We're going to España!!

As many of you know I kind of have a serious thing for Spain and all things Spanish. I wonder where I developed that passion? The apple doesn't fall far from el árbol.

Chris' new lab collaborates with a lot of other labs internationally - India, Netherlands, Germany, and Spain. Chris' department is helping host a conference on some AMAZING science something in BARCELONA! Sadly, my knowledge of Chris' work hasn't really improved. Maybe I should know more about the conference, but nah. I'm really excited about the location and even more pleased that the conference is after my school year ends.  So naturally Chris needs to bring his personal interpreter. :)

I can't believe I haven't been to Spain for 8 years!  The last time I was in Spain, I was studying in Madrid.  This calls for a quick stroll down memory lane.

A quick recap of my semester in España:

21st birthday! I didn't do a single shot and I had a blast with my MU travel ladies.

Chris and I actually started dating a couple months before I left. I wasn't planning on meeting the guy of my dreams/the man I would eventually marry right before I was off to Spain.(And we have been married 4.5 years!) I use to email photos like this to him. 

Chris also got this photo in an email. Luckily my friends were kind enough to take these photos for me.  (El Pais Vasco)

My Madison friend, Krissy, was studying in Barcelona when I was in Madrid   We ended up seeing each a couple of times in Spain. (Parque Retiro in Madrid.)

Valencia

With my travel ladies in Ireland at the Cliffs of Moher.

Rocking my Euro-star haircut on the Guinness Tour. Oh that haircut! It makes me laugh now, but I cried a few times  back then.

El día de acción de gracias aka Thanksgiving with my awesome roommate Quinn at La Casa Botín, which was Hemingway's hangout. 

We went to check out David play with Real Madrid. Our seats were pretty close to the field. I was pleased with the view.

Lisboa

Fatima

Toledo

My parents and I were so lucky to go to Xmas Eve mass at the Vatican. Pope JPII last Xmas mass. Pretty cool and a ton of standing.  They are extremely efficient with sharing communion. ABQ churches could learn something from them.

This will be Chris' first trip to Spain and Europe. I can't wait to share it with him. One of my most favorite things in Spain is in Barcelona, Gaudi's Sagrada Familia.  It has been under constructions since 1882.  It hopefully will be finished in 2026. I have seen it 3 times. Chris has heard so much about it. I am so excited for him to see it in person.

While Chris is busy presenting and working, I am jetting off to another one of my favorite cities in Spain - Oviedo.  Oviedo is town similar in size to Madison, I think.  It is in the north near the Bay of Biscay. It is green and has mountains. This region is very proud of the fact that they were never conquered by the Moors.  (random information I am sure you wanted to know.) We have close family friends that live there. I have been visiting them with my family and alone since I was 10 or 11 years old. I could just start crying with joy because I want to see them so much.

 Paquita with her granddaughter Carlota. Paquita always knows the way to my heart, food especially jamón serrano!

Paquita flew to Madison for our Wedding.

We will have about a week after Chris' conference to explore Barcelona and enjoy. If you have any recommendation, please let me know.  I just made an excel spreadsheet with 22 different possible hotels and hostals. I like to be prepared and I love planning.

I am a little nervous as well. This is the first year in a long time that I haven't used my Spanish as much, which is a little ironic seeing as I used my Spanish more in Minnesota than New Mexico. I think I will remember everything ok. I haven't used the vosotros form in 8 years so that will be fun! I may need to do a little studying. Tons a streets and places are named in Catalan and many people speak it too. I speak Castillian. So the Catalan words will be new to me. I really hope Chris loves Spain as much as I do. It holds a special place in my heart - so corny...sorry, but it does. I always cheer for Spain in the World Cup and I may cheer for Spain more than the USA. Hopefully Joe McCarthy's ghost will not come after me.  There are a few other reasons I'm a little more nervous this time for the trip, but I'll get in to that with my next blog post.