http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/La Peregrina en una Busqueda/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from La Peregrina en una Busqueda en-us Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:32:34 BST Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:32:34 BST I went to Salamanca this year for Christmas break. It was a tough decision because of course it would be great to go home but our break is only 2 weeks here and it's a really long trip between here and Maine. I lived with a family and had the entire student apartment to myself because everyone else had gone home for Christmas. I took a Spanish course while I was there to try to improve my pr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Castile---Leon/Salamanca/blog-235267.html This past weekend I went to Angers France to visit my friend Nissa. Shersquos studying abroad there for a semester. I was a little nervous about going considering that I donrsquot speak a word of French but most everyone I spoke to during the trip spoke English which surprised me. People here keep telling me that English is the universal language and it is a required course in many cou http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Pays-de-la-Loire/Angers/blog-229311.html Although I really really miss snow therersquos no chance of it here because itrsquos too warm I do think that Santiago looks very festive. Maybe itrsquos because Irsquom not watching much TV here but I think that there more of a focus on the religious aspects of Christmas than the commercialism. On Christmas Eve the Spanish eat a big dinner which usually includes seafood. And ldquo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Galicia/Santiago-de-Compostela/blog-228271.html The bus ride from Santiago to Porto is about 3 hours but I enjoyed looking at the beautiful countryside. Both Spain and Portugal are known for their wine so there were many vineyards to see along the way. There were even small vineyards in peoplersquos backyards. I learned later that many people grow their own grapes and make wine once a year. Essie and I met up with Joana once we arrived http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Galicia/Santiago-de-Compostela/blog-220239.html On Thursday I went to Finisterre with my friend Essie. Finisterre is a small fishing town that is famous for its impressive lighthouse. It is usually the last stop for pilgrims completing the Camino itrsquos traditional for pilgrims to burn an article of clothing when they finally reach the end of their journey. We took a bus which took 3 hours because it followed a coastal route. Once we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Galicia/Santiago-de-Compostela/blog-217313.html Hola EveryoneThis week has gone by so quickly The weather is still inexplicably beautiful I havenrsquot been caught in a rain storm yet. Now that I have my schedule finalized I can see how the semester will go. The classes arenrsquot too difficult but I do have quite a few on Monday Tuesday and Wednesday. I think my favorite class is Introduction to Comparative Literature. Last clas http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Galicia/Santiago-de-Compostela/blog-214257.html Hi everyone Well I've been in Spain for almost a month now. In a way it seems like I just left but it's also quite hard to remember what life in Maine is like. At first I had a difficult time adjusting here but now I'm finally starting to feel settled in. I would say that my life here is almost 180 degrees from my life in Maine. One of the hardest things to get used to is the Spanish ti http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Galicia/Santiago-de-Compostela/blog-213074.html