Spring Break 2012: Mom and Aunt Marcia come to Spain

by Katie Reed
Universidad de Navarra, Spain

First stop:  Madrid.
The time had finally come, as I got on that bus and headed to Madrid, I was finally going to see my Mom after being away for three months.  I got to the airport about two hours before Mom and Marcia arrived.  That was just enough time to rest a bit, get some coffee, and make a welcome sign for my girls who were about to arrive in Spain for their very first time.  I was so excited as I stood anxiously awaiting at the door for them to come out.  When I finally saw them I could not believe it...the excitement and emotions were kicked in high gear!  I quickly walked over to hug them both.  It was so good to finally see them.  After saying our hellos and a few tears from Mom we headed off to find a taxi.  We got us a taxi, headed to the hotel to check in, and got to exchange presents.  I got some pretty awesome Easter presents (edible of course since I don't want anymore to bring back to the states in June) and I got to give Mom her birthday earrings that I bought her back in March.  After getting settled in it was time to go get on the tour bus to get a view of the city.  It was not long that Mom realized that when I messaged her a few days before her arrival (several times actually) that she might need a jacket because it is cold in Spain, she should have listened.  Cardigans are not what I could consider jackets but that is what she had brought for the week.  After making a round on the tour bus we got off, walked to find a bite of lunch and take it easy for a bit.  I found us a small little restaurant where would had some wonderful soup on that cold day as well as some wonderful pasta and croquettes.  Now it was time for a siesta!  After Mom bought her a scarf of course.  That night we got ready and we were off for some Tapas (Meatballs, Croquettes, etc.. Caipirinhas, and Sangria!)  The next day we headed off to tour the Palacio Real (Royal Palace). 

That was definitely a beautiful place...way bigger house than I could ever manage thats for sure!  After that we found us some churros and chocolate and coffee.  We definitely were not impressed with the churros and since Mom had never had them before until then it was the weeks mission to find better ones so she could have the real experience.  After that we got on the tour bus again to take a different route than we did the day before.  We go off to explore, found the market with all the fresh food items of all sorts, shopped a little bit and headed off to Plaza Mayor.  After shopping and the Hippie side of me beginning to emerge as I walked in one after another Indian store we headed to lunch.  We found a nice quainte place where Marcia met her new friend...Fredrick.  The waiter told us that their grilled shrimp were the best so we had to try them of course.  Little did we know they were going to be on the plate head, legs, and all.  Marcia could not bring herself to peel them so I got the honors of doing so.  As I was peeling it Mom asked her if she minded that my hands were touching her shrimp and Marcia immediately replied with, "Not as much as those eyes and legs on it bother me".  She ate it, decided it was very good, then proceeded to peel her own.  However, she named him Fredrick as she did so!  This became a week long joke everytime we saw a shrimp, "It's Fredrick!"  After our meal the brought us the nastiest things ever that I have only previously seen in Costa Rica...a digestive drink.  We had to take "shots" of this horrible stuff, the thoughts leading up to it were almost as bad as the aftermath...


After our afternoon rest we got dressed up and headed out to see some Flamenco.  Or wait...is it Flamenco or Flamingo???  Just ask Liz...she might be able to tell you.  We found a typical place to get some good tapas and then headed to our show at Casa Patas.  It was a very small little place where there was a band/singers of about five guys plus three dancers.  It was definitely a cool experience.  The next morning it was Easter Morning and we headed to Plaza Mayor for breakfast then to the biggest flea market in all of Europe.  I was loving every minute of it since it was all souveniers, cool clothes, and tons of things that I loved to look at and buy.  I was able to fulfill the hippie wants inside me and buy some pretty crazy pants that I have no idea how I pulled out enough bravery to buy or even wear but I sure did!  We found us some Kebap for lunch then it was off to the Prado Museum to see tons of Spanish art and then back to the hotel.  That night we were out for a nice Italian dinner since it was our last night it Madrid.  I had a pizza with Pears, Carmalyzed Onions, and Cheese...sounds nasty but it may have been the most delicious pizza ever!  Hasta Luego Madrid!

Next Stop: Barcelona.

When we got to the bus station early Monday morning we were surprised to find that our online paid reservations did not go through so we had to buy more tickets!  God was definitely on our side for that one because we literally got the last three seats on the entire train.  When we finally arrived to Barcelona we went to get a taxi and when I walked outside all I could think (or sing) was "Black and Yellow, Black and Yellow"....ALL the taxis were black and yellow and there were a ton of them!  We made it to our cozy little hotel that simulated the typical Spanish style and got checked in then headed out for some quite impressive tapas and then to another tour bus adventure.  This time the weather was nicer so we were able to sit on top of the bus with the open air and ride around the city.  We got off and found a nice little place to get our typical Spanish breakfast of coffee and pastries then we were able to tour the Barcelona Cathedral....I was pretty much in heaven the entire time!  There was not one place of that place that did not completely fascinate me.  We were even able to take the elevator to the top of it and overlook the entire city.  This Cathedral was designed by Antoni Gaudi (who I have studied at school) so it was really neat to be able to see things I have actually previously learned about....little did I know my love for Gaudi was just beginning.  

We then went outside and had lunch in front of the Cathedral.  When I looked at the menu I knew exactly what I had to have..the "Cathedral Sandwich".  It only seemed appropriate since I was sitting there looking at the Cathedral.  It turned out to be verrry good...salmon and cream cheese!  After a little rest the we went out to do a night tour on the bus.  My attention span is only there for so long when it comes to tours so I spent the time aggravating Mom and playing with my camera.  Once we returned we stopped for some Paella.  I had seafood Paella and decided it was time to expand my horizons since I love seafood so much.  I now eat mussels, clams, and cuddlefish...I didn't know what it is either...google images!  After dinner we continued our wonderful gelato experiences and this time they formed it like a rose on the cone.  Just about the coolest thing I have ever seen.  Bed time!  On Tuesday as I told Marcia I would, I pulled out my new pants!  Then we headed out to shop on La Rambla (the main street in Barcelona that we were staying near).  Then we went to the shoe museum!  That was definitely really cool.  We were able to see shoes from the 1700's all the way up until now.  After the shoe museum we shopped downtown a bit then went to the Picasso Museum.  This was also really cool.  We got to see the contrast between Velazquez's version of Las Meninas and Picasso's version.  And at the end was the best part of all...in the gift shop...I found my new love and addition to my collection....my Picasso rubber ducky!  After the excitement subsided and a bite of lunch we went down to the beach.  We decided we wanted to ride the cable cars that went over the beach and up to the mountain and that we did...and it was beautiful!!  That night Marcia found us a cool little restaurant to go to that was in the back of the local market.  There they cook all their food from the fresh items sold at the market.  As we walked through Mom was amazed at the sight.  Growing up in a grocery store she has always loved going through grocery stores of different kinds, but this was an experience like none other.  However, the market was closing so most of the food was being put up so I told her that we would definitely have to come back as I knew she would love it after seeing the Market in Pamplona.  We found our restaurant, had a very good dinner, and with dessert Marcia's artistic side kicked in.  She was officially the next Picasso with her chocolate art on her plate!   The next day was my favorite!!  Well if you know me well you know I say favorite with tons of things...but it was awesome for sure...Gaudi Day!  We started off and took the metro to see the Sagrada Familia.  This is a Cathedral that Gaudi was designing when he died.  Since then other architects have taken over and continued the project with Guadi's design in mind.  It is set to be finished completely in 2026.  However, it is magnificent already!

After this Marcia was not feeling well so we went back to the hotel for a bit...well I went out shopping while they rested...then we left out for our next Guadi adventure..Park Güell.  This was another wonderful experience that I absolutely loved.  I love bright colors so tons of colorful mosiacs are definitely at the top of my list.  Then it was off to Casa Battló, another one of Gaudi's designs.  That night Mom and I went out to dinner while Marcia rested and packed up to head back to Tennessee.  While waiting in the hotel earlier before going out I was giving Mom a hard time about something like I usually do and it did not take long before I heard her say, "You and your attitude and crowding my hotel room!"  I needless to say laughed histerically!  She really did forget how much she had missed me! haha.   At dinner I was able to try one thing I really had been wanting to...Cava.  As well as ordering pizza with Shrimp and Pineapple on it...man are my taste buds going nuts these days.  Thursday morning Marcia left heading back to Tennessee and Mom and I headed out to the market.  It was one surprise right after another!  Every part of pig, chicken, rabbit, baby goat, lamb, and anything else that you could imagine.  Including the rooster heads, their feet, the rabbit heads that were previously on my plate in Valencia.  As well as every creature that you can find in the sea! 

When we got to the end of the market Mom found some carmelized nuts that she wanted...and boy did the salesman see her coming.  He told her that it was better to buy the nut types separtely because the mix had a lot of plain peanuts in it.  So as he began scooping the nuts for her his scoops got bigger the farther down the row he went.  When she finally made him stop putting them in the bag she had 25 euros worth of nuts in that small bag!!  We got her bag of nuts and headed up to the Park to shop for a while since there were tons of souvenier shops up near it.  By the time we were done my large purse weighed a good 20 or 30 pounds!  Souveniers? We got em!!  And I got the one thing that I really wanted to get while I was in Spain...a tea set.  I found a Gaudi design 6 place setting tea set.  I was sooooo excited!  Once we got back to La Rambla we went to a little coffee shop and got another Spanish typical treat...Gofres..or waffles with chocolate and whatever other toppings you would like.  While waiting for ours to get done we had a surprise visitor...just about the biggest cockroach I have ever seen come crawling across the floor.  When I went to get our food thank goodness Mom was able to get it killed or I was leaving that place...I could just feel it come crawling across my toes since I was wearing flip flops...not about to happen!  After leaving there we ended up in some souvenier shops where mom proceeded to try to bargain with one guy over the price of a shirt.  She would not get it because he would not go from 12 euros to 10.  However, she ended up going back later for the shirt and the guy and her got quite a good laugh out of it since she got to pay 12 for it.  However, that night I wanted to her to try some xorchata..and she did...and refused to try it again...I don't even remember what she said it tasted like but it was just not very nice at all!  Then we had gelato for dinner rather than a big meal since we were not that hungry and it was time for bed.  The next day (Mom's last day in Spain) we headed out to Port Olympic were we found nice little restaurant to have lunch (bocadillo...oh how I had missed those) and coffee of course..<-- may have been becoming addicted to Spanish coffee.  Then we walked on down the beach and found some cool and surprisingly comfortable concrete benches to sit on and relax. 

Then after some crazy guys left I got out and tried my luck on a rope tower that was on the beach.  It was actally a lot of fun and would have been a lot easier had I been equiped with the right shoes.  After my climb I went out to get us a drink...Mom of course wanted water and I was set to try a San Fransisco..yumm.  While observing our surroundings we noticed there was actually an outdoor gym built right there on the beach with an elyptical and all...hardest elyptical I have ever tried to use but hey that still gets bonus points in my book...loving this city more and more each day.  After all that we went back to rest then got ready for a nice dinner out together as it was Mom's last night with me until June 23!  We got ready and went out to Port Olympic for some good seafood by the beach.  We ordered a big seafood platter and Mom ate the fish while this girl got to eat all the wild and crazy crustaceans...fredricks, mussels, the little pink octopus from Finding Nemo...yeah you get the picture.  It was quite good though!!  After our great dinner we walked down the beach to see the one sight that we had not seen yet...the tall building in the city that is multicolored and all lit up at night...beautiful!  But very cold so it was time to head in!  Bright and early on Saturday morning we got up and headed to the airport so Mom could catch her flight out.  It was hard saying goodbye, but it was also very exciting to know that in just 70 days I would be arriving in Tennessee with her there waiting to pick me up.  After I left I went and found a taxi only to find that it was a minimum of twenty euros just to leave the airport...however I did not have another choice since I had no other way of getting to the nearest metro station to get back to the center near our hotel.  Once I got there my taxi driver told me I needed to be careful since I was alone...yeah that made me feel real good!  Oh well I made it back to the hotel to rest for a bit before conquering Barcelona on my own for the day.  Once I got ready and got all my stuff packed up I went out and walked down La Rambla, walked around the downtown area and then walked to the beach while shopping all along the way.  I realized that any stores that had the Indian guys working in them were not a good idea for me to go into alone.  I didn't have to do anything but walk up to the door and they were like a magnet to me trying to help me and sell me something...no more of those stores for me!  After making it down to the beach finally, I found me a nice place to sit in the sun and it was time for some tannning and volleyball watching!  After getting pretty sunburnt I took a taxi back to my hotel where I chilled for an hour or so then I headed out for a bite to eat and the mojito that I had been wanting to try all week.  Then I came back to the hotel and it was about time to head to the bus station to head back to Pamplona.  And just my luck it started pouring the rain!  So I pulled out my new hoodie I had just purchased thank goodness and my ole faithful Sperrys and headed out to the metro station.  On the way there I was getting completely drenched and while dragging my suitcase of a good 70 pounds since Mom brought me all my summer clothes and a drink in the other hand I had men trying to sell me an umbrella..it was all I could do not to look at them and say, 'How in the world do you think I am going to carry an umbrella??  Do I look like I have enough hands for that right now?'...but I didn't I was nice and just kept on moving.  Once I got to the the metro station I realized there was no elevator so down the steps me and my bag went..then to get to the right metro line we went back up more steps and back down more and again and again.  Finally I reached the bus station, found a little bar, sat down for a drink and waited for my bus only to find that two girls I live with were on my bus as well.  It was nice to be back to my little home away from home...and at 5 in the morning it was time for some rest!  It was definitely the best Spring Break I have ever and will ever have.  I am so glad that Mom and Aunt Marcia came to visit me.  I love those gals!!!