My Spanish Bucket List

As of today I have exactly 1 week until I am boarding a plane with a one way ticket to Madrid, Spain. Of course this means nerves are starting to go into overdrive and lots of late nights lying awake in bed thinking. Of all the things I think about at night, creating my Spanish bucket list has been the most exciting and, in a sense, soothing. With my nerves going haywire it's nice to be creating this bucket list of things I want to do or experience in Spain. Moving abroad has been a dream of mine since I was a kid and creating this list is helping me look past the fear of the move and keep the excitement alive.

I've been trying to narrow it down to something a bit more realistic and manageable. However, my mind has an active imagination that wants to think I can do absolutely anything and everything. Therefore, this is my current bucket list, exclusively for Spain. It is completely open to revisions. As a matter of fact, it will change at some point, knowing who I am.

Without further ado, my completely awesome bucket list for Spain!

1. Participate in an intercambio (essentially a language exchange).

2. Find a good tapas bar that caters to the locals in Madrid.

3. Attend a Real Madrid football match.

4. Visit La Rioja and some wineries/vineyards in the region (this should not surprise my friends).

5. Visit Granada.

6. Visit the coast and swim in the Mediterranean Sea.

7. Try more than one kind of paella.

8. Participate in La Tomatina.

9. Walk along the gorges in Ronda.

10. Attend the San Fermin "Running of the Bulls" festival in Pamplona. (And maybe run with the other crazy fools?)

11. Visit Córdoba during Cruces de Mayo festival.

12. Make the trip out to Nacedero del Urederro, a national park in Navarra.

13. Visit Barcelona (again).

14. Battle it out with wine in  the Batalla del Vino in Haro.

Bienvenidos a Madrid!

After being here for about 2 and a half weeks now, I think I'm finally settling into the idea that I am actually living here in Madrid, Spain. The first couple of days were a bit overwhelming and I won't deny having a moment or two when I wondered what I was thinking moving to another continent when I've never even lived outside of Florida before. First there were concerns about the apartment, then worries about navigating the city, and the worry of realizing that maybe my Spanish just isn't as good as I thought it was.

I'd consider myself pretty fortunate that most of my worries seem like they were so long ago. The majority of my worries seem like distant memories. Well, all except getting my documents for legal residency -- that's going to be a fun process.

Otherwise, life here in Madrid has been pretty fantastic. I've been getting to explore this beautiful city and learning from other auxiliares and the locals where I should go for good food and how to have a good time. Needless to say, I have been partying more here in the past 2 weeks than I ever have before.

Thanks to the locals for showing us a good time!

Back home in Orlando and where I went to university in Tallahassee, alcohol sales stop at 2 in the morning and bars and clubs are closed by 3 am. Over here in Spain, the clubs don't start getting good until around 2 am and people keep partying until 6 or 7 in the morning! The pattern it seems is to drink at home with your friends because it's cheaper and still fun. Most people seem to start heading out 12 -1 am, or earlier if you're getting dinner first. Lots of people will go out with their friends and drink at the bars and then either spend the night going from bar to bar or maybe out to a club later.

Why yes, you can openly drink on the metro in Madrid!

And speaking of partying in Madrid, I got to celebrate my birthday here just over a week ago. It was an amazing birthday and I had a fantastic time out partying and enjoying the Madrid nightlife. It included 1 Euro glasses of wine, meeting new Spaniards, finding myself at an Irish bar, and ended with late night dancing at one of the biggest nightclubs in Madrid. My birthday was probably one of the best birthdays that I have every had and I'm so grateful for my awesome roommates and all of my new friends whether they be American, British, or Spanish for helping me to celebrate.

Life has been great in Madrid so far and I hope to update again soon with more stories about mishaps and shenanigans here in Spain, because knowing me there will be plenty more to come. And with that, I'm off to get myself ready for my first day of work tomorrow and of course, with Spain being Spain, there is a metro strike tomorrow. Here's to actually making it to my school in the morning!

Looking Back and Looking Forward

So much has been going on in my life since I last wrote and since I've been back home in Florida. It's amazing how day to day we see things as unchanging and as they always are, but when we look back on that period of time, we realize just how much truly has changed in our live that we simply were not aware of as those changes were happening. As my senior year was winding down and I was reflecting on my then upcoming trip to Europe, I remember thinking how I would go enjoy my two months in Europe and then I would come home and have approximately two and a half months to sort out my visa and get ready for my big move. In my mind that was plenty of time to sort out my life.

Well, just kidding, maybe it wasn't.

I'm now down to less than three weeks before I'm back on a plane over to Europe and I'm nervous. Maybe scared is the right word, I'm not entirely sure. What I do know is that on September 12, 2012 I will be boarding a plane with a one-way ticket.

So far I have managed to secure the following things for my upcoming move: my visa and my one-way plane ticket.

That's it.

Can someone please tell me what the heck I was thinking?

In the next 3 weeks I have to somehow manage to pack the majority of my life into two large suitcases, the biggest carry-on bag I can smuggle on board, and the largest purse I can claim is just being used as a handbag. I thought packing for college was hard, this is going to be 50 million times for difficult. What do I bring? I suppose I should start making a list and getting myself together.

I've already been plotting out the clothes I need to bring and if I'll need anything else I don't already have. Others in the same position have been posting on the Facebook groups (yes, we have those) asking what sort of things we should bring from the States that are super expensive, hard to find, or just plain don't exist in Spain. Every time someone asks me what American things I'll be bringing my mind goes blank. Completely blank. I haven't the faintest idea what I might miss from home that Spain won't have. I keep hearing about peanut butter, and while I like the stuff, I'm not going to go crazy without it. On the other hand I hear about over the counter pain meds being hard to get, so that's definitely coming along with me.

Maybe I'm just more concerned with memories of the people and places here at home than the items. I don't know. In my head, I kind of figure that I'll learn to adapt and not miss items so much. Perhaps it's kind of similar to the way I never took an item from home to make me feel at home before. Homesickness is never an emotion I really ever experienced. And it's totally going to happen now that I mentioned it.

Awesome.

Since I've been back life has not been quite as I expected. And I'm kind of okay with it. I've gotten to see my best friends and family which is top of my list of things to accomplish before I take off. Work? Did far less of that than I planned to. Figures. I've also been kind of doing this dating thing... Yeah, I know, I'm moving, but since when does that mean I can't go out on a few dates with someone whose company I enjoy?

And, in my typical fashion, I have had many nights where I stayed up way too late, drank too much wine, and laughed way too loud.

In other words, I've been living my life to its fullest in the limited time I have left here in America.

Just yesterday I received my visa from the Spanish consulate in Miami and it made everything seem that much more real. With a plane ticket and a visa, I feel ready to take on the world and chase my dreams. This is actually happening. I am actually moving to Madrid, Spain.

I am going to live my childhood dream. I am going to live the life I used to only dream of living. I am going to conquer my fears and go into the unknown.

So here's to enjoying the last of my days in the place I have always known, and going off to create a new chapter in my life.

And here's to making and seeing the changes that alter our lives forever.

Roman Holiday

Today is my last day in Rome, so I thought I'd update as to what has been going on in the "Eternal City" the last few days. I know I still haven't written anything about Spain yet, but I promise I will. I'll use train time tomorrow on my way to Florence to write up some stuff about my time in Spain. That's the beauty of taking a longer holiday, it means I can afford to have some time to just unwind and don't have to rush 24/7 to get places and see things; kind of like how I am enjoying a lazy afternoon in Rome right now.

Speaking of rushing around though, I'm convinced Rome is only called the "Eternal City" because it is impossible to see and do everything in one trip, there is just way too much to see. That being said, this city has taught me that guide books only teach us so much and sometimes it's better to toss that "Top 10 Must Sees" list and just see and do the things that interest you. Sure there might be some things you really should see at least for their historical or cultural value. For me though, the sites of the Vatican City were things I wouldn't put on my personal "must see" list again.

My second full day in Rome was my "Vatican City" day, as I called it. If you know me at all, you know I'm definitely not Catholic and that I take my Jewish beliefs pretty seriously, so I didn't have any reason to visit the Vatican or Saint Peter's Basilica for religious inspiration. Saint Peters, as you may know, is the biggest Catholic church in the world, and the Vatican is, well, the Vatican. Both are described as breathtaking and ornate and beautiful buildings you have to visit when you visit Rome. It was one of those places that you always hear about and anyone and everyone who has been to Rome says you must see.

Well guess what:

You don't.

Thank goodness the basilica was free. I appreciated it for what it is and the talent and skill that went into the artwork and architecture of the building, but it was not for me. Yes, I went in expecting it to be a Catholic church, I was aware of what it was going in, but it wasn't until I was actually inside that I realized that this was not going to be one of my top experiences of Rome. St. Peter's was too overwhelming for me in a sense, I simply couldn't get over how ornate and elaborate the design was for a church, and to be honest, it bothered me. Hear me out, there is nothing wrong with having a beautiful place of worship, I have seen some amazing synagogues that have clearly had good money invested in them, but St. Peter's was unlike anything I have ever seen. Marble and gold everywhere. And I mean everywhere. To me I don't see how anyone on earth could ever focus during a service in there, it is that over the top. I had that thought while I was walking around inside and then it made me wonder, doesn't that defeat the purpose of a place of worship if the people don't focus on G-d? The rest of my visit was spent thinking of things like that as I explored and while the building was impressive, the experience as a whole will not be among my favorite experiences from this trip.

That experience is exactly what I mean when I say throw away that guide book list of things to see and make your own. If you want to follow it, that's fine too, but don't be afraid to divert from it if you find yourself getting tired of museums or churches. Explore the city: what catches your eye? Plan your trip based on things that interest you, and see the sites that pique your interest when you read about them. Or even better, toss the map and get lost. Or take a random tour to places few tourists visit from your hotel's front desk staff on their night off. That's what I did and I loved every second of it!

Well, it wasn't my hotel desk staff, I'm staying with a family here in Rome, but my aunt happened to be in Rome for a few days and I met with her and her friend for an afternoon and for dinner, when we decided to join this tour being given by 2 of the guys who worked the front desk at their hotel. I think it was one of my favorite experiences of this trip. They took us by car for 2 hours around Rome and made various stops at places that most tourists never bother to visit. I mean, did you know there's a pyramid in Rome? A pyramid! I didn't know that. Granted it's no pyramid of Giza, but still pretty cool and relatively large. We also learned that most of the cobblestone streets of Rome, the ones made of smaller square shapes only date back to the Middle Ages. Its on the edges of the city, where we did get to stop, where one of the oldest routes of the Roman empire still exits. I got to stand on, and touch, the large stones of a road constructed in 312 B.C. Appian Way, look it up.

We also explored some of the 7 hills upon which Rome was founded and got to experience some amazing nighttime views of the city. It was a nice break to see things off the main tourist path and to spend some time with my aunt. As nice as it is to travel alone, it can be nice to have someone to talk to and explore with for a little bit.

Would I return to Rome? Yes, but it's not at the top of my travel priority list to return to. Do I recommend it for others? Absolutely.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Brave.

I think that was the word most people used to describe me when I told them I was taking off to travel Europe for two months alone.

There were moments when I thought "crazy" would have been a better word to describe my plans.

The initial months of planning this trip were nothing except pure excitement and joy that my dream was actually happening. I spent pretty much every waking moment of my free time researching and planning things to see and do in the cities on my itinerary. It was all I would talk about. Sincere apologies to my friends and family, but thank you for putting up with me.

But then the nerves started to set in. In the final month or two before my trip began I could feel myself getting nervous. Did I have all the necessities? Was I forgetting anything? How did finances look? Hundreds of questions and doubts flooded my mind as the big day drew closer. I mean, honestly, 2 months is a heck of a long time to take off all alone to several countries that you've never been to before.

It wasn't until less than a week before my trip that I began to let those fears go. I guess finals and graduating from university were stressful enough that it distracted my mind from other worries. That is, until I got to the airport the afternoon of May 1st. It wasn't security, or rushing to check-in that made my nerves come back. It was standing in line to board the plane. I was the only American boarding that plane it seemed and I could feel excitement and nervousness building inside me again. I think the ultimate moment of realization that this was actually happening was sitting in my seat, looking out the window as the plane started down the runway for take off.

That's when I thought to myself:

'Well, too late to back out of this now."

Luckily, once the plane was off the ground, that anxious feeling left and I settled into what has been the best flight of my life and the happiness that started my trip. Props to Virgin Atlantic for creating a wonderful flight experience, complete with an awesome kosher meal and free alcohol. That's right, free alcohol. I was one very happy customer, and am so greatful that my trip started off well. I will always remember taking off that runway and beginning the journey of a lifetime that has just barely begun.

No Looking Back

So its a bit later than I wanted, but here it is finally, my little corner of the internet where I can share this crazy life adventure with all of you (hi mom, dad, friends!). As you know, I've been planning this trip for quite some time, and I'm so happy to say that I finally arrived in Europe just over a week ago.

The craziest part of me making this trip? I couldn't tell you. It might have been the decision to travel alone to another continent, or maybe it was the decision to travel alone to a place I had never been to before. Or maybe, just maybe, the craziest thing about deciding to travel alone for 2 months to Europe while living out of a carry-on sized bag is that this journey has been something I always knew I wanted to do.

Like I said, I'm starting this blog a little late, by this point I am now in Madrid and have already been to Barcelona, Sevilla, and made a day trip to Córdoba.

The rest of my itinerary? It's kind of just as hectic. Following Madrid I will be going to the following cities:

Rome
Florence
Venice
Munich
Salzburg
Vienna
Krakow
Prague
Berlin
Amsterdam
Brussels
Paris
And finally, London

Don't worry, my head was spinning too when I had to actually make this itinerary. For anyone reading this who has suggestions on things I must see or do while in any of these cities please leave a comment and let me know! I would hate to miss anything spectacular.

I'll update again very soon to detail my day to day adventures and to fill all of you in on what has happened so far. It's already started off as the trip of a lifetime with so many stories to tell all of you. I love you all, and I promise to keep it interesting!