What a great weekend! I could barely sit through the makeup classes I had on Friday knowing that Mom and Mrs. Kelley were wandering around the city somewhere. I rushed to the hotel and found that they hadn't checked in yet. I was just turning to leave and come back a little later when I saw them through the door. I held the door for them and Mom looked up and said "Gracias" and then looked back down without even realizing. A second later, her head snapped back up and she burst into tears. I was so excited to see her! I wonder how often the receptionists there see study abroad students meeting their parents.
All three of us got up to the rooms and sat for about an hour just talking. Afterwards, we went to a restaurant nearby and had a big lunch of fish and steak. Later that night we walked around a bit and had some tapas. We also worked with the hotel to fix our air conditioning (it kept going out) and to rent a car for Saturday.
Unfortunately, on Saturday, we found out they only had stick shifts available. Since Mom and I have never learned, it fell to Mrs. Kelley, who hasn't driven stick shift in quite a few years. Needless to say it was a bumpy ride. However, it was really worth it. We left Granada, where the weather was about 40 degrees and really cloudy, and drove 3 hours along La Costa del Sol (The Coast of the Sun), which is the southern most coast of Spain. When we arrived at the coast, it was 85 degrees and a clear blue sky. Mrs. Kelley and I took off our shoes and collected seashells by the sea, and then we all sat at an outdoor cafe and watched the beach for a while. We continued along the coast until we could see the Rock of Gibraltar (very cool!) although the driving was difficult. We eventually turned around and came back to Granada around 4 pm to enjoy some lunch and shopping.
Every day we went to the Alcaicara, a web of abbeys that makes you feel like you stepped into a Moroccan market. We bought many scarves and enjoyed the city. On Saturday night we went out again for tapas and had calamari and wine. On Sunday we got up early and went to the Alhambra. It was absolutely insane! We were allowed to enter at 9 am, and we got there about 20 minutes early. There were people running and stampeding to get into line as if it was the most important thing to be the first one in. We bought the audiotour went at our own leisurely pace. It was a great review for my art midterm, and the first time I've learned about the Alhambra in English (although it was oddly narrated by someone posing as Washington Irving). Afterwards, Mrs. Kelley went back to the hotel while Mom and I went to Burger King (I've been craving it since I've been here). They were supposed to open at 12, but like everything in Spain, they did it at their own pace. Around 12:30, we ate and had a great time. Afterwards, we had siesta, and then we went to coffee at my homestay. My senora was so energetic and gave us great coffee and cookies while Mrs. Kelley and my mom peppered her with questions. I learned more about her in that hour and a half than I have my whole time here so far. Afterwards, my throat was a little sore from translating for everyone (although I suspect Mom understood more than she let on!). We went to two great tapas places; my favorite, Cuadros, serves fantastic tortellini.
Monday, I had to return to school and take my midterms. They were pretty easy and I returned to the hotel afterwards and took Mom and Mrs. Kelley to Kebab King so they could try what I have been raving about for months. They both loved the kebab, and we were lucky enough to avoid the guy who usually works there. Afterwards, Mrs. Kelley went back to the hotel and Mom and I went to a teteria (tea/hookah store) and split a pot of my favorite Moroccan tea. It was so much fun to show her around and bring her to my favorite places. It was like I was seeing everything for the first time again! When we returned to the hotel, we sat out on the roof with Mrs. Kelley and enjoyed the view until it was too cold. Mom and I went out shopping for half an hour and she bought me this great belt and the CUTEST black leather boots. We then met Meg for dinner at a nearby restaurant (after a long search for America food) and had a great dinner of hamburgers and steaks (guess who had the steak!). Mom and I tried to stay up as late as we could talking, but eventually we fell asleep and then it was Tuesday : (
We woke up early and had breakfast at the hotel. I had reserved a cab to pick them up at 9 and bring them to the airport, so I walked with them to the car and we said our goodbyes. I wanted to jump in and go home with them, I was so sad. After they left, I had to face my last two finals, art and literature (the hardest ones!). I think I did really well and I am so glad they're over. Mom landed safely in Barcelona and I couldn't have had a nicer weekend with her.
Tomorrow I am doing my first hour of volunteering with the daycare center and then I have my first intercambio meeting with Sandra, a Spanish dentist who is hoping to practice her Spanish. I've given up on having intercambios with guys here, as they are WAY too creepy and European. On Thursday, Meg and I leave to start our journey to Florence, Italy. We are staying Thursday night in Madrid in my highschool friend Courtney's apartment and then we fly to Florence to stay with Becca (a friend from DU) until Monday. I am so excited!
I miss you all,
Em
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