fue a barcelona para semana santa!

Happy late Easter!
I hope you all have a blessed Easter weekend. I was very lucky to spend it with some great friends. On Wednesday night I took a night bus from Madrid to Barcelona which was a crazy experience due to the amount of people that were trying to get on. There were 10 buses leaving every half hour from 11pm to 2 am. Once I got there with my friends Michelle and Scotti, we waited for Nicole (my travel buddy) and her roommate Jamie to get in. They were flying from Florence. I cant really remember what days we did what because this was one of the longer trips I have been on so it was hard to keep tract of.
While in Barcelona we went shopping on La Rambla which is a very crazy street full of performers. It is very interesting and you cant take their picture unless you pay them. So Nicole was paying them in czech crown cause that was all she had. Ha! We also went to Guadi's Sangrada Familia and Park Guell. Since I have been to Barcelona before I have seen all these places before, but they were still so beautiful. We saw a semena santa parade which consisted of many people marching and chanting while playing music and 2 floats. One of mary and one of Jesus. It was very bizarre for me personally, but it was just part of their culture. Also the people in the KKK looking hats are just part of the ceramony. There wasnt one person in the parade that didnt have a pointy hate. I forgot what the significance was, but my senora told me. Also while we were there we spent a day on the beach, and I got a very european hair cut. It was very frightening! But I must say I like the change. I have some friends from Regis that I met up with and they took us to this famous fountain show that is by all the government buildings. I forgot the name though. Oops! Then on Easter it was very rainy, but we wondered around the city and went to a Catalan mass. I really love Barcelona but nothing is better than Madrid. And at the end of the weekend it is always nice to come back home.
I only have 23 days left and it is such a bitter sweet feeling. I am so excited to come home and see my family and move into my house with my friends, but I don't want to leave my new family here. I cant believe these past 4 months have gone by so quick.
Hasta Luego!
Kayla


( the first picture was just in the streets of Barcelona trying to look Spanish with my new hair cut and spanish dress. The next picture is Nicole, Jamie, and I at park Guell with the city of barcelona in the background. The last picture is the Jesus float that was in the parade.)

Italy is so beautiful!

Hello!
I am still behind on my blog, but wanted to fill you all in on my trip to Florence. Nicole (my amigos partner) studies there so I went to visit her. It was such a great trip. We went all over the city and I didn't even have to pay for a hostel which was super nice. The second day I was there we took a train to cinque terre which is 5 little towns off the coast which you can hike from one to another. Unfortunately it was rainy which prevented us from making the hike alone the 5 towns. In Florence, we ventured around everywhere. I don't even remember the name of all the places we went, but it was very beautiful. We went to a market with real Italian leather goods which was very exciting for me. I almost bought a leather jacket but decided against it. The food is Italy is phenomenal. I never really like italian food that much, but everything was so good. It was nice to get away for the weekend and spend time with my best friend. I love and miss you.
Love, Kayla (the first picture is Nicole, her roommate Jamie, and myself on one of the bridges in Florence. The second picture is the view from the restaurant we ate at in cinque terre.)

Courtney comes to España!

Hola!
Sorry I have been late on updating my bog. Things with school have been pretty crazy these past two weeks. So after returning from Spring Break I had an amazing week with Courtney. She came out here with her friend Olenka for the week. When she got here she was pretty tired so we just had a relaxing day. We got some picnic food and went to el parque de retiro. It is by far my favorite place in Madrid, and we even went there almost every day Courtney and Olenka were here. While I was at school Courtney and Olenka went to Toledo with 2 German girls they met at their hostel. From what I heard they had a great time. On Monday night Courtney came over for dinner and I must say it was the most entertaining dinner ever. Not only had my señora prepared a meal that was vegetarian because she remembered me telling her at the beginning of the semester but she made me and my host brother Niko a birthday cake. His birthday was when we were on Spring Break just like mine so we celebrated together. The cake was an frozen yogurt cake with strawberries. It was sorta like an ice cream cake. The best part of dinner was when my señora and host brother tried to cut the cake but it was too hard so we had to put it in the microwave. Then it was still hard to cut and while attempting to cut it Niko accidentally threw a piece of the cake on the floor. Now this wouldn't usually be that funny but he doesn't really interact with us much nor show much emotion but when that happened he busted out laughing. Then he kept cussing in english which was also very funny considering he doesn't speak english.
I didn´t have class on Thursday because it was a holy day so the three of us headed to Salamanca. We left on Wednesday night and stayed till Thursday night. Salamanca is a college town. We had a great day exploring. The rest of the trip was spent showing them the spanish night life and getting to try some great spanish food like tortilla española and pallela. Torilla española is my favorite food out here. It is eggs potato and onions. It is delicious! I think Courtney enjoyed it as well.
I know we did a lot more while they were here, but it has been a while so I have forgot some details. But it was a great birthday present to have my sister here. I am also very thank for her wanting to see what my life is like out here. I already miss you a ton sister!

I love and miss you all.
love, Kayla


(Pictures: 1) el parque de retiro. 2) Courtney at the gardens by the palace. 3) Courtney and Olenka with my roommate at a winery 4) In the metro!