Sevilla

So we just got back from officially the last big trip we're going to take in Spain.  And it definitely ended up being very different from the other trips we've taken.  We had just finished exams and were ready for some relaxation.  We didn't feel as compelled to do all the touristy/cultural things, because we've done a pretty good job with that on our previous trips. Of course, we did all the obligatory sights...El Catedral, the Alcazar, the parks, etc., but were never rushed for time.  We really were just able to take our time and do whatever we wanted.  

A friend who studied here last semester had recommended a bunch of places to get tapas and to go out at night, so we had a really great time.  Most of the bars she told us to go to were

 international student bars, but somehow we managed to pick out the Spanish-speaking people in the bars, and therefore never really used much English while we were out at night.  One guy from Colombia commented on our language skills, saying that Leslie has an extensive vocabulary but I have more fluidity/fluency with my words.  Guess all those games Leslie played with her dictionary went to good use. :)

Sevilla has a different flair to it than Pamplona, that's for sure.  It has all the Moorish tiling and is more what you think of when you hear "Spain."  Flamenco, bullfighting and tapas are a big part of the culture there, and we were able to do all of it except the bullfight, which is only on Sundays.  They have a lot of free flamenco shows at "tabernas," so we went to one called La Carbonería, which was very cool.  Nothing like drink

ing a "Tinto de Verano" while watching free flamenco.  

Interesting side note:  Let's just say the Andalusian men are a bit more...vocal...then Spaniards in Pamplona.  It's not unusual for us to get the "HOLA GUAPA" or "La Rubia!" in Pamplona, but let's just say it was pretty constant in Sevilla.  

Just climbing a mountain in the Pyrenees...

So we've been trying for a couple months to find this mountain hike outside of Pamplona that a few of our guy friends did and said was amazing.  Attempt #1: we wound up by the river, with no mountains in sight.  But hey, at least we found the river, right?  So anyways, attempt #2 was a little more successful.  After 2 1/2 hours of trying to get out of Pamplona, through Rochapea, and up the mountain (using directions such as "Turn left on Unnamed Road A") we made it to the peak of the mountain and had an amazing view of it all. 

 We had just sat down to have lunch when, of course, we hear a giant rumble of thunder.  Exactly what you want to hear when you know it's going to take you at least an hour to get down the mountain.  But hey, we made it down in one piece and the rain held off until we had gotten off the mountain.  Mission = success.  

Amsterdam!

So first of all...I have no clue why this first paragraph is underlined.  Anyways...I just got back from Amsterdam on Sunday...talk about a cool city.  Very tolerant, very open.  We stayed in Vondelpark, which is right by the Van Gogh Museum and the "Iamsterdam" sign.  After we got in on Thursday,  we went to the Anne Frank House and this epic pancake house called the Pancake Bakery.  These are no ordinary pancakes...they're similar to crepes, but not rolled.  And the size of a giant pizza.  Garland and I split a chorizo and cheese one (going all Spain style in Amsterdam), and then all 3 of us split the best thing I've ever tasted...chocolate syrup, ice cream, whipped cream, and powdered sugar on top of the pancake.  We devoured that in no time.  Then we finished the night with a little walk through the Red Light District.  Interesting, to say the least.  

         On Friday we took a free walking tour from our hostel...our tour guide, Kevin, basically came to study abroad in Amsterdam and never left.  What a life.  He told us sooo much about the Red Light District, like the fact that it's mandated to be gone by 2015.  The way they are getting rid of the red light district is by putting in "fashion windows" with new designers that are advertising their stuff, and buying up the windows with the prostitutes.  Then, theaters and restaurants and such are being put in there.  Our guide said though it's mandated that the red light district has to be gone by 2015, it will be 2012 at the rate it's going.  

         He also said coffeeshops (aka places where you can buy/smoke marijuana) are soon to be a thing of the past.  They keep doubling the number of coffee shops they close each year.  In January they tried to close all coffeeshops within 500 meters of a school, which would have closed all but 8.  So Amsterdam bargained to get that reduced to 250 meters.  He said the pressure is coming from the rest of the Netherlands and the European Union, which is VERY conservative compared to Amsterdam.  Interesting side fact to note: tobacco and alcohol are illegal in coffeeshops...but pot is okay.  The picture I put in here is the Coffeeshop from Ocean's 12...

Saturday was another touristy day...we started out the morning at the VanGogh Museum.  They charge you an arm and a leg, but it was still very cool.  After that, we took a little train 25 minutes out to this little village called Zaanse Schens, where there are a ton of windmills.  We got to go up in the windmill, which was really cool/probably very unsafe haha.  Our particular windmill makes the chalk dust for the markers on football fields.  All in all, a very cool little historical village.  Not to mention, we ate some delicious cheese in their little cheese tasting area.  Trip  = success.  Now back to studying for my next exam  and the GRE....