Spain trip and good byes

OK, now that I'm back in the US, I'll finish up my Spain adventures with Steph....

Valencia, was absolutely beautiful. It's a small-ish city, not too touristy, very Spanish, and very, well, Valencian.We stayed at Pension Levante, which used to be a 'house of appointments' (brothel), so it had lots of character and many, many mirrors. I feel like we were really adventurous in the city, just wandering around, eating at little cafes, walking into churches (finding the Holy Grail), and otherwise enjoying the sun.

Our first major stop (after lunch) was the Cathedral, off Plaza de las Reinas, where we found the Holy Grail. Our guided audio tour also revealed the St. Thomas of Villanova Chapel inside the cathedral. And Steph, my roommate from Villanova, and I thought, oh cool, let's go see a statue of STV. Only there wasn't really a statue, there was a sarcophogus lid and the relics of STV!! We were way more excited about this than about the Holy Grail (chalice, dating from 150BC, transported to Spain by an apostle, etc, etc).

Other highlights in Valencia include: being adventurous with dinner locations, mini-trip to El Saler beach, Sangria, reading in the plazas, wandering around the city not worrying about where we were or how to get back, and, of course, the Holy Grail.

Then, after a few minor mishaps, we took the train from Valencia to Barcelona. The trip itself, up the coast, was beautiful and relaxing, and getting ourselves situated in Barcelona wasn't as difficult as I thought. Barcelona highlights included:

• Wandering down Las Ramblas (following the Rick Steve's guide, we knew just where to buy flowers and birds, though he seemed to have forgotten about the painters who are past the bird section.
• The mall...ok, ok, sounds stupid, but we were on a hunt for flipflops. Plus, the mall is out across this very cool bridge and right on the water, so it was beautiful
• Sangria, as always
• Shopping
• Cold coffee drinks
• wandering around the city
• And the absolute best highlight - Dinner at the Olympic Village!!!

We were obviously mistaken for rock stars (or there were no other twenty-something women eating at the restaurant that night). We got a pitcher of free sangria, some lovely little tapas (i love croquets), and ordered paella. Our waiter even bought us each a red rose. (I know I tell this story much better out loud, but I'm tired and can't summon up all the details at the moment....the red rose and free sangria are the most important). I like to pretend that was the very end of the trip and ignore the delayed flight back to England, the lack of buses to take Steph to Heathrow, and her hurrying onto a train to navigate London with her suitcase (never fear, she did make her flight home)....

So that's just about the end. I went back to Cambridge, had a quiet week of packing, sipping wine and eating cheese with James and Elly, the last few Lost episodes with Megan and Leo, tea and scones, and a last night BBQ at 17 Bateman (where Christine presented me with a magazine that came with a bikini....Awesome!!).

Then it was home. Here things have been quiet, relaxing, and well family-fun like. And now, as promised, it's back to Costa Rica (I have a job!). I haven't decided yet if I'll be starting another blog, but look out in case I do.

Steph, Ryan, and Jane: Villanova at Cambridge

So, Steph and I had barely lugged all our things up the many many flights to my room, when we set off again in search of Cafe Rouge, for lunch with Jane, Ryan C., and Dan another Villanovan here. The restaurant was lovely, the company lovelier. Dan, who studies chants, is doing his PhD here. Ryan - who is famous for the email updates on his China adventures - was getting ready to leave for the US in a few days, so it was nice to get to catch up again before we're both off in different directions. And Jane was there! We spent a lot of time complaining to her about the complexities and rules and nonsense of Cambridge, marveling over the sunny weather, and catching up on Villanova gossip.

After lunch, Ryan thought punting sounded nice, so we all (minus Dan) set off to find an open punt. We got some pints to go (there's nothing like beer in plastic cups) and set off, with Ryan in control. Steph and I each took a turn punting - pretty unsuccessfully, but at least we can say we did it. Jane, very smartly, preferred to recline in the punt sipping her pint and snapping photos of us balancing on the back of the punt. On the way back, Ryan fell into the Cam - one of those often quoted but rarely seen episodes of punting disasters. Very exciting. Of course, as a swimmer, he was far more graceful about the falling and the getting back in the punt thing than I would have been. We also managed to lose the pole at one point...Very exciting - the two major punting problems all in one trip.

In the evening, we cooked burgers out back of Bateman St. And chatted with Elly and guests. When Jane and Ryan headed back to Wolfson, we went to the Panton Arms for a pint and then crashed early.

Sunday, Steph and I met Jane in town to walk to Grantchester for tea in the Orchard. The walk was lovely, and we managed to correctly identify thistle (though nettles remain a mystery). Cream tea was, well, cream tea. It was a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.

After, Steph and I headed to the Isaac Newton for the Ecuador-England game, but left with Megan, Leo, and Co. not long after as the hooligans are rather scary when England plays. We finished the game in New Hall, eating chips (crisps) and cookies.

Monday, we packed up for Spain before the Tit Hall Garden Party that, sadly, was inside because of bad weather. Clea, our steward, had created an amazing array of finger food, salads, and cheese. Lots of cheese. In fact, there was half a wheel of Brie. So much cheese!

Tuesday, at the crack of dawn (actually before), we trudged down to the rail station and headed to Stanstead...once we had checked in, gone through security, and downed some much needed caffeine, we had time to get really excited about Spain!

And then, on to Valencia!!!!

the Cambridge curse

Since I've finished my dissertation (June 19th), I've had time to ponder the obnoxiousness of Cambridge. Of course it gets all lovely and warm and happy just as I'm ready to go home, so that I can't leave being annoyed with the place. In fact, I'm even considering coming back for my PhD (Am I that easily swayed by summer weather and a few flattering comments from professors? Evidently). This is the Cambridge curse. Though your year may have been rather hellish, your course schizophrenic, and the weather dreary, but in June as you gingerly hand your departmental secretary your lovely bound thesis, you can't help but be happy not only that it's over, but that you've done it!

Right, well I suppose I'll get on with what I've been doing since I handed in my thesis, as this is really what has been so nice and made me so happy. On the 19th, just after I handed it in (after a fight with Alzeena's departmental printer over page numbers and footnotes), Megan S. arrived! She was jetlagged and I was exhausted, so we celebrated with a little dinner in the backyard, a pint with some friends, and an early night. We spent Tuesday and Wednesday running about Cambridge, watching World Cup football, drinking shandies, strolling to Grantchester for a literary tea in the Orchard (with Christine and her cousin), getting sloppy drunk over wine in the Panton Arms where we discovered the meaning of life and how to solve all our sisters' problems, and exploring the nooks and crannies of Tit Hall's June Event (salsa dancing, food, pink drinks, cotton candy, and many, many gummy bears and pieces of Turkish Delight)...oh and the fake Michael Jackson!!!

Thursday, it was off to Heathrow to pick up Steph and find our hostel.... Then the power tour of London. At the Tower of London (looking for the Crown Jewels specifically, we learned firsthand about the terrible kindness of the Yeoman Warders (beefeater guys) who helped me find my lost jumper (sweater in American). Then we took photos of Tower Bridge (very cool) and London Bridge (not as pretty, but it has it's own nursery rhyme), then on to Big Ben, Parliment, and Westminster Abbey (with a big caffeine break in there). Megan's work buddy neer showed for dinner, so we ate lots at Garfunkels', had a beer at the hostel, and all collapsed in our beds at Wake Up! London....

Friday we did the city tour - Leicester Square, Covent Garden, Notting Hill, Picadilly Circus, and I'm sure I'm leaving some other things out... Friday night, we went to see Hay Fever - the play that Judy Dench is in!!! Dame Judy was awesome, and the show was really funny.

Sadly, Saturday Megan had to leave for home. Steph and I returned to Cambridge for a few days...where I'll pick up next time....