A L B A C E T E

To be honest I don't feel much like doing this right now - sometimes writing takes more energy than I can muster. However, if I don't do it now who knows when I will? I've been in Liverpool for a week now - most of my time has consisted of helping my friend renovate his family's huge house from the late 1860s. My contributions have been small (speckling, sanding, painting) compared to the tasks that he and his brother are carrying out on a daily basis - but still, I'm tired!

There's not a whole lot to tell about our stay in Albacete; I was pretty sick and stayed in bed nearly the whole time we were there. It was hard to be ill when there was so much more I would have liked to be doing, but there couldn't have been a better place to be. Elena and María's mom, Juani, took care of me as though I were her own daughter. I felt so comforted by that, considering how far away my own mother is (no matter how old I get, I'll always long for her when I'm not well).

I did get to enjoy a couple of days with the girls before I was at my worst. The night we arrived, a big group of us went to their friend's restaurant which was delicious and without a doubt the best food we had in Spain. The restaurant itself was so charming and so Spanish. I couldn't put my camera - or my fork down!

I cannot recall what this all was, but what I do remember were teeny tiny pancakes with some sort of fried cheese on top, and in the center of the plate is lavender jam. 

These were so good! Crunchy and cheesy on the outside, doughy and moist on the inside.

 What a doll! Missing you, sweet friend.

 I am so fortunate and so grateful to have these girls in my life. Thank goodness for the internet. ;)
  

F O R E S T F O R T R E S S

I'd like to take a moment to share with you my friend's new film, Forest Fortress. You may recall my mention of The True Believers last fall, which is Nate's short film that he did and won an award for (best short!) at the Northwest Film & Video Festival.  Now they are in the process of finishing this one, and I am quite excited to see it once it is finished.







I'll get back to regular travel blogging soon! I'm honestly just really enjoying this break.

L A F E R I A B Y N I G H T

Our last night in Seville was a bit crazy. We met "cousins" (this is what they told strangers, so everyone would be sure they weren't together) from Texas, Tippi and Storm - amazing! We spent most of the evening with them and a group from the hostel we were staying in. After hanging out at one of the casetas, Tippi, Ashley and I headed to the carnival grounds. A word of advice; never go on roller-coasters after you've had a couple drinks - especially if the name of the ride is The Inverter... I really did think I was going to turn inside-out.

We managed to find our way home at about 6am that next morning, but believe me - we weren't the last to leave! La Feria never closes - it's open 24 hours a day for the entire week. Those Sevillanos know how to party. 

S E V I L L E / L A F E R I A D E A B R I L

Hello! I'm back and feeling so much better.

I arrived in Stockport, a suburb of Manchester on Thursday. My friends Jonny and Hannah welcomed me into their home, even though they'd be gone all weekend. It's a bit strange to be without Ashley, and even more strange to be completely alone again after so long. I believe the last time I had so much time to myself was probably back in October, before I moved out of my apartment. It's good for me to have this time, I think. I can process everything I've seen and done, get some rest and recharge for the next three months that are ahead.

Sitting here in Stockport, wearing sweaters and sweatpants, a hot cup of tea never far from my cold hands - my heart aches for Spain and it's warmth more and more. I love that country!

I'm so glad Ash and I decided to go back to Seville after a couple of days on the beach in Nerja. La Feria was like a dream land. We walked through the fairgrounds just as the sun was beginning to set. The golden light cast an extra bit of magic over everything; it really didn't seem real. The people of Seville were all dressed up in their traditional wear; the girls and women in their flamenco dresses, the boys and men in suits or "traje corto" - short jackets, tight trousers and boots (I would have married any of them in a second), and "cordobés" - a flat top wide-brimmed hat. The horse-drawn carriages, the candy stands, the paper lanterns, the lights - everything about it was so beautiful! It was possibly the most charming thing I've ever seen. I felt completely transported back in time.

Feria aside, every child in Spain is dressed like a doll! I wanted to adopt every kid I laid my eyes on. 

Swoon!