Can we give Jeremy a round of applause?

This past summer, my friend Jeremy suggested that I take a trip to the Cinque Terre in Italy while I was abroad. After listening to his description, and doing some research, I knew that I wanted to see this place for myself. So this past weekend, three friends and I embarked on a journey to the west coast of Italy.

On Friday, Jeremy was not my friend. I arose at 5:15, having returned home only four hours earlier, and gathered up my things in order to get a taxi to the bus station in time for the 7:00AM bus to Malaga. Two taxis, an airplane, two busses, four trains, and 17 hours later I finally arrived in Vernazza, Italy. By the time my train pulled into my final destination, I was not a happy camper; I didn’t believe that this place could be amazing enough to be worth all the trouble I went through in order to arrive…I was wrong. Even in the dark I could tell the place was special.

The following morning revealed just how special Vernazza was. The water was beautifully blue, the air smelled sweet and clean, the landscape was unbelievably lush and green, and the people were welcoming and polite; I didn’t ever want to leave.

After exploring the village for a bit, my friends and I decided to trek up into the hills in order to visit an old monastery. (Unfortunately we weren’t able to hike to any of the other villages because the paths were wet and dangerous because of all the rain.) Our hike was astoundingly beautiful, words can’t even describe the view of the water and the village bellow, the wildflowers on the hill, and the changing leaves falling from the trees. It was magnificently peaceful.

Saturday night found my friends and me enjoying real Italian pizza in our inn while sipping on the most brilliant white wine I’ve ever tasted. Despite the rain that kept us inside, we enjoyed our evening just relaxing.

I awoke early on Sunday morning, and I made my way outside to watch the sunrise across the water. I just sat and listened to the crash of the waves and marveled at the peace and beauty around me. I was even blessed with a rainbow. It was a time for prayer and reflection, a time to enjoy the loveliness of God’s world.

Sadly, it was necessary to head back to Milan on Sunday afternoon. Thankfully the return trip was much less hectic. There was even time to make our way to the beach in Levanto and play in the water for a bit.

I am so thankful for Jeremy and his travel suggestion.

Does this qualify as fan-freaking-tastic?

Hiking through the Alpujarra mountains in the south of Spain, spending the night on a self-sustaining organic farm, harvesting olives with my own two hands, eating completely delicious and completely natural homemade food, chillaxing and playing music with new friends, creating amazing memories...that was my weekend.

Fast-forward through a 6:30 alarm, 8:00 meeting at the bus station, and a nauseating 2 hour bus ride up into the mountains. . . I would like to forget those less then pleasant parts and jump right into the good stuff.

Our bus dropped us off in the Alpujarras right outside the little Spanish town of Orgiva; after a little bit of a trek we found ourselves at a completely self-sustaining Organic farm nestled in the beauty of the area, our home for the weekend. My friends and I were all overwhelmed with everything that was around us, and also overjoyed for the lack of things that were around us. There were no buses, mopeds, or cars, no cigarette smoke or other air pollutants, and there was no noise except the flowing of the water through the 1500-year-old irrigation system still in use today.

After settling in, we were served an amazing organic lunch; I could feel my body thanking me for the beautiful nourishment! Once lunch was over, it was time for a tour of the 11 acre farm that is complete with olive trees, fruit trees, vegetable garden, chickens, rabbits, and two goats and a sheep. The tour ended at the king olive tree, the tree we were to help harvest. I never thought that I would find myself sitting in an olive tree in the Alpujarras of southern Spain harvesting its fruits...wonderful experience.

I have to admit that by the time supper rolled around I was thankful for the break. We were treated to another excellent meal and good conversation. Enjoying homemade whole-wheat bread with fresh avocado and goat cheese while sipping fresh mint tea and sharing stories of travel just can't be beat. The night ended with everyone joining in and making beautiful, relaxing music together with drums, guitars, flutes, sticks, tambourines, hands, and voices. Sleeping in the Yurt was perfect; layered in my warm clothes, breathing in the fresh mountain air, and thinking about the day...

Sunday was wonderfully relaxing; sleeping late, sitting on a hillside enjoying the views, a hearty breakfast full of fresh fruits, napping under an olive tree below a warm sun, and finally saying goodbye and hiking down into Orgiva to catch the evening bus back to Granada.

Overall, the weekend was amazing. My words nor my pictures can do it justice. It was, by far, my best experience in Spain.

Why am I here?

Alright, the other day I was thinking about why I am in Spain. The original reason I signed up for this was because I wanted to learn Spanish, and while my Spanish has really improved since I've been here, I've found that I've learned so many other things while living across the pond. For example:

1-I really love my friends and family. It has been a blast to meet new people and see new things, but come December I'll be ready to spend time back at home in Ogallala with my family, and when the end of January rolls around I look forward to heading back to Doane.

2-Walking is really sweet! Everyday I trek miles and miles between home and school. Seriously, it isn't unusual to walk 10 miles a day. And you know what, I love it! I hope to keep up the habit when I return stateside, or at very least I hope I never complain about walking to the cafeteria on campus again.

3-Different people have different priorities, and to many Europeans, dental health is not a priority. In Granada, a six-pack of beer or a bottle wine costs less then dental floss. . .

4-Shawarmas are Amazing! Roasted meat stuffed into a pita with veggies and a delicious white sauce and then grilled till the pita has a nice toasted outside. . . mmmmmmm. All that fantastic goodness for only 2.50 euros.

Well, this post didn't end up being as deep and profound as I originally thought it would be. Oh well, that's fine by me. I promise to provide some thought provoking writing in the future.

The Little Things Matter Too, Right?

Lately I have been trying really hard to appreciate the little things that happen in my life here in Granada. I sometimes get so wrapped up in things like trips to Dublin and Madrid, the beautiful sights in Ronda, the Castle in Segovia, and the other “big” experiences, and I sometime forget to enjoy the little things that make up my everyday life.
Last week my friends Bonnie, Jamie, and Emily went along with me to a tetaría where we enjoyed some delicious fresh brewed tea and great conversation.
On the bus to Ronda last weekend I had a great discussion about politics with my friends Jeff and Jenna. Conservative or liberal, Republican or Democrat, does Hillary really have a chance?
I can’t even begin to count the number of times Emily and I have gone window shopping for shoes; unfortunately all we can afford to do is window shop.
I had the chance to play soccer with some people from school the other night; I got some exercise, scored some goals, and really enjoyed the time spent with other students.
On the walk home from the soccer game, Jeff and I had a really nice conversation about faith and religion; it is amazing how a few exchanged words made me feel so great.
Last night Emily and I meet up with our friend Sean; we wandered around Granada searching for good tapas bars. A few friends, a few hours, a few drinks, and a few tapas really made for a fun night.
Big trips and beautiful sights are wonderful, but the little things in life matter too.

Germany Photos

Hello All!

Here are some photos from Germany that I never got around to posting before. Enjoy!

A street in Heidelburg.

The Heidelburg castle with sheep grazing on the hillside.

The Heidelburg castle.

The Porta Negra in Trier.

The Trier Cathedral.