Wrap-Up of Spain

We took the final exam today, which means tonight will be a MAJOR celebration! It also means that tomorrow we have farewell business and party, and Saturday everyone leaves. There are five of us that are staying in Europe for fall term. Everyone else is going home. I am more excited about staying than sad about not going. Saturday evening I will take an overnight train with two friends here to Barcelona. Mike and I will meet there Sunday morning to begin our two and a half week whirlwind European tour. I AM SO EXCITED I CAN BARELY CONTAIN MYSELF!!!

We both favor freedom and flexibility over rigidity and security in traveling, so here is the tentative schedule:

Aug. 31- Sept. 1: Barcelona
2-3: Train through Southern France
4-5: Cinque Terre
5-7: Florence
7-10: Venice
11-13: Interlaken, Switzerland
14-17: Paris

From there, I go to London and Mike goes home. I am looking forward to this "second phase" of travel. During my week of traveling alone, I did not afford myself the luxury of flexibility. Everywhere I went, I had a map of the city practically memorized along with bus schedules, museum hours, major attractions, etc. I allowed Rick Steves (brilliant man that he is) to direct my course. This next phase will be quite different for the following reasons: 1) Although I am equally excited, I am less terrified about the concept of traveling in Europe. 2) I will not be alone. Not even the staunchest feminist can deny that a 5'2'' female is much safer if accompanied by a man packing a whole extra foot and 60 lbs. It's just basic math. 3) I have adopted a different mindset about travel. Rather than packing in every single museum and site possible, I have accepted that there is no way to see it all. Trips are more enjoyable, experienced enriched, and places enhanced by taking one's time. A slice of chocolate cake is always better than the eating the whole thing at once. Besides, gotta save some for the next trip, right?

As I have said time and time before, the past month has been an absolute blur. I honestly cannot believe how fast it went by. The past five weeks have given me such an appreciation for this amazing country that goes beyond its rich history. I remember learning in my Spanish current events class about the prostitution problem in Spain; this was confirmed by the prostitutes that lined the streets outside my hostel in Madrid. We discussed the botellon or the Spanish custom of people gathering in the plazas to drink and socialize, and this I experienced personally. :) We also learned about the massive influx of immigration (4.5 million immigrants in the last 30 years) this country has seen after complete isolation during the Franco regime. In truth, Morrocans can be found selling burned DVD's on many a Spanish street corner, and an Argentinian woman sells me fruit at the local fruteria. With such a large inundation of immigrants in so short of time, it is no wonder the Spanish are wary of foreigners.

Along with current Spain, it has been so nice to see the romantic Spain of antiquity that has always interested me. The Spain of Goya, Lorca, Picasso, and Hemmingway. Of bullfights and flamenco. Even the nitty-gritty Reconquest and Inquisition have helped shape the history and flavor of this place. And then there are the times when the two converge in a vivid and chilling way. For me, this has been seeing an old person in a park and knowing that their wrinkled face has experienced repression under a dictatorship or perhaps even lost a loved one in the Civil War. That part of Spanish history is still an open wound, and people glare when someone utters the word "Franco."

Oh, by the way, studying a language in a native country is the ONLY way to learn it. The ONLY way. My Spanish has improved exponentially since coming here, and I know that if I stayed it would only continue to improve. I will leave you with some pictures from the past few days: hiked up the tallest mountain Oviedo to see a giant Jesus, the pre-Roman cathedrals here in Oviedo, and view of the city.