First, I want to apologize for not updating this in a while. Honestly, there hasn't been anything too exciting going on lately, just trying to figure out my classes, which are still somewhat strange to me. I'm trying to get over the fact that I don't have much homework to do. I keep feeling like I am not being productive, or that I am not doing something right. Either way, I have just been dealing with a lot of that bureaucratic side of colleges: I still haven't gotten my university ID, because the bank where I am supposed to get it failed to tell me that I need a photo of myself as well as proof of registration and enrollment. So, I have to do that Monday before I can even go up to the bank (probably Tuesday) to get my card. It's really frustrating.
Anyway, last night was my first night out on the town. I met up the girl here from GCSU (her name is Sasha) and some of her friends. She has been here since last August, so she knows the town pretty well. Plus, one of her friends that went with us is a local, so she (Maria) showed us around. First, we went to a cafe and ordered ¨tapas,¨ which are little appetizer-like things that you get when you order drinks. Usually, they can be olives, or a small pieces of fish or meat, or cheese or many other things. It's just something to balance out the alcohol in your stomach. Then, we walked to a little café and had some coffee and tea, before we went to some of the clubs. They were dance clubs, but not really like those in the States. I mean, they played more salsa and merengue music, instead of electronic ¨hip-hop¨ kind of stuff. So, I got more of a flavor for the authentic Spanish night scene. The first club was called ¨La Latina¨ and the second one we went to was called ¨El Manuscripto,¨ but the locals just call it ¨Manu.¨
I can't stop here without telling you guys about ¨Carnaval.¨ It's a huge celebration throughout a large portion of Europe during this time of year that is sort of like Halloween in the States. People from all ages dress up and go out on the town. It lasts several days. I mean, I started seeing people dressed up on Friday, and Carnaval in Spain doesn't end until this Tuesday, so basically five days. There are concerts, a parade, and people go out and have a good time with friends, and sometimes even with complete strangers! haha I mean, when we were out last night, we saw witches, pirates, police officers, jailbirds, angels, devils, clowns, hippies, and everything else under the sun. Plus, the people were incredibly friendly. They would just walk up to you and start talking. They would even let you borrow some of their costume pieces to take pictures! It was really great.
People stay out really late too. Plus, my friends told me that it wasn't just because of Carnaval. That's just how the people here are. I mean, we got home around 5:00 in the morning (yes, very late, I know). But, there were still people partying and eating out at restaurants and walking the streets. This is a very animated place. They have a completely different concept of time than we do in the States. I mean, they might stay up until the sun rises, and then sleep for a few hours, go to work at 8:00 or 9:00, come home at 2:00 for a nap until 5:00, and then go back to work. After work, they might start the whole process over again. Not everyone does that of course, and not everyday either. In fact, during the week, most people are home by 1:00 at night at the latest. But on the weekends, they really just let go and relax and have a good time. In fact, one of my friends said that during the warmer months, families with young children (like in kindergarten) will be walking the streets as late as 12:00 and 1:00 in the morning.
One last thing I noticed about this town is that I haven't seen any crimes. I know a lot of people in the States have this perception that Europe is a dangerous place, because of robberies and purse-snatching etc., but I honestly feel extremely safe here. The people are very friendly, and you will almost never be alone on a street. People are out at all times of the day and night. Plus, Valladolid isn't really a tourist town, so I would say that most ¨robbers¨ aren't going to focus here. Madrid was a different story though, as I felt very cautious of my surroundings and aware of what was happening. Although there were tons of people in the streets, it was a very disorganized place (at least in the part where I stayed), so I feel much safer in Valladolid than in Madrid.
Anyway, those are the updates so far. I might be going to Sevilla in the next few weeks or so, since there is a group of exchange students going. If there is availability I will go, especially since it only costs 110 euros for several days worth of activities (the majority of expenses included). Sevilla is in the southern part of Spain, roughly 40 or 50 miles from the coast. In fact, it is only about 100 miles from the northern tip of Africa, the Strait of Gibraltar. Anyway, I will hopefully have more pictures soon, but I can't promise anything. ¡Ten cuidado!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Even More Pictures
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Just to let everyone know, I added even more pictures to the blog today, but these are more of the city to the north/east. I think these are much more interesting and intricate. I hope you like them. I'll post again soon!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
More Pîctures
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I just updated the photos that I took today while I was meandering around town. I also added the pictures I took of my apartment. I hope to upload a video tour of my apartment soon, but my internet connection is bad right now. Hopefully by Wednesday, I will have a better connection to upload it and communicate with everyone more often.
Today, I was able to walk around the city (at least to the south) to discover some of the treasures of Valladolid. I know some of these pictures look like nothing more than buildings, but they truly are beautiful in person. I still didn't see any cathedrals (my roommates tell me they are more to the east and north), but I saw some wonderful fountains and a large plaza. Other than that, we have been hanging around in the apartment. Shops usually close around 3:00 or so on Saturdays, so there isn't much to do. On Sundays, everything is closed, according to my roommates, so I probably won't be doing much tomorrow either.
One thing that I noticed yesterday, that I mentioned to my Mom, was that the people here seem to like ham. Everything has ham on it: pizza, frozen dinners, even chips are ham flavored! It is really interesting to pick up on the little cultural differences that define us.
Anyway, that's it so far. I guess I will update this again on Monday or something. (I assume we won't be doing anything too exciting tomorrow.) Take care everyone.
Today, I was able to walk around the city (at least to the south) to discover some of the treasures of Valladolid. I know some of these pictures look like nothing more than buildings, but they truly are beautiful in person. I still didn't see any cathedrals (my roommates tell me they are more to the east and north), but I saw some wonderful fountains and a large plaza. Other than that, we have been hanging around in the apartment. Shops usually close around 3:00 or so on Saturdays, so there isn't much to do. On Sundays, everything is closed, according to my roommates, so I probably won't be doing much tomorrow either.
One thing that I noticed yesterday, that I mentioned to my Mom, was that the people here seem to like ham. Everything has ham on it: pizza, frozen dinners, even chips are ham flavored! It is really interesting to pick up on the little cultural differences that define us.
Anyway, that's it so far. I guess I will update this again on Monday or something. (I assume we won't be doing anything too exciting tomorrow.) Take care everyone.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Exploring Valladolid
Friday, February 13, 2009
Well, it is my second full day in Valladolid. The weather has been incredibly nice, considering the time of year. Although it was cloudy last night and looked like it was going to rain, it cleared up today to the point that there were zero clouds in the sky. It has been hanging around 50 degrees so far, so it is pretty comfortable. It isn’t too windy here either, so 50 degrees means 50 degrees.
Yesterday, I walked up to the grocery store and the bank. The grocery is an interesting place. Although they have carts like at Walmart, most people use these little plastic buggies about the size of the carrying baskets at most grocery stores in the States. They have built-in wheels, so you can pull or push them, but they hold no more than two or three bags of groceries. The entire supermarket is probably no bigger than the average person’s house in the States…pretty small. Other more specialized shops, like produce stores, are even smaller. At the bank, there aren’t offices. There is one big room with a bunch of desks where people work. They don’t have labels or nametags, so it is hard to figure out who to see for what purpose. But, I got everything I needed, like my rent money, which is pretty important. =-)
Today, I went up to the Office of International Relations at the university to let them know that I had arrived. Apparently, my student ID hasn’t come in yet, so I had to go to the campus bank (where you register for the ID) in order to give them my information (US ID, address, etc). I have to go back to the bank on Friday to pick it up, since it will take about a week to arrive. I also meandered around town a little bit, just looking at the architecture. So far, I haven’t found anything too astonishing, although I did take some pictures. Most of the buildings look pretty similar: they are about 5 or 6 stories tall, mostly made of brick. I did see a beautiful old church today, but I didn’t take a picture because I thought I would walk past it again, which I didn’t do (I walked another route home). I did see my first homeless beggar today, which are pretty scarce in Valladolid. The government tries to keep the city pretty clean too, as I saw three or four different people in uniforms cleaning the streets and sidewalks in different places. And no, they weren’t prisoners…they worked for the city. Overall, I am very impressed with the cleanliness and professionalism of the city. The streets are clean, wide, and people mingle within them as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
As far as the apartment is concerned, everything is still good. I am still trying to figure everything out, like the oven and the washing machine. But, I did find out that if you use the television, oven, and washing machine at the same time, it will trip the breaker and the power to the whole apartment will go out. Haha I guess I will have to be more thoughtful the next time I try to cook a pizza, do laundry, and watch tv at the same time!
Just to tickle your brains, I found out some interesting facts today about the city. First, it has a population of roughly 400,000 people. It used to be the capital of Valladolid up until the 1800s. Many important historical events happened here. For instance, it was founded around 1000 AD. It also was the city in which Isabel of Castile and Fernando of Aragon got married, the king and queen who financed Christopher Columbus’ first journey to America. In fact, Christopher Columbus died here in 1506 at the age of 55. Also, King Felipe II was born here. It is also at the heart of the region (Castilla y Leon) that speaks the purest Spanish in the world. Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, the famous Spanish novel, lived in Valladolid for several years when he was a child along with his family. Also, the region has become known for some of its fine wines. Ribera de Duero is a red wine from this region that is apparently able to be stored for an incredible amount of time before they go bad, something like 10 years if not much longer. Another type is the Cigales, which is more of a blush than a red. This type of wine is still growing in popularity and quality. Finally, this region is known for Rueda, which produces two top quality white wines. The train I rode actually went through several vineyards, which I regret to say I didn’t get any pictures of. But, Spain itself is also the world’s largest producer of saffron (the most expensive spice in the world), as well as a massive exporter of olive oil and citrus fruits.
One more thing before I end this post. I just want to let out my admiration for the older Spanish generation. These elderly people are some of the most classy I have ever seen/met. They are always dressed to the utmost, walk with a posture of elegance, and are never in a hurry. You will rarely if ever see an older person without dress pants, a scarf, and dress shoes on. They really know how to dress!
Anyway, that is all for now. I know I will have more adventures in the next few days. Hopefully sometime this weekend I will be able to get out to some of the local restaurants and try some of the local cuisine instead of grocery store food. ¡Hasta luego! (See you later!)
Yesterday, I walked up to the grocery store and the bank. The grocery is an interesting place. Although they have carts like at Walmart, most people use these little plastic buggies about the size of the carrying baskets at most grocery stores in the States. They have built-in wheels, so you can pull or push them, but they hold no more than two or three bags of groceries. The entire supermarket is probably no bigger than the average person’s house in the States…pretty small. Other more specialized shops, like produce stores, are even smaller. At the bank, there aren’t offices. There is one big room with a bunch of desks where people work. They don’t have labels or nametags, so it is hard to figure out who to see for what purpose. But, I got everything I needed, like my rent money, which is pretty important. =-)
Today, I went up to the Office of International Relations at the university to let them know that I had arrived. Apparently, my student ID hasn’t come in yet, so I had to go to the campus bank (where you register for the ID) in order to give them my information (US ID, address, etc). I have to go back to the bank on Friday to pick it up, since it will take about a week to arrive. I also meandered around town a little bit, just looking at the architecture. So far, I haven’t found anything too astonishing, although I did take some pictures. Most of the buildings look pretty similar: they are about 5 or 6 stories tall, mostly made of brick. I did see a beautiful old church today, but I didn’t take a picture because I thought I would walk past it again, which I didn’t do (I walked another route home). I did see my first homeless beggar today, which are pretty scarce in Valladolid. The government tries to keep the city pretty clean too, as I saw three or four different people in uniforms cleaning the streets and sidewalks in different places. And no, they weren’t prisoners…they worked for the city. Overall, I am very impressed with the cleanliness and professionalism of the city. The streets are clean, wide, and people mingle within them as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
As far as the apartment is concerned, everything is still good. I am still trying to figure everything out, like the oven and the washing machine. But, I did find out that if you use the television, oven, and washing machine at the same time, it will trip the breaker and the power to the whole apartment will go out. Haha I guess I will have to be more thoughtful the next time I try to cook a pizza, do laundry, and watch tv at the same time!
Just to tickle your brains, I found out some interesting facts today about the city. First, it has a population of roughly 400,000 people. It used to be the capital of Valladolid up until the 1800s. Many important historical events happened here. For instance, it was founded around 1000 AD. It also was the city in which Isabel of Castile and Fernando of Aragon got married, the king and queen who financed Christopher Columbus’ first journey to America. In fact, Christopher Columbus died here in 1506 at the age of 55. Also, King Felipe II was born here. It is also at the heart of the region (Castilla y Leon) that speaks the purest Spanish in the world. Miguel de Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote, the famous Spanish novel, lived in Valladolid for several years when he was a child along with his family. Also, the region has become known for some of its fine wines. Ribera de Duero is a red wine from this region that is apparently able to be stored for an incredible amount of time before they go bad, something like 10 years if not much longer. Another type is the Cigales, which is more of a blush than a red. This type of wine is still growing in popularity and quality. Finally, this region is known for Rueda, which produces two top quality white wines. The train I rode actually went through several vineyards, which I regret to say I didn’t get any pictures of. But, Spain itself is also the world’s largest producer of saffron (the most expensive spice in the world), as well as a massive exporter of olive oil and citrus fruits.
One more thing before I end this post. I just want to let out my admiration for the older Spanish generation. These elderly people are some of the most classy I have ever seen/met. They are always dressed to the utmost, walk with a posture of elegance, and are never in a hurry. You will rarely if ever see an older person without dress pants, a scarf, and dress shoes on. They really know how to dress!
Anyway, that is all for now. I know I will have more adventures in the next few days. Hopefully sometime this weekend I will be able to get out to some of the local restaurants and try some of the local cuisine instead of grocery store food. ¡Hasta luego! (See you later!)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
From Madrid to Valladolid
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
I landed in Madrid at about 5:10 on Tuesday night, but I didn't get to the hostel where I was staying until a little after 7:00. The Madrid airport is a little confusing, since they have four terminals and a satellite terminal. You have to a take a shuttle bus to any of them. So, I landed in the satellite terminal and then had to get to terminal 2 where I had to find the metro station, which was not as clearly marked as I would have liked. That's really what took me so long...finding the metro station. Anyway, two of my roommates at the hostel were from England, and they were loud and somewhat obnoxious. The other three roommates were from Germany. They came in late, but they were pretty quiet and courteous. I went to bed around 1:00.
I woke up today around 8:30 and rode the metro north to the train station. I waited at the train station for about 1 1/2 hours for my train to arrive and then left Madrid. By the way, Madrid was a pretty dirty, busy place, or at least the parts that I saw of it. The streets were very small and crowded. The locals were in more of a hurry than I was, which is incredible, considering how fast I usually walk. Nevertheless, I was able to purchase my ticket and get on the train to Valladolid. The train ride to about three hours, but the scenery was amazing. I am going to upload the photos, as soon as I can figure out how! haha
My roommates are from Belgium, and they speak wonderful English, which is both a blessing and curse. In fact, I am acting as their translator, since I know better Spanish than they do! haha I am loving the interaction with a different culture. Apparently, Belgium is more ¨American¨ than a lot of other European countries, because a good majority of their culture is fairly new. They are an under-appreciated society within Europe, that's for sure.
Anyway, last night at the hostel was certainly interesting. The majority of the people I spoke with were either French or from Quebec (the French part of Canada). My roommates were from England and Germany. It is interesting to observe the hostilities between different European cultures. (Apparently, the French, English, and Germans hate each other). The people from Quebec and my roommates were at each others throats all night long. haha. My roommates were going to the England/Spain soccer game in Seville tonight. They were catching a ride with someone they met last night who had tickets.
The train ride from Madrid to Valladolid was amazing! I traveled through snow-capped mountains to wide-open plains and farmlands. I mostly took pictures of the mountainous region, since Valladolid is in the heart of the farmlands. Either way, I hope to upload photos to this site, just to show you how beautiful Spain is. I think the places I like the most were those villages that were built at the very foot of a large mountain. They seemed so quaint and beautiful, as if the people didn't have a care in the world.
It really is amazing how smooth and well thought out the rail/metro system is in Europe. I had absolutely no trouble getting from the hostel to the subway to the train station. In fact, the subway system was incredibly clean and professional, much more so than New York City or others in the States. One of the most interesting things about Spain is that everywhere you go, there is graffiti. I mean, even in the rural areas in between Madrid and Valladolid, on the rocks by the train (even in the middle of nowhere), on buildings, on the trains themselves, on everything. The graffiti is both intricate and tribal at the same time. I really love looking at how beautiful and complex it is.
Anyway, this is all I have time for. I will certainly continue my updates, as time and money allow. Take care, and talk to you soon.
I woke up today around 8:30 and rode the metro north to the train station. I waited at the train station for about 1 1/2 hours for my train to arrive and then left Madrid. By the way, Madrid was a pretty dirty, busy place, or at least the parts that I saw of it. The streets were very small and crowded. The locals were in more of a hurry than I was, which is incredible, considering how fast I usually walk. Nevertheless, I was able to purchase my ticket and get on the train to Valladolid. The train ride to about three hours, but the scenery was amazing. I am going to upload the photos, as soon as I can figure out how! haha
My roommates are from Belgium, and they speak wonderful English, which is both a blessing and curse. In fact, I am acting as their translator, since I know better Spanish than they do! haha I am loving the interaction with a different culture. Apparently, Belgium is more ¨American¨ than a lot of other European countries, because a good majority of their culture is fairly new. They are an under-appreciated society within Europe, that's for sure.
Anyway, last night at the hostel was certainly interesting. The majority of the people I spoke with were either French or from Quebec (the French part of Canada). My roommates were from England and Germany. It is interesting to observe the hostilities between different European cultures. (Apparently, the French, English, and Germans hate each other). The people from Quebec and my roommates were at each others throats all night long. haha. My roommates were going to the England/Spain soccer game in Seville tonight. They were catching a ride with someone they met last night who had tickets.
The train ride from Madrid to Valladolid was amazing! I traveled through snow-capped mountains to wide-open plains and farmlands. I mostly took pictures of the mountainous region, since Valladolid is in the heart of the farmlands. Either way, I hope to upload photos to this site, just to show you how beautiful Spain is. I think the places I like the most were those villages that were built at the very foot of a large mountain. They seemed so quaint and beautiful, as if the people didn't have a care in the world.
It really is amazing how smooth and well thought out the rail/metro system is in Europe. I had absolutely no trouble getting from the hostel to the subway to the train station. In fact, the subway system was incredibly clean and professional, much more so than New York City or others in the States. One of the most interesting things about Spain is that everywhere you go, there is graffiti. I mean, even in the rural areas in between Madrid and Valladolid, on the rocks by the train (even in the middle of nowhere), on buildings, on the trains themselves, on everything. The graffiti is both intricate and tribal at the same time. I really love looking at how beautiful and complex it is.
Anyway, this is all I have time for. I will certainly continue my updates, as time and money allow. Take care, and talk to you soon.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Arrived in Orlando
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Well, we made it to Orlando last night. We arrived at 11:30 at night. My luggage ended up only being about 40 lbs, 10 lbs under the maximum weight limit for baggage on British Airways. My back-pack must weigh about 30lbs though! haha I've packed my clothes, a small fleece sleeping bag, shoes, several books, my camera, my laptop, all the cords for my electronics, and other odds and ends that I need for the trip. It turns out that my apartment over there will have the bed linens, pillows, and towels that I need, plus all the kitchen utensils. So, I really don't need to bring too much other than my clothing.
As a side note to my journey overseas, we visited my best friend Andrew. He lives about an hour from Clermont (where my grandparents live), so we figured that we would stop in to see him. I also had the pleasure of meeting his girlfriend for the first time.
We also went out to do some last minute packing, like getting a towel, a pillowcase, and a bed sheet for when I have to stay in the youth hostel in Madrid. (If you don't bring your own, you have to rent them at the hostel.) Other than that, the last two days have been pretty uneventful. I write again soon, I hope!
As a side note to my journey overseas, we visited my best friend Andrew. He lives about an hour from Clermont (where my grandparents live), so we figured that we would stop in to see him. I also had the pleasure of meeting his girlfriend for the first time.
We also went out to do some last minute packing, like getting a towel, a pillowcase, and a bed sheet for when I have to stay in the youth hostel in Madrid. (If you don't bring your own, you have to rent them at the hostel.) Other than that, the last two days have been pretty uneventful. I write again soon, I hope!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Five Days Out
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Hello to everyone who will be following my trip through Spain, and hopefully throughout other parts of Europe. I will be leaving for Orlando this Friday and will be flying out to Gatwick outside of London on Monday. After a short layover of about six hours, I will be headed to Madrid. Since I will arrive in the evening, I will spend the night there, and head to to my final destination, Valladolid, by train in the mid-morning.
That being said, I still have a decent amount of packing to do before I leave on Friday. My back-pack and my ¨suitcase¨are still far from being filled, but I will definitely finish them today. Later on today, my dad and I will head to the Post Office to weigh my bag to make sure it isn't too heavy for checked baggage.
Well, that's what is going on so far, but I'm sure I will have more to say later on. This organization and planning stage has already been an adventure, and I haven't even left the country yet!
That being said, I still have a decent amount of packing to do before I leave on Friday. My back-pack and my ¨suitcase¨are still far from being filled, but I will definitely finish them today. Later on today, my dad and I will head to the Post Office to weigh my bag to make sure it isn't too heavy for checked baggage.
Well, that's what is going on so far, but I'm sure I will have more to say later on. This organization and planning stage has already been an adventure, and I haven't even left the country yet!
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