Leaving Barcelona & heading south to Cordoba in the AM. Will eventually write about this week; must first decide what will be censored
- I wonder what those suckers back in second class are having for breakfast. And, this train is going very very fast.
- @stephaniesylce Indeed it does! Now I’m in a first class hotel, too! Just arrived … heading out exploring (Cordoba) now. xoxo
- Aye! Que bells esta Cordoba!
- (hmmm … guess the iPhone doesn’t speak Spanish) bells = bella.
- If you were wondering what’s right across the hall from my hotel room, it’s just where Christopher Columbus lived while he was in Cordoba.
- Walking around Cordoba: http://is.gd/9FbI -Also, looks like rain tomorrow, which will be perfect for a stop at the Hammam: http://is.gd/9FdU
- @stephaniesylce turns out it wasn’t raining today after all, so I spent the day outside have a reservation for bath/massage tonight instead.
- @smashwags I ❤ being here, it’s so beautiful! Tho, too bad I left when my obligatory site-seeing was done & I was getting the hang of BCN!
- Oh … when I win the lottery, or get filthy rich from working in a bookstore … I’m installing an Arabian Bath in my backyard.
- Giving in to peer pressure & going to Granada tomorrow. Looking for a place to stay (frustrated). Too old for hostels, too poor for hotels.
- Steeeeeep hill. (huffing and puffing)
- Ouch. Feet hurt. And … oh my. The churches in Spain are big. http://is.gd/9VCd
- http://twitpic.com/pwri
- Yum!! Tapas y Rioja.
- @stephaniesylce gooood question!! Having soooo much fun!! You would love it!!! Xoxo
- Whole-e-shit. It’s been a looonnng time since I’ve been out on the town till 5:00 am. And now I remember why. #shakes
- Made it to Jerez de la Frontera. A bit sad to leave M&M in Granada, but being in such a charming little apt here turns my frown upside down.
- @stephaniesylce M&M = Mark & Mickey from England & Ireland. @smashwags more story to follow, I promise. P.S. Map of Jerez coming soon. xoxo
- (my) Jerez de la Frontera = Sherry + Zambomba + Camera Obscura.
- Quick stroll around town before I catch the train to Seville.
- Gah! Still no phone service on my iPhone (now in Seville). Must fight the temptation to take a siesta and go take a look around town.
- Hello Hotel Amadeus! I may never leave!!
- Some shoes are better for walking than others. #breaktime
- My AT&T chat representative, Betty Biggers, seems to have taken a coffee break in the middle of our chat.
- Holy crap. After a week w/ no phone service + 1/2 hr chatting with B. Biggers, all I had to do was restart the damn iPhone. #backinbusiness
- @shadowsoup Yup. iPhone off for 2 min. When it was turned back on, I was reconnected with the world. And there was dancing in the streets.
- @jslabaugh Maybe my inner luddite is just hungry
- Feeling better being reconnected to the world. Though, the cerveca & Rioja might have something to do with it.
- Yay! Real Madrid vs. … hmmm … well, some other team, tomorrow night with J!
- Dear person in the next hotel room using the “snooze” feature on your alarm, Get up already!!
- Of course. *Now* I meet someone in Seville. 20 min. before leaving.
- The emotional roller-coaster I was just on left me exhausted. Wanting a nap, but should orient myself to my new hood while there’s daylight.
- Holy Shit. I like Madrid a *lot* more than I expected. Yay!
- @stephaniesylce I haven’t met my friend yet (he’s working, we’re meeting just before the game) – so far it’s the city itself!
- Thinking I should have changed my shoes for the occasion. #obviousamerican
- Facing my fear of heights, yet again, here in Spain http://twitpic.com/rpyv #vertigo
- I’m sure a week into life @ home I’ll be stuck in the routine, but at this very moment, I’d like to trade it all in & start something new.
- Best thing in the Prado? 5yr old girl walking through the gallery & stopped transfixed upon seeing Patenier’s Temptations. http://is.gd/bnEr
- Next best thing in the Prado = Hieronymus Bosch. http://is.gd/bnHN
- Dear Jackass who just picked my pocket and got away with my asprin receipt from the pharmacy, “Ha!” (oh, and other stuff not fit for print.)
- Amazing last day/night in Barcelona. Packing up to come home.
- On the snowy ground in PDX waiting for luggage and customs. Mixed feelings about being (almost) home.
Dancing in the Street (Yay!)
Sunny Sevilla
Seville is a beautiful place, (especially when it’s sunny).
I was here during a bank holiday for Spain (La Inmaculada Concepción) and it seemed like all of Spain came to Seville for their long weekend.
The day after the holiday it was gray and cloudy and quiet. A completely different town. Still beautiful, but I just made way for the inside attractions, like the tomb of Christopher Columbus in the Cathedral.
I’ve visited a fair amount of famous graves in my travels; though unfortunately, this one was just like any other stop along the tourist trail. I’m not sure if it was because I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, or if there were just too many other gawkers standing around snapping pictures — maybe the significance will hit me later.
It’s sunny outside again today, so I’m going to walk around a bit more and then head to the train station and get myself to Madrid. I’m meeting a friend and we’re heading out for a soccer game tonight. This team (Real Madrid) is apparently a very big deal in the soccer world. I don’t know anything about them other than the bits I’ve been told from my British friends I met in Granada and my friend from Madrid, but I love live sporting events and I could hardly think of a better thing to do at this point in my trip.
Traveling alone has the best and worst of everything. I really love the experiences it leaves me open to, and I’d argue it’s often the best way to travel. However, I haven’t met anyone here in Seville and I’m looking forward to spending time with a friend in Madrid!
Jerez de la Frontera
Love at first site. Pictures (of course) and stories (maybe) to follow.
Dear Granada
Tuesday, 4:00 pm
Dear Granada,
Though you’re quite beautiful, this just isn’t working out between us. I’m sure you’re going to make some other traveler very happy one day, but this just isn’t a good fit for me.
Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe there was just too much pressure. I don’t know exactly what went wrong here, but whatever it is, I’m sure it’s me, not you.
Best,
Amy
Tuesday, 7:00 pm
Dear Granada,
I see how you’re putting on the charm – surprising me with your enormous columned cathedral that looks so sweet and unassuming from the outside, your amazing energy at night, your birds singing like wild in the plaza. Dropping two sweet English guys by my side to keep me company was also a nice touch.
If you’re going to try that hard. I’ll be happy to give you another chance.
Fondly,
Amy
Wednesday, 3:00 pm
Dear Granada,
Okay, you win. Your winding cobblestone streets in Albaicín that led me to the breathtaking view of the Alhambra finally did me in.
I’m yours.
With love,
Amy
Sites sites and more sites!
My internet connection is sporadic and slow – so I’ll wait for a better time to write more, but here are a few pictures of where I’ve been for the past couple of days …
I’m in Barcelona until Sunday morning, and I still haven’t quite decided where I’ll go next. Most likely somewhere in the south of Spain … maybe Cadiz, Cordoba, Jerez de la Frontera … who knows. Any suggestions?
Also … I’m carrying my phone around with me but not using it much in hopes of keeping the surprises on my next phone bill to a minimum … however … it’s free for me to receive text messages – so if you’d like to say hello, I’d love to hear from you!! (you can email a text to me at text@amycgx.com)
xoxo.
Meandering
I use maps like I use cookbooks. Some inspiration and good intentions, then I lose patience trying to follow directions and just decide to let the force guide me. So … yesterday, I walked … walked … and walked.
I don’t really have much to say. It’s a beautiful city and I’m really enjoying the sites!
This morning I have plans to meet a new friend in the center of town, and (if my Spanish didn’t fail me) I believe we’re heading up to to Park Güell.
First night
Airport -> bus to center of town -> aimlessly wandering in circles trying to get my whereabouts -> asked for directions -> found “Las Ramblas” -> started walking in the direction of my apartment -> encountered human statues and had to stop for a few snapshots…
… made it to my apartment -> freshened up and went out exploring.
This city is incredibly alive. I’m in “Barri Gòtic.” Lots of narrow cobblestone streets with little shops and restaurants – and so many people! I wandered through the open market, “Mercat Boqueria” and ate a “pitahaya.” It was fun to eat, nothing extraordinary except for how beautiful it was — but it wasn’t quite enough for dinner. So, I wandered around looking for a place to eat.
So many wonderful looking restaurants, but none that looked quite right for me as a solo traveler. Though I can’t tell you how much I prefer traveling alone than with a companion … last night felt like a night to be shared with someone. (If we skip ahead in the story, you’ll find me kicking myself about 20 hours later when I finally got to a message from a friend who was in Barcelona for the night inviting me out at the very same time I was wishing I had a friend to join me for dinner. Gah!)
I wandered around more, taking it all in. Grabbed a little snack, warded off unwanted advances, looked at the bunnies, birds, chinchillas, turtles, and “the world’s smallest hamster” for sale in the street.
