Year #2 in Madrid

I had very mixed emotions coming back to Madrid after the summer; while I knew I didn't want to stay here past this school year, I also didn't know where I'd go when I left.  Now that my plans are a bit more solidified and I'm 99% sure I'll be moving back to the PNW, I've really been able to enjoy and cherish my time here in Spain knowing that I won't ever have this experience again.  It's made me have a bit different of an outlook than I had last year at this time when everything was so new and exciting-- while living in the middle of a European capital that lives to party has it's perks at times, what I most enjoy now is being with my friends, drinking a glass of wine at the Mercado, having a Belgian beer at Cafe Eke, a quiet dinner party, sitting on a terrace, an American dance party.  These are the times I'll miss when I leave here, not the nights we spent at the club partying till 7 a.m (although I never will forget our first clubbing experience when I chipped my front tooth on a beer bottle).  I've grown to love my job and second family here and it will be really, really hard to leave them in June. 

Included are some pics from my first few months back after summer vacation.  Enjoy!

Year #2 in Madrid

Dos besos a todo,  Linds

OKTOBERFEST

Wow.  That sums up our 48 hours in Munich.  Never will I have another experience that is quite like the last weekend of the biggest party in the world.  I always knew I loved beer (it just might be another food group in my diet as of late) but after this trip, I really love beer.  Words can't even describe the sheer magnitude of Oktoberfest-- this truly is one party you have to see and experience to believe.  Although there's no way to enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed living them, they give you a sneak peek into the crazy world of dirndls and lederhosen.

Oktoberfest

Genießen!  ~Linds

Alaskan Adventures

I have the best father (and mother) in the world.  No doubt.  A few examples:  he loves his family more than anyone I've ever met;  for three years he traveled from Ohio to Washington every weekend to see me play basketball; he still takes my brother and I out golfing whenever we are home, even though we never took advantage when we lived on a golf course our whole life;  he put my brother and I through college;  he lets my Mom spend money on clothes and shoes... sometimes even when it's for his daughter;  and of course because we have a common bond of migraines and a love for Mexican food!  My Dad has always been one of my biggest sources of support, encouragement and honesty and for a long time I've wanted him to retire so he could finally enjoy life at a slower, less-stressed pace.  Well, my dream came true in April when he reluctantly decided to leave Ohio (and the Buckeyes... Go Hawks!) for the good life of retirement in Phoenix. 

In celebration, our entire family took an Alaskan cruise from Vancouver, B.C. to Seward, Alaska, where we then spent a few days with my aunt and uncle who live in Anchorage.  It was one of the most amazing trips our family has taken together, made even better now that we all live so far apart.  We had many, many laughs and I don't think any of us wanted the vacation to end (unlike past years when as pesky teens, I'm sure my parents couldn't wait for us to get back to school!) 

While there are a lot of pictures, some of them have to be seen in sequence to truly understand the magnitude and beauty of Alaska.  My fancy camera doesn't even do the scenery justice... I didn't think Hawaii could be topped as my favorite state but it just might have been after this trip.

Alaska

Enjoy the pictures,

Linds

My Brother's Wedding Video

Although Collin got married in February, I have never gotten around to sending out the video I made for he and his wife.  And to be honest, I thought it was lost forever because I left the CD in the computer at the wedding site.  But have no fear, it was found today!

This video was played at the reception, although due to different systems in Mexico, the music didn't coincide with the pictures (all that time and then it doesn't work...)  So, for those of you who were at the wedding, THIS is what it was supposed to look like.  For those of you who weren't at the wedding, here's a look at a video I made for two of my favorite people on their special day :)

Collin and Erin's Wedding Video

Since it is quite long, it takes a while to load--- be patient!

Enjoy!  Lindsay

H.O.M.E.

When you live abroad (or are gone for an extended period of time) there really is no feeling like stepping back into familiarity, whether it be your house, your car (not that I have one...), old bars, friends' houses, where ever.  I hadn't been back to the States in a year so to be back was both shocking and relieving all at once.  I'd just gotten into the Spanish groove when summer hit (i.e. eating dinner at 10, staying out late, riding public tranportation everywhere, speaking Spanish), so to be back home where I understood everyone, drove a car, ate dinner at 6 and was in bed by 10 was strange yet so relaxing.  Being able to experience what I am at this point in my life is rewarding and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would never change.  Since catching the travel bug in 2005 I never would have dreamt I'd be able to see all the places I have in the past 5 years.  Yet with that being said, I can't wait to move back home.  I can't wait to own a house and a car and a dog and a blackberry and have a relationship and a somewhat "real" life, whatever that means.  My biggest fear, though, is that when I move back I'll realize I didn't really want all that after all.  But I guess it's the risks we take that can potentially give us the biggest reward.

Here's a small album from my time at home this summer

Summer '10

Whatever corner of the world you may be in, I think of you often and hope to see you soon!  

Con todo mi amor, Linds

Mallorca

In between my trips to Greece and my trip home I hopped over to Mallorca for a few days to visit two close friends of mine.  They are completing Masters degrees during the summer on the island so I came for the weekend to distract them for a bit!  And boy was I a distraction--- the conclusion we've made is that we think I was slipped something at a bar, which resulted in me being sick for the two full days I was there.  It was a total bummer because I missed our on visiting the bodegas (up in wine country) and having precious beach time (not that I needed it at that point) but most of all, Ididn't get to really see Mallorca for all it's cracked up to be.  The town, Palma, is adorable and the cathedral stunning.  But other than that, I didn't get to see much.  I hope to go back next summer before moving from Spain to see a bit more and really get a feel for what life is like on a Spanish island.

Mallorca 2010

Besos, Linds

24 days, 12 ferries, 9 islands.

I'm a beach girl through and through and traveling through the Greek islands has always been a dream I didn't think I could fulfill (since the ticket to get to Greece costs as much as the trip itself...)  Well lucky for me a ticket from Spain is about 1/5 the price as flying from the States, so off I went on a trip of a lifetime.  Now I will say this-- I normally try to seek out vacations that I know I won't want to do 10 years from now (i.e. Cambodia, Nicaragua, India, etc.) and while I saw my fair share of honeymooners and lovers walking hand in hand, I'm so glad I took this trip when I did because I think I was really able to see more out of each island than I would have had I been on a honeymoon or quick trip.  I've been really missing my life on an island and this gave me the fix I needed to get through another year in the big city! 

Greece lived up to all my expectations and in many cases exceeded them.  I didn't think it was really possible for a place to look as beautiful as postcards make it out to be but the Greek Isles proved that thinking wrong.  Time and time again I thought to myself, "This can't be real.  I'm not really in the Greek islands right now, am I?"  Since I went to so many places in such a short amount of time (and to prevent you from being bored out of your mind) I'll give a brief synopsis of each place but explain specific details in my photo album at the end of the post.

Naxos:  Naxos is one of the most fertile of the Cyclades and has its highest peak, Mt Zeus.  The port town, Hora, is divided into two towns:  Bourgos, where the Greeks lived and the hilltop Kastro, where the Venetian Catholics lived.  On Palatia Islet is Naxos’ most famous landmark, the unfinished Temple of Apollo.  The historic village of Halki is full of handsome facades of old villas and houses. 

Santorini:  Once you venture past the tourist and cruise ship portions, you see an island that is rich in beauty and history and it truly is a living postcard, perfect from many angles but always magnificent no matter where you see it.  Lonely Planet said it best when introducing Santorini:  “Fantastic, fabulous Santorini deserves all the superlatives.  Even the most jaded traveler succumbs to the awesome drama of this surreal landscape.”  Santorini was once called Stongili (Round One) until a volcanic eruption in 1650 BC caused the center to sink, leaving a caldera with steep cliffs.  Now, the caldera shimmers with white buildings, blue cathedrals, turquoise swimming pools, and hordes of tourists.  The main town, Fira, is breathtaking looking out from the edge of the caldera during the day and glistening with lights up and down the cliff at night.  Oia is much quieter than Fira... that is, until the sun begins to go down.  Then, it is a crazed frenzy to get the best spot for what has to be one of the most soughtafter sunsets in the world.  Even better is the hue that the town’s white buildings get when the orange and pink sun is setting against them, it’s magnificent! 

Paros:  Paros has the reputation of being a friendly island and it did not disappoint.  The main port of Parikia is not much to look at but once you venture out of the port you are pleasantly surprised.  On the northern part of the island the little town of Naousa is said to quickly be stealing the glitz and glamour of Mykonos.  It has a great waterfront area, wonderful restaurants, and an eclectic bar scene.  There was even a fish and wine festival going on while we were there, full of dancing, drinking and new friends.  Behind the waterfront is a maze of whitewashed streets filled with magenta bougainvilleaand small boutiques.  This was, by far, my favorite island because I felt it had the most charm and down-home feel.  I'd return in a heartbeat!

Sifnos: An island I wish I had gotten to spend more time in but due to ferry schedules we could only spend one night. With high barren hills, it was easily navigated in one day on a moto. The “capital” Apollonia isn't much to look at but the Kastro, a walled cliff-top village was incredible, with a small church perched on the tip of a long, rocky point.

Syros: The port town of Ermoupolis grew out of a refugee town that sprang up during the Greek War of Independence. The main square of Plateia Miaouli is lined by palm trees, bars and cafes, and the beautiful town hall. A small village to the north of town, Ano Syros, sits atop a large hill and was originally a medieval settlement.  Now, it is an eerie, quiet/deserted maze of homes and restaurants with a church at it's peak.

Tinos: This ultra religious island is home to the Church of Panagia Evangelistria, which is said to be the spot where the sacred icon of the Megalochari, the Holy Virgin, was found in 1822. The icon is one of the most famous in Greece and its so-called healing powers lead to mass pilgrimages each year (not really my thing but interesting to see...)

Mykonos: What do I say about this island? I think I had the highest expectations for Mykonos just because I'd heard so much about its party scene.  And while I caught a brief glimpse, the "partying" was nothing I was looking to take part in.  While we stayed at Paradise Beach (along with thousands of other 18-year-olds), most nights we ventured into Hora, the small, seaside village dotted with restaurants, bars and boutiques.  The Little Venice area was an absolute maze and I'm sure I walked in a circle at least 10 times before I found my way.  So while I liked the island for nothing more than it's craziness, I would never go back and found it to be far to expensive and hyped for what I got from it.


Delos: Delos is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece and the most important in the Cyclades. With no permanent population, you really feel as if you are there thousands of years ago. Delos was the birthplace of the twins Apollo and Artemis and was first inhabited in the 3rd millennium BC. Delos reached the height of its power in Hellenistic times, becoming one of the three most important religious centers in Greece. In 167 BC the Romans made Delos a free port, with up to 10,000 slaves sold per day. But by the 3rd century AD there was only a small settlement on the island and in the following centuries it was looted, which is how it remains today.

Ios:  Probably my second favorite island (although not much different than Mykonos--- not sure why I had such a different experience) I had the most fun here simply because of where we stayed.  Our hotel (Francesco's, recommened to ANYONE who visits this island) was on a hill overlooking the sea and surrounding villages.  The same view could be had from the pool, bar, and patio.  Each night everyone got together for drinks and then ventured into the city for what has to be one of the coolest bar scenes I've ever witnessed.  On one street alone there had to be over 100 consecutive bars, one after the other, all full and all fun!  One night when we went home at 2:30 people looked at us like we were crazy, most places were just opening then!  The beaches on Ios were also incredible and the party feel spread across all parts of the island.  People go there to have a good time and it's hard not to!  The only disappointing thing about the island was the 3 hour 4-wheeler ride (on our POS) out to Plato's grave, which ended up being nothing more than a pile of rocks.  All in all, I felt I had the most well-rounded experience on Ios because it captured all you think about when you think of the Islands:  sun, beach, party, beauty.

And Athens, there's far to much to explain about Athens.  The history is so rich there you could spend days in their museums looking at rocks and pottery and still not see everything.  Just walking around town and riding the metros feels like you are walking back in time.  The city is incredible and vibrant and full of energy and life.  The locals are so proud of their culture and their history and willing to share it with anyone that will listen.  I loved every minute I had in Athens and don't even feel like I scratched the surface of what there is to see and do.  Much more detail about Athens and what I saw will be described in the following photos.

So, as you can see, in typical Lindsay style, I crammed as much as possible into my 3.5 weeks and loved every minute of it.  I look forward to going back with someone special in the future to have a completely difference experience! 

Greek Isles 2010



Until then, yassas!

Madrid Madness

I often don't spend much time reflecting because I'm always planning for the future, whether it be what new job I want to have or what big trip I want to go on.  But with the school year over and summer about to begin, I've spent a lot of time thinking about how I got here.  I don't want to call it fate but I can't imagine being anywhere else at this point in my life.  I've never felt more fulfilled and excited about life and all that lies ahead.  My job this year, while demanding and stressful, has allowed me to grow as a teacher and mentor for my students like I never imagined.  I'm lucky to go to work everyday and have students from around the world that are eager to see me, eager to learn, and willing to lend a hand.  For that I'm truly grateful.  I've never felt more ready and more excited to come back to start a new year. I'll be assuming a few new roles in my job next year (while still remaining a middle school math teacher); one being the new activities advisor and the other being one of four coordinators of the middle school.  It should be a lot of hard work but I'm ready to step out of my comfort zone and see if there are other areas of teaching I may want to explore.

Along with my job comes the many coworkers that have grown to be great friends.  Last night at a going away party for three very dear friends I looked around the room and wondered how in such a short amount of time our group of friends has become so close.  They are my second family and our common bond has made us all the more fortunate to have one another in times of joy and sorrow because with our job it's often thousands of dollars and many thousands of miles to be in the comfort of "home."  I'm grateful to have these wonderful people in my life and know that many of them will be lifelong friends.

The best part of living in Europe (as is pretty apparent in my many posts and is the true reason why I accepted the job here) has been the opportunity to travel.  I've always loved to travel but never thought I'd be able to have work and travel coexist as easily as they do.  Work hard, play hard is the motto around here... and that we do!  Often times people will be talking on the morning bus about what they are doing the following weekend and if nothing is planned, within 3 days we are in another country. When else will I ever have the opportunity to do this?  When looking back at old pictures I'm truly amazed at the experiences I've had in just the 9 short months that I've been here; I can't imagine what the next year brings.

Here are a few photos of what life has been like the past few months when we haven't been on vacation and instead have been here enjoying the wonderful city we live in!  At some point I'll post Madrid photos from the whole year... but that will take a while!

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Madrid Madness

 

I look forward to a relaxing month of July on the beaches of Greece, followed by a quick trip to the Spanish island of Mallorca to visit friends, and then a month home in August, where I finally get to go to the one place I've been dying to see for many years-- Alaska!  I can't wait to be back to shop at Target, eat peanut butter, sit on my deck at home and gaze out at the water, and catch up with friends.  It will be a fabulous summer!

I hope you all have a restful and enjoyable summer wherever you may be in the world and I look forward to catching up with many of you in the coming months.

All the best, Linds

Munich

I can't believe how long it has taken me to make it to this city!  My good friend (and former Puerto Rican roommate) Agnes has been teaching in Munich for the same amount of time that I've been in Madrid.  I was going to visit for Oktoberfest but the tickets shot up in price as the date neared (good thing I've already bought them for this year!) and I never made it.  But, with a weekend free and the weather across central Europe finally starting to warm, my friends and I decided to bombard Agnes for 48 hours.  What a weekend it was!

From our airport drinking games and late night clubbing to the bike tour around the city; from the biergarten and soccer game to the Hofbrauhaus and Dachau and everything in between, we squeezed in as much as we could.  Agnes was a wonderful hostess and tour guide and I look forward to returning in a few months.

(click on the photo below to view the album)

Munich Blog

Auf Wiedersehen, Linds

Belgium

I can't seem to pinpoint why but if there was one place in Europe that I was most excited to go it was Belgium.  I finally got the chance over a long weekend in May.  The most accurate description of the trip would be "a beer lovers paradise!"  There are more beers on a list at a bar than most restaurants have food items.  Over 500 at one place, even 50 on tap!  It was truly amazing. 

Brussels is known for its waffle, its fries, its chocolate and the Manneken Pis (a small statue of a little boy peeing that is seen as a symbol of Dutch and French cohabitation).  It's a city where locals speak French, Dutch, Finnish, German and a bit of English (makes you feel really smart now doesn't it?)  Linguistic tensions still remain, as native French and Dutch speakers dispute over which language should be the official one.  Brussels is also known as the capital city of the European Union, so many people are in Brussels from Monday through Thursday, leaving on the weekends for home or other cities in the area.  Therefore, many say the city lacks excitement and nighlife.  I disagree completely, especially after you've tasted one of their many beers. 

Brugge, on the other hand, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often referred to as the "Venice of the North" due to its extensive canal system.  Tourists flock here for its medieval architecture and small town feel.  The buildings are well-preserved, the people friendly, the local beer delicious (of course), what's not to love?  Oh, wait.  The torrental downpour we were stuck in?  That might be one reason!

All in all, after two walking tours (aka bar crawls) I have to say Belgium doesn't rank too highly on my list of must-return-to countries but it would be at the top if I ever craved a beer!

(click on the photo below to view the album)



Belgium Blog

Tot ziens,  Linds