london lovin'

after months of building excitement, downward slump with news of cancelled flights due to snow, to remarkably ease in rescheduling flights (thank you Aerlingus) i made it London! upon stepping out of Gatwick airport on the outskirts of London, something felt odd. people speaking some language that sounds vaguely familiar? starbucks on every corner? a familiar busy buzz? an organized bus system with surprising efficiency? ethnic food restaurants lining the dog poop-less streets? now, hold on a minute. at this point, i had to remind myself where i was. adrienne, you are in england, not some unfamiliar american city and yes, spain is sooo different--it is more apparent than ever.
to drive the point home that i was not back on the soil of the red, white, and blue, kristen and i arrived to the beautiful, cozy flat of my cousin gemma, her husband matt, and charming fiona. after settling in, catching up and feeling more "at home" than ever, we headed off to a true cultural experience--an arsenal football match. as an avid football (soccer) fan, it was something out of a fairy-tale--sitting 15th row, seeing the players expressions, chanting alongside the die-hard englishman decked out in arsenal gear, and feeling the powerful energy of such passion for the sacred game :)
how do i come close to summing up our four wonderful, jam packed days in this truly fascinating city? i will give you the sparknotes version. i must say, that my favorite part of each day was getting up in the morning, hanging in my pj's and chatting with 'the girls' (gemma, kristen, and fiona) over morning coffee and toast. there is truly nothing quite like family love.
each day was spent exploring another facet of the massive city. kristen and i tackled the tube (underground) to discover the many museums, markets, and diverse neighborhoods.

the british museum

walking across the river to get to the Tate Modern museum

undoubtedly my favorite market that i visited was Borough market--gemma gave us the insider scoop to a food market that made me literally giddy. not only was it festively decorated for christmas and in quite the picturesque brick covered location, but it teased my tastebuds with every type of food imaginable. let's just say my desire to truly learn how to cook was reignited with extra umph.

and this is only the tip of the iceburg...i could talk about the food delicous-ness for days, but i shall spare you.
the adventures go on:

walking along the canal literally running right by gemma's flat.

flower market--imagine tons of crazy accented men and women with bundles of beautiful of flowers yelling out prices. another one of my favorite markets.

live music in the brisk morning outside the flower market.

outside spittlefields market--i love all the different shapes and textures of the buildings.

adorable neighborhood where the whole gang ate incredible indian food (discovered Korma for the first time...divine!) and discussed future travel possibilities. it still catches me off guard when various countries are suggested for weekend trips. what unique lives we lead.

on my bucket list once stood an unchecked box followed by "seeing Billy Elliot in London"...now there is a big fat red 'X' through that box and incredible memories made. i love live theater. plus, this performance goes up there to the top of my favorites list. if you haven't seen the movie Billy Elliot, rent it! if it at all appeals, go to the live theater (soon playing in SF)--a completely different interpretation, but with such charm and undeniable positive energy.
london was the most relaxing excursion i have had these past 5 months. being in gemma and matt's home with their open hearts and such generosity was more than i could have ever asked for. plus, fiona officially captured my heart. being with these amazing people in a city decorated for the holidays was exactly what i needed to get me pumped for the holidays abroad.


needless to say it was difficult to say 'goodbye' and in reality, it was more of a 'see you in a couple months.' we are making a trip happen! so as kristen and i boarded the plane back towards spain, little did me know that our trip would be extended a bit...due to a late plane, kristen and i had the pleasure of spending the night in the malaga airport. traveling is always an adventure! as i've learned, with a positive outlook and lovely friends to pass the time, any situation can be a memorable, good one.

good night!!!

a taste of africa

mis amigos y famila genail!
where to even begin? to be honest, i am still sorting out my moroccan adventure and all the thought-provoking experiences that have left their mark on my young self. i guess i will start with the basics: 1. i went to Morocco with a program started by a peace corps volunteer for 4 days with 13 other students. 2. i literally had NO idea what to expect. (i only had dreams of eating thanksgiving stuffing while riding a camel...and hey, part of it came true!) 3. Morocco may be on my favorite places i have even visited.

morocco is unlike any other place i have traveled. for starters, the country is primarily Musilum, they have a King who makes the majority of their national and international decisions, and it is pretty darn removed from the Western world--and it is only 8 miles away from southern spain! that being said, i don't think i've ever felt more welcomed or constantly curious in a new place. my first true encounter with a local in Tanger (northern city, on the mediterranean) was with an older man sitting on the side of the road selling a mound of leafy vegetables. as usual, i couldn't help myself--i had to ask if i could take a photo... when i pointed to my camera and smiled the man brilliantly smiled back, slowly stood up, and motioned that he wanted to be in the photo with me. definitely surprised, and not so sure what to do, i handed my camera to my friend Shannon and stood side by side with a stranger who has known a life i can never truly comprehend. after taking the picture the man shook my hand, looked me strait in the eyes, and said in arabic "may you be blessed in you travels." this same openness and genuine generosity was the perfect opener to a trip that embodied this man's gesture.



the city of Tanger is quite beautiful in it's own way. the ancient city (and quite the international hub) is sprinkled by palm trees and old squares full of all ages enjoying the mild climate. i spent the majority of time here at the local women's center designed to give women a safe-haven and provide literacy education as well as functional knowledge for future work oportunites. here we got to talk to local students about everything from religion, to dating in morocco. plus, i got a taste of my first real, authentic moroccan food. i'm not sure i can explain the deliciousness that rocked my tastebuds: cous cous with veggies and chicken, served alongside classic mint tea.

next, we were Rabat bound (the capital of Morocco) to get settled in with our host families and explore one of the major cities of this dynamic country. but first: some stops had to be made. first big surprise was the camel ride--i'm not gonna lie, i was ecstatic. although i literally almost took a nose dive into the sand when my camel awkwardly stood up (and i even more awkwardly held on for dear life) it was a moment of pure: i'm in africa and riding a camel along the ocean--life is pretty sweet. i was still on a high from my camel encounter when we stopped in a little, artsy town built along the coast.





obviously, i went a little picture crazy. this place is just so picturesque...
after some more driving along lush, green countryside (not at all what i envisioned morocco to be) we made it to Rabat. upon arrival we were divided up to meet our host families and go back to their homes for dinner. two other california girls and i ended up with an adorable couple and rambunctious son in their traditional home built with a courtyard in the middle (made for an interesting sight when it rained...in the middle of the home!)
sooo, Rabat. pictures speak better than words sometimes:

one of the main markets full of handmade scarfs, traditional wood carvings, roasted nuts and goodies sold everywhere, and never ending things to look at. i could have con insane with all the goods...

so i gave in to my scarf addiction. this is a typical little shop...the longer you spend in there, the more treasures you will find--fact.

doorway on the walk to my home stay family. it may be silly, but i have a deep connection to the number 18--soccer number and life lucky number. haha hence, where there is an '18' there is a picture :)

here is the outside of the public gardens (once the private garden of the king)

maybe one of my favorite parts of the trip was getting to hang out and see the city through the eyes of a couple locals, "Abs" (real name Abdelmounim...so, Abs-myster it was) and Yassi. such interesting discussions about the moroccan/algerian conflict, terrorism, and rap music (i did my best) were covered while walking through ancient markets and over moroccan tea.

day adventures:

old ruins from various empires including the romans. on top of the tower various storks chill out.

maybe the oldest mosque, possibly the only mosque i will ever be able to step into.

wild poinsettia--reminds me of my madre :) get to spain already!!!

this was once the construction project of the first king of morocco...after his death the project was never finished.
now that i've gone on for a tad too long, i'll leave you with two quotes that defined my trip.

"we must be brave enough to meet the other"
one of the guys in rabat said this during one of our discussions and it stuck with me throughout the trip. as much as i believe all humans are more alike than different, and the more i travel the more i see the similarities than the differences, there is no denying that there are many differences that separate us all. i'd be lying if i said i wasn't nervous about going to a primarily muslim country where women have a distinct role and the culture is like nothing i had ever experienced. but, meeting these moroccans, sharing stories, and hearing their perspective on the world was one of the most valuable experiences of my time abroad.

"don't ask yourself what the world needs,
ask yourself what makes you come alive,
and then go do that.
because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
my new favorite quote and one i truly believe in. this trip made me come alive in a new way...i'm still figuring out how this is going to play a role in my future, but the spark was there. peace corps? full bright? teach for america? travel in the dessert on a camel? we shall see :)

take a walk with me

instead of blabbing on about travels, spain revelations, or personal inquires, i've decided to share with you the classic blog entry: my walk to class. so here we go! lucky for you, this past monday morning was a gorgeous one and only required one coat and a light scarf :)

each morning i open my sleepy eyes to this one of a kind purple man hanging directly in front of my mini-twin sized bed. now, at first i thought about creatively draping a moroccan tapestry over his colorful presence or removing him in the dead of night and strategically placing him on the balcony across the way with yippy dog, but now, a certain sort of fondness has grown between "Larry" and i. even if it was the fact that my landlord's wife is the artist of pensive "Larry" (therefore, making it a little dicey for his removal), i've grown accustomed to my roomie. i now can't help but give him the classic head nod and mumble a "good morning, larry. don't get too crazy without me today"

here is where my walk begins on Gran Via, the main street slicing down Granada's center. on the left is the cathedral and overhead are the artsy little street lamps that i am strangely in love with.

this walk continues for a little ways, weaving in and out of spanish couples and friends chatting. the spanish don't walk anywhere quickly. while i'm trying to pick up the pace (might as well get some sort of a workout) spaniards casually stroll, never breaking a sweat and never, EVER in a rush.

RIGHT! time to depart from the hustling Gran Via to turn up the street with the yellow mailbox. at this point i'm searching through my mary poppin's bag looking for that postcard that i know is in there somewhere. give the postcard a kiss, and continue walking, chicos, you are about to begin the climb.

here we come to the little pretty square with the arch de triumph, Granada style...also known as the entrance of the Albayzin (the gypsie, arabic section of town) i can't help but consider ditching class and getting lost in a tetería. but, being the good student i am *cough* i continue on :)

walk through the plaza and appreciate the fall colors. they are now fading, but still remind me of the season.

cuidado, now. (careful) cross the roundabout, but beware of crazy spanish drivers who consider crossing pedestrians a mere nuisance and an excuse to honk their horns. the black and white cobblestones are a nice touch, remind me of Lisbon, no?

on the walk up, we pass a little church. from my history class i now know that it was once a mosque due to the cool tower. most churches in granada were once mosques...always makes me think about all that this building has seen.

continue to walk up the leaf littered street. here we pass cafes, tapas bars, and little bakeries, most of which are still closed because it is only 9:45 am. yes, spain is on their own time schedule.

pass by the little fruit and veggie stand.

now cross the street to begin the real climb. that stuff we did was definitely on a hill, but it is nothing like what is coming up. Cartuja, here we come!

yep, the climb has started and the bus about to pass us on the left starts to look appealing. the calves may be burning, but we're getting closer.

more UP! feel the burn!

yep, just when you thought you reached the top, time for a glut work out. at this point, bring it! we are almost there and so close to a pretty view.

here's a look down from the stairs. that soccer field always makes my foot itch to touch a soccer ball. someday, one way or another, i am sneaking on to that field and getting some fútbol time in. i've only seen guys play on the field...guess i need to take it upon myself to bring female kick-buttness to spain. a girl does what she can :)

congrats!! we have reached the top and are rewarded with an epic view of olive groves (spain has olive groves everywhere! i guess they have to supply their incessant need for olive oil somehow. but on college campuses, too? really? whatever. i love it), an old looking building, and the mountains.

like the locals we are, we sneak in the back entrance saving almost 6 minutes in walking time. ya, we know what's up.

we made it to the building and in true adrienne style we are 10 minutes early. i swear i was actually going to be late this time...huh, i guess not. now refuel. the machine on the right may be one of the best inventions ever made. here we have a full coffee machine to fit all your needs. what sounds good? americano? cappuccino? hot chocolate? a shot of espresso? this little magic box has it all.
alrighty, it's 10:00, time to go into the classroom and wait for 10-15 minutes for the professor to come. oh, españa.

*it also must be noted that on the walk you did not see one person with a to-go cup, one person eating on the go, or any college students in their pj's. no. starbucks has no power here...strange, no?