Sevilla Week Four

This week was a little rough. We had two tests this week in our classes and besides that I was just not feeling it. It rained all week, which normally would be no big deal but this city is really supposed to be in the sun and the rain just makes it depressing. Portland is gorgeous and magical when it rains and I never mind it but here it sucked the life out of everything. I’ve been feeling even more isolated than normal and it’s been very lonely here. Because of the rain I didn’t go wandering or read by the river like I normally do and being cooped up in my room got me thinking and that’s a bad thing. I frankly miss home. Friends, classes, Portland, family, communication with other people, more than 13 people to talk to, food, and mostly Janel and Joseph. I love this incredible experience but it’s not perfect. I wouldn’t trade my experiences here for anything and I am so lucky to be here. However, there’s a lot here that I really don’t like and I do wish I were home sometimes. I hate that I wish that but there it is. I guess this is just the second step they tell you about traveling and living in a new country. My euphoria for this place has worn off a bit and now I’m just frustrated. I was bound to hit this point and it is getting better.

 

Wednesday night was pretty great, however. We had our first test in Inmigración and afterwards our professor, José Sanchez, took us out to a restaurant for tapas. We all had a really fun time and José and I talked a bunch about the British Royal Navy because it turns out he’s quite the enthusiast and is stoked to chat with me about it. He’s going to bring me a book about the Battle of Trafalgar and wants me to send him the document I wrote my Historical Materials paper on. After we all ate, José bought all of us a couple of rounds of shots of this Bailey’s type Spanish drink that was super tasty (José and I toasted to Lord Nelson!). Seriously hilarious that in Spain your professor takes you out to dinner and buys you shots after a test. Love it.

I was out on the town with some friends on Saturday night when Richael texted me to Skype so I ducked out and went home to talk. My host mom was in the living room so I went into the kitchen to talk because I get internet in there. I got to chat with Richaelly for a good 40 minutes in between her shows. I hadn’t spoken to anyone from home in a few weeks and it was so nice to see her. I miss my sister and I’m so proud she passed her oral exams! After that Janel and Joseph skyped in and we talked for an hour and a half. I needed to see them and it honestly sucked being on the wrong side of the computer screen. But it was exactly what I needed. I am so excited to live with them this summer. Well all of my skyping brought me to about 5am so my night’s sleep was more like a nap.

I got up on Sunday at 7:30 and took a two and a half hour bus ride to Ronda. Totally worth it.

 

Ronda is this little pueblo that stretches across a giant cliff. It’s spectacular.

We also got to go to the oldest bull fighting ring in the world.

It also had a cool museum about bull fighting and a pretty impressive collection of old fire arms. But that’s just a side note. After this we went to the main bridge that stretches across the rift in the mountain that this town is on.

We hiked down this tiny and really long path along the cliff side down under the bridge and to the waterfall. Here’s me and my friend Marissa:

And then us again at the waterfall:

 

And the bridge from below:

 

While exploring we found this cool old battlement and I snuck up through a little staircase and we got an incredible view of the city.

We had a really great time and I think Ronda is one of the coolest cities I’ve ever been to. 

Sorry this post was a few days late. I have a few great posts coming up. I'm currently in Almería on a four-day viaje.