Semana Santa

Oh man. I feel like I have neglected this blog. But I have been busy, I promise, despite my week-and-a-half-long vacation. I've been busy trotting the globe... and living it up in Toledo. Good excuses, I think.

To begin: the globe-trotting. Destinations: Budapest and Vienna.
Both were freaking awesome cities. They were very different, though. Budapest was the first eastern European city that I've been to, and it was really cool. We packed our days FULL of walking and sight-seeing. My TOMS, I am afraid, have seen their last days. Or, they are about to. The sole is worn so thin that you can poke your finger through it. Not good!
Our hostel was... interesting. Not bad, but our "roommates" were, to put it euphemistically, less than ideal. But I don't know what "ideal" means when you are talking about sleeping in a room with 9 strangers.
The food was good, and relatively cheap. We had to convert everything into Forint, the Hungarian currency, which was rather mind boggling. If you ever thought the Euro/Dollar conversion was a pain, you haven't seen anything yet. A 1.5/1 ratio is easy enough to figure out. But a 266/1 conversion of Forint/Euro just made things difficult. Naturally, I would feel uneasy paying 450 for a lemonade or 2,500 for a lunch entree. But I have to admit that having a wallet full of 500, 1,000, and 5,000 bills made me feel like royalty for a few days. Now if only we could convert THAT into Euros..........
Highlight of Budapest though? The Turkish baths. Soooo great. Sitting in a huge pool of steamy water? Yes please, especially after our marathon days of walking and sightseeing.

Next stop, Vienna. GORGEOUS. Quite possibly one of the cleanest cities that I have ever seen. It was beautiful. There were gardens everywhere! In Vienna, I wasn't dying to see any sights in particular, I was just enjoying the beauty of everything. Every building looks like it could be a palace or museum or something. It actually gets a little confusing.
We stayed with a friend of a friend kind of deal, but it was awesome. I had to conquer my fear of heights and sleep in a loft that was only accessible by ladder. QUE MIEDO. But really, once I was up there, no problem.
In Vienna, I decided that I might want to learn German. I've decided that about a lot of languages, a lot of times. But this time, I might be serious.

Back to Toledo!
As you may or may not know, Semana Santa is a HUGE deal in Spain. It's a whole week of festivities -- processions, torrijas, masses, and, apparently tourism. Toledo has been HOPPING since I got back. I love seeing Toledo like this. I mean, the tourists get a little annoying at times, but I definitely enjoy seeing the streets full of people. It makes me want to be outside ALL OF THE TIME, because you know, I can't stand to miss out on anything -- which is why I always used to hate being absent from school.

Anyway, the weather wasn't very cooperative with all of the festivities. Many processions had to be canceled because of the rain. So disappointing! We went to one of my flatmates' pueblos to see her dress up in a procession, but that was canceled as well. But despite it all, we had a nice little trip to the pueblo!

And luckily, I did get to see a few processions in Toledo. One passed right by my apartment on Wednesday night after getting home from my trip. It was so awesome to stand at the window and watch it all from above. (My street is too narrow to stand on the side and watch -- the people were all gathered at the little plazas at the ends of the street.) On Friday night, at 1:00am, I saw another procession leaving from San Juan de los Reyes, one of the big churches here. It was so cool. And then on Saturday night, we got to see the 1:00am processions of the Resurrected Jesus and the Jubilant Mary meet in the plaza in front of the cathedral. It was really cool, and so different from anything I have ever seen. Maybe it's not quite on Sevilla's level, but being in Toledo for these celebrations makes me love the city even more than I already do. It's great to see the people fill the streets and get excited about things. And you know, there's always next year for Sevilla -- hopefully with better weather, too!

Perhaps one of the best things that I encountered this Semana Santa was a little delicious dish called Torrijas, which is essentially French Toast, covered in sugar. Can't go wrong with that, right? We tried torrijas when we went to the pueblo, and decided to try to make them ourselves when we got home. Ours turned out well! But of course, we were lacking the magical touch of a Spanish mom... so I wouldn't exactly enter them into any torrija-making contests just yet.

Easter was a really nice day though. The rain held off until late at night, so we had a nice sunny day for most of it. We went to mass at the cathedral in the morning, then went to the chino to buy scraps of food to turn into a brunch. And then we made our tasty little brunch. After we ate, we sat around, listened to music and chatted, and later on went for a walk. We read in the plaza for a while, then went out to get cañas and sandwiches. And, after we got home, when it finally did rain, it was such a heavy rain that was super relaxing to listen to. What a great day!

Of course I missed my family, as always, but when I fill my days with moments like these, it's hard to not enjoy my life. :)

spring has definitely sprung.

Is it just me, or is EVERYTHING better in the spring time? I mean, really... has anybody else noticed that the world just explodes in happiness when it gets warm and sunny?

We have had about a week or two of gorgeous weather now. It has been fantastic. I have a tan. I repeat, I have a tan..... and it is only April. This is encouraging. These last few days have felt more like summer than like spring, which is 1. the best thing ever, and 2. rather intimidating to think about what it will be like when June rolls around. But for now, it has been really great.

All of this sunny warm weather is reminding me of home, and how much I love Pittsburgh in the summer time. I believe that this is the most homesick I have felt. Ever. I want to drive a car, my car. I want to listen to country music with the windows down, while driving somewhere, anywhere, far away. I want to have a pool party. I want to eat hamburgers that were cooked on a grill. I want to go to Kennywood. I can't wait for the Arts Festival (why?? I have no idea). I want to listen to DVE in the morning. I want to ride my bike. I want to be in my city, with my friends and family. I want to sit on my porch and read a book. I want to take a nap with my kitty cats sitting beside me, to sprawl out on my couch, or on my own bed, to take my shoes off (house shoes included), and just be comfortable.
Needless to say, I am expecting it to be a great summer.

All of that being said, I hope you don't think that my anticipation for this summer is slowing me down in Toledo. It is not. I am rather enjoying myself, actually. I have been taking advantage of the beautiful weather. I've spent many an hour reading outside, or meandering through the streets, trying to get lost, and discovering new streets and plazas that I never knew existed. It has been great to see Toledo burst with life again after so many months of bitter cold. We've been meeting new people, making new friends, having picnics, and discovering new bars with outdoor patios. "Summer" will be good in Toledo, too!

School has been going well. And even better? Easter break starts next weekend. And guess where I'm going! Budapest! And Vienna. Pretty awesome, right?! I'm pretty darn excited.
I am trying to get some travel plans together for the last couple of months here. And I am trying to figure out when I am coming home for sure. I still don't have a plane ticket yet... so as of now, anything is a possibility! But I am really excited for the months to come.

I am basically living the life right now.
(And I mean, I have been for the last 6 months.)

edit: turns out I'll miss the arts festival this year! Bummer! It's one of the coolest events in Pittsburgh.....

a Letter to Spain

Dear Spain,

Please don't take this the wrong way.... but I am getting REALLY excited to go back to Pittsburgh for the summer. Your lovely springtime weather has made me incredibly happy, but you've also reminded me how much I love Pittsburgh in the summertime. And since you've kept me from my family and friends for these last 6 months, you have to understand how much I'm missing them all!
But don't worry, I'll probably miss you too while I'm there... and I'll definitely be back.

Yours truly,
Rachael

home

I will readily admit that I am still on a search to figure out what the word "home" means. I always make note of passages when I'm reading that try to define "home", or that talk about what "home" means to the writer. And at some point in the future, I think I might like to take a stab at defining it for myself. But more research needs to be done, I think. :)

This quote comes from "Letters to my Daughter", a book by Maya Angelou. I was flirting with the idea of buying it for my kindle... and I am still tempted, but I kind of feel like I want to read a novel. I've been reading too much nonfiction lately (and kind of depressing nonfiction to boot).

Anyway, here's the quote. Let's think about it.

"I believe that one can never leave home. I believe that one carries the shadows, the dreams, the fears and dragons of home under one's skin, at the extreme corners of one's eyes and possibly in the gristle of the earlobe." - Maya Angelou

Here's another quote. It's from a book called "Let the Great World Spin", which I read in January. It was a pretty good novel, in case you were wondering. I'd recommend it. This was one of my favorite quotes from the book.

"We bring home with us when we leave. Sometimes it becomes more acute for the fact of having left." - p59

And finally, this picture is from the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin, Ireland. I liked this quote, as well.

Interesting thoughts, I'd say. But let the research continue. Feel free to add your thoughts and quotes about home in the comment section!

...I think I'll hold it.

Remember how I told you in my last post that I have two favorite cafes now? How one is an old church, converted into an art cafe by day and a nightclub by night? (It's called Circulo de Arte, by the way... lovingly referred to as Circulo.)

Well, tonight I decided to pay a visit to Circulo. It was a nice visit. It's really a great place; awesome architecture, classy decor, soft lighting, peaceful music, nice ambiente. But I do, unfortunately, have to issue one little complaint... and this complaint goes for pretty much the rest of the cafes, bars, and restaurants in Spain as well.

THE BATHROOMS.
The bathrooms in Circulo are quite possibly the worst I've ever seen. I mean, really. It's like a prison toilet. (And I know, because they are the same toilets that the inmates have at the jail in Pittsburgh!) Just steel fixtures. No seats. Nothing. I mean, I know this place is a nightclub by night, (and, let's face it, those can always be rather disgusting)... but the fact that the daytime patrons are also subjected to this prison-style potty is just undignified.

You don't know just how much luck it takes to actually find a bathroom in Spain with all of the following things in it:
1. A toilet seat
2. Toilet paper
3. Soap
4. A reasonable means of drying your hands

These are pretty much the four most essential things that you could think to put in a bathroom, right? (I mean, aside from the toilet and sink themselves, of course.) But here, you might just be asking for a little too much! Rarely do you find a bathroom with all four of these necessities. But you're usually lucky if you get two. (My preferences, by the way, are toilet paper and soap.)

Since arriving to Spain, I've had to master the art of squatting. (TMI? maybe...) I've developed the habit of carrying tissues (aka, emergency TP) at all times. I've had to use my pants as makeshift paper towels more times than I can count. And I really need to start carrying hand sanitizer as well. Just think, though: a whole society that forgoes hand-washing after toilet-using! Scary! Maybe that's where the free health care comes in handy! (Please note: my tongue is firmly plastered to my cheek.)

Maybe Americans are just a little too anal about their bathroom needs (pun only slightly intended). But until the rest of Europe, or Spain in particular, catches up to our standards, we Americans are just going to have to equip our purses with the bare essentials! And in the meantime, if you do come across a public restroom here with all of the aforementioned accoutrements, you might as well make your way to the nearest lottery shop soon after, because you're probably just as likely to hit El Gordo.

Soul Food

So I know I have a lot to catch you up on. And I will, I promise, but not all at once. Poco a poco, as the Spanish would say. While I have the ganas, I'm going to just give you short little snippets into the most recent tonterías that my life is consisting of.

I will start with THE most recent. Because literally, this took place about 10 minutes ago. It's hot off the presses. I just got back from the best cafe in Toledo. I went there for the first time a few weeks ago, when the folks from SIS were visiting. This little gem is an Arabic tea shop, and I'm in love. The decor is gorgeous. The music is rockin' (Sunday Drivers, Michael Buble, Barry White, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Cash, Moulin Rouge soundtrack, Semisonic, etc, etc.). And the tea isn't too shabby either. It's my kind of place. I already have a favorite cafe (an old church, converted into an art cafe by day and a discoteca by night), but now I think I might have to share favorites. Not a bad problem to have.

The second newest thing (as of 3 hours ago): I am going to Germany next weekend! My roommate and I will be flying into Frankfurt, and we are going to be staying with a middle/high school friend of mine. I'm pretty excited for this little excursion! It's spring! And I've got a mad case of cabin fever! And I'm thinking that the German air will be a nice change of pace for the soul.

THIRD newest thing, though arguably the most noteworthy (as of 36 hours ago): I will be living in Andalucía next year! Despite my ever so typical procrastination, I did get my papers in on time (I submitted my renewal application the day before it was due). I am really excited about the change of locale. I have asked to live in Sevilla capital, so hopefully that happens. As much as I have loved living in Toledo, I think that I would have a very different life if I moved back to Sevilla, and I think I need that.

I am not sure what else to update you about. Work today was rather pointless. The first class had an exam, and the second and third classes didn't have their regularly scheduled teacher (she is away for 2 weeks!). I did end up leaving an hour early (NICE!) which made me happy, but sitting around all day makes me feel a little less than great. But I suppose you'll have days like this.

Oh, maybe I should also tell you that I am really into Spanish these days. I forgot about reading my book in Spanish, but I've started again. I'm still not far. But I've also rented a grammar book from the library, and it's awesome. I'm actually studying and learning things for myself. And I suppose a little bit of self-motivation and self-improvement are also good for the soul.

Though I haven't "given up" anything for Lent, I am committed to making positive improvements in my life. I am trying to feed good things to my soul. I learned a word today from the newest edition of Readers Digest, which some kind stranger has secretly subscribed me to. The word is Russian, and it expresses an idea that English has no single word for.

Toska. "At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause. At less morbid levels, it is a dull ache of the soul, a longing with nothing to long for, a sick pining, a vague restlessness, mental throes, yearning. In particular cases, it may be the desire for somebody or something specific, nostalgia, lovesickness. At the lowest level, it grades into ennui, boredom."

I'm afraid I find myself with a bit of toska. And I'm not sure why (in keeping with the definition). But I'm trying to do something about it. So this Lent, it's all about the soul food, about finding myself, and most importantly about finding God again.

This was all sort of a ramble... whoops.
But anyway, it's nice to see you again.

seguro estoy que jamas nadie te ha querido como yo

Dear blog and faithful blog readers (all 2 or 3 of you),

I know that I have been neglecting you. I promise you something good.... in the near future.
In the meantime, enjoy this video, and fall in love with Carlos Baute. But don't fall too hard.



This is probably the cutest song ever. And if you like it, youtube "Colgando en tus manos". So good!

AH! I promise an update soon!
Os mando mil besos!!