Yeah....Dan likes to scream (Lagos, Portugal)

This weekend was a major success on so many levels. Early Friday morning, we (Mackenzie, Betsy, Lindsay, and I) rolled out of bed and made it on time to our 7:30am 6 hour bus ride to Lagos, Portugal. We spent two nights in such a great hostel (Golden Coast), and three days enjoying all that a small beach town has to offer. We became fast friends with the other people staying in our hostel, seeing as there were only 7 of us, and spent our days lounging on the beach, exploring the cliffs, and eating delicious food. We made some hilarious memories on this trip that may or may not have included witnessing our new British friends surprise us with a headbanging screamo song after we performed to "I love the way you lie". You tell me. 

Photo Cred: Mackenzie Lechlitner 

True laughter. A stranger offered to take our picture and it quickly turned into a photoshoot. Someone was a little camera happy

Ate every bite

Trying frantically to move our bags from being washed away by the waves. 

This family was too happy to not photograph 

Good thing we had Ryan with us to help take our group shots

Ryan wit daaa ladiez

Our meal night two: actual burritos. Long awaited since January 18th. 

 

Weekend of Bliss

It is amazing how much the weather can have an effect on my mood. This last week it was above 80 degrees every day and I can not tell you how much I enjoyed it. I have recently been realizing that I don't have that much time left in Sevilla. That is scary. It was just January 18th. I will be doing alot of traveling in the next month (Lagos, Germany, Prague, and Austria) and this was my last "real" weekend here in Sevilla. I will be here one weekend in May but it is during "Feria de Abril" which is a huge festival here and apparently everyone from around Europe flocks to Sevilla and so it will be overrun by tourists. (Note: I am no longer a tourist...I live here.) So all that to say, this was my last real weekend here, and it was one of my favorites yet. 

It started on Wednesday night (yes, my weekends start on Wednesdays because that is my last day of class for the week) with a heart to heart with Mackenzie by the Puente de Triana. This is one of the most famous bridges in Sevilla, and at night, it really is magical. 

(Confession. This picture is from Google.)

Mackenzie and I have been processing alot of what we have learned since being here, how we are feeling about going back, how we can make the most of our last 4 weeks etc. It has been so encouraging having her here with me to experience every step of this crazy study abroad process together. I have been so blessed with her, and many other like minded friends who love the Lord and want to walk with Him during our time in Spain. 

Thursday morning I met up with the "breakfast club" for our weekly time in the Word and together, one of my favorite days of the week. Afterwards, we spent the day shopping (Betsy, Mackenzie, and I may or may not have all bought matching high waisted black shorts from H&M) and sitting by the Rio. That night Betsy, Mackenzie, Lindsay, Liz, and I all went for Tapas at Los Coloniales and split yummy almond chicken, crackers with roquefort cheese and jam, stuffed eggplant, and a bottle of the Vino Rosada. We all went for gelato after tapas and sat by the Rio. I am seriously overwhelmed by what a blessing these girls have been to me during my time here. 

On Friday I went to a Barbacoa (barbecue) with ISA, which is one of the most random things I have done so far. We went to the middle of nowhere in the country side and had a huge grill with hamburgers, chicken skewers, and chorizo hot dogs. Perfect and hilarious example of when Spanish people try and be American. But it was so relaxing and fun to get out of the city and be around grass and trees. Tom, Emily, and I all had a playground photoshoot. Really we were just trying to kill time until lunch, but it felt so great to play outside. That night I went with Emily and Gabe and got gelato (yes, more gelato) at the BEST heladeria in Sevilla. Frescura in Alameda. If you are ever in Sevilla, go. 

Saturday we took a bus about an hour away and went to Matalascañas for a beach day. The weather could not have been more perfect. 78 with a breeze. It was so relaxing to lay out, sip tinto de verano, listen to good music, and talk with Emily and Betsy. That night Betsy and I went to the world fair market that is happening right now by the Puente de Triana. It is this market where each booth is a different country with it's own kinds of food and drink. So last night we went to Mexico for a Corona with lime. The performers for the night were teaching everyone how to line dance to the song "Achey Breaky Heart" in Spanish. Hilarious. They also played cotton eye joe and Betsy and I felt our southern roots coming out. 

Today we went to our church in Sevilla Este which has also become a favorite weekly tradition. It was Betsy's last week, so we took pictures with our favorite waiter at our favorite cafe. Mackenzie was in Madrid this whole weekend, but now she is home....yes home.....and we are all blogging and emailing at another one of our favorite cafe's, drinking ice tea with lemon, and looking out at the river. 

Sevilla, you were great to me this weekend. I don't want to leave you. 

Cordoba and Granada

Last weekend we went to Cordoba and Granada with ISA....another one of those "free" excursions. We only went for one night, so we saw alot in a short period of time. Granada quickly became one of my favorite cities in Spain what with the Alhambra, the mountains as the backdrop, the hills with spectacular views, and fun "tetorias" (tea rooms) on every corner. Don't worry, my loyalty still lies with Sevilla. But I think if I had to study in another city, I would have picked Granada. Cordoba was great too, just alot smaller and we didn't have much time there. Both of them have a big Moorish influence, so all the buildings had really distinct Muslim architecture. Definitely must see's when traveling through Spain!

Me, Denise, Emily, and Mary (what's new) inside the Mezquita of Cordoba...famous for it's red arches.

View from the outside of the Mezquita 

An alley in the Jewish quarter right by the Mosque 

Welcome to Granada...namely the Alhambra 

Inside the Alhambra 

Can't wait to be with this chica in College Station! 

Do you ever have those days where you just feel blah? Well last night I was in a big funk. I have been here for over two and half months and I think there are times when I just hit a wall. I think it was a combination of things: I was worn out from our weekend excursion to Granada and Cordoba, I was still sad from saying goodbye to my mom, I was tired of speaking spanish, I was feeling sick, and I was (and still am) having some weird problem with my eyes where it hurts to be in the light or open them. So as I sat there alone in my very dark room (literally almost all the lights were off because of my eyes) I decided to journal. I have been reading this daily devotional since I have been here: Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. I have posted a few of it's entries before on here. They are all written from the point of view of God talking to us based on certain passages from the Bible. I  have absolutely loved reading them every night and seeing the Word come alive in a new way. That night, the entry was so comforting to read: 

"This is a time in your life when you must learn to let go: of loved ones, of possessions, of control. In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete. Take time to bask in the Light of My Love. As you relax more and more, your grasping hand gradually opens up, releasing your prized possession into My care. You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence. The One who never leaves you is the same One who never changes: I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. As you release more and more things into My care, remember that I never let go of your had. Herein lies your security, which no one and no circumstances can take from you." 

Jesus Calling

Psalm 89:15; Hebrews 38:8; Isaiah 41:13 

I love Spain more than I ever thought I would; and I know it will always be apart of me. But there are times when I just want to be in Austin, Texas in my own bed with my family and with all the conveniences that come with living in America. It was so encouraging to read that entry from Jesus Calling and to hear that even in the midst of "cataclysmic changes" that God will never change and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That has been one of the main things I have learned since I have been here: how FAITHFUL God is. I have never experienced his faithfulness like this before. So I know that even though I have nights like last night and sometimes get in funks, I am here in Sevilla for a reason, and God has already laid the path for me and He will walk with me along it holding my right hand. I know I am going to look back on these four months I had in Spain with an ache in my heart because I miss it so much. I only have 48 more days here and I want to live each one with a purpose. 

If it's not too much, I'd like to see a concentration camp

Well we did it!! Mother/Daughter weekend in Barcelona and Sevilla was a major success. Mackenzie and I's moms arrived in Barcelona on the 15th and left Sevilla the 22nd. It was so much fun being with them and exploring a new city together. I also loved being able to show my mom my world in Sevilla. We took literally over 2,000 pictures...so imagine how hard that was for me to pick which ones to put on my blog. I chose the ones that highlight our favorites parts of the trip. It makes me all happy inside just looking at these because the last few days were so great. 

BARCELONA DAY ONE:

We all arrived outside our (adorable) apartment at the same time. It was such a surprise to just turn a corner and see our moms standing there with all their bags. We then began our adventures in Barcelona. As you will see from the pictures, Mackenzie and I had lots of laughs watching our moms. For example.....

They chased pigeons and tried to touch them

They got "blessed" by strange fairy street performers

We visited another outdoor market that was absolutely insane. 

Then we proceeded to the Gothic Quarter, my personal favorite. 

Barbara's Birthday Bash in Barcelona

Mock always Thinking Theta

TDM 

The Waterfront. Another favorite. 

At Mom's Birthday dinner with our great waitress! We got so many things for free because we were some of the only ones in the restaurant. (And because I asked at one point how much the rolls cost and I think they felt bad for us)

Our cute apartment! Who found it?? Babs

BARCELONA DAY TWO: 

This was our more intense tour day. We went to an AWESOME breakfast (thanks Lizard) and then went to the Sagrada Familia, Parque Guell, and Casa Batllo. Gaudi...you da best. Miss you. xoxo. 

Sagrada Familia 

Parque Guell 

We bought my dad their CD

On the roof of Casa Batllo 

BARCELONA DAY THREE: 

We decided to take half the day and ride the train to Sitges, a small beach town 40 minutes away. We got back in time to do a small hike to Montjuic where we tried to go to "Epcot", but we walked around the Olympic stadium and saw the fountain show instead. 

Not staged. Never in my life have I asked so many people for directions in Spanish. A common theme of our time in Barcelona. 

Mindy Lechlitner reporting live. 

When we got back to Barcelona we went up to Montjuic around sunset. Mock lookin good. 

We turned the corner and the light show had started early! This was such a fun surprise because it was on our list of things we wanted to see, but we didn't think we would be able to. I think we had the best view. 

SEVILLA DAY ONE:

We woke up that morning in Barcelona at 4am to catch our 7am flight to Sevilla. This was possibly one of the longest days of my life. And it didn't help that I thought I was going blind for part of it. We went to our favorite cafe near our church in Sevilla Este, went to the world food market by the rio, went on a run, and then walked around some of our favorite places in the city. The night ended at our favorite restaurant, Mama Mia's, where we of course ordered way too many pizzas. 

Not planned. We love to match! 

Here comes the series of AWKWARD jumping pictures. Our moms made us do it. Could we be any more touristy? 

HA! The most awk one by far. 

SEVILLA DAY TWO:

Mackenzie and I had class from 9-5pm (we don't want to talk about it) and so we met up with our moms after that for our rio photoshoot. Then we had quite a memorable dinner....stalking tables waiting for people to leave at Los Coloniales. A few snickers bars later, and we decided to go to a different restaurant. Then we met some of our friends at La Carboneria, a Flamenco place that has free shows every night at 11pm. It meant so much to me that my friends got to meet my mom. I loved that night. 

How many bags you got, lady?

Suz......

SEVILLA DAY THREE: 

We took them to Kiko's for cafe and tostada and walked around the Plaza de España and rented paddle boats on the River and then we had a quick (not our favorite) lunch and had to walk them to the bus station. The weather could not have been more perfect. 

You are cordially invited to the wedding of Rachel Florence Culwell and Mackenzie Elizabeth Lechlitner the 28th of September 2011

We could not have asked for a better time with two of our favorite people in the world. I am so blessed to have a mom like I do and I so appreciate her coming to see me in beautiful Sevilla. I was a little homesick when they left (nothing that a good run won't fix....right mock?) but everything about the weekend was such a blessing from the Lord and we all made so many special memories!