some things never change--contentment and slight disgust after a gelato binge, cravings for norah jones/joni mitchell and bubble bath on rainy days, growing wonder after each traveling excursion, and i am content to say, pure happiness and sisterly moments when that crazy Dane, julie streton is around. as you can guess, i'd been anticipating my other half's arrival since i set foot on this continent. this is europe after all--in my mind we are practically neighbors, and i was beyond excited to finally reap the benefits of this new proximity. while spanish tardiness and 12:00am airport closing times (really, granada?) kept julie stuck in madrid for a night (and me knitting and zoning out to coldplay in the abandoned airport for hours) she arrived tuesday morning, ready for some hardcore catch up time.
how can i go about summing up our four days in granada together? it can basically be broken down into three pieces: 1. walking 2. eating 3. chit-chatting (under the radar 4. gelato sampling) almost every day we walked up to one of my favorite spots: san mirador san nicholas (view from sitting on the wall located to the right) we sat for hours talking, laughing, gazing at the city below, and planning future rendezvous, before walking down the hill through the mysterious streets of the albayzin towards yet another one of my favorite tapas bars (i was determined to make her try them all). here are some pics from our walking adventures:
what i love about granada is, you may walk to the same place twenty times, but each trek is different--new doors are opened (literally...behind each plain-jane door is an arabic garden, funky museum, or cool view never before seen), new street performers, and new ways of experiencing the city. the alhambra solidifies this idea--with the new season, the trees are all changing colors, flowers are blooming, and the golden fall lighting makes this palace even more breathtaking.
another important event: CINA'S 21st BIRTHDAY!!!! for this big day, julie, kristen, and i made a mexican food feast for cina, our california folk, and our new spanish amigos. i got my game face on *and foolproof apron* making fajita style meal with all the goods. julie was my wingman: you know you have a good friend when they're cutting bowls of onions and sautéing veggies over a hot stove for hours on their vacation for people they've just met (and all with a smile).
my only complaint about julie's visit was that it was too short! four days with hours wasted on things like class was seriously a tease. i couldn't help but let a couple tears escape as i walked back home after getting in one last goodbye hug in the airport bus at 5:00am. with skype dates to hold me over, i now finally have plans to hop on over to denmark in the spring and physically see the world of ms. julie streton (and indulge in as much danish black licorice as humanly possible).
*this last photo is for you, dave. i had the honor of introducing your favorite spanish breakfast to the 'cold dane.' we had to keep warm during the mornings somehow :) hola, churros y chocolate!
julie, i seriously miss you already! i think denmark is too cold for you anyways, come back to the sun and falafel paradise!
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