Lisbon/Madrid

Oi!

Or Brazilian Portuguese for hi.  Sorry everybody for not posting anything in a while but its pretty much I've been going balls to the wall here in both Lisbon and Madrid.  As I write this I am on the train to Barcelona going to catch my flight back home tomorrow.  The feeling is bitter sweet but overall I leave with great stories and all the even better people I've met along the way, all in all one of the most rewarding things I've done (and for the most part I'm just exhausted... Madrid does that to you)

Let's start in Lisbon.  Lisbon is the weird mutant hybrid of Rio and San Francisco , I say this because they literally have there own golden gate bridge.  I respected a little more out of Lisbon but I still saw some pretty amazing things.  The hostel I stayed at was empty for the most part so not as great a night life. There I saw everything from the tower of belem to castle of seu Jorge to cathedral of saint Geronimo to the national archaeology museum. I can officially say I love Portugal.  Lisbon is dirtier than I thought it would be but its still charming.  Not to mention the history of the area.  The coolest thing I saw had to be the castle of seu Jorge.  The archaeology was cool and relevant o what I studied in uharte.  Belem was very cool too.  The architecture was amazing for being a fort.    Overall Lisbon was pretty awesome but nothing epic.  I enjoyed Porto much more ( it could be also because I was still getting over my cold but nonetheless)

So being the organized prompt person I am I arrive at the train station to go to Madrid. Only problem was there were only two trains to Madrid.  One at 8am and the other at 930 pm... I was at the train station all check do it of my hostel by 11 am.  It was a nice lovely day at the train station... surely.  I had never been on an overnight train before but or was kind of cool being the only one in an entire cabin.  The feeling was almost ghostly.  So naturally I drank. Bottle of wine and read and slept. Glad I slept I was going to need it for Madrid.

So the hostel I stayed in was called a party hostel.  This did worry me a little since I figured I would have just another awkward situation like my last hostel where no one does anything and just try to make a false weirs party atmosphere. The whole thing was really forced at that hostel.  On top of it I didn't really thing I'd like Madrid too much anyway.  Glad I was wrong.

Now I understand why Fran would call them fascist, because the Spanish are assholes!  I have never had so many people get so impatient and rude with me it was ridiculous.  I realizes Catalonia, Navarre , and Galicia are completely different down to the people.  On top of that all I don't think I've seen such heavy cop patrol ever in my life! I swear there was the equivalent of a swat car on nearly every corner. This probably due to the protests going on but still.

Madrid is almost the stark opposite of Lisbon, very clean, not quite as many historical sites but very modern hip city.  I spent the first day checking out the palace and somehow stumbled into the mall.  It was some neat stuff.  One crucial thing I've realized though is that people don't goto Madrid for the sites they go for the parties.  The first night we all stayed out till 6 in the morning doing everything from salsa dancing to dancing gungnaam style.  I don't think I've had this much fun partying and dancing ever!  The people I met in the hostel were really awesome also.  I ended up palling around with all these dutch and a Portuguese girl all going to school in Holland.  Along with another Brazilian girl as well who I really liked as well.  We went around Madrid checking out all the art museums(weird to classical).  We even spent one day just laying around in the park.  Maybe the most suitable way of ending my trip.  I loved it so much I stayed an extra day and thought about even extending my stay here i n Spain through the weekend.  I saw everything and did everything. I know that's not very specific but I'm that tired to the point of exhaustion.  Someday I'll need to go back hopefully soon.  I'll make this a two partner because honestly I'm tired and I'm hating typing on this thing after a month and a half.  I really can't wait to have an actual keyboard again . Until then
Cheers

Parte dos

I don't know if that is how you say part but whatever.  So here I Sit in the airport in Barcelona waiting for my flight.  By far the coolest of the art museums was the Reina Sofia .  It is a museum of very eccentric art from Dali to picasso .  In one room they just had a chair with an orange and a cane on it.  Didn't really understand how that was art but I still real lg enjoyed the whole thing.  Prado was the famous museum that I didn't get to see but I don't feel like I really missed much.  The thyssen felt much more classic art museum more than anything but I really enjoyed the art so I'll say it was fun.

The one thing I missed was the Spanish archaeological museum. I am somewhat sad to have missed that but I have pretty much spent the past month and a half studying this type of archaeology so I guess I'll live.

Pretty sure the Spanish just hate tourists but I mean who doesn't.  Went to a different part of the city and they were much friendlier.  I definitely went to a couple restaurants where I was hurried just because I was a foreigner and they didn't like me being there.  I just made sure I didn't tip and I figured they got the picture.

I'm gonna miss Madrid for many reasons some more than others but to say that Madrid exceeded my expectations would be pitting it lightly.

Back in Barcelona I stayed in a great hostel for the night and though about getting some drinks actually.. until I laid down and never woke up.  Would have been nice to see some of the thongs in Barcelona I missed because i just wasn't sure how to get around at the time would have been nice but I guess I can just leave in for next time ;)

Next time I write I'll be writing in another timezone.  Until that time arrives I'll see you all soon.

Cheers

 Here is thearade we had in uharte

Come on I had to show at least one dinner pick

A statue outside of Santiago due compostela

Another cathedral in santiago

A creepy dog statue found in porto

All the streets look pretty Mich like this in porto

A guy in a bull costume chasing kids on a village with fireworks of course attached at the top

And just a food view of the cathedral in Santiago really cool rainy place

Hola from Porto, Portugal! 

Alright before I Delve too deep into what I've been up to let me just say how is it that nearly all of Portugal speaks flawless English, yet as Americans ( and Spanish for that matter) don't g terribly far out of there way to learn a second language whatsoever.  Honestly before I got here I tried to get the basic Portuguese words down (which is a actually difficult just because Portuguese makes no sense) but it turns out o can go up to anyone and they all speak English really well, it was great! 

So far Portugal has exceeded my expectation is almost rather stay longer here than go back to Madrid. The city of Porto is absolutely knock out gorgeous.  While I wouldn't say its the cleanest city it has a lot of charm to it.  Lots of graffiti and disheveled buildings are everywhere bug it looks really cool.  On top of staying in probably the best hostel of all time Porto has been by far my favorite city.

I went and walked around the touristy area along the river front and took in the sites despite having a nasty cold (I am not sire of its from staying until 6 in the morning or something it bogglea me) it was a great day.  I've got my little bit of Portuguese down now for talker to older folks who don't speak English but other than that I haven't needed to speak it.  Doesn't mean I don't want to learn it but here in Portugal they really almost spoil you with how much English they speak.  

Anyway I'm going to keep this post shorter because I keep having to blow my nose but the last thing I will note is Portuguese food (all of it) is a gut buster whoah boy.  I had a meal with french fries steak ham cheese sausage and mushroom all piled together it was sort of epic meal time esque.  Oh yeah of course how coils o forget the Bacon.  I hope I feel better I wanted to go checkout some live shows they had going on tonight but I might just take it easy and make sure this doesn't get any worse.  Guess that ,means I'll have to come back sometime... ah darn.

Cheers 

¿que pasa? Para Santiago de Compostela!!

After 10 hours on a bus (with the occasional stop) I made it clear across the country.  I did run into somewhat of a snafu though.  The bus ride took longer than I expected and the check in at the hostel I reserved closed at 10.  I arrives at the bus station at 9:58.  So with two minutes to try and find this hostel I decided tourist find the closest hotel and stay there.  Luckily there are a lot of hotels Andi found a somewhat decent one for 38 Euros.  Really not bad if you ask me (although if I end up with bed bugs...).  

So today I walked over to the hostel I was supposed t stay at 

Last night and find she as just about to cancel my reservation.  She was a little annoyed with me but she was nice enough and understood. 

While I waited for my room to be ready I decided to walk around Santiago and check it out.  Santiago is actually the end of the Camino Del Santiago or trail of saint James,era which apparently is one of the holy Christian pilgrimages that lots of people do.  The pilgrimage is to the cathedral of saint James,es or cathedral Santiago.  So I paid he cathedral a quick visit.  The cathedral was great.  As you walk around Santiago you see people with back packers and walking sticks, its as if you walk into the cathedral and you find them all over the cathedral.  I arrived as they were doing a service so the cathedral was packed. I was able to see the crypt of saint James,and was able to watch a little bit of the service.  The church is very impressive especially in the rain.

Santiago sort of feels like the Seattle of Spain.  It is in the rainiest part of Spain, it felt a lot like the pacific northwest.  Its a very col place to visit I hope to see more since I've only been here a couple hours. 

I know I'm doing a tarantino here but I figured I'd mention ,y last days at zamartze.  On Saturday we went back up to San Miguel aralar for the day of San Miguel or day of saint Michael.  The church of san Miguel is way up high in the mountains above uharte and is always cold and freezing.  The monastery is amazing though. Especially for where it is located,  it is so isolated.  First we went to mass which was all in spanish but the singing was nice and occasionally the bishop spoke in English to particularly mention us (they decided to putisin the front row to honor us).  Afterwards we went and had a big dinner with all the priests and the nuns.  Basically we all justgpt plastered with the priests and nuns.  The drummer everyone got the more they sang.  Got to say that was a lot of fun.

All throughout the weekend they had a festival in the village as well so on top of the day of San Miguel we got even drunker and watched all the parades and dancing, it was a blast! Eventually it all had to end though.  Slowly but surely people trickled out of the group till basically there were only a few of us.  Of course I was one of the last to leave and it was sad but I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be visiting other parts of Europesoon enough I'm sure.  Overall great experience at zamartze and I learned a lot.  I hope to do another field school real soon or hopefully try to get employment doing such work.  I hope you all are doing well and I'll post pictures of the festival and Santiago real soon.  I figured you at least deserved an update at least.  

Cheers