1/28-3/20
Bilbao, Spain
Okay… So there's two months between my last update and spring break… I
didn’t do much besides enjoy Bilbao, but here’s a quick summary before a longgg
spring break post.
- A little slow on the update, since its already spring, but… it snowed here one of the days in winter, which is VERY rare for Bilbao. Apparently this winter was the worst they have seen in decades...
- I celebrated two holidays, San Blas and Carnival.
- San Blas (Saint Blaise) was Sunday, February 3 and the legend behind the day is… “According to the Acts, while Blaise was being taken into custody, a distraught mother, whose only child was choking on a fishbone, threw herself at his feet and implored his intercession. Touched at her grief, he offered up his prayers, and the child was cured. Consequently, Saint Blaise is invoked for protection against injuries and illnesses of the throat”. So, on this day, people go into Casco Viejo (the old town of Bilbao), buy a cord to tie around their neck, and get the cord blessed. Then, the people will wear the cord for 9 days and on the last day they burn it. The ones who do this are protected from illnesses of the throat for a year (until the next San Blas)… And this is exactly what I did! I hope it works!
- Carnival was the weekend of February 8-10. Carnival is “a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent… Carnival typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party. People often dress up or masquerade during the celebrations, which mark an overturning of daily life”. So, I bought a mask for Friday night and a wig and sunglasses for Saturday night! Carnival was a blast!
- I found a cute little park that Rosa Maria calls the “duck park” or as she says “parque de pato”. I really love sunny days now when I’m able to come here, lay in the grass and soak up the sun with a book or some music!
- School is going great and I’m learning a ton of Spanish! I really hope I stay on this track and keep up with learning Spanish once I’m back home though…
- Our ISA study abroad group took two excursions. One to Burgos and the other was an overnight excursion to Pamplona and Logrono.
- Burgos was my least favorite excursion by far haha! But it is the hometown of my ISA director, so it was very cool to see where she grew up.
- Pamplona and Logrono were two very cool cities.
- Pamplona is where San Fermin takes place. Now you may not know what San Fermin is by its real name, but I’m sure you have heard of the event! San Fermin (aka the running of the bulls) starts on July 7 (MY BIRTHDAY!) and lasts one week. It is basically exactly what it says… it’s people running in front of bulls! The run only lasts about 3 minutes and at the end, a bull-fight is held… On our tour, I even saw the bull-fighting ring! Also on the tour, I saw Hemingway’s favorite café. Did you know that Pamplona is central to the plot of The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway?
- Logrono doesn’t have anything special like San Fermin, but we went to a winery while we were there. So as a new lover of wine, I had a great time!
- I’m loving the night life here. Every Thursday, my friends and I go to this one club and always have such a good time. I’m falling in love with so many new songs… and so many new drinks ;).
- The relationship between Rosa Maria and me is better than ever! Now that my Spanish is pretty good, we are able to communicate successfully (most of the time) without an interpreter (my roommate or her daughter). She still talks faster than anyone I’ve ever met and still barely helps correct my Spanish… but we are still able to connect! I love her!
- Also, I’m discovering new things about Bilbao (as well as neighboring cities) every day! This city never ceases to amaze me!
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