sometimes you really need a vacation. this is one of those times. that’s why i’m going to spain tomorrow. that, and because i have been trying to get someone to go with me for the last 2 years, with no luck until recently. last year, after being rejected by most friends, even the ones that spent the 7+ months in spain with me in 2006, i called my mom. no one will go to spain with me, i said. i’ll go to paris, she said. and so we did. and although a trip to paris…and we tacked on nice…was everything i could ask for, i am tickling with anticipation to be back in spain after a long siesta.

 paris, 2010

in preparation for this trip, i’ve thought about the things i want to make sure we do and the things i want to make sure we don’t do. our itinerary is as follows:

1.    three days in barcelona

2.    two days in gradana

3.    three days in madrid

barcelona is my favorite city in the world (although santorini is close, but keep a seperate list for islands). i’ve been there twice - once with my parents in high school, where we accidently ordered too much sangria and my mom was throughoughly entertained by the las ramblas street performers. second time when the rest of the roommates came to visit dre, molly, and i over spring break. we also ordered too much sangria, but it was less accidental.

on top of the world in barcelona, 2006

granada i visited on the same trip with my family. all i really remember is that it was historic and full of blue tile, and that my parents pronounced el generalife as “general life” (as if it were an insurance company) for at least 2 days when i realized what they were referring to. anyways, a snapshot from my angstier years:

granada, 2002

lastly, madrid. i’m both happy we saved it for last and a little tired from anticipation. madrid was a good city to study abroad in - always lots to do, not touristy, and amazing to explore the nooks and cranies that most people don’t get to see. i’m trying to remember my madrid one day tour that we used to give visitors when they came to stay with us, and which places we hit up along the way. referencing my tiny notebook that i wrote the most random occurances and findings and photos has been a fantastic way to piece it all together. there are the obvious stops - retiro, el templo, and plaza de espana…and then of course the restaurant that marked our time there, el tigre (i will let you know if santiago still works there). but then there is the vast list of other places that have so many associations with them that i will have a hard time choosing what to cut out of our three day stay. 

 one day madrid tour with visitors, 2006 

i cannot wait to leave. now the real question, do you think i can get sean and jason to take jumping pictures?

spain hops.