Turquoise water? Yes Please!

Today I rented a car for the first time in my life. It was AMAZING!!! Alice, Celia, Perine, Theo and I all chipped in and got a car for the day to explore the island. We drove up into the mountains and could see all the way to another island, Tenerife.  Plus the towns along the way are more authentic feeling. They are real Spanish towns instead of the touristy towns along the south coast where we are.

When we told the rental car owner where we were headed:  to Pico de Nieves, he just looked at us and said “Pico de Nieves?!?!” with the most skeptical look on his face. Pico de Nieves is home to the highest point on the island in the mountains and he apparently thought we were crazy for thinking we could drive there ourselves. He told us how difficult mountain roads were to drive and wanted us to be aware that they were very difficult.  I tried to assure him. “Sir,” I said, “I have driven all over the Smokies, and have been on some pretty nasty back roads so I am sure this will be fine. Absolutely no need to worry!” He again looked at me like I had escaped from somewhere, and said in the most patronizing Spanish, “THESE are not like American roads (stupid tourists)… American roads are big, these are VERY SMALL (thinking: when will they a-learn that America is not a difficult place to-a live, why would this girl a-think she knows how to drive in the mountains?!)”

It was at that moment that I realized I was one of ‘them.’ You know, those terrible Americans who go overseas and talk about how much better or how much worse conditions are in America vs wherever they are. I hate those people, and now, I glumly thought, I must hate myself….

But alas, I was right… The roads were a cinch! Take that Spanish man!!! I challenge the next self righteous Canarian mountain man who thinks his mountains are harder to drive in simply because they are NOT in America to come to my neck of the woods. Let’s see how they do driving a Chevy 1500 long bed pick up on the backwoods east Tennessee mountains in the rain at night with no windshield wipers and a missing headlight and then they can tell me that because I am an American girl, I can’t drive their mountains. OK I am finished. It wasn’t that I was bitter or anything, more just that I am glad I don’t have to hate myself. Glad that for once when an American claims something about their country it is true and not just ego ridden nonsense.  But I still hate ‘those’ people… This is not an excuse to be one of ‘them,’

That all being said, the mountains were breath taking and the drive had a new fantastic view after every turn. Then we got to go to Puerto Mogan (which is like a little Venice with cute little bridges over canals and what not… Basically my new favorite town because it was full of terraces, flowers and boats.. nuff said) and then we finished the trip at Playa del Amadores which came complete with the stereotypical white beaches and turquoise water that was so salty I could float with ease. Oh and did I mention I went for a dip at sunset? So as I was floating the current in the turquoise water off the coast of Spain, I thought “Man I am glad it is sunset, this would be really lame if I didn’t at least get something to make it remarkable…”

And now, after I accompanied six French people to drinks on the beach in Playa del Meloneras, I am back in my apartment, typing this up while it is fresh, I will be posting it tomorrow right before I go to the World Windsurfing Competition.  And on that note, Buenos Noches (interesting aside, here they don’t pronounce the ‘s’ at the end of a phrase so it is pronounced Buenos Noche and Gracia etc. etc.)

P.S. Playa means ‘beach’ in Spanish.

And I am sorry if this blog makes me look like a cad saying “HA HA HA aren’t I a lucky sort” and while it is true, I am both a cad AND a lucky sort, It was never my intention for this blog to highlight those facts. And for this, I humbly beg your forgiveness.

Viva la Salsa

As I sat reading a Jane Austen novel on my terrace, chugging coffee and praying I would have the energy to make it through the party last night I realized that I was closer to being a middle aged librarian than a 23 year old in Spain. Not that this is any front page news. This I have known for quite some time. And when I showed up at the party and stood next to the gorgeous Spanish women in short, skin tight dresses and full make up, compared with my barely there eye shadow and knee length sun dress, my worse fears were confirmed. But no worries, this party was delightfully Spanish and I was soon salsa dancing all my worries away! The people I was dancing with knew I couldn't speak Spanish but didn't seem to mind. You see I went with Alice, Celia, Perine, Theo and Francois, the french friends here. They were invited by Fernando who said any friend of theirs was a friend of his so I could come too. And because any friend of Fernando was a friend of the entire 200 people at the party, I was by association a friend to EVERYONE. By the end of the night I had spoken almost no English and so much broken Spanish and French that I almost forgot to think in English. So I did my generation proud after all. I stayed up til four in the morning at a house party in Spain salsa dancing.


Oh and the party was invite only and had a bouncer in a suit at the families gate checking people in. There was a pool and candles everywhere, a full bar with anything you could possibly dream of, a huge dance.  floor with smoke and laser lights and all in this guys house. It was too amazing! But I haventt much time so I am out Tomorrow, we explore the island and see the volcano. 

I understand Flight of the Phoenix

My feet are gone. It is true, and sad. Today I did something foolish. Today I decided I could handle walking the sand dunes in the burning hot African sun in just my sandles. I have never run so fast as I did today trying to keep my feet from blistering. You should have heard Alice and I running and laughing and screaming 'OUCH OUCH OUCH!' up the dunes: It must have been amusing for the locals to see. We didn't stay long at the dunes for obvious reasons but decided to instead pass the time at a cafe. I finally understood the horror of the movie Flight of the Phoenix. Before I would watch it and think 'it must be hot' now I think on it with something bordering on terror. The sand is so hot, and I had an ocean to look at and plenty of water§ The idea that they built a plane in this heat with hardly any water and no end in sight. And the sand is so bloody hot. I donùt think I will be able to watch that movie again until winter....

No worries for me now though, I am back at my hotel and sitting by the pool again typing this. Tomorrow I am going grocery shopping and trying out a little restaurant by my apartment and then going to a party at a friend of Alice's. I donùt know if I already mentioned it, but apparently there is a pool at there house and Alice thinks we will be out late. So Sunday we will sleep and go to the beach and watch the final game of the EuroCup. It is Italia vs. Espana so we are going to an Italian bar that will play the game so it can be even more exciting!!! Then Alice is off on Monday and Tuesday; so we will rent a car and go see the volcano, and go hiking. I cant wait to see the mountains because it has been so hazy here that you can barely see them in the distance. Alice said it was never like this before I came, so she wants me to leave so she can see the sky again. But hopefully the hike will be nice. We have to go in the evening because the locals say it is too dangerous during the day: It gets too hot. Apparently some tourists died last year hiking in the heat of day. Natural selection.... And the last planned excursion is for a 'little Venecia'. The rumor is that it has canals instead of streets like Venice and is beautiful. Cant wait to see it!!!

Not much else to say. I will be sure to write something more interesting next time: about what I have actually done, not just what is in the plans... for plans change. But fear not, the volcano and I WILL meet!!!

Maspalomas

I am sitting by the pool of my little apartment. Alice is letting me use her computer, but it is hard to get used to typing on it because the keys are all in different places than at home. Spain is great. The beach is amazing, but the sun is so hot that there are days it is recommended to not go out in it for people with as shockingly white complexion as me. But i just lather up the SPF and do what nature intended, lay on the beach like a pink seal.  The flight from Belfast in was about the longest thing I have ever endured. They delayed our plane for four  hours so instead of landing at 6:40 it ended up being 10:40. Luckily, I made friends with some really nice Irish ladies. They found out we were all headed to the same place and let me join their duo. It was a mom and her daughter who had traveled all over together and were going to take a week in Gran Canaria. Some how I found out they keep horses (an uncanny ability I have to direct the conversation to livestock) and cows!!! I realized I liked these people when Andrea pulled out her phone and started showing me pictures of her cows and horses and her wee dog. We talked about beer, and they told me Guiness doesn't ship well so they were glad I had some 'real' beer there. Then we talked about farming, which breed of cow is better (Tom: they LOVE herefords, they are really expensive and only for showing; not eating.) we talked about the Grand Prix and how much better it is than Nascar. And then made fun of people as they passed. It was great. But once I landed in Las Palmas I had been travelling for 31 hours and had only slept 4. To make things better, the last bus left the airport at 10 so Alice and I wandered around negotiating for the cheapest taxi. Then to walk to my place, I made it home at like 12:40 and about balled my eyes out. But aside from being a huge baby, everything is great!! My apartment is really cute with a balcony on the top and bottom floor. And the locals who live here are great.


One REALLY exciting thing is that the EuroCup is going on right now. Spain is in fits because they won the soccer game last night against Portugal. I watched the first half, but wanted to walk home before dark and didnt get to see the last. HOWEVER, everyone in my complex had there stereos and tvs on full blast so I could hear the announcers the whole time. But because I didnt understand the announcers, the only way I knew they scored was when the walls were shaking because of jumping and shouting. Then the familiar Spanish soccer chant 'Ole, Ole-ole-ole, Ole, Ole' it was beautiful. I have heard Americans chant it to be cool at soccer games but it truly sounds great when Spaniards are cheering it for Spain. Tonight it is Germany vs Italy. I dont like Germany but I want them to win because half the island is German, the other half Spanish and the final game on Sunday will be like a little war! 


Another crazy thing is that I have been hanging out a lot with Alices friends from France and have had a good time practicing my French because they dont speak english well. I never would have thought I would be speaking more French than Spanish here. But alas, it is true. Now off to eat some dinner, tomorrow I am going to the sand dunes and who knows what else. Saturday there is a party at a persons house who Alice works with and then Sunday we go to the Volcano!!!!! 

Ireland, you are everything I hoped you be!

I am sitting in a 'wee wooden chair' that I was directed to when I asked for an internet spot. I am currently in Belfast International Airport with a dopey grin on my face, listening to the Irish music over the speakers and waiting on my flight. In case you were curious, I did cry when I landed. Not the racking sobs I had originally anticipated, but I welled up and had a quivering lip. It was just too amazing. IT is really cloudy here (and 50 degrees F, why am I leaving again?) so I couldn't see a thing on arrival. Just clouds. But as the plane started lowering and I started to see darker patches coming through the white haze, I knew land was about to show. Just sitting there waiting to see Ireland for the first time was a marvel in itself. I kept thinking 'here I go, now I get to see it.' (two ladies just now walked by me talking in their Irish lilt and I about peed myself) So anyways, the clouds broke and for as far as the eye could see was green. The most marvelous green you can imagine. Green grass, green trees, green everything! It looked so poetic that for a moment I worried if I would have the strength to get on the plane and leave. P.S. That moment is still here. 

Oh by the way, New York was AMAZING. I got to see some old friends, eat a hot dog out of a super sketch road cart, walk around Times Square, see the Empire State Building, etc, etc, etc. BUT the best part was getting kissed by THE Naked Cowboy in Times Square. And by best, I mean the most prompting me to quickly get a wet wipe and sanitize myself. Then it was back to Jersey, to board a plane at 9:30pm. Once on the plane, they told us we might want to close our windows because the sun would be coming up in two hours. (Flying east at night=short sleep) So I ate dinner (chicken and rice) and listened to the Avett Brothers and fell asleep. Three hours later I woke up again, ate some breakfast (melon and croissant.. Irish, huh?) while watching the New Girl on the telly and then BAM! Tears. Green. Heaven! I AM IN IRELAND!!!! So, now I go to the bar.. called Lagans Pub and drink a stout, eat some lunch and wait for my plane. P.S. It is like 5 am your time as I type. Then at 2:30pm my time and about 8 am your time, I will be boarding my plane for the Canaries. Next time you hear from me I will be at the beach. With a good book. At the beach....

Life Lessons with Liam Neeson

Well, I have finally gotten all my ducks in a row. T minus six days and I have finally gotten my currency exchanged, a check card acquired and a place to stay booked. It wasn't until a few days ago that I realized "hmm, I leave America in eight days and I have no means of spending money and no place to sleep arranged.. Perhaps I should remedy this. But, I am the worlds greatest procrastinator. Truly I am. It's almost disgusting. So it just got taken care of.. But its better than waiting until I was there.

My mom has been a help in my trip preparations. Helping my plan a budget and what not. My dad has been a help too. He rented Liam Neeson's "Taken" and had me watch it. He told me he just wanted to me to know... Well now I know that I dont want to steal Liam Neeson's kid unless I want my wife shot! Point taken, Dad!

So again I say, in EXACTLY six days, I will be in New York City, waiting on my connecting flight to Ireland, excited out of my mind. I pity my friends in New Jersey. They are going to have to put up with me for 8.5 hours. On a normal day I am hard to be around for 8.5 hours. I tend to be a "little much" in everyday life. There is a list of 100 millions things that make me freakishly happy and I tend to let anyone within earshot know how freakishly happy I am about those things. (And I have pipes, so the 'earshot range' is about ten miles) So imagine normal excited Mac on steroids, what with the fac that I get to fly and sleep in the sky and all... Again I say, I feel kinda sorry for my friends in New Jersey.

So there you have it. Not much else to say until the trip starts. As of now, my only planning left is to decide to carry on or check my bags.. Pros and cons to each if you ask me. Check my bags: No lugging a back pack all over huge airports, then again I might never see my bags while in Europe.. Carry them on: No worries about missing bags, but no hand lotion either... What a delimma. Anyone with ideas?

New York, New York

Today I was looking over my flight schedule. I was sighing/lamenting over my eight and a half hour layover in New Jersey.. What could I do for over eight hours in New Jersey??!! Well my oh-too-kind mother reminded me of a very good friend we have in New Jersey. I gave her a call, filled her in on the details and, to make a long story short (too late, I know) she and her husband agreed to meet me at the airport and take me to "The City" during my layover.

What city you may be asking yourself? Well maybe you aren't asking yourself that. But, being raised in the west like I was, and being HORRIBLE with geography, I had no idea that the Newark airport was just over the river from NYC. So I will be enjoying my layover in New York. Doing what? I am not sure, my friend and her husband said they would plan something fun. But I feel that just being in the city with them will be enough.  I  honestly never had a desire to stay for long periods of time in a city that size, but I am very excited to walk around, window shop, eat and be in New York at all. It is something I never pictured myself doing, but I must say it will be hard to not compare my life to a movie! And it will be another thing checked off my bucket list!

So on top of my new excitement (New York) I am also losing sleep over the idea that in 16 days I will be in Ireland. I will eat dinner in New York City and then have breakfast the next morning in Ireland!! I was looking up the Belfast area to see what possible trouble I could get into during my layover and found Lough Neagh not too far from the aiport.. This I feel is something I should explore. What kind of explorer would I be if a lough was something I could pass up? Not much of one at all. Not much of one AT ALL!

So as if eating dinner in New York City, falling asleep over the ocean then waking up and having breakfast in Ireland weren't enough, after my Irish breakfast and lunch I will be having dinner in Spain! All of this I have discovered literally as I type. This, my friends, is why I will struggle to sleep the next few weeks. And because of my lack of sleep.. When I land in Ireland at 9:00a (my body will feel like it is 3:00a) I will most likely burst into tears and brokenly sob about 'how I can't believe this is actually happening' causing concerned onlookers to quickly flee away from me. This, in turn, will make me sob even more and I feel the lake I explore will grow in depth by a few feet with my visit...

China? How'd that happen?

So, only 18 days until the big trip! This news came as a shock to me. I can't believe it's almost here!!! We have been so busy this last week with my little sister's high school graduation that I put the trip out of my mind entirely.. except, of course, for all those times I thought about it. But seriously, it still kinda feels like a pipe dream. Like it wont be real until I land in a country where they don't speak English. In these next few weeks I will be converting currency and checking out the airports where my flights connect. I just looked up the Belfast International Airport and found out that I can leave it on my LONG layover! I had it in my head I would have to sit and wait for six hours, but as it turns out... I can explore a while! Obviously I shouldn't go too far. My sense of direction (or lack of..) was never one of my most alluring features. More so the opposite. It is a horrifying feature. I have been known to absentmindedly end up in other states. Knowing my luck, I would go out for a 'wee stroll' take a wrong turn and wind up in China (The idea that I would cross and ocean and never realize it isn't that far fetched) And seeing as how China is a little ways from Northern Ireland, I would most likely miss my flight. But like I was telling my roommate, the worst thing that could happen is I get deported back to America. And then I can always say "Hey, remember that time I was deported back to America? NO? Allow me to explain..." And I am sure I will never run out of people to tell. And if by chance I do run out of people to tell, I am also sure I will never decide that people shouldn't hear that story again. My redundancy IS one of my more alluring features (as anyone who knows me personally can vouch for the fact that my stories remarkably improve the fifth and sixth time you have heard it. The distances get longer, the raindrops are bigger, the police officers are meaner and stronger..) But I digress.. I will be just going in search of a pub to have a nice Irish stout and that is all. No meandering streets or poorly marked roads for this gal. No siree.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that I got a hammock to set up in the airports as my sleeping space. And by "I got a hammock" I mean that my sister (whose name I will not mention for privacy's sake... but it rhymes with Hair-a or Bear-a or Chair-a and starts with an S) won a hammock for me at her project graduation. So while I am sleeping in comfort and not having to lie on a hard Belfast floor, I will dream of her.. )

SUNBURNS! CURSE UV RAYS

You want to know the worst part about getting a new bathing suit? ( I got one by the way. I got that bikini I mentioned.) Anyway, the worst part about getting a new suit comes when the cut of your new suit is far from being similar to the cut of your old one. So the poor skin that is nice and white from having never been exposed to the harsh sun is now screaming “Wait!! NO! We are supposed to be covered! What are you doing!” And the skin that is used to soaking up the rays is hidden and demanding a private counsel with the sun, no doubt plotting some horrific sunburn on the whitest parts of your being. The sun, who misses its tan friends obliges.. and you wind up with red peeling skin and a painful nights sleep. Not that I am bitter or anything.. ahem, moving on...

So my family went on a little road trip this weekend to Oklahoma. My parents are moving back there this August and we went down to the cabin to organize and plan, etc. While we were there we basically just goofed off. Its a great way to life, FYI. Days spent in the river, nights on the bank drinking cool beverages and listening to music. We also went on a kayaking trip. Not long, but long enough to get some good sun on my legs. Usually the outdoor recreation I do requires long pants, but I made a pact with my legs this summer to let them soak up the sun as much as physically possible. My legs are ecstatic! Hopefully this will alleviate some of the pain and hate that you noticed in the first paragraph. If I go to Gran Canaria with the sun already introduced to my leggies, maybe the sun will a be little more chill and a lot less burn-me-to-a-crisp. This is my deepest hope.

As for my trip preparations, I have been looking at prices for lodging this week. Its really not too bad (I am staying in a hostel, by the way) I have found a few pretty nice places starting at 20 US dollars night. This works for me and my wallet in a big way. The place I am looking into has private rooms so I dont need to worry about all my belongings as much and they have el cheapo bicycle rentals so that should be fun. I am just waiting on mi amiga to let me know if it is close enough to her (I find it is best to check lest I am biking 100 billion miles up hill both ways.. )

Oh, and I literally JUST got super pumped because as I was typing this I decided to check on my countdown to see how much time I had until I was airborn (and by “my countdown”, I mean I check the calender and count the days off myself) and what do you think I found when I was counting? Well it just so happens that I only have 25 days until the big trip. So now you can become super pumped with me!

And that is all I have to say about that.

Volcano? Yes, please!

The city: Maspalomas. The Island: Gran Canaria. The country: Spain. The continent: Africa.

Off the coast of Morocco and Western Sahara, Gran Canaria is one of the two largest islands of the Canary variety. There are a total of seven islands in all, but Gran Canaria and Tenerife are the most populous. They are also the most visited by Europeans. Luckily for me, the fact that the islands have so many Europeans visitors means they speak both English and German on the coast. I say luckily because I was the idiot in school who decided NOT to take Spanish; a choice I am now regretting. However, I did learn that the accent of the people is more like Latin American and less like traditional Spanish. But I guess I really don't need to worry about accents.. How different can 'deme una caja de tabaco de mascar, por favor' sound in Mexico vs. Spain right?

In case you were curious.. I just said “Give me a box of chewing tobacco, please.” For some reason I get the feeling I wont actually need to say this phrase. I'm not sure where that feeling is coming from, but I feel it is best to trust my gut. However, it is in my 'Spanish for Travelers' book.. So learn the phrase I must!

Another thing I learned whilst studying away on Gran Canaria is that, on top of gorgeous beaches, I will be enjoying a nice even climate. Basically perpetually sunny and 80 degrees. Hmm.. how will I survive? I guess I will just suffer through it.

So remember that bikini I mentioned? I mentioned this because I envisioned myself laying on the beach for fourteen days. In fact, I was so confident that I would just be laying on the beach that I was only going to pack sun dresses, bathing suits and sandles. But once again, my research has informed me of some VERY interesting facts. Such as the fact that there are mountains and canyons on the island. Such as the fact that there is a volcano. Such as the fact that there are jungles and forests. Such as the fact that there is free camping on the beaches. Such as the fact that the whole island is only 640 ft2. Meaning these facts are very easily traveled to! This makes me a VERY happy girl! So I will now make room for hiking shoes and shorts and my tent. Ahh, how your perspective changes with just a click of a button!

(Momentary aside: My dad is worried I will get lost exploring the jungle and volcano.. I can't begin to imagine why he would think this.. Me? Lost? Pshaw! I scoff in your general direction Dad! When have I EVER been lost? Nevertheless, I will bring a compass to please him. Worse case scenario I hike south til I hit the ocean..Maspalomas is south..How hard could it be?)

I might also add that there are sand dunes that make you feel like you are in the Sahara Desert. Quaint lighthouses and villages that are screaming, “Mac, come enjoy us! Please, please please.” OK! OK, no need to get worked up light houses! Villages, calm the heck down, I will enjoy you both!

Are you curious about the cuisine? I was.. I was also worried.. Simply said I am not a fish eater. This is, I think, my greatest flaw. What I wouldn't give to go to an island restaurant and NOT order chicken. I have tried fish cooked a hundred different ways, hoping.. Nay, Praying.. that I would love fish. But to no avail. While on Gran Canaria I will try it a hundred more ways. Well, it is an island isn't it? So fish it will be.. I heard rumors of octopus rings.. I think I would like to try octopus rings. I am not kidding. But no worries, Mate. I also read about the serving of spicy meat. This could work for me in a big way.

So there you have it. Jungles and volcanoes, octopus rings and free camping. What more could a girl ask for?

And so, I leave you with another helpful travel phrase: No quiero que me la saque, gracias. (I don't want it extracted, thank you. In my book, they listed this under Dental Section. But I feel that given the price for parts on the black market, its a helpful phrase all around!)

P.S. I laugh at the idea that I actually thought I could lay on the beach for 14 days. Really? I have known myself how long? Luckily God knows me and provided me with volcanoes and canyons and jungles to play around in. Thanks God!

So it Starts!

I finally did it! I did it! I did it!!!!!!

“What?” you may ask, “What have you finally done?”

I finally bought my first international plane ticket!

Where? Why, to the Canary Islands off the coast of Africa!! To say that I am supremely stoked would be the understatement of the century. I have been shilly-shallying around with the idea of going overseas for, Oh... I don't know, MY WHOLE LIFE.. So when I finally hit the submit button and booked my flight my Mom said “Oh, I thought you would never do it! I am so proud of you!”

Who cares that I have no idea what these islands are like. The food, the people, the anything..... All I know is that in a little over a month I will be getting on an airplane and taking a little trip o'er the pond!

Ok, so this idea of not knowing anything is a slight exaggeration.. I do know that the islands are Spanish, therefore, one can reasonably deduce that language spoken there will be Spanish. And luckily for me, a little over a year ago, while en route to New Mexico, I stopped in Tulsa, Oklahoma to visit my Granddad and he loaded me down with travel books. Who knew that when I took it, my new “Berlitz: Spanish for Travelers” book would come in handy so soon! Not I said the Fly...

And, lest you think I am an irresponsible fool.. I also know someone who will be there when I land. Alice, a French exchange student who has stayed with my family the last few summers will be working there this summer. When I think of Alice and I turned loose on a Spanish Island... Well lets just hope we don't get arrested.

So my next month will be spent in travel prep! I will be figuring out a budget and transferring currency, looking up more information on the islands so I can be a little prepared, studying my little Spanish phrase book and buying a bikini.. Wait! What? You heard me! A bikini.

After that month of preparation, I will pack up, drive to Nashville and take a 28 hour trip until I land on a far away island.....

No big deal, but I might as well mention that I will have a LOOONG layover in Ireland too. Who has two thumbs and will be drinking a Guinness in Ireland? This girl!!! Actually, on the way home I will be landing in Belfast at around midnight and not leaving until 11 the next morning.... I plan on bringing along a hammock and setting it up in the airport so I can rest in style. How wonderful that my last night abroad will be spent in Ireland, huh?

So, now that I have you hooked (its OK to admit it, I have that affect) you need to check back in every so often to see how my travel prep is going, learn a little bit more about the island I am going to and then get updates once I arrive in Spain....

Until then: Hasta luego!