Una Semana mas!

OH MY GOSH I can't believe that a week from today I will be home...that's so crazy! I am ready. It's hard to explain to anyone who hasn't been abroad that you can love the place you are in and still be so ready to leave at the same time. I can't wait to see my family and friends, go to Itty Bitty, go to FPC, watch the Titans beat the Steelers with Todd, eat my dad's delicious breakfast....the list goes on!

Until then....ONE week to finish everything I want to do that I either a) haven't done yet or b) want to make sure I do one more time before I leave. Plus, I have 5 finals in there somewhere. Ahh! Time is going to fly!

The beauties of Montserrat

Since it is a long weekend in Spain (today is a holiday here), and I had no big travels planned, I decided to take a day trip to Montserrat, which is about an hour train ride outside the city. I had heard from other people that had been that it was worth visiting, and I figured "Why not?" So, I set off on Saturday morning to Placa Espanya, where I bought my all-inclusive ticket to Montserrat (includes transportation, lunch, museum entrances, unlimited funicular access, etc).

I arrived at 11:30 at the train station "Montserrat Aeri", which is the platform where you catch the cable car up to the top of the mountain. It's kind of like the tram in Gatlinburg, although smaller and steeper. However, the view was amazing...it was so sunny and clear that I could see for miles. I could even see Mount Tibidabo (highest point in Barcelona) from the top of Montserrat).

Once I got there, I just could not get over how beautiful it was...I went alone, completely content listening to Jars of Clay and talking with God as I gazed over the "glorious spender of His majesty" (Psalm 145:5). When Conchita found out that I didn't go with anyone she seemed shocked. However, I did not feel alone...instead, I felt God's presence all around me in this holy and beautiful place.

The pictures can only do so much, but here you go! MONTSERRAT
Tell me what you think :)

Fui a Portugal!

This past weekend was my first trip to a completely new country since I arrived in Spain. It was exciting, and at the same time I kind of had forgotten what it was like to arrive in a completely unfamiliar country with a completely unfamiliar language. Lindsay and I had some interesting encounters trying to speak to people, mostly using our Spanish and hoping they could figure out the main ideas of what we were trying to say.

We arrived in Lisbon around 12:30 on Friday, after flying TAP Airlines (they still give you real food!) from Barcelona. We took the bus into Rossio Square, just minutes away from the Living Lounge Hostel. I have stayed in quite a few hostels in the past 2 years, and this one by far surpasses any other. Not only was it clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated, but everyone there really seemed to enjoy community. It was the ideal hostel atmosphere. We ate breakfast and dinner there twice, every time having some wonderful and entertaining conversations with people from Czech Republic, Germany, the Philippines, Holland, Switzerland, and more. I wanted to stay longer just for the hostel!

Our first day, we wandered aimlessly and got terribly lost in Lisbon. In all honesty, this city wasn't the most amazing or unique European city I have ever seen, but we had fun all the same. Saturday, however, we took a 1.70 euro train ride to a small town about 45 minutes away (Sintra). It was gorgeous...lush and green with beautiful old buildings. We spent most of the day hiking in the woods and just enjoying being away from a busy city. That night, we returned to Lisbon to do a little shopping and hang out at our fabulous hostel.

Sunday, we had breakfast (mmm...yummy rolls and coffee) at the hostel, and then we headed out for the day. We stumbled upon a great market nearby and bought jewelry from the sweetest man who was so patient with us. Then, we started walking to Belem. An hour and a half later, we realized that Belem was further that we thought, so we took the tram the rest of the way. We saw the gorgeous monastery and ate the famous pastels de Belem. Then, we hopped on another train to Cascais to see the Atlantic Ocean! It was too short because we had to head back to Lisbon and catch our flight, but definitely worth the trip.

I am sad to see my last real European travel come to an end...I can't believe how fast things have flown by, and in 2 and a half short weeks, I will be back in Tennessee. I am doing my best to surpress my anxiety, both positive and negative, and enjoy my last 17 days in Spain. See you all soon!

PORTUGAL PICTURES
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