Spring Break in Italy

God provided. Wow. After Drew’s 72 hour flight and a few changes in plans, I met Drew at the bus station in Denia on Saturday morning and greeted him with the “run and jump”. He was quite dirty and asked at least 3 times if he could please just shower. Sure thing. I wanted to hear all about the trip and catch up, but knew he had to sleep, so I tucked him in for a nap. We toured Denia in the afternoon and stopped at my “second familia” (Linds’ house) to show off my “guapo novio”. At night, Drew, Linds and I went to meet some other students at Paddy’s (the Irish pub owned by Bastiaan-a dutch guy). Drew and I took a walk Sunday before packing our bags and heading out to see a bit more of the city. Travel was perfect. Our stops included Pisa, Florence, Rome and Cinque Terra. In Pisa, we saw the Leaning Tower and took a stroll down the coast. Our exploration through Florence was fantastic. We were both pretty hungry, so we went to a restaurant and got a pizza and some bruschetta. We met a couple from New Orleans and they told us to hed to the Piazza Pitti. This is a huge botanical garden, a castle, other buildings and what not. We could have spent hours here, but our time was precious. We headed back across the famous “joyeria” bridge and grabbed a gelato, sat, peed, and bought some wine and cheese and tomatoes. We went back to the room and hung out for a bit. We took another nap. Jet lag was seriously hurting Drew. This night we went to a great restaurant. On the menu: 1 bottle of wine, 1 bottle of water, 1 bruschetta, 1 ravioli, 1 pork chop with fritas. Our waitress spoke perfect English (along with most people in Florence and Rome) and so we quickly made friends with her. She gave us some suggestions on where to go, so we grabbed a drink at this chic bar and met 2 Italian guys. I swear you could throw Drew into a den with lions and he’d probably make friends with them in 2 minutes. Rome was BIG. We got off the train and providentially another hotel landed in our laps. Again, it was centrally located and inexpensive. We settled in and went to the grocery store. Very smart idea. We got a whole meal and then some for 20 euros. We went back to the room and scarfed on Pringle’s, bread with pesto, tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese, some wine. We toured around a lot. We saw the monument and museum for the fallen soldiers of WWI, got a tour of the colloseum (Drew was so so so jacked to see this. Kevin, my brother, would have enjoyed it too I think), walked a long way to the Vatican and visited a couple church’s. We were both whipped at the end of the day and called it a night at about 10pm. Cinque Terra. Indescribable. A national park? People really live there? Population: 300? Ya. The most glorious sites I have ever seen. Drew and I were contemplating heading here because traveling 4 hours didn’t seem worth it to us and we wanted to see more of Rome, but I am SO glad we did. For both of us, it was the best part of our trip. The pictures speak so clearly of our experience. I am not sure how to express it in words. We were going to take it super easy, but decided half way up the mountain that we were going for a bit of a hike (from our town to the one next door). We went to a little café and got sandwiches and French Fries and some wine and headed out to watch the sun set over the sea. On the horizon was a battleship, the most beautiful sunset glistening off the water, and a long line of mountains. Very picturesque. Headed back and called it a night. Travel is travel. I am back home now, ready to crack down on homework and get back to the real world. Already missing Drew as well as home. See most of you soon though. Pictures say so much more than words, but there are so many. I picked the ones I thought would say the most, but all the others are on shutterfly. Enjoy.
Cinque Terra
The last day it was sunny for us and so we soaked up some rays in the port.
Colloseum in Rome
Leaning Tower of Pisa

Fallas

15 marzo 2008 Laughs. Yesterday was a really fun day. A group of 6 of students went to Valencia for the day to see the Mesquetta (spelling?) for Fallas. There were thousands of people squished in this little city square, listening to a 5 minute symphony of really big, loud, colorful firecrackers. The feeling is indescribable. You can feel the BOOMS in your chest. We were warned before we went that many people blow out their ear drums going to this, so Linds, Katie, and I made sure to bring our ear plugs, yet STILL the sound was incredible! After, we took ourselves on a tour through Valencia, which is, by the way, a gorgeous city. wow. We walked in the riverbed, which has been changed into a 3 mile long park, to the Museum of Arts and Sciences and City Music Hall. Both buildings were quite a work of art. It was a beautiful, sunny day, so we decided to take a little snooze on the park bench. Mmm… I rushed back from the train station to make my dinner date with my “barrio” (the people in my plaza). This group of about 20 people has become like a family to me. I am so reminded with every unruly comment made about The Den Hartigh Clan. I feel 100% comfortable with acting crazy, loud, blunt etc with this group. The past two dinners have been a trip. Lydia, a 35 year old, plump ball of joy, always makes me sit next to her and teaches me all the slang terms she can come up with. Of course, I have to repeat her like I am “her little monkey” (as Maite said), and we all laugh so hard. My cheeks were literally sore from laughter. What a great pain to have. Because they speak Valenciano (more like Italian than Spanish), Lydia is also my translator if I am not getting a story. For the most part though I understand and if someone talks to me, it is always in Castellano (the “Spanish” we all know). Luis and Rosuita are my favorite couple. Luis, a retired fisherman (which has to say a bit about his character…if you’re not sure, think Nico!!) and his wife Rosuita, the cook and “overseer” of all the happenings (who reminds me, as she eyes her husbands extreme behavior of my mother), have a beautifully attractive relationship. I love watching them interact and laugh and scold and bicker. It takes me home in a heartbeat. Until the Fallas are burned next Wednesday night, Denia will be a loud city all day and all night long. Fireworks, screaming kids, loudspeakers, choirs, dancing in the street, loud “Lydia” laughs, motorcyclists/4wheeler-ers etc. will be heard throughout. Alright, enough. Here are some pictures.

Behind us: Music Hall in Valencia




The crowd at the Mascleta:

Lindsay plugging her ears

explosion of firecrackers


Example of a "Falla"--Last night on the news I saw that this Falla had actually blown over due to windy conditions.

A different Falla

The wind was FIERCE! Lindsay and I took a walk and could hardly move against it. With the wind came the cold, but I am not complaining because soon enough the warm will be here (i hope).

2 posts in 1 day

I got to talk to Nick, my brother, the other day and he requested that I write about Maite, my mama here, and our relationship etc. Although she is the life of any party, she is also a bit of a control freak. For example, this morning I asked kindly to use the iron because I had a shirt that I hadn’t worn yet and I wanted to iron it and I definitely got “the look”. I quickly retracted my request and said, “no no it’s fine…I don’t know why I asked…” She, of course, got the ironing board out and the iron even though I kept insisting I didn’t need it. She was being quite rude about the entire ordeal. I kept thinking about it all morning and was a bit frustrated with her because this is one of many “controlling” events that has taken place while here.

I came home from class for lunch and she was quite chatty and I could tell right away she was trying to make up for being snappy. We sat down to eat and in her prayer she asked God to forgive her for acting the way she did and also asked my forgiveness. I laughed and gave her a hug and it was great. I do find that she often catches herself being controlling in our conversation when she “offers me her council or opinion” on a matter.

When I get frustrated with her, I just place myself in her shoes. She is a single woman, never been married, loves things her way etc. I also try to not take things so personally because I think she only means to be helpful.

Most of the time, however, we laugh and just chat about the happenings of the day. She also likes to tell me the “top-secret” gossip of our plaza and I don’t mind listening. One thing that warms my heart especially is that she will always make sweet comments about me in front of our guests. She likes to talk about how helpful I am around the house and what not. I remember these comments especially on days like today with the iron incident! (smile).

Andalusia

Hey fam, remember this in the house!! I got the second one as a present from Nick years back.

Flamenco. Can't capture how fast their feet move, but it was something!

Arco herradura at the arab ruins.

In the Mosque of Cordoba. Artsy pic.

View of the Sierra Nevada.

It was so surreal being in Andalusia. I had been about 6 years ago to this province in Spain while visiting Nick, my brother, for his Spring Break. I had flashbacks every time we turned a corner. I remember walking into the cathedral and seeing a begger with a bloody gash in his leg. Nick said it was normal and that people will do that to themselves in order to get money. It is still so vivid in my mind.

The first day of the trip was touring Granada. We went to the Cathedral, as I said already, the Royal Chapel, where Isabel, Ferdinand, and Juana La Loca are buried, and we also saw The Monastery of Saint Gregorio. It is interesting to me now because I am studying these sites in my art history class; a picture hardly does these sites any justice. Day 2 we went to Cordoba. We saw a couple ruins, ate lunch in a garden, saw the Mosque (3rd largest in the world!), and The Jewish Corner which included a small synagogue. Day 3 we went to La Alhambra, which is one of the 7 wonders of the world. Somehow there was a miscommunication between our Prof. and the travel agent and La Alhambra staff and needless to say we didn’t actually get to enter the palaces. The gardens and the view were still quite something to see!

This weekend was difficult though because my oma Den Hartigh died. It was especially difficult because I wasn’t able to be by my family. We all knew that she would meet her Savior quickly and so it seems like a blessing. Even though we will miss her cute remarks, repeated stories, smile, and presence at gatherings, she has left a legacy for everyone she encountered. She was a faithful follower of Christ until the day He took her home. I am so thankful for the years that her grandkids could spend with her and know this of her. In my mom’s words, “I think each one of her grandchildren thought that they were her favorite”. It’s so true. There was a place in her heart for every single one of us and her face lit up each time we would see her!

I have posted a few pictures of the weekend. The rest are on shutterfly.com