Recap of 2009 - Part I

January-April: I spent in Spain. I lived with a host family in Segovia and studied at IE Universidad
May: I spent backpacking Europe with 2 friends.

I climbed 249 stairs from the university to my house multiple times daily.

I watched plenty of sunsets at the castle in Segovia.

I learned what a "falla" sounds like when it's blown up with firecrackers.

I spent a day with an old friend in her hometown of Portillo.

We quickly learned whose host mom made the best bocadillos. I got to spend time playing with and falling in love with my host mom's grandchildren.

We visited many great places in Spain

I had to constantly remind myself that it's not normal to walk by an acueduct like this multiple times daily.

I fell in love with Segovia and took many night walks thru the city.

Over spring break, Kendra and I flew to London where we met up with a friend who was studying there, my dad, and a friend from the lake. We proceeded on to France where we visited the Normandy beaches and learned all about the invasion. We indulged in a fancy French meal which lasted 3 hours, and went to Easter mass in a French cathedral.Upon our return to Segovia we had a few more classes and then began our good-byes. We said good-bye to each other...and to the acueduct.I said good-bye to the beautiful Spanish sunsets...and to my wonderful host mom, Maria Jesus.
Two friends and I began a 3 week backpacking trip thru Europe which included:

Paris

Munich

(where I tried sauerkraut for the first time at the Haufbrahaus)Salzburg

(including a Sound of Music tour)

an overnight stay with a family we met on spring break

The trip also included (but I am too lazy to add even more pictures) visits to San Sebastian, Toulousse, Nice, Cinque Terre, Interlaken, and Cologne.

On May 15, after completely wearing ourselves out, we were excited to return home to our families, friends, and life without a suitcase.