Semana Santa

I am officially at less than a month before I head back to the States. The feelings I am experiencing are very mixed: I will be very excited to see my family and friends and to return to familiarity and "real life", but on the other hand I know I will dearly miss España. I think this bittersweet mix of feelings is the best way I could ever ask to feel-- excited to return to a home and to people I love, but also leaving a piece of my heart in a place I will have spent 4 months of my life. I want to try to slow down and soak in this last month in this beautiful place. The last few weeks have been anything but slow, but they have been wonderful. After our weekend trip to Ronda and Malaga, I returned to Sevilla and had school everyday, but could barely concentrate in most classes for excitement of the arrival of my parents at the end of the week! Monday my roommate Becca and I got to go watch our Señora's granddaughter dance (she is 12, does all different types of dance, and is very talented), and then that night we had a girls' night with her which consisted of watching a movie in Spanish and eating palomitas de colores (colorful popcorn). It was so much fun to spend time with her and experience more of the culture we have been integrated into!

Dancing traditional Spanish dance

We had so much fun playing big sisters!

Girls' night!

A few days and tests later, Friday had finally arrived! The next week I had off of school because of Holy Week, so Mom and Dad came to visit to take me to France (pretty sweet deal!). After school, I went to the train station and took a train to Madrid where my parents had gotten in the day before. That night we went out for tapas and then to the oldest place in the city for chocolate and churros (and it was their first time!). The next morning we took a train to Barcelona. After checking into our hotel and settling in a bit, we walked along the famous "Las Ramblas" road, passed the famous Christopher Columbus monument, and arrived at the Mediterranean! On the way back we went into the cathedral, which was beautiful, and then stopped in the famous market to get some fresh snacks. We were all pretty exhausted so we took advantage of the Spanish tradition of siesta. From my trip to Barcelona a few years ago, I remembered an incredible view of the city from atop a hill so I talked to the concierge and figured out where to go. My parents and I climbed up by the old fort to see the amazing view, and afterwards went to the "Magic Fountain" where there are light shows every Saturday night. We ate dinner in the arena near there with another gorgeous view of the city. We were going to be returning to Barcelona later in the week, so we said a temporary goodbye before renting a car and leaving for France the next morning.

On the roof of the cathedral in Barcelona

Mom and Dad with Barcelona in the background

The Magic Fountain

We arrived at our hotel in Avignon in the evening on Sunday. It was a little rainy, so we went to dinner close by at an incredible restaurant. We immediately knew we were going to like the food of Provence. Our hotel was tiny (11 rooms) and owned by an adorable French couple. The woman helped us decide what to do each day we were there, and we decided for Monday to go East of Avignon. Our first stop was Saint Remy, the town where Van Gogh lived the last year of his life. We went to his home, Saint-Paul asylum (originally a monastery), and saw the gardens, olive groves and vineyards around there. It was really amazing to see where the inspiration for about 150 of his paintings came from. After Saint Remy we went to another nearby town, Les Beaux. This town was upon a hill and had a medieval fort that we went up to. The views were absolutely breathtaking--from the top we could see the lovely French countryside and tons of vineyards. After spending a few hours up there touring the fort, we went down to a special exhibit in a cave. They had created an incredible ambience in the caves as a tribute to French artists. They projected works from the artists all around the walls and floors of the caves. The pictures moved and transitioned in a very neat way, and there was very fitting classical music that filled the space as well. We had fun putting our shadows into the paintings and dancing all around. . . Being the McSparrans that we are. :)

Saint-Paul

Garden of Saint-Paul

Van Gogh's Room

Les Beaux fort

Looking down at Les Beaux from the fort above

Dancing in the caves

View from Les Beaux

The next day we went South of Avignon, to five different towns! They were all beautiful and neat. L'isle de la Sorgue had all kinds of cool paddle wheels, and is also famous for antique shops so of course Mom and I hit those up. Fontaine de Vacluse was for sure one of my favorites: it was up in the  mountains and had gorgeous blue water rushing out of a spring there. We then stopped for lunch in Rouselloine which had yellow-orange-pink cliffs and buildings that were so interesting and beautiful in the sunlight. Gorges was next which was a very quaint little town where we did some more shopping, and then from there we went to the Abbey of Senanque: an incredible abbey in a valley of lavendar fields. All in all it was truly amazing, especially since we didn't think we could have lived up to the day before. For dinner that night we returned to the same adorable cafe we had gone to the night before, which serves tartines (pieces of toasted bread with various yummy things on top). It was very typical French cafe feel and we loved going both Monday and Tuesday night.

Fontaine 

At the bottom of the spring

Cliffs of Rouselloine

Abbaye de Senanque

 The next day we stayed in Avignon and had fun exploring our own little town. It is where the papacy was in the 14th century, so we spent the morning touring the magnificent papal palace there. In the afternoon, we went over to the small town across the bridge, Villeneuve d'Avignon, which was the cutest town. The abbey there is called Saint André and it had the most gorgeous gardens. We then went to the monastery there, Chartreuse, which was also beautiful. None of us could get over the number of gorgeous places we had seen in a short amount of time. We had the best time in Provence!

On the roof of the papal palace

Inside the magnificent chapel

Gardens at Saint André

Chartreuse

The next day was once again rainy (only on our travel days- we were blessed!) and we drove West of Avignon, made a pitstop at the ancient Roman bridge in Pont-du-Gard, and then at the charming town of Uzes for a crepe lunch. We then arrived at our last stop in France, Collioure, which is right on the coast on the border between France and Spain. It's a small beach town, and it is so charming and absolutely gorgeous. We really enjoyed walking around the town and having seafood for dinner there. The next morning we drove along the coast, made a quick pitstop at the France-Spain border for a photo op, then continued onto Barcelona again! We absolutely loved France and had the best time. I was very into the spirit between playing accordion music from my iPod in the car, wearing my yellow maxi dress to be like Belle, and reading Les Miserables.

Pont-du-Gard

Collioure

Looking for seashells

Once we arrived in Barcelona, we went to Parque Güell, the famous park designed by Antonio Gaudi. I love this park and loved that we were able to spend a while just walking around it. Thankfully it was wonderful weather and we had an awesome time. Next we went to the Sagrada Familia, the masterpiece in progress also designed by Gaudi, which I had been outside of before but never inside. It was absolutely breathtaking- one of my favorite cathedrals I have ever been to. We returned to Las Ramblas for a nice dinner (although we did miss French food) and then back to our hotel.

Spain-France border

Park Güell

La Sagrada Familia

The next day (Saturday) we returned by trains to Sevilla! I was so excited to show my parents around the city I've gotten to live in these past few months. They toured the cathedral and explored a bit while I was at school everyday and Wednesday they took a day trip to Ronda. Monday evening they came to watch my flamenco class practice, then they got to have dinner at my house with my host parents. Translating for my chatting señora was super fun, and they loved getting to meet her. They also took my friends out for meals various times, including my intercambio who got to practice her English with them! Tuesday was my most free day, so we went to the famous Alcazar palace, toured the bull ring, got ice cream, and went to my favorite spot in Sevilla, Plaza de España. They loved tapas and it was fun getting to try all kinds of new tapas places with them. I took them to watch flamenco at a bar one night, and to get Arabic tea another! It was so fun to get to show them where I have been and all my favorite places. We had an absolute blast. On Friday we took Josiah, my friend from Wheaton, and left by car for Granada for one last fun adventure together!

On top of the setas!

Outside the Alcazar 

In the Alcazar

The gorgeous Alcazar gardens

In the bull ring

Plaza de España

We arrived in Granada Friday night and went out to dinner and explored a bit, but it was rainy (again, travel day!) Saturday it was great weather. We first went to the amazing cathedral there, and saw the graves of Ferdinand and Isabel! Next we made the climb up to the Alhambra, which was of course incredible. We had gotten tickets ahead of time and spent a few hours in its stunning interior and gardens. I had studied it in art class so getting to be there was wonderful. After a great afternoon, the boys went back to their hostel and apartment to rest, so Mom and I got to shop! We had an awesome time looking in all the cool Arabic shops and made a few solid purchases. That night we had dinner up in St. Nicholas' square with a view of the Alhambra, thanks to my uncle's recommendation. It was absolutely lovely. The next day we walked around the Albaicin, the famous gypsy neighborhood in Granada. There were awesome views from up there as well and we just took it all in. Finally, we drove back to Sevilla and I enjoyed one last evening with my parents which consisted of Plaza de España and tapas. It was so awesome to have them here and we had a wonderful time all together. I am so thankful for all the blessings these last few weeks have reminded me of: my opportunity to be in Europe, to have such awesome parents, to love my school so much that I miss it dearly while away, and the countless many other things. While my parents were here, I accepted an internship with World Relief in Wheaton for this summer. I was so grateful that they were here during that decision process so I could talk through it all with them. I am so very excited and am overwhelmed with God's amazing faithfulness. He has proved to me over and over again that He knows better than me, and He has been continually teaching me (for years now) to trust Him more and more. 

Climbing up to the Alhambra

Alhambra

Patio of the Lions

Granada; family

View from St. Nicholas

In my last month, I have three more trips planned and no more tests until finals (took care of a few more this week). I hope to really take in my time and be very open to what God is teaching me here. I will definitely be ready when the time comes to return, but I am so thankful for this opportunity to not only see a new part of the world, but to experience a new culture, learn a ton, and make some awesome new friends. Psalm 107:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever."