First stop: Georgia

So after lugging 220 pounds of luggage around, I finally arrived stateside. I had a short layover in Miami but quickly arrived to Atlanta, Georgia where two of my closest friends were waiting with smiles. It was sooo good to see them! Below you can see my disaster of a room at their house.

 I ended up shipping one 90 pound suitcase from Georgia since I knew that I would be acquiring another 45 pound suitcase later. This is because another friend has taken one my suitcases with her when she came to see me in Spain.

 My four nights with Tessa and Kelly were exactly what I needed. Tessa was very pregnant so we did a lot of relaxing and last minute preparation for the little ones entrance into this world. It was very humid and hot while I was there but luckily they had a pool which we took full advantage.

 Here you can see the baby room coming together. I am so excited for when I can return and meet the beautiful little girl.

 Over the course of two weeks, Tessa drove about thirteen hours total to take me to and from the airport. I cannot thank her enough.

 We successfully knocked off just about everything she wanted to accomplish while I was visiting.

 I had to snap some last minute photos before I jetted off to New York City! Before I returned to the West coast I would see Tessa one more time but not before the little one is due. Hopefully I will get to make that journey soon!

Hasta luego España!

Time truly does fly. It was hard walking around thinking it was time to leave this place. Definitely a bitter sweet goodbye or rather see you later. Spain has taught me to enjoy all moments, especially the little ones. Spain has taught me to relax and that worrying will never change the outcome. Spain has taught me the beauty in diversity. Spain has taught me so much that I can never say thank you enough. Spain will forever have a piece of my heart!

I am hoping to return to visit next year. This year has been filled with ups, downs, and many smiling faces. I am so blessed to have had this experience and made some life long friends along the way. Along with this is also a little fear of returning. A lot has changed while I have been gone for the past two years and a new journey is about to begin, starting with a job and apartment search.

My students were so sweet and had a tough time saying goodbye as well. I helped my sixth grade classes choreograph dances for the end of the year show that I will not be present for but wished them the best.

You might not notice at first, but in the picture below I am actually in the front row. So many of my students are taller than me!

The class below is a fourth grade class and they were phenomenal! I learned just as much from them as they hopefully learned from me. Although I am currently pursuing teaching positions at more the fifth and sixth grade level, I think fourth grade would be wonderful too.

I had to move out of my apartment a few days early and some friends too me in. They threw me a little goodbye dinner with friends and family. We got really close over the year and couldn't have asked for a better send off. We made some delicious paella!

This was my last of many cooking lessons. The next morning they drove me to the bus station and wished me well as I continued on my journey.

I am a bit sad to say this is the end of my journey in Spain for now but I the next will not be any less exciting! USA here I come!

Feria de Córdoba

Back in May I went to Córdoba for the fair. Since I had taken dance lessons and bought a dress I had to take full advantage to wear it again. It was my last little trip with friends before we started to part ways.

 May is a busy month for this town. There are different festivals and the houses and alleyways are famously decorated with flower pots.

 Two friends with whom work in the same town as me decided to join me for the occasion.

 Luckily there was still one room left in town... The hotels and hostels fill up months in advance. We stayed in a cute little hostel on the river and very close to just about everything.

 We had all been here before and so we decided not to hit up most of the touristy spots but rather walk around and just enjoy our time.

 This is said to be the city with the prettiest women in Spain.

 This little alley with a restaurant was just to cute and quaint!

 I took my friends to my most favorite bar in town to have the most delicious pork in a cream and sweet wine sauce. It was better than I even remembered! I miss the food, wine, and people so much!

 It may be hard to see this picture unless you were to zoom in but I thought it was a great piece of street art.

 We didn't go to the fair the first night but we did watch the lighting ceremony which is the inauguration of the fair. After lunch we got ready and headed down to the fairgrounds.

 Although the fair in Sevilla is larger and more famous, each has its own greatness.

 In front of the door of the fair.

 I just had to take this picture of this group of women all dressed the same.

 How cute is this matching mother daughter pair?

 I swore I was not going to wear this huge ridiculous flower on my head but the ladies convinced me that it was the Spanish way and I had to try it.

 I only lasted one ride. This was the craziest ferris wheel ever! Seriously! I have a sensitive stomach and one was plenty.

 The ferris wheel had great views though!

 We didn't stay out until sunrise like I did at the last fair but we sure did dance the night away.

Well this is just about the end of my Spanish and European adventures for this chapter. I will be saying see you later in my next post which will round out these past two exciting and wonderful years! I hope you have enjoyed following along with me... although I have been a little late on these posts recently.

Day 4: Toledo

Toledo is a place that I have continually heard about for two years now. This is the original capital of Spain. It is one of the most visited places in Spain.

 This is the main entrance to the city gate. I was a bit of a walk uphill to reach.

 This is another view of the same entrance.

 The weather this day was one of consistent change. As I was about to head back to the bus station it started to pour, and I mean hard! I did not have an umbrella or rain jacket. I hid under awning until it was only raining and not a downpour but I was pretty soaked by the time I reached the bus... the worst part was that I would be packing some wet clothes for my flight the the USA the following day.

 The layouts of the city make the views pretty fantastic.

 I was sad I didn't have time to ride the tourist train here but I saw just about everything. I did stop for some famous marzipan to snack on in the Plaza de Zocodover.

 This is the Museo do Santa Cruz which is an art museum and it was FREE! It was a great little museum. I really enjoyed the ceramics and the architecture.

 This is a view of inside the museum.

 The Alcazar here in Toledo has a lot of history. It is much more modern looking than most that I have seen but the history here makes it infamous. 

 The Cathedral here was one of the most impressive that I have seen. I was disappointed with the tower that I payed extra for in hopes of some great views but the windows were all barred.

 I have seen so many Cathedrals in my time here in Europe but I hope from these few pictures above you can see the beauty of the great Cathedral in Toledo!

 In the Jewish quarter you could see these small tiles all over the cobblestone streets and buildings.

There pictures are truly only a touch of the many things that I saw while in Toledo and they no where near due it justice... I definitely recommend this as a place to visit! Although, Andalusia will always have my heart.