Feria - April 11-14

The April fair is all about dancing, drinking, eating, and having fun (throwing off the seriousness of Lent and Easter and celebrating the coming of Spring)...




Waiting in line for the bus to the fairgrounds








A caseta - tent - where you go and eat, drink, dance... The majority are private and you have to know someone to get in and pay for week-long passes - This is Oscar's tent (for the people who work at the bank where he works)





Manolo at the bar in the back









Zoilo (Chiki) and Oscar (El Sr. Delgado)








The barbacks getting orders out like crazy








Rebujito (sherry and 7up - the drink of Feria)








Dancing Sevillanas







The floor suffered from someone stomping a little too hard








Me and the boys at like 4am









Women dancing Sevillanas in the park







Isa and her man, Jaime








Manolo, me and Eloisa










Everyone goes out - all day, all night - at least the little ones have a place to crash when they get tired









Fair goodies for big kids and little kids alike








Caseta entrances











The streets are lit at night









The portada - entranceway








The fairgrounds







What everyone does on the bus back to the city center









The portada during the day








There are horse parades during the daytime all week long







Manolo with the tostada de la casa (house toast) - toast, salmorejo (cold tomato soup) and bacalao (salt-cured cod) and loads of olive oil - sounds disgusting in English but I swear it's awesome







Manolo and Carmen (Manolo's girlfriends, to his left) and her girlfriends that she won stuffed animals with at the fair






Pele on Manolo's upper patio... That dog is going to be a horse when he grows up...




So, exams are done, I have finally recovered from the stomach flu from hell (hit at same time as exams - oh joy oh bliss), suitcases are packed and I pick my aunt up tomorrow... I went back down to Sevilla to say goodbye to everyone and to my fair city and got back last night and have been erranding/packing/hanging out with some folks today... And I guess my next update will be when I get home... Hope all is well with everyone and can't wait to see everyone stateside :) and I know that I seriously suck at correspondence so if I haven't gotten back to an email yet please be patient... It doesn't mean that I am not thinking about you guys, I promise you that...
Love and hugs to everyone,
Martha

The only way to become found is to get well lost (Michael Meade)

So, as of today I have 32 days left before I go home to my country. I am jonesin for some thai food, sushi and (sorry to Olde Towne) a big ole latte from Starbucks... and humidity... and Target... and people with manners that hold the door for you and say thank you when you hold the door for them... my coffee shop... and of all things in the world, to listen to a southern accent - it makes me feel at home, i guess... Oh, and of course, to be at my lakehouse swinging on my porch with a big glass of lemonade and chillin with Brian and my family...

I have been reflecting a lot on my time here. Why in the world did I come in the first place? Was I running away from something or running towards something, or both? For the longest time, ever since I studied in Sevilla, I had a feeling in my gut that was pushing me constantly to go back to Spain, to find out what was there, to break out of the mold that I was finding myself squishing myself unwittingly into. I was putting myself there but blaming everything else and everyone else for putting me in there. So I broke out, experienced culture shock, met interesting people, went back to old haunts, was lonely, depressed, cried a *lot* at first... Was convinced I made the most horrible of mistakes, leaving a safe town, life, job, support system for a cold and unfeeling city, surrounded by undergrads and a slightly manipulative/manic/easily-angered senora and my only saving grace was the gym, being in class, and Karen (and Damon and Jeremy when they arrived)... and Skype... But, stubborn old me, I was going to prove to myself come hell or high water that I could live and study and eventually work in another country. That my decision was going to be right and that no crappy situations/emotions were going to let me admit that I had made a mistake of any kind... I was very proud (in the negative sense of the word) and painted myself into a corner that I thought I couldn't get out of, thinking that if I admitted that I had made a mistake and went back that I was a big-ole-fat-head-failure... Not a very healthy way of thinking...

I eventually decided that it would be best to stay the second semester and I'm glad I did... I got to see friends that would have been difficult to see otherwise that I hadn't seen in forever (Yaeli and Laurita), I got to get to know some people better here (Sonia and Sarah), experience a different living environment, and I got to show Brian around and take him on a well-earned vacation... and I get to do the same for my aunt as well in a couple of weeks... I got to see my favorite holiday, Semana Santa again... I got an opportunity to say goodbye to some people and break off a unhealthy relationship that needed ending... I got the chance for a lot of closure here... Granted, it hasn't been all peaches and cream like it might seem from the insane collection of pictures and captions that I have been bombarding my loyal readers with, but it's been a hell of a lot better than it has been before and I feel a lot more sane/calm/cool collected and more able to appreciate my time here more, believe me...

I guess the biggest thing that I realized is that I came here running away from the person that I was afraid to turn in to - someone unhappy with their job and too scared to change their situation around - and that I was running toward finding myself - or more of myself, I guess - I have learned to be strong, not be a doormat anymore, not be manipulated by others, to enjoy time by myself, to be easier on myself (still a stretch for me though), that I am more self-sufficient than I thought and more self-aware than I thought... Before, when I wanted to do medicine and I dropped out of the med-school tract I didn't think of nursing because I didn't think that I'd be strong enough to do it - people said that I didn't have the temperament and that I wouldn't be able to handle it - But I think that they're wrong, and I know that I haven't gotten to the "real" nursing with the clinicals and all, but I know that I can handle it - I know from other experiences and from this year that I am tough and can handle whatever comes up - It's like some relatives of mine who would make negative comments about me, for example, that I was "slow", among other things - and I thought to myself, just you wait and I will prove your mean little butt wrong - and I did...

So now I will be proving all the crap that I used to say about myself wrong - Realizing my inner strength is one of the greatest gifts that this year has given me... and I am happy to say that although I have been well lost, I guess it was the only way that I was gonna be found...

I'm not really sure why I'm putting this on my blog, but I am, so, yeah, if you read this I look forward to seeing you very soon... Feria pics will be put up soon - and then I'll probably be signing off for a while (projects, finals, etc. are coming up like now)...
Other news - just found out today (these people don't get me my letters, I swear I must be in a black hole or something) that I got in to UVa, but I'll be at Vandy - it was just nice to know that I got in... Also, I *finally* got back down to goal weight (reached last August)...
Windy, you better be gettin your booty ready for some crazy workin out because I am *tired* of working out by myself, girl :)
Emails are slow in coming to everyone but they are coming, so be patient with my horrible pen-pal self (I need to channel some Andrew or something)

Love and hugs to everyone :) Thank you all for all of your love and support and listening to me when I was having a rough time... I miss you guys a lot and can't wait to be on the same continent as most of you...

Martha

"We love Toby!" or "How we survived the roundabouts"

Southwest England with Laurita (aka Paquita or, now, the esteemed Dr. Engel)
April 4-6, 2008

The trip started out with the universe seemingly against us. Sometimes the universe works in strange ways, though, and what seems to be a huge omen screaming DON'T DO IT!!!! turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

Firstly, my plane was late late late. Then, Avis decided to rent to us a cute little car that made a noise akin to the stuck horn in "Little Miss Sunshine" and emitted quite the odor as well. A memorable quote from the evening -
Laura: "Do you think that people outside can hear that?"
(Martha rolls down the window slowly)
Car: "BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!!!"
Laura: "At least the know we're coming"
(Martha and Laura burst into hysterical and over-tired peals of laughter, scaring the other innocent bystanders in the parking lot)
Third, finding our way around airport parking lots to return the little bugger was a challenge - not to mention on the *other* side of the road and driving on the *other* side of the car. Bless you Laurita for taking the wheel the first night. So, we are then traded the small (yet noisy and smelly) car for a large minivan. Ah, a minivan on little roads and confusing roundabouts. At least we knew that any opposition would be crushed by our behemoth of a vehicle. Lastly, as we were FINALLY leaving the airport, I realized my phone was in the other car. The poor Avis lady just shook her head as we waltzed back in to the office yet again... this time, Laura and I toying with the idea of giving up on the car and just getting a taxi to a hotel somewhere in Bristol or Bath... We decide to take the plunge and keep the car, and we are very happy that we did. Not only was it one heck of a confidence booster to accomplish the whole driving challenge, it allowed us to explore the beautiful English countryside on our own terms, led by our Toby (the wonderful fantabulous saved-our-butts-numerous-times GPS).

We stayed at a B&B in the countryside between Bristol and Bath called Manor Farm. It's a working farm (dairy) that sells their milk to Cadbury and serves it along with home-grown eggs for brekkie. The proprietor, Ross, was amusing and very accomodating - although a bit put off by one of our perfumes :P. I thoroughly recommend staying in a B&B, especially that one if you're in the area.

Friday night we got in around 11pm to the B&B and chatted for a while over tea and crashed out hard.

Saturday we woke up early and set out to Bath (walked around the town, saw the Roman baths, had a nice vegetarian lunch), drove to Avebury (saw the "other" Stonehenge that is a) free and b) touchable - you can actually hug the stones :)), passed through Lacock (used in some Harry Potter movies), and went to Holt (there are many villages named Holt in England and one in Wales even - who knew?). Saturday night we returned to the B&B and walked down the road to a lovely pub and had a pint or two... with beer cheese :).

Sunday we awoke very early to drive up to Malmesbury (medieval town with a gorgeous abbey) where we froze our booties off because it had been snowing. We dropped in for tea and a scone at a tea shop and dealt with a scone-pusher. Dangerous people. We then drove to Bristol to the Clifton Down (park) where there is an overlook of the famous Clifton bridge (suspension bridge over the Avon). We then went (Toby's orders) through the tiniest little villages and streets and paths to somehow end up at the airport. Still a mystery to me. We said goodbye - but not for long because Dr. Engel will be speaking at my little university here in Madrid in 2 weeks, so I'll be taking her out for some tapas and tinto soon.

So, the omens of the first night were misread and I'm glad we jumped in and just did it - we would have missed Cadbury-quality breakfast milk and eggs, a quintessential B&B experience, seeing sacred spring where people used to throw in prayers and curses 2000 years ago, hugging a 4500 year old healing stone, playing with sheep, seeing my possible ancestral village, and parallel parking outside scone-lady's tea shop. Gracias, Laurita, por una aventura que solo podria tener contigo :P Como te he dicho antes, si pudiera yo hacer el concurso "The Amazing Race", yo lo haria contigo sin hesitacion ninguna. Hope y'all enjoy the photos (as per usual, there are many, just to warn you)...

Photographic evidence that we did indeed drive and explore on the "other" side

Laurita gettin her drive on








Pretty green fields on the way to Bath








Our big ole honker car (for European standards, mind you)








The Avon River that runs through Bath (the very same of Stratford-Upon-Avon, yup yup)







Trying not to look cold...








Beautiful parks and greenery abound in this country








The famous Abbey at Bath, with the Roman Baths entrance on the right








Street in Bath







We ran into a lot of old-timey carts such as this one







Overlooking the main bath in the Roman Baths - I think that this was the one in the temple that people would throw prayers and curses in (no one swam in it - it was considered sacred ground)








The Abbey juts up against the Baths - some say it was built over a pagan temple









The spring for the baths (water pours in continuously - at like 46 degrees Celsius, too!)








The king in the background was a "founder" of Bath (medieval king) and the royals had their baths as well





Artifacts that have been found in the baths (mainly curses)










The head of Minerva, the goddess worshipped at the baths









The original Roman drain (still in use)









Laurita trying not to fall in - notice the steam sweeping across the water







You can't beat the countryside views








Avebury - this town has a stone circle like Stonehenge - it is larger, just as old, it was used for the same purposes (healing) BUT free and explorable :) Comes with sheep, too.






Showing the size of the stone









SHEEEEP!









Little lambs resting along one of the stones









Again, trying not to look cold







Okay, I only put this here because Laura really liked the photo - I was just running to keep warm and trying to avoid sheep pellets so I could pose for the next photo :P

















There were little lambs everywhere...








And they totally didn't freak with all the people milling about







Getting some good stone energy








Climbed a hill to get a better perspective on the circle - it actually goes around half the town







The town of Avebury in the background








I almost broke my ankle to get this photo - proves that animals are smarter than humans - just some advice - don't step in an animal fence grate







The abbey in Avebury







My first try behind the wheel









And Toby leads the way!








The pub in Holt where we got some tea










Photos around Holt







































Tea at the Old Ham Tree








Our B&B

















The cows across the road

















The proper pub for a pint and good beer cheese











Laurita and I toasting our new fiancees




Me having some beer cheese (the chef informed me that in order to soak up beer you must have cheese as a base)
Nice people there at the Radnor Arms - very family-like, small-town and not touristy at all. The chef kind of reminded me of a non-hairy and non-giant version of Hagrid... May have been the pint and beer cheese talking, though






Parallel parking in Malmesbury on a freezing cold morning








The medieval abbey in Malmesbury (monastery from the 7th century and abbey from the 12th)







Street in Malmesbury










Snow!












Church in Malmesbury - the bells were ringing for people to go to services (it was Sunday morning)









Warming up with some tea and a scone (crazy scone-pusher lady strikes again!)








Avon River in Bristol









Clifton Bridge in Bristol







Clifton Down in Bristol







Phew! That was a lot of photos - I hope that you all enjoyed them - Heading to Sevilla this weekend for Feria, so expect another update after that... I am still working on correspondence so if I haven't gotten to you yet, you will be gotten to soon...
By the way, Estee! Congratulations!!!!!! :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Lots of love and ancient Celtic hugs to everyone :)
Martha