España: Spring Break Edition

One year away from Europe was enough. Many of my closest friends decided to study abroad, and being lucky enough to have a dad with endless air miles, I was able to spend my spring break visiting.

First stop, Sevilla

Wandering through an yet-to-be explored city is something of a fairytale. Meeting my best friend for tapas and "Agua de Sevilla" - something like a Piña Colada - in a traditional open-air bar half way across the world is even more of a rarity.

My days are spent discovering with Kerry and Stefanie. From the secret gardens of the Isleta de Los Pajaros to the intricate stone walls of the Cathedral, Sevilla is filled with slices of paradise. The city is romantic. It's colors are warm and it's history is rich.  The only thing the rain puts a damper on is my wet feet.

How many people can say they have met up with three of their high school best friends for Sangria and a Flamenco show in an underground bar in Sevilla?

On to Granada

Granada is one of the places that didn't get scratched off my Spain bucket-list the first time around. So, I put on my bravest face and headed there for a day trip alone. Despite having to switch train tickets and navigate a foreign bus system alone, I made it to the top of Granada to see the Alhambra.

I was honestly mind-blown. Rooms and rooms of carvings and mosaics and picture-perfect detail. It is one of the most breath taking places I have ever seen. How can this not be one of the wonders of the world?

Back to Barcelona

Being back in Barcelona is bittersweet. This was home for many months. A city I fell incredibly in love with. Bittersweet, because I knew I only have it for a few days. Justine flew in from Florence with Amanda, and Parker came from France. A few of my favorite people in my favorite place in the world.

We traipsed up the steps and escalators to Parc Guell, and drank from the tap so it's in our future to return. The view looks just as it does on the top of this page, the sky just a little more gray. The hostels leads us to drinks and dancing, and Spanish nightlife is unbeatable, so dance we did.

The Boqueria. Euro Smoothies (cactus flower tasting eerily like a banana yet so far from it in color). Staring up at the Sagrada Familia. Dinner at Princesa 23. Clubbing into the morning at Razzmatazz. So many favorites to fit into such a small amount of time. Wandering down Las Ramblas, through the port and up to the Cuitadella park. Walking past my old residencia. Under the Arc de Triomf. Gelato and one last stop for tapas. A whirlwind of moments and getting to play tour guide again. What an incredible city to be able to share. I left my heart there all over again.