Update on my christmas travels

I wrote a blog entry a month ago, but never posted it... i think it is too late to post it now. So i will just write a new one.

Today is my first day back at work after my three week break. During that break I traveled alot around Europe/Africa.

Spencer arrived on December 19th and we stayed two nights in Madrid. I was so excited for him to come! I am so lucky that he missed Christmas in NC to spend it with me here. On Dec 21, we flew to Marrakech and stayed there 3 nights. It was not like any other place I have ever been. It is a lot what you imagine. There were street performers and snake charmers and general madness around the main square in the medina. Marrakech kinda wore me out in the sense that I always had to watch my back. Traffic was crazy and women are second class citizens, which was not something i was used to. Overall it was a great excperience and I am glad we went.

After Morroco, spencer and I flew to lisbon, portugal and arrived on Christmas eve and stayed there 3 nights. I loved lisbon! (even tho it rained most of the time we were there) . We got caught in the rain on Christmas day and spent the next several hours drying off in our hostel.

It was definitely weird not to be at home for Christmas, especially since europeans arent into it like americans are. The lights were beautiful in lisbon tho. Every street had a different kind of lights. Ill put up pics on facebook later. While in Lisbon, we took a day trip to Sintra and neighboring town. It was a very beautifulplace with lost of palaces and an awesome castle perched high on a hill. It actually didnt rain that day, so we had a beautiful day.

After portugal we returned to Spain and spent the next two nights in don benito. We took a day trip to Merida, a city 40 mins away that is filled with roman ruins. It was pretty incrdible. They have a beautiful roman theatre. One our way back to the bus station we got caught in the rain (again) and we were completely soaked. Our umbrella and rain jackets did not help defend us from the rain. I dont think spencer was in too good of a mood by this point. At least we were able to dry off in my apartment that night.

The next day we left early for sevilla and stayed there for one night. It was pretty rainy there as well. I kept telling spencer how beautiful sevilla is when its sunny. The second day we were there, it was sunny! Yay! But storms started rolling in when we left. At least he got to see it in some sunlight.

The next day we went off to madrid to spend new years. In spain the tradition is to drink Cava (champagne) and eat grapes at midnight. 12 grapes to be exact- You eat a grape at each chime of the clock at midnight. With every grape you eat on the chime you are supposed to have a month of good luck. We were in the main plaza and we could not hear the chimes well at all, so we just ate our grapes... i dont think I will have good luck, haha. Afterwards we went to the most famous chocolate con churros place in madrid. Its open everyday of the year. It was really good i have to admit and i normally dont like churros con chocolate.

The next day, spencer left me :( I was really sad to see him go. Luckily, jenna arrived the same day so i didnt wallow in self-pity. hehe.

I will write another post to update on me and jennas trip. I think this is enough for now. Thanks for reading!