1 year

16 countries

It's been an incredible journey.

Thank you for following along 

& reading my stories.

The Real Madrid

I was lucky enough to visit my friends in Madrid before flying back to Houston earlier this month. Getting to the airport was an experience to say the least. With two suitcases and a carry on, I traveled from the main train station in Saarbrücken to a tiny town called Kirn. Fortunately, I met a nice German soldier there who helped me carry my bags up the stairs. After a thirty minute wait, I transferred my luggage to a bus that went directly to the Frankfurt-Hahn airport. Don't be confused by the name though; it's not actually located in Frankfurt (that would be Frankfurt International.) No. No. Frankfurt Hahn is in the middle of nowhere, Germany. But I really enjoyed my last ride through the small villages of the German countryside, even if I was sitting in the luggage area with my feet propped up on my suitcases to prevent them from rolling all over the bus. 

When I finally arrived to Madrid that evening (after a ridiculous wait and having to dispose 5 kg worth of my suitcase contents to meet the strict Ryan Air regulations), Jesus and Diego were waiting for me with a sign in hand. I've always wanted someone to pick me up at the airport with a sign, so I was really excited! (I would insert a picture here of Diego, Jesus, Ludivine, and me with the aforementioned sign, except airport security made me delete it. How sad that we live in a world where taking a picture of a joyous reunion is considered a threat to security.) But words cannot describe how happy I was to see my friends again--I had missed them so much.

We all got into Diego's car and drove to a spot that had a great overlook of the city. We climbed up the hill, sat down in the grass, and watched the sun set over Madrid. It was a perfect moment. Then we went to Diego's house where I met his sweet parents and struggled to communicate with them as we snacked on olives and drank Coca Cola on their balcony. We ate bocadillos for dinner and then met up with Diego's cousin, David, at a discotheca named Penelope where we danced the night away.

The next day was spent in the mountains of Sierra de Guadarrama, just 30 miles northwest of Madrid. In the afternoon we toured El Escorial which is a huge monastery that also used to be a royal palace. Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can spend an entire day visiting the art gallery, architectural museum, gardens, and royal tombs. We admired the view of the monastery from La Silla de Felipe II and then found our own rock to climb onto and silently watch the beautiful, warm Spanish sun disappear behind the mountains.

Yes, I actually climbed that boulder in those sandals. Be impressed.

 

 

After taking a break at Diego's second home in the mountains, we got ready for another late night out. The five of us went to a street fiesta that was not too far from the monastery we had seen earlier in the day.  Afterwards, we went to a house party at the home of one of Diego's friends. The home was up in the mountains, where the air was chillier and the stars looked close enough to reach up and grab. The socializing took place in the backyard where his friend has set up a makeshift bar and was playing all the latest Spanish hits. I enjoyed getting to meet new people and watch others interact in a very real environment. It was a lot of fun getting to experience a part of the culture that many visitors do not get to see.

It's a good thing we did not have a busy day planned for Sunday. We ended up sleeping in really late, since we didn't arrive to Jesus' home in Leganes until after 7:00 am from our night out in the mountains. Jesus had already planned a big meal for us, so we enjoyed the entire afternoon in the sun--eating delicious Spanish foods and swimming in the pool. It was just what the doctor ordered after weeks of rain and clouds in Germany.

 

 

Jesus' adorable dog, Sara

In the evening, we drove to the center of Madrid where we walked around and saw some of the monuments at night. We also ordered tapas in Plaza Mayor, which is where I ate dinner a year ago with my TCU friends on my one night in Madrid. It was cool to be back a year later and realize how much I have changed and experienced in just a year's time.

Monday was filled with sightseeing. We visited Palacio Real de Madrid (the largest palace in Europe) and Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena (a colorful Catholic cathedral). In the afternoon, we relaxed in Parque del Retiro and rowed around in the small boats on the pond. 

an awesome indoor market-- Mercado de San Miguel

I bought a pretty hand-painted fan at this shop

That night we had a big dinner, lovingly prepared by Jesus' father. Sitting outdoors and eating with Jesus, Paloma (Jesus' sister), Ludivine, and the Diegos, I quickly realized that there was no common language between the six of us. I just sat and tried to pick out the few words I understood as the boys were speaking Spanish on one side of the table and the girls were speaking French on the other. It was at that moment that I decided to commit to learning Spanish. I've always wanted to know it, and I'm tired of being in situations where I am unable to communicate with people. I finish my German classes this semester, and I hope to start learning Spanish in the spring.

My time in Spain was short, but wonderful. I'll never forget the fun times I shared with my European friends in Madrid--eating dinner at midnight, driving around the winding mountain roads with the windows rolled down and the radio up, being welcomed with open arms by their family members, and laughing at all of our inside jokes from the summer. Saying goodbye that next morning at Barajas was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do; it's the only time I've ever cried in an airport. I don't know when I'll be able to go back to Europe, but I hope to see my friends again and one day return the warm hospitality they showed me in Madrid.

“A man does not climb a mountain without bringing some of it away with him, and leaving something of himself upon it.” 
–Sir Martin Conway

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Image: My Berlin Fashion

Die Hauptstadt des Saarlandes

Say "Hallo" to Saarbrücken-- the capital of the Saarland and the city I called home this past summer. Here are my top 10 earthfaves, or favorite places, in the city.

1. Vapiano

We ate here at least once a week. The pasta, pizza, and apperitivos are delicious and made right in front of you. I love the decor, picnic tables for dining outside, warm ambience, and the rosemary and basil plants on every table.

2. Daniel's Garten

My boss, Daniel, has a garden which is great for grill parties. We celebrated the Fourth of July here.

3. St. Johanner Markt
The center of the city is charming and lined with outdoor cafes, ice cream parlors, restaurants, book shops, bars, art galleries, and boutiques. On Saturday mornings the square turns into an open market for fresh fruits & vegetables, eggs, bread, wine, honey, and other local products. The city's French influence is most noticeable here. In the afternoons and evenings, it is a great place to sit and people watch and kill the hour.

4. Viva Zapata!

This is probably my favorite restaurant in SB. They have a Mittagessen special called "Tapas Marathon," which is all you can eat Spanish tapas for 9,80. I'm also a fan of the outdoor courtyard with bier garten style seating and the Madrid house wine.

5. Schlossplatz

The view from the castle walls is one of the best in the city. There is also a cafe and bier garten. And in the summer you can attend free weekly concerts at Sonntags ans Schloss. 

6. My favorite Eiscafe

I never actually learned the name of this ice cream parlor since it did not have a sign, but I frequently ordered its coffee ice cream and mango sorbet (not together, of course).

7. Zum Stiefel

This historic Gasthaus is a great place to try Saarländisch specialties as well as one of the beers that they brew on-sight.

8. Ludwigskirche

This church is so unique due to its square shape and solid white interior. It would be a gorgeous place to have a wedding.

9. Deutsch-Französischer Garten
These gardens are a nice place to relax or picnic with friends. There is a pond with paddle boats, several cafes, cable cars, a miniature train, and stage for live performances.

10. Der Hauptbahnhof 

This is arguably one of the ugliest train stations in Germany, but it was such an important location for me over the summer and I have many memories there. It's where I mailed postcards home, shopped on Sundays when nothing else was opened, welcomed and said goodbye to many a friend, and set off on many adventures.