It only took about 10 minutes in Madrid to realize that I wanted to have much more time there. I had saved it for the end of my adventure, and now had only a few precious days to spend in this ancient city, lovely and magnificent in its juxtaposition of ancient (cobblestone streets, ceramic tile street signs) and progressive (iPads in every hand, Spanish divas in the latest style and fashion, the urban hustle-bustle everywhere). The Exploration Begins Wasting not a single mo

El Día Primera ¡Bienvenidos a Barcelona! Hopped on a plane in Sevilla, and here I am! My first apartment (for the first week) is on the "main drag" of el barrio Sarría. After dropping off my suitcases and a quick change of clothes, I set out to explore my new neighborhood. Before I even shut the apartment door, my new next door neighbor, standing in her doorway, greeted me and immediately invited me to una fiesta happening that very evening! Una barbacoa on the roof of o

Farewell, Sevilla Sadly, my time in Sevilla has come to an end. I am truly, deeply sad to leave this charming, enchanting, magical city, which so gracefully combines ancient history and tradition with modern technology and conveniences. I felt a sense of self, ancestry, and home in Sevilla, at a deep, cellular level, perhaps for the very first time. Sevillanos stand firmly on tradition, with much pride and passion. The Andalucian people are the warmest, most welcoming I've ev

Weekend in Mazagón June 2-3, 2013 Cruz's parents own a beach house in Mazagón, and generously offered it to our not-so-little crew for the weekend. Eight of us had a blast in the sand, sun and water, and danced the night away at a club in the quaint town. TARIFA AND MOROCCO June 4-5, 2013 I took a little trip for a few days to visit Tarifa, a gorgeous, little coastal town on the southern-most tip of Spain. This is a popular spot for kite surfing, and colorful kites filled the

Today's aventura included a trip to el supermercado (the supermarket), en el coche (by car) for a few staples (which, for me, are avocados, coffee and water), and perhaps a few local foods to try. Easy enough, yes? BAAAA HAAAA!! I'll spare you most of the details, and sum it up by saying it was a 3-hour venture (did I mention the supermarket is less than a mile away?) and that I heard myself saying things like "Wait, what? This is a ONE-way street? SHIT!" ...and... "Wait,