Looking back

I am discovering all of the bands and music I heard during my stay in Spain. After looking at the program for Sanfermines I discovered that one of the bands Los Del Rio is famous for the song Macarena. I remember hearing them play that and thinking, whatttttt! I never thought that I would hear that song again, let alone dance to YMCA with all of Pamplona. Gracias, Espana y loca gente en toda del mundo!

Summer 2012

Next summer I would to spend 3 months in Europe. I want to au pair in Madrid because I fell in love with Spain, the people and I would love to live in that big charming city. I will still make trips to the little villages I love and the city of light Pamplona. I want to spend some time with my old family and go to Sanfermines (Running of the bulls). I had a wonderful host mom and dad and two little sisters. I discovered with the help of my host mom's guidance little villages that came together for fiestas during the summer and made fantastic friends. I also hope to make the two and a half hour bus ride from Madrid to Castrillo de Murcia to visit my host mom's family in the village and my friends who always travel to the village to hangout and enjoy each others company summer after summer. Like my friends I will be coming back next summer for the fiestas del Colacho and Santiago. Everyone was always so welcoming and it was fun being the only American surrounded by the warm village of Spanish children, teens, adults and grandparents. Oh, and maybe next summer I will see a bullfight instead of watching some random people pretend to be matadors on Calle Estafeta during Sanfermines.

SANFERMINES

Sanfermines is amazing! It started June 6 at 12. During the Chipuanza the mayor sets off a rocket from the beautiful town hall which officially starts the fiesta! Everyone has bottles of Champagne, Sangria and Kalimotxo and release it on everyone. After that I went with Bea and the girls to see some traditional Basque dancing. I went out and just danced with everyone in the streets to a really good drum group and then followed the brass bands to the Pena´s aka the best bars with the best music because the town of Pamplona sponsors them. Every midnight I headed out to the main concert in the plaza which was always good. The bands would play Spanish rock and some English stuff. Every night I met so many people and had the best time going crazy in the streets with everyone. In Spain they have a saying sigue la corrienta which means follow the current. The first day of Sanfermines I was a little confused but I soon realized that it is the most amazing event. I met amazing people from all over Spain, France, Germany, Wales, England, United States, Mexico, Peru, Sweden, Austria, Chile and Australia. I walked into a bar because I heard YMCA and started dancing with the Aussie´s. A group of Spainards taught me a song that everyone always sang and the next night another group taught me how to finish it. When I sang it to my host mom she laughed because the song was about coming together, drinking and not caring about the result. Sanfermines is magic because everyone comes together from everywhere and of all ages to watch the encierro aka running of the bulls but while we wait for the sun to rise we Vive ahora, live now! Sanfermines is truely indescribable, the event is not just some random party, it means the world to me and I hope that I will be able to go to Sanfermines again, Mas pronto!

San Sebastian

I decided at midnight on Friday night that I wanted to go to the beach. I took the bus to San Sebastian which is 1 hour away. After getting off the bus I walked 30 minutes through San Sebastian and it is truely one of the most beautiful places. The old city is very nice with its very narrow streets filled with bars serving pinxos and vino. Once I smelled salt water I knew that I was in the right place. I walked on the beach (playa del concha) for a while which was very nice. I then walked on the Paseo, which is a walking path for people. The paseo´s are really big in Spain and I love them because it allows people to walk and bike around the city comfortably. I walked to where there were rust sculptures in the rocks and sat for a while because it was so beautiful. I then walked back on the paseo and had a ham and cheese sandwich at a cafe overlooking the ocean. I then walked to another beach called Playa del Zieba I believe because I wanted to see the surfers. This was an amazing beach! The waves were very big and the surfers were excellent. There was a big soccer tournament going on at the beach and the music was blasting. I made friends because everyone my age was either playing in the tournament or watching it. At 830 I had to leave the beach to catch the bus. Once I arrived at the bus station I realized that it wasn´t as to navigate as Pamplona´s. I did not know where to buy my ticket so I asked a girl and she responded in English ¨go down the road and take a left¨¨ so I sprinted down the road and did not find the Alsa office so I sprinted the other way and found it and then ran to the bus. I ran the San Sebastian marathon that is for sure. Next time I go to San Sebastian I will plan at least a day in advance so my friends can come :) and we can stay on the beach all night!

Fiesta del Colacho

I went to the Fiestas Del Colacho last Saturday, Sunday and Monday. It was in Bea´s ( my host mom) village. Castrilla de Burgos. The village is very small but during the fiesta people from nearby villages come and family also comes such as the 19 and 20 year old friends. Someone dresses as the devil and basically chases people and hits them with a stick with leather on the end. The people know who he is so they insult him and then he hits them, sooo fun! There is more to the fiesta then hitting people though but I really don´t know how to explain it. 8 men play the drums behind the Colacho and people my age dress in the traditional clothing and dance. Bea and I went to the cafe and I drank Kalimotzo which is wine and coke later and while we we were sitting there one of Bea´s friends introduced me to a boy and two girls who were my age and they asked if I wanted to go to with them to the medindero which is a gathering place that each family can have parties in. I was introduced to 15 or 16 people at once and they were all so nice! We spoke a little Spanish and some English. We had lots of drinks and at 3 am we headed down to where there was a huge stage and a band. I had the most fun ever I am pretty sure. I miss mis amigos but I will see them at the Fiesta del Santiago! and I will travel to Spain whenever I can! On Sunday afternoon babies are placed on a mattress outside and they are blessed and the Colacho jumps over them. It is a large mattress and sort of scary but I love the Spaniards! After there is music, wine, cheese, bread and AMIGOS!

So there was a Fiesta yesterday because it was the longest day of the year. It got dark at 12 and huge bonfires were lit and people did tradional Basque dances that symbolized history. When the huge fire got a tiny bit smaller people jumped over it. I am meeting my friends Johanna and Gaelle again tonight.

Hola! I love Spain! sorry for the italics, don´t know how to change it. Madrid is an amazing city and impossible to get lost in because I didn´t get lost when i was by myself. The metro is so amazing that you just find a sign, go in the ground and voila you are back! I went to Retiro park and walked around the Prado where I listened to music. I stayed with the Gillis family and had a great time. Pamplona is beautiful and surrounded by mountains. Today we went to the Pentona which is a human made lake the water was soooo blue and was surrounded by houses from a village so pretty! Beatrize my host mom took me to the city with Sabina and lorea the little girls. The food is awesome! more later! besos!

Day One

So I am helping Catherine with her blog as her access to a computer is limited. She left NC at 2pm on Wednesday had a connection in Newark and then on to Madrid. She got herself from the airport to a flat in Madrid. I think that is pretty good considering she and a couple of friends (you know who you are) recently had trouble going from South Point Mall to home.
Below is a message from Catherine:

"Hey guys today I took the bus to Prado (museum and art gallery). I went to Retiro Park and walked around outside and listened to a Spanish guitarist. The city has a plentiful area of walking space and people are enjoying tapas next door to the flat. Spain is very cool. I did not get to terribly lost finding my way back to the flat. I just asked people where the apartment was and it turns out it was really close. Love Catherine"

Spain

I will be leaving for Spain June 15 until August 1. I am going to be an au pair in Pamplona, which is in Northern Spain. I will be an au pair for a family with a one and four year old daughter. I am so excited for this experience! I hope to meet many people and have so many adventures every day.

besos y abrazos
(Kisses and hugs)