August 29, 2008
Today, after feeling more on Europe's time, we walked around the labrynith of streets and explored the Cathedral in Granda. This has always been my favorite in all of Europe, perhaps because it feels a little bit like home or maybe because it's just so different from others yet simple but magnificant. Again, the experience of deja vu, was everywhere...
After a bocadillo (sandwich) lunch, we grabbed our backpacks and made our way to the train station to go to Seville. The ride was beautiful. Thousands and thousands of acres of olive trees followed us our entire way to Seville.
The south of Spain is vastly different from any other part of the country. It is arid and HOT... temperatures of 100 to even 105 were experienced while we were there. The Sierra Nevada reside just behind Granada but for the most part, Seville was relatively flat yet has a river which runs through it. This has been my favorite city- it is striking and is illuminated by all the colors in every building. The buildings represent the true spanish style in architecture. Since we arrived early in the evening at 8 PM, we walked to our hotel: http://www.hotelamadeussevilla.com/. Talk about a labrynth of streets! Getting to the hotel from the train station was the ONLY time I was able to find it throughout our entire stay in the city. For reason, I was always turned around or my 'internal compass was off' for the day, as Chad said. He did much better than me, in finding it over and over again.
Since, it was getting to be about that time: a time to eat once again!- we began our tapas hop and had sangrias along the way. We never knew where we were going, but always tried to find where the locals were eating. We had tapas such as croquettas, tostados with jamon y aciete (toast with ham and olive oil), etc.
The city was exquisite at night-I still didn't quite have my bearings around the city just yet (I should have since I had been there twice before)...but either way I couldn't believe we were really in Spain... :)
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Granada, Espana!
I know, I know. I haven't been as good as Chad with making these posts, but I'm making a deal with myself to start!
After 24 hours of travelling, five airports and two shuttle buses later, we finally made it to Granada, Spain. It was a long day to say the least. When we arrived at our hotel at 9 PM, we did what any other traveller would do: grabbed some gelato and headed to bed for the night. We stayed at a great little hotel, Capitel Nazari, which was found between a small alley and along some cobble stone steps in the Albycin of Granada. You can refer to this link to view the hotel: http://www.hotelcasacapitel.com/
Naturally, still being on California time we woke up ready to start the day at 6:30AM. We forced ourselves to sleep a little more so we could become adjusted to this 9 hour difference. At noon, we began our exploration of the city. I showed Chad where I lived in the Center of town and even rang the bell to my familias casa. Unfortunately, they weren't there but were at their other house in the countryside where they own acres and acres of olive trees and have an olive oil business. My senora's sister, however, was there and was more than obliging to let us in and allow me to leave a note for my family. She also let me show Chad my 'piso' or flat of where I stayed when I studied abroad there in 2004. Everything remained the same. It was as if I went back in time and was just walking in from morning class to go meet my family for lunch and siesta. The flat was absent of any people and they were cleaning it for the next student that was to live there in a few days. Lastly, Chad and I went up to the terrace (the roof of the building) which overlooks the entire city and the base of the Alhambra (the Moorish Fortress). I was so disappointed to not see my family but was glad I was able to show Chad what my life was like back when I resided in Spain.
Spanish was slowly coming back to me after 4 years of being inactive. I found some confidence in it once again after being forced to speak it with my senora's sister (who does not know English). By now, it was 2PM and for Spaniards, that means lunch time and siesta. Chad and I found a great cafe and I introduced him to Tortilla Espanola and Paella (something we have continued to eat ever since... oy). Since it was siesta time, stores were closed so the town was quiet. As a result, we walked through the Albycin and meandered our way throughout the white-washed houses and tiny stores. We visited the Mirador de San Nicolas (the best viewpoint of all of Granada to see the Alhambra). After seeing it from the outside, it was now time to see its vastness on the inside. (I will be sure to post pictures here when I can).
The Alhambra rests upon a hill between the Darro River and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It represents Islamic art in design as it was a Muslim ruled fortress until 1492, when Spain gained it and the city of Granada. In fact, Arabic is still found throughout the city as there is a great influx of residents from Morocco and even Africa. Yet, the palace’s boundaries are overwhelming, consisting of 13 towers and its own gardens.
Of course we had dinner at 11PM (again, typical when in Spain) and I only had 3 gelatos throughout the day :)
After 24 hours of travelling, five airports and two shuttle buses later, we finally made it to Granada, Spain. It was a long day to say the least. When we arrived at our hotel at 9 PM, we did what any other traveller would do: grabbed some gelato and headed to bed for the night. We stayed at a great little hotel, Capitel Nazari, which was found between a small alley and along some cobble stone steps in the Albycin of Granada. You can refer to this link to view the hotel: http://www.hotelcasacapitel.com/
Naturally, still being on California time we woke up ready to start the day at 6:30AM. We forced ourselves to sleep a little more so we could become adjusted to this 9 hour difference. At noon, we began our exploration of the city. I showed Chad where I lived in the Center of town and even rang the bell to my familias casa. Unfortunately, they weren't there but were at their other house in the countryside where they own acres and acres of olive trees and have an olive oil business. My senora's sister, however, was there and was more than obliging to let us in and allow me to leave a note for my family. She also let me show Chad my 'piso' or flat of where I stayed when I studied abroad there in 2004. Everything remained the same. It was as if I went back in time and was just walking in from morning class to go meet my family for lunch and siesta. The flat was absent of any people and they were cleaning it for the next student that was to live there in a few days. Lastly, Chad and I went up to the terrace (the roof of the building) which overlooks the entire city and the base of the Alhambra (the Moorish Fortress). I was so disappointed to not see my family but was glad I was able to show Chad what my life was like back when I resided in Spain.
Spanish was slowly coming back to me after 4 years of being inactive. I found some confidence in it once again after being forced to speak it with my senora's sister (who does not know English). By now, it was 2PM and for Spaniards, that means lunch time and siesta. Chad and I found a great cafe and I introduced him to Tortilla Espanola and Paella (something we have continued to eat ever since... oy). Since it was siesta time, stores were closed so the town was quiet. As a result, we walked through the Albycin and meandered our way throughout the white-washed houses and tiny stores. We visited the Mirador de San Nicolas (the best viewpoint of all of Granada to see the Alhambra). After seeing it from the outside, it was now time to see its vastness on the inside. (I will be sure to post pictures here when I can).
The Alhambra rests upon a hill between the Darro River and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It represents Islamic art in design as it was a Muslim ruled fortress until 1492, when Spain gained it and the city of Granada. In fact, Arabic is still found throughout the city as there is a great influx of residents from Morocco and even Africa. Yet, the palace’s boundaries are overwhelming, consisting of 13 towers and its own gardens.
Of course we had dinner at 11PM (again, typical when in Spain) and I only had 3 gelatos throughout the day :)
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
The Last Day of Work & Leaving San Francisco
The past few weeks have been quite hectic to say the least. My last day at Williams-Sonoma was on the 6th of August and the 7th and 8th were spent moving out of San Francisco.
The last day of work was very low key, it basically involved cleaning out my cubicle, which was quite easy as I had not put up any pictures. After exchanging contact information and good byes with my co-workers I had my exit interview. The exit interview was very brief as they did not have anything to say other than a few words of support. It was an awkward to do my last walk home through the Marina.
My brother was gracious enough to come up to San Francisco to help me move out my apartment. Being on the fourth floor with no elevator does not bode well to heavy furniture moving. I picked him up from the airport on Wednesday night In addition to the moving I also had to drop my car off at its new owner, which happened to be from China, kind of ironic.
After loading the moving truck my brother and I said farewell to San Francisco and began the drive down to Avila Beach to meet up with my parents. We unloaded the truck there and loaded up my Mom´s suburban and began the next drive home to Mission Viejo. The whole Burton family would be back together under one roof for the next two weeks.
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