All Good Things Must Come to an End

Dio Mio - what a semester. These last couple weeks have been jam packed with friends, food and memories for the books. 5 sleeps until I head back to the homeland, and I couldn't be more conflicted.

When I think about coming home for the holidays, I get very excited. I think about all of the food I can eat, the crisp smell of Canada, and spending some serious time with my friends and my family - and getting a very necessary hug from my babe. But, the thought of me staying in Canada past the holidays is a sad feeling. I am not ready to leave my life here in Spain behind. Can't I just come home and love everyone and love everything - but then come back? I mean, I miss home so much because it has been so long. But when I think about leaving everything behind here, it is heart breaking. I now can understand my Mom's sadness about leaving France - it becomes a part of you, a part of who you are. I have made friendships here that I can't even begin to describe in words. I have met so many beautiful and amazing friends from all over the world. I have made true friendships with individuals who have changed my life. I am not the same girl who eagerly and nervously left in August. I have experienced more, I have laughed more, loved more, and learned more. I have challenged myself, I have tested myself and I have undoubtedly grown. I have gotten more out of this experience on an emotional level than I ever thought possible. 

So, it brings me to this question. How am I supposed to be okay with leaving some of my best friends? Friends that I see every single day, friends that love me and accept me for my craziness. Friends who come from different backgrounds, languages, countries, continents and time zones. Being a Canadian is so difficult in this situation because I live so much further than anyone else (besides my 'Murica's). I can't hop on a cheap flight to Belgium to visit Charlotte, or jump on a ferry to visit my English loves. And the incompetence not to do so is something that I seriously struggle with. Yes, of course, I know that this isn't the end of our friendships and I know that we will see each other again. But the question of when, and knowing that it can't be in a few weeks, or a few months, it's going to have to be years is something that makes me ache. These are people I spend every single day with - people who have just become a part of my routine and life.

We will have memories from this trip forever. We will share memories (some foggy, at that) of our drunken nights, of our delicious dinners, of our travelling and everything in between and out between. We have laughs and jokes that no one is able to share with us, and we will always share that and cherish that. 

Last night I was blessed with a Surprise Leaving Party and I was so unbelievably overwhelmed. For anyone that knows me - knows that I am a very emotional girl. When I'm sad, I cry - when I'm angry, I cry - when I'm happy, I cry. There have been a few moments in my life, however, where my overwhelming emotions somewhat paralyze me, and even thought my body is coursing with emotion - I can't show it. No tears. And that is how I was last night. I was so overwhelmed and touched that these individuals who have only known me for a few short months - took the time to throw me a huge bash and show their faces to party with me and say goodbye. I couldn't cry. I wanted to, but I couldn't. It was especially hard because unlike all of my friends here - I am not coming back after Christmas. I am done. So although everyone is leaving for Christmas, they are coming back. And there were many individuals there last night that I know I will not see again. It just won't happen when we are worlds apart. But it was just so touching to see everyone, to say goodbye to everyone and to get to have a big BANG before I left. There were balloons and streamers and things that popped. And they all hollered when I came in and I thought I had peed my pants (I was wearing a white dress) - but I also though that we were under some serious gang violence...

                                                   All the girls Canadian Baconing me ;) 

And all I could do was scream, and jump up and down, and my face hurt so much from smiling. And I was flailing and being so loud and giggling. And there were sooooooo many people there! For me!! I will always remember the effort that my besties went to, to do that. Of course it was the rowdiest party of the semester - broken chairs, broken pictures, broken toilet, broken glasses. But it was a success. I got a free bottle of Champagne at the club and I was having such a great time. I spilled drinks all over the bar rail..twice.... I punched my best friend (hopefully not hard...) because she wasn't listening to my story, I screamed at some creepo, I went to bed at 9am and I did some serious Canadian Bacon action.

These memories are something I will have forever. There are a few individuals here that have changed my life forever. It breaks my heart that I have to say goodbye to some of the greatest people I have ever met. 

But, they always say that you should leave the party while still having fun. And I am having so much fun - I can't imagine leaving. 

xoxoxox
-CB

Madrid

Okay okay, delayed again, but YOLO. Or YOHOSA (You only have one semester abroad) and YOIMO (You're only in Madrid once... or Malaga...)

So, we took a flight from Barcelona to Madrid and we were so absolutely exhausted none of us spoke to each other and we slunked down to catch some serious z's. We took the bus into the centre and took the metro to our hostel. However, on the way we had a rare run in with a Paparazzi - I'm surprised you haven't seen our photos plastered all over the Tabloids... or maybe you have! We were being crazy ratchets on the bus and 3 guys sat near us - watching us, whispering our names, making fun of us, and overall being creeps. They got off the stop before us and as the bus is pulling away, Lucy says "Is this really happening right now?!" and we all look out the window. And sure enough - they are taking photos of us THROUGH the bus window - so, like the classy ladies we are, we mooned them.... kidding... we just posed with our thumbs up haha. But for real??

And here comes the scene from Taken 3 - ERASMUS ABROAD Edition. We arrive at our hostel - book up, pay and the man begins to describe to us that the hostel is full - and so he has called his friend to come get us and take us to another hostel - another building a few blocks away - and that is where we are staying.... What? So we impatiently wait, and a man from the Sopranos comes in with his long black coat, slicked black hair, harsh voice and black leather gloves. He proceeds to tell us to follow him, and well... we did. We were following this ax murderer or drug lord through creepy alleys and avenues of Madrid - until we got to this building, but it was a maze. The elevator only worked until the second floor - and every hallway took us through a new room - which led to a new hallway, and a new room, and a new floor, and OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO BE DRUGGED AND KILLED AND NO ONE IS GOING TO FIND ME BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE IN MY FAMILY IS GOOD AT MAZES. 

But instead - it is this gorgeous hotel room with a private bathroom and everything! CHACHING. We moved down to a bigger room the next day that had 5 beds so we each could have our own bed - and holy hell was this place ever nice! So, we immediately got ready and messaged our friend Sara who was in Madrid as well and we got dressed and drank and went to Capital. This club was RIDICULOUS. I know I saw that always but I have NEVER been to a club like this before. There were a billion floors - a billion people - and a whole floor dedicated to Bombay Saphire... couldnt stay up there too long due to my negative Gin experience a few weeks prior. But we danced and laughed and did ridiculous things. Lily and I decided to tag team it and dance two songs on every floor. SUCCESS. Oh god it was so much fun!

The next day we walked around Madrid taking lots of photos, buying animal hats, we went to this beautiful Cathedral  Charlotte and I went into the Palace of Madrid. We went back to the hostel - ate 5 bags of chips, had a nap and got ready for a fancy Thai dinner and a night out. 

Keep in mind it is a Sunday, and unlike Phils, it wasn't really bumpin. We end up in this empty bar that played terrible music, until around 1am where it started to play all of our Spanish favourites. We met some ridiculous Dutch guys, some LIAR that the girls nicknamed "General Swag". More like "General Knob". He was humping the wall, and going on and on about how he was a US Marine. Nice try buddy. He did however buy us a drink! Kind, Texan.....

General Knob humping the wall..

We turned heads, not due to our great looks, but instead because we were playing Bernard's Watch. This was a television show in Britain  where this child Bernard, had a stop watch - and he could stop time whenever he wanted and everyone around him would freeze, and he would go around and eat their food, drink their drinks - things like that! Lily bought a BEAUTIFUL stopwatch necklace at the market that day and so we played it. Whenever she would flip it open we all had to freeze - regardless of our position - and we had to stand there frozen while she danced around us, drank our drinks, did ridiculous things and we took turns. Holy Hannah was it ever hilarious. 

Playing Bernard's watch! 

The next day we set off to be in love and tour around and we paid 4 euros to take a boat out onto the lake! Oh my god it was like I was back on Manitoulin Island. We took turns rowing, and it was a beautiful day. We were in this gorgeous park. We did have some difficulties - we hit a boat, and got splashed. But it was still a success. 

We headed back to the centre - spent a nice time in Starbucks and killed some time before our train home.

The train home was phenomenal  It was way more practical and comfier than a plane. We had tables so we played MASH and Consequences and ate snack and just did crazy girl things. Although... I did pass out HARD on the table.

It was such an AMAZING weekend. One for the books :) 

Barca wooooooooo

Oh my goodness me! I know that this post is SO delayed it isn't even funny! But I'm pretty sure only one person reads my blog anyways, because YOLO I have no friends and my family doesn't like me. MEH.

Okay! So instead of writing a super long blog post on my weekend excursion with my besties to Barcelona AND Madrid - I'm going to split them up! Let's start with a city that needs no introduction....

BARCA

It all began on the airplane when we got hammered off of a glass of wine. It must be the altitude - but flying is FUN when you're tipsy! Why don't people do it more often!? Well... maybe they do - but I was a youngen when I started flying so I didn't get the "grown up" memo. But I totally know how I am going to spend my LONG flight home - enjoying some serious FREE wine and hopefully staring in my own drunken plane scene like in Bridesmaids. Just kidding - but seriously. All the booze. I want it. Besides - it may actually help me sleep. Although - I feel very badly for the individuals seated beside me - they'll be subjected to some serious giddy giggling - to myself. Oh the JOY of the holidays. 

Ah! But anyways - we get absolutely tipsy on the flight, unintentionally, but still! Imagine 5 giddy girls in camino to Barcelona! We were a sight for sore eyes, that is for sure. We arrived at our hostel which was pretty cool, bunk beds - a private room to ourselves, and we only had to share the bathroom. First thing is first, Charlee and I ran to get a kebab - it was necessary but beyond disgusting. Ew. Barca kebabs. And it was about 1 am so none of the chino shops were open - which means that there wasn't any alcohol! Although there were many randos on the street selling beer, we responsibly decided not to bite.

So we got dressed up and decided we would wander around anyways. We set out, and run into this random Columbian guy in the hostel who said he worked for this awesome bar and he can take us there and we can get cheap drinks! Making friends with promoters is always a great time. So - we go ahead with him, but he takes us to this terrible bar - drinks were shit and expensive - he lied to us about the prices - I don't even think he worked there - and he would not leave us alone. He just sat down with us, so we carried on a conversation without him - creepy. And when it came time, we not so politely told him to peace out. Dud night. We just went back home so that we could be ready for our day of excursions the next day!

The next day was wonderful! We woke up and got ourselves a DELICIOUS baguette for breakfast (I'm going to miss those soo much). And headed out to take one the beautiful city. We paid to take the double decker tourist bus and it was a fabulous decision. We truly got to see so much of Barcelona because it took us everywhere.

We saw so much of Gaudi's work - and let me tell you - it is true art. Beautifully eery, and creepy, and it is unlike anything I have ever seen before. He was a true master of his work. Sagrada Familia was absolutely gorgeous. In fact - they are continuing the building and it is expected to finally be finished anywhere from 2025 - 2050. Holy cow, is it ever gorgeous. 

We went to Camp Nou - a "football" (soccer) stadium. It is the largest stadium in Europe and seats close to 100,000 people. We saw the "Universitat de Barcelona". We went to Parc Guell which was absolutely gorgeous! It is filled with mosaic, and you can see the city for ages when you're standing there. All of the artistic detail with this mosaic was absolutely beautiful. We walked La Rambla. We took a bus down to the port - although it was freezing cold and dark so we couldn't see too much. And we went to Starbucks to warm up and enjoy some serious coffee! Boy have I missed my Vanilla Lattes. Vanilla everything, get in my mouth!

We went to a Spanish restaurant for dinner - weird food as usual. And headed back to the hostel to get ready and drink for our night out!

We went to Razzmatazz, this HUGE club with a billion floors and secret rooms! It was so freaking good! We met some friends at the hostel and played drinking games with them before we went to the club, and a South African guy joined us on our night out. Now, some of our American friends were in Barcelona as well, and we planned to meet up but we couldn't reach each other etc. But somehow - we bumped into them at this HUGE club in the bathroom. How bizarre!? We danced and danced and I bought condoms out of the bathroom dispenser and started handing them out to strangers - advising them to "please practice safe sex". Awesome. 

Razz my tazz!

The next day we were off to Madrid. But we spent the afternoon walking the streets, eating KFC (oh god it had been so long) and walking through the amazing Spanish market. Literally everything you could ever desire. The meat kiosks full of EVERY meat, the seafood  - all of the seafood ever, candy, spices, jams, fruits and veggies, everything! So neat!

And alas, we're off to Madrid! 

xoxoxoxox

-CB