Saturday 6/24

Last day with my roomies! :( 

Ashley left to be with her parents before Dee & I were leaving, so we said goodbye to her before going souvenir shopping for Dee. I was so determined to try caracoles -- SNAILS!! -- so we searched for a place to find them, and we did! I got a lot more than I thought I would and was nervous to try them, but I did it! They weren't necessarily good or bad, but in-between and just something I wanted to try!! 

Dee & I went back quick to grab our bags and say goodbye to Fina - she was such a great señora and I'm so thankful she was mine! 

We then went to the bust stop to take us to the airport, and once we got there & were going through security I forgot I can't have liquids over a certain amount. Then, so that I didn't have to throw anything away, I had to check my bag for €30. I unfortunately didn't get to say a good goodbye to her, but I loved having her has a roommate, along with Ashley, and I'm glad I will get to see her in Platteville! 

The flight to Barcelona went great otherwise, and while on the metro to get off close to my hostel I missed my stop and luckily a nice man rushed me to get off and I got on a different one to go to the other stop! I finally made it there around 11, an hour later than I had hoped but that's okay. 

Additionally, I am so so thankful for my time with such great people at SAIIE and in Sevilla. These are forever friendships that we have made together and I absolutely loved every moment in Sevilla. The time went by so so quickly and I wish we had all summer together. Saying goodbye to the city was tough, but lucky for me I have 5 days here in Barcelona, and I get to go back to Sevilla for a quick day to take my flights home. 

Friday 6/23

Last day of classes! Thankful for that, but sad this is all coming to an end.

After our midterms we went our for lunch/tapas with SAIIE staff to say goodbye to them/them to say goodbye to us! It was very nice - they're all so great!

After, we went home to take our final siesta in Sevilla. Of course!

We went out for dinner with everyone for the last time, to a super good Italian/pizza place! Super yummy - couldn't resist taking the photo ;)

We went out afterward of course to our fav places - the plaza by school for a drink & pictures, the 5€ liter mojito bar,  Ruko & Roll Bar, & Bilindo! At Ruko & Roll we enjoyed a couple tequila shots - one on the house from our fav bartender! It was a great last night out with everyone.

Thursday 6/22

We didn't do much today! We had a lot of studying and things to do, so we went to Dunkin' Donuts to do that. 

After dinner, I had to pack my bags. I only packed the one I will be leaving at SAIIE while I am in Barcelona, but it hit me more that this amazing experience will all be over soon :(

Wednesday 6/21

After class, lunch, and siesta, we went kayaking!! It was my first time kayaking - I have been canoeing many times outside of my cabin in our canoe, and have always wanted to go kayaking. It was very fun!

After we got back, and got ice cream, of course, it was time to work my paper due and presentation due for class tomorrow. I am very ready to be done with classes for the rest of summer, but definitely not ready to leave everyone! 

We had a little scare when we were close to going to bed - Ashley saw what seemed to be a cockroach!! We were all freaking out and Fina came back to check what was going on, and quickly got spray and a mop to get rid of it. While she was trying to get it, it came near me so of course I jumped on top of the toilet to stay safe!! It wasn't a cockroach but a giant bug that looks like a cockroach, and comes out in the heat. Either way it was big and icky but luckily it is now dead! 

Tuesday 6/20

After class, we came home to our last paella lunch with Fina! I will definitely miss her delicious cooking!

After a siesta, of course, we went to Las Setas de Sevilla - the largest wooden structure in the world, and it looks like mushrooms! We walked on top of the structure and all the views of Sevilla. So pretty!

After dinner, we met up with SAIIE people to get a couple drinks for one of the girls birthdays :)

Monday 6/19

The heat continues!
I have been told many times that this heat is very abnormal for June, and the heat isn't even like this in August. It is very hot, but usually there will be a long week of heat, then a week of cooler weather. Unfortunately for us, it has been very hot with no rain and no cool days the last few weeks. I am excited to spend a week in Barcelona where it is cooler!

Today we went to a mass for Corpus Christi. This was a special service because the kids were part of it - the girls sung and the boys did a dance. It was super cute, and neat to hear a mass in Spanish!

After, we window shopped looking for souvenirs!

Sunday 6/18

A very hot Sunday! 105+ today was not very pleasant, but I'll take the heat over being cold any day!

We got up and went to breakfast - well, what was around lunch hour and was actually lunch food because no one seems to serve breakfast food on the weekends...I thought the best days for breakfast were the weekends!? The sandwiches we had were still good though and of course the coffee.

We went around to many different little shops looking at souvenirs and buying a couple! It's hard to decide what to buy when there's so many little shops. Ran into this happy Buddha too!

After stopping at home for a bit and trying to nap, we went to the Plaza where it was cool and I FaceTimed Mom for a tiny bit, and Tara, Bri and Dad for a bit too! Can't wait to all be together in a couple weeks. 

But, the feels are definitely kicking in. I have absolutely loved my time here with the other SAIIE students. It is the last week of classes, which means we are all parting ways and most are going home to the states. Sad to part ways, but I'm super excited to speak a week in Barcelona with Marissa! 

Saturday 6/17

Up bright and early at 6:30am to get to the train station! No lies, people were still out at 8 in their clothes from the night before. The night life in Sevilla never ends!

Taking the train was much nicer than taking a bus somewhere like we have every other weekend traveling. It was a lot more comfortable and a much smoother ride than the bus - and my first time on a train!

When we got to Cádiz, Elena walked us around the city teaching us about the history. It is the "oldest continuously inhabited city in Spain and one of the oldest in western Europe." It is a cute small town! There are also remains of an old Roman theater!

We went to the beach afterward, where we spent the rest of the day! It was much hotter laying on the beach than the other places we have been to, but the water was great! I had had my feet in the ocean before at the beaches we went to but I actually swam in the ocean here! First time for everything :) 

When we got home, we got ready to go out with everyone. It was two of the students' birthdays from SAIIE today and tomorrow! 

Friday 6/16

Happy Friday!

We had short speeches for our class today and I did mine on the Villa Louis in Prairie! We could pick anything and picking that was kind of uncommon for me, as the other two in class did theirs on famous people, I enjoyed doing it. I've been wanting to tour the Villa Louis again the last couple years to relearn more about it and see the Dousman House again, so hopefully this summer I will be able to.

We went to the Plaza to get wifi for a little bit then for dinner we went to 100 Montaditos. There are a bunch around Sevilla, and they have 100 different flavors of montaditos, little sandwiches, and they are all 1€!! Even ordering a few of them since they are small is so cheap but they were really good!
We got some gelato after dinner - no surprise - and I got a brownie flavor which was super good, as well :)

We went to bed pretty early for a Sevillian on a Friday night because we had to get up early to get to the train station to go to Cádiz for the day!

Thursday 6/15

Corpus Christi is today, so no class!

It's been a very lazy day and pretty uneventful. We got up for breakfast, went back to sleep, and then got up for lunch. We were planning on walking around of Corpus Christi, but after being out late and the heat we didn't have the energy. From what they had up yesterday and the pictures I've seen it looked neat!

I went to the Plaza de Armas for a couple hours to work on homework and a speech for tomorrow. It was nice to be there to focus better, for fast WiFi, and with air conditioning!

Wednesday 6/14

Before class today Fina told us that she would not be here for lunch and she would leave it out for us. We came home to sandwiches, potato salad, and chips - to me that's a perfect American lunch that I love! I was just craving potato salad, yesterday too. Nothing beats my Grandma's potato salad though!

After siesta, we grabbed some gelato to accompany the hot weather. And it's been about a week since we had ice cream so it was deserved, and the chocolate we bought at the store was needed too ;) 

For dinner, we met students from la Universidad de Sevilla for tapas and tinto. The It was cool to interact with Spaniards around our age, and they suggested some clubs to go to after so there we went!