We couldn’t get into our hotel room until 10 and nothing was open when we arrived, so we hung out in the lobby as I hyperventilated until 6:00am when we were able to go to a local bar. It was popping with regulars and Steph and I got our first churros and chocolate, which are nothing like the Mexican and Brazillian churros we are used to getting at fairs, but still just as delicious. I also learned that the tiny bit of spanish I was able to spit out in high school has somehow been retained in my brain and I was actually able to communicate with people. That was just a pleasant surprise.
After checking into our room and a MUCH needed nap, we went to the Cathedral to meet Dayna and Amy. It was cool to see Colombus’s tomb: I’m pretty sure he’s one of the most famous Europeans in America. Although the whole being carried by 4 men thing makes him seem a bit of a meglomaniac. I mean, let’s not forget that you introduced smallpox to America. We climbed the tower which was not even close to as terrible as the one in Prague, although I have to say the view was mediocre. Sorry.
The highlight came after the cathedral when we went to YOGURTLANDIA! Omg why does this not exist in America? Hands down the greatest froyo I have ever had the pleasure to taste. It got it with raspberry sauce and nutella and apples and strawberries on top and it still makes me salivate thinking about it. It is the perfect blend of all frozen yogurts: yogurt like PinkBerry but without that sour, tart taste. It just tastes like delicious vanilla yogurt that has been frozen. Then Steph, Amy, and I went to Maria Luisa which was a really gorgeous, serene park where we sunned and I took pictures of doves (which are really just white pigeons! Fun fact: they bob their heads when they walk because this enables them to see in 3D. NOW YOU KNOW.)
We then went to meet Erica, Michelle, and Rachel at a bar on the river. Honestly, Seville is one of the most gorgeous places I’ve been too. It’s so colorful and gorgeous and has so many parks and outdoor areas to enjoy. On the way to the river I bumped into Lauren who I didn’t even know was studying in Seville! We sat at the river for a while before heading back to the bus station to see if they could help locate my computer. They were completely incompetent. I really have never dealt with such stupidity in my ENTIRE life. Whatever. We met up with everyone after at Coloniales where I ate my first amazing meal in Seville. Omg the almond chicken, the eggplant, that wine drink- it was all SO amazing. I’m pretty sure Steph and I were crying over everything they brought out while everyone stared awkwardly at us and pretended they didn’t know us.
The next day we went to Alcazar with Dayna and Amy. I really have to hand it to those Sevillians- they know how to build parks. It was gorgeous and such a beautiful day and I just had so much fun. We got yogurtlandia again, tiny sandwiches, and then I met up with Staci for ice cream! Seville was just filled with food and Hewlett and therefore was amazing.
On Wednesday morning Steph, Amy, Dayna, Marissa, Bauer, and I woke up early to catch a bus to Malaga, and then another one to Marbella: our final destination on Spring Break. Things went smoothly although some of us almost missed the bus from Malaga due to an emergency bathroom break. We were meeting Nicole and Juliette there and the 8 of us were going to be sharing a 3 bedroom villa. When we got to the Marriott, however, they informed us that I had accidentally booked THREE 3-room villas. As in 9 rooms. As in we each could have had our own room, plus one for guests. My bad. Luckily, they realized this was an error because their website was unclear, so they took care of it and asked us for our passports. Guess who left her passport in the hotel in Seville? Ding ding ding, we have a winner! Luckily, the hotel was able to call and arrange for a “special carrier” to bring it to me. Typical.
As soon as that was taken care of, we ran down to the pool area where we encountered our obsession of the trip: PODS. The scientific term for them is “Relaxation Bed”, but we called them pods the entire time. The pool area was GORG and the pods were convenientally located near the bar which had amazing food. Steph and I shared chicken lettuce wraps with the most amazing sweet asian chili sauce which I ate with a spoon. The waitress actually came over to me and said “Are you eating that straight? I’m sorry, but I’ve never seen anyone do that! It’s interesting”. Thanks, I’m interesting. We walked on the beach where I did a cartwheel (or as good as it’s going to get) then we had happy hour which turned into dinner and Nicole and Juliette joined us!
IM A PODDED PLANT
The next day was equally as amazing. Amy and I were pod buddies and shared my iPod and although she’s going to deny it, she requested Glee and random Broadway songs. I also did A LOT of reading on this vacation. I read The Agony and the Ecstasy, which is a biographical novel about Michelangelo that my Aunt Carole had given to me earlier this year. It definitely reaffirmed my love of Florence, but was also so interesting because it talked about subjects that I’m learning in every single one of my Italian classes: Italian language, different types of wines, Michelangelo and the Renaissance, even the Jews were covered! It was so interesting and a must read for anyone visiting or studying abroad in Florence. We spent the entire day by the pool and then for dinner we went to this area in Marbella where we got paella and then “walked” around briefly. Oh also when we got paella the waiter asked if we wanted any wine and we said no and then he pointed to me and said “vodka?” Unclear why I was singled out for that.
monkey thinks you look fat in this picture
The next day we laid out until 12ish and then Steph, Bauer, and I went to Gibraltar! It was GORGEOUS in Marbella, but Gibraltar was pretty dreary and gross and rainy and we were kind of cold. But it was an awesome experience. We took a cab there and then a tour around. We saw awesome caves, Africa (kind of- it was really foggy), and then played with wild monkeys. The tour driver asked if we minded if any of them jumped on us and I of course said no, but then out of nowhere a monkey jumped on my head and it took me by surprise and it actually hurt my neck. The guide kept saying “DON’T TOUCH IT!” because apparently they can get nippy, but it was SO cool! The monkeys were jumping around EVERYWHERE, on our car, trying to get in through the window- it was amazing. That is until we had to get home. We were also with Brittany and her friend and so there were 5 of us- and cabs only take 4. We couldn’t find a bigger cab ANYWHERE so we decided to just take a train back to Marbella. However when we got there it was sold out and there wasn’t another one for 3 HOURS! We ended up getting on this other bus, not really knowing where it was going because no one was of ANY help- they were actually pretty rude- and then cabbing back. Of course we had issues.
When we got back we got ready for dinner which was in a different area and we went out for Amy’s birthday. Literally every single human within a 2 mile radius of Marbella was getting married. We counted 17 different “Hen” Parties (bachelorette) at the different bars we went to. Some bars had 8 going on at the same time. It was ridiculous. Some were classier than others but it was so entertaining to watch. We got home and I went to bed and disaster struck yet again.
One member of our party got sick that night. We felt very SO terribly but weren’t sure if it was food poisoning or the norovirus so while she spent the whole next day in the room recovering and resting, we spent the whole day down by the pool discussing how terrible it would be if it was norovirus and we all got it. It would literally be a scene out of Bridesmaids. Suddenly everyone was contaminated. Anarchy struck. It was also a little colder and hazy that day so instead of tanning we had blankets and sweatshirts in the pods.
Steph and I were on a separate flight from everyone else when we left the next day, and we were seated in this weird exit row- just the two of us- and we had easily 6 feet of legroom and a jump-seat where this flight attendent sat during take-off and landing. I’ve never seen anything like this, but it was really cool and obviously I still reclined my seat. Our trip continued to be bizarre as on the train ride from Rome to Florence the train layout was just like the Hogwarts Express and at one point it stopped for a bit. Steph was expecting the Dementors to come onto the train and I swear that there was ice on my window. Actually, our car was “broken” as the conductor told us “in Italian” so everyone just kind of got up and left, leaving me alone in the cart. Not one person tried to tell me to leave or explain, they just were like “kay bye!”. I guess they didn’t like me.
Marbella was probably the most fun leg of the most fun trip we’ve been on all semester. Lisbon and Seville were both amazing, but just hanging out with everyone in Marbella has really been a highlight and we were SO sad to leave and return to Florence.
PICTURE TIME!!!
whatisshedoing 