the holidays--european style

after weeks of being absent, i am back on this little blog of mine and am finally ready to share a little bit about my memorable holiday season in that crazy place called europe. i apologize in advance if this comes out as a jumbled mess...the transition back to life and school reality has me in a bit of a scatter-brained state.

most importantly, my mom and dave made it granada in impeccable timing, avoiding the horrible winter weather that decided to hit the majority of western europe on the eve of their arrival. it is hard for me to even describe my elation when seeing their faces at the granada airport--my christmas, my 'home,' my parents had arrived. after taking the bus back to the city of granada (tightly holding my mom's hand the entire time...some things never change), i immediately took them out to one of my favorite spanish tapas bars with a soccer game blasting, smoking fans yelling, and enough spanish beer and free meaty tapas to go around.
it is an understatement to say that our time in granada flew by. i did my best to give my mom and dave a taste of my life--the various tapas bars, my school campus, the walk above the alhambra, meeting with my spanish friends and flat-mates, and walking through the city with purpose and familiarity. as we walked together through the tiny cobblestone streets, it hit me how much i have come to know this city in the past 5 months. oddly, i was showing them my home, the place that has become mine--and strangely enough, they, the people who know me so completely, were virtually strangers to it.
despite my worries about winter weather getting in our way, this time of year proved to be wonderful. the city was looking especially festive with public christmas decorations on practically every street.

this is my favorite plaza bib-rambla in all its glory. surrounding the square is a quaint christmas market and the center is full of shoppers, kids laughing on bicycle powered merry-go-rounds, and and a huge nativity scene with a long line of all ages excitingly waiting to see it up close.

the festive decorations are everywhere and are so very different from those at home. at first, i pathetically pitied myself, thinking "man, this does not feel like christmas. shops aren't decorated, no one says 'feliz navidad,' christmas songs by annoying pop bands aren't on a 6 track repeat in every store, and for goodness sake these kids don't even believe in santa. what is this?" yet, after some thinking and mom-perspective i realized something. this may be the most festive city i've ever been in, here there are lights, carolers, nativity scenes in every nook and cranny of the city--it's just different. and they aren't asking me to BUY anything. the decorations are only there for enjoyment, night-strolling, and "ooo-ing and awww-ing," nothing more. (does this make any sense?)

what i'm trying to say, is this holiday season was quite special, but i am sure looking forward to the next one and the traditions and people that truly make every holiday completely treasured.
some more holiday highlights:

christmas eve dinner with my granada family and parents. delicious dinner including wild mushroom risotto, salad with persimmon and pomegranate, various cheese treats, home-made apple pie, and tiramisu. it was a beautiful fusion of people from my two 'homes' and a great opportunity to celebrate together.

our decorations in our little apartment. plastic tree complementary of the 'chino' in my neighborhood. mom's magic mary-poppins suitcase did it again--presents and christmas novelties from home showed up to make the day even that much more special. and yes, dave is standing in the kitchen...claustrophobic visitors were not invited.


as i mentioned before, the week in granada flew by, leaving me feeling a little uncomfortable moving on when i still had so much more to show and explain. luckily, after arriving in paris my unsettled feelings quickly evaporated and i immediately fell in love with the enchanting city once again.
how can one truly describe the magic of paris? is it the never-ending art? the fresh crepes and croissants every few steps? twinkly lights and overall yellow romantic lighting? the historical landmarks packed into one walkable city center? the little bistros where beautiful couples share secrets, friends laugh, waiters join in on table conversation, and french wine enchants taste buds? or is it simply the undeniable parisian energy that captivates and intrigues its visitors? or, more simply, all of the above? like many, i don't have the answer, only the feeling of strong attachment to this place and the deep longing to go back.

now, being in paris in the winter was a completely unexpected delight. while there is no denying that some days were darn cold and day light faded away at 5:00, i loved the city in this season. between the decorations, ice skating rink, people bundled up and snuggling for warmth, and a lovely bubble bath in our apartment, i could have stayed there all winter!
here are some pictures to get a sense of the city in it's winter state:










as you can see, it was a beautiful trip with many memorable moments. new year's eve spent at our local bistro drinking champagne and eating like kings, taking the metro (free today) jammed packed with excited people, sitting on a bridge looking at the eiffel tower in front, notre dame behind me, with my mom and dave. it was an incredible beginning to which i'm sure will be a wonderful 2011. here's on last pic of mom and i on new year's eve:


naturally, it was so hard saying goodbye to my mom and dave. just being together and spending the holidays as a family was beyond wonderful. (despite the weird fact of me reverting back to being a 14 year old little girl traveling with parents. after months of experience being on my own you think things would have changed. but, nope. i was back to following around with my camera, asking when was the next time to eat, and not thinking about the logistics of travel. how does that happen? i''m still a little baffled and kinda frustrated with myself) anywho, seeing it end was an emotional adjustment. i think i am still adjusting. but, with 6 months behind me, and 6 more months ahead, i feel ready and grateful for our memories together and my future adventures ahead in 2011.
Happy New Year!

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 :)