http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/heidfaye/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from heidfaye en-us Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:31:25 +0000 Tue, 08 Dec 2009 10:31:25 +0000 I have had the hardest time making any time for emails phone calls and least of all the blog Things are running quite smoothly over here on the Iberian Peninsula. So far I found the routine that suits me with a few adjustments here and there but for the most part its teaching then more teaching...and when I have some free time its planning for teaching. I am definitely keeping busy. The h http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-26664.html In just a few days it will mark the beginning of my new life in Europe a YEAR ago I am in shock So much has happened. I have learned how to appreicate more in my life such as family friends and life goals. I met the most incredible man ever I have learned to sharpen my skills as a teacher and became independent in a country I couldnt call my own. I learned how to order Chinese over http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-57720.html Allow me to introduce you to the new members of the Mateo Inurria household. Mac short for Mackenzie and Cheese short for Chester. I actually donrsquot know what kind of turtles they are I need to do some internet research but they like their crunchy shrimp their mommy and aunties. They are so much better to watch then T.V. So cute. I have to admit though I have gone through a bit o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-21388.html My birthday has come and go. 25 is not as scary as I thought. In fact I have completely embraced and it had a wonderful memory to carry with me for the next 25 years. The morning of my birthday I walked outside onto the busy Madrid street took a deep breath and smiled. I was overcome with such emotion. The best present I could give myself was this exact moment. The sun was already heating http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Tarragona/blog-21383.html Yesterday I flew a four person plane okay I may not have taken off or landed but once up in the air I had put on the headphones grabbed the controls and headed out to Toledo aproximately 2 hours in the car from Madrid but 45 min on plane.Our capitan Mr. Alejandro Basilio...aka...mi Pedro..... took us up into the blue on a beautiful Sunday morning... Laini also came as offical cine http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-18690.html Imagine will you...thousands upon thousands of people having made their way to a small town near Valencia Spain. No more than 30 min. from the beach this once quiet and serene town Bunol becomes the center of the worlds largest tomato fight. Crammed into the streets like cattle the pushing the heat and the overwhelming body odor combined with the the excitement of the being the first to th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Valencian-Community/Bu-ol/blog-18482.html Okay... I am so sorry to say I have no pictures....my camera broke two weeks ago in France and I have had no time to get it checked out but I wanted to say a quick little something about what is going on now.....Well I spent 20 some days in France. The first two weeks in Toulouse....a great city that is actually the third largest in France but it felt so quaint and charming. I liked it. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-16796.html I was desperate for bleach white walls fresh sun dried clothes hanging from taunt lines outside windows decorated with red flowers. Welcome to Lagos in fact welcome to all of Europe along the Mediterranean coast. Lagos a historic port 3 hours from Seville Spain is a combination of quaint fishing lifestyle and a booming tourist trap. I found my way to Lagos Portugal for some much deserv http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Portugal/Algarve/Lagos/blog-14792.html I have been here for three weeks now.... and no ...unfortunately I not fluent in Spainish Its harder than I thought.... But I have adjusted. It still takes me all day sometimes to do little tasks like charge my cell but for the most part I can confidently go into a grocery store and get what I want. I have moved into my very humble apt. I have my own room and it was absolutely terrible when http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-10752.html Marbella Its the kind of place you dream of for your honeymoon.... All inclusive resort and spa....a pink hotel a master bedroom suite with huge closets T.V and a full mini bar..... oh my goodness It was soooo fantastic. My veiw was incredible. That night with the balcony door open the ocean waves lulled me to sleep.....It was one of the best sleeps of my LIFEFrom Cadiz i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/Marbella/blog-11580.html After week three of classes and many days laying out by the pool I had to stop teasing myself and get down to see the real ocean. The south of Spain is known for the their amazing beaches and resorts. I really wanted to go to a Spa.... i know... but after all this backpacking..which is such hard work.... I wanted to be spolied......well it didnt happen funds are limited...so instead we go http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Andalusia/Marbella/blog-11572.html A few nights agowe got all dressed up and went exploring a bit...of course after a long day at school...and I met the Three amigos They were three friends sitting by a local resturant while Katie and I sat near the statue in the center of the plaza. I think it was of Don Quixote Its always DonIt wasn't at all unusal for the three amigos to come up to us and ask us if we would like to join http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-11405.html Today Katie and I spent 5 hours at the pool. This pool is quite different from the ones at home...sure families gather and have picnics in the shade of a near by tree....but they do it TOPLESS crazy people I had to study for a few quizzes tommorow..and what a glorious way to just that I had a coke and Jamon baguette for lunch...yes Amy I ate the ham.....i had to....it was cheapI pro http://www.travelblog.org/blog-10772.html This blog is dedicated to Amy She left me this weekhellip.so sadhellip.we had such good timeshellip I am just going to give her a little shout outhellip.feel free to askhelliphellipAmy and I will both be happy to tell you all about ithellipSangriahellip.Topless sunbathinghellipjust kidding..hehe or am I Salsa DancinghellipRomeing Tourshellip.rdquoAmy Come Hererd http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-10746.html It is almost too much Its true there is a real vibe and energy in Madrid. You can't seem to find it anywhere else. At least so far that I have looked. It has been quite an adjustment even for me who tried to be as prepared as I could. Its just now instead of vacationing and taking everything in in such a small amount of time I am now trying to survive. EVERYTHING is different and st http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-9842.html Today we are in Madrid. I realized last night on our very clean hostel bed that this very moment I have wanted for myself for a long time now. Of course unsure of what it will all look like and here it is. Just like that. Madrid so far very cool. But before I get to Madrid. I have to tell you a few stories about Barcelona. I deeply deeply feel in love with it. For many reasonshelli http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/Catalonia/Barcelona/blog-9520.html Paris came and went and I am sad to say but I didnrsquot embrace it. I was never really captivated or moved. There was no emotion and you know how I need to feel emotion. So I donrsquot want to say that I didnrsquot like it but I didnrsquot care for it. What do you doAlso I felt like I was robbedhellip oh man the train reservation was soooo much moneyhellip.. over 10 http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Ile-de-France/Paris/blog-9206.html Oh my goodness This is seriously my fourth attempt at writing this blog But I had to make sure that I share Venice with you If it wasnrsquot for failed connections or limited internet access this would have been another story to share instead itrsquos the same one I have written over and over again so if it is dull this time I apologize. Actually Amy being the genius that she is http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice/blog-9030.html This is actually day three....our second full day But it feels like I have been here for weeks Rome did not intimadate me at all Our first night was in the charming and lovely Trastevere We stayed at the Trastevere Hotel. Even the graffitti I got used to and coudn't imagine the walls without them. Theres a certain charm within them. The next morning was Amy's birthday and it was great http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Rome/blog-8530.html Thats right... I am gonna be Sequimming out of here to Rome in just a few days.. Sequim was just a temporary holding place. Whoa This for real My family time is just about coming to an end. Bye mommy...thanks for doing my laundry... I went jet skiing today with Mike Quinn. What a great guy really he will make someone happy one day....it's just not me.. but you gotta love the guy T http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Washington/Seattle/blog-8146.html