Katie Comes to Spain!

As much as I love traveling and living abroad, sometimes I like to have a little something to remind me of home.  So it was with great enthusiasm that I welcomed (and solicited) a visit from a good friend.  Last week, the lovely Katie Unthank graced Spain with her wildly ecclectic, fun and feminist presence.  We had many fun adventures, including my long-awaited first trip to Madrid!

Katie arrived last Monday, just in time to partake in one of Spain's most infamous traditions - the afternoon siesta, a custom that I've come to simultaneously love and despise (more on this later...)  Afterwards I FINALLY did the tourist thing in Jaen (I know, about 4 months late!)  We went to the historic city center and wandered through it's beautiful, antiquated streets until we found our way to the cathedral.  La Catedral de Jaen is Jaen's crowning jewel, towering over the city with it's architectual glory.  Although I've admired it from afar, this was the first time I actually went inside.  While the inside was beautiful, after seeing cathedral after cathedral in uber Catholic Latin America, I must admit that I wasn't that impressed.  Although the outside is quite breathtaking, the inside is dimly lit with mediocre artwork.  Next, we journeyed up to El Castillo de Santa Catalina, which was illuminated and quite a sight while lit up at night.  It has spectacular views of the city and it's surrounding mountains.

Over the next few days, I showed Katie my daily Spanish life: trips to various cafes for decadent treats, tapas and drinks, and of course, the infamous Bariloche.  While I introduced Katie to a few new things, I have to thank her for FINALLY making me do all the tourist things I'd been meaning to do for the longest time.

The next leg of the journey was spent in Spain's capital, Madrid.  This was my first visit to the city, and I must say, Madrid is definitely my kind of city.  Beautiful, classy, interesting and fun, I suppose that there's never a dull moment in a city that's so full of life.  

Although we were only in Madrid for a few days, we packed in a lot of activities: paella in Plaza Mayor, row boating in Retiro Park (where hilarity ensued), a visit to the Prado, shopping in the Rastro market and of course, the mandatory flamenco show.  Add in delicious food, fine wine and interesting conversation of the feminist variety and the result is quite possbily one of the most perfect trips.

At the end of the trip, I was sad to see Katie go.  But I was also sad to leave Madrid.  Which is exactly why I'm currently counting down the days until my mom and her fiancee come to visit me in Madrid (T minus seven days.... ;)

Besos,

B

P.S. - If you want to come visit (or just send me presents, hehe), please let me know!