Around Vitoria (Casco Viejo)

First of all, I need to retract a picture from one of my first posts (here).  Catedral de Santa Maria is not actually pictured there.  That is an entirely different cathedral that is actually a museum.  There aren't really any good pictures of Catedral Santa Maria because it's in the middle of a ton of winding streets, and it's hard to see it all.  So when I make it back over there, I'll document it best I can.  However, the following pictures are from the past couple of days, some when I met up with Mikel (the son of one of Laura's co-workers) and it rained like crazy, and some from when I decided to wander around on my own.

• Side note: When I met up with Mikel it was pouring outside but we kept walking through the rain anyways because most of what there is to show in Vitoria in the center of the city is outside. Let me tell you now that there is nothing worse than thinking you look pretty good under bad circumstances and then finding out you don't...at all.  Even worse is finding out after you get back to your apartment and see that your mascara ran so badly that you look like this <-- click for my tragic appearance.

This is the angel in the middle of Plaza de la Virgen Blanca.  She signifies the Battle of Vitoria in 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars.

The view behind the angel.  The church in the background is the church of San Miguel, built in the 14th century.  So it's older than the United States.

 Plaza de España is right next door to Plaza de la Virgen Blanca and houses the government of Vitoria.

This one is for Susan (Connors!).  Apparently the super Irish of your family moved to Vitoria to offer "great music and airconditioning."

Gastby is here as well.

The streets in the center of the city look like this.  Mikel said a lot of them are named after what they used to mainly have on them.  So if there were a lot of cobblers on one street, it would be named Zapateria Kalea.  Kalea is "street" in Basque.

This is la Iglesia de San Pedro, also built during the 14th century.

The following 9 or so pictures are from the Catedral de María Inmaculada.  Built in the 20th century, it is home to a museum of religious works. 

 This would be a random walkway with yet another tree tunnel.

Thanks so much for taking a peek of my new home with me!

Autumn

I finally have pictures!

Ok everyone, I finally have pictures!  But they're a little blurry because the autofocus on my camera is shot so I'm having to use the manual focus.
     Today I went out by myself for the first time in order to let the university know I was actually in Vitoria.  I used a combination of the bus lines and my feet to get where I needed.  I have to admit I got a tad lost initially.  I wasn't sure about which bus to take when it came time for me to transfer lines (Line 2 had 2a, 2b, and another with just a name on it!).  But I got the one I needed, and then ended up getting off at the wrong stop because the bus driver didn't open the doors at the one I needed even though I pressed the button.
     Anyone know how to say "Uh...remember I pressed that button that means you open the doors here?" in español?
     Because of this I wound my way back to the university from a different stop and walked through this little park only to get lost again on the campus!

I think if you click on the pictures they will get bigger.

I got lost again because I was walking, whereas the last time I went to the university Jonathan had been driving.

But because I got a bit lost (aaagain) I saw the cutest little street with my favorite thing in the world, a tree tunnel.

The houses around the university are insane.  Some of them look like they came straight from Germany, and others look like they belong in Architectural Digest.

However, once I walked down here:

 I recognized the street we had arrived on last week, which led me to La Facultad de Letras! My building (as seen below)!

The woman in the international office today was just the secretary (the director was on vacation of all things) and she helped me the best she could by switching to English when she could see that I clearly had no idea what she was talking about.

Below are a couple of pictures of what surrounds the apartment.  We have mountains in the back (all around, really) and a super old church to the front (which I need to check out).

Here are a few things I did today or things I became aware of that are not photographically documented:

• I have no idea what to do with myself during a 3 hour siesta where it's basically dark afterward.
• I got a bike! Jonathan's mom's boyfriend had one that he is letting me borrow for my time here.  There are bike lanes everywhere so it should be A LOT easier to get around than in the 6 lanes of traffic on Western Blvd.
• I went with Jonathan to the Supermarket which is much more different than what I am used to.  There are many different things there like a place selling washing machines, a place making copies of keys, and even a pet shop (which had squirrels for sale?).
• The coolest thing about the supermarket is that there is an entire isle dedicated to jamón (ham). And not Hillshire Farms.  I mean the kind of meat you find at a fine butcher AND cured WHOLE LEGS of pigs just hanging out in the isle.  It was incredible.
• Since Jonathan doesn't speak English, I'm being forced to use my spanish a lot more and it usually ends up in both of us being incredibly confused.  Today, however, we had a lesson on nuts or frutos secos. None of these pronunciations are technical, just phonetic (obviously).
• Pipas= Sunflower seeds (pee-pas)
• Nuez= Walnut (new-es)
• Avellana= Hazelnut (ah-bey-yanas)
• Cacahuete= Peanut (caca-wet-eh)

A Taste of Where I'm Staying

Though I haven't had the chance to take my camera out with me, I have taken use of this three hour long siesta to take some photos of where I'm living!  We live in a fairly new neighborhood (Zabalgana) that has a lot of apartments (some still being built) for young people, many provided as government housing in a lottery.  Laura and Jonathan definitely got the luck of the draw with three beds and two baths.  As you can see, there's kind of a park right outside, and even further down the street is a small forest (that can be seen in the last post in the 360 link, view #6) that is next to the mercedes factory.  There are some bars within walking distance and the bus is very close as well so I can get around this cute little city!

View from my room to the right.

To the left

Sweet, sweet Noa

Living Room

Kitchen

My room!

Spain So Far

Disclaimer: these pictures are not mine!  Just examples, since I haven't been able to take any yet.
Well everyone, I made it!
Here's a quick synopsis of what it took to get here!

Raleigh: After saying goodbye to family and friends, I sat on the tarmac for an hour and a half in pea-soup fog.  They started the engines three times and had to shut them back down due to air traffic problems.  And the plane was the size of a school bus.

Newark: Because of the delay in Raleigh, my two hour layover in Newark turned into a ten minute sprint onto a bus and to another terminal (which I got lost in and then only had 5 minutes to get to my plane).  For a minute I considered dropping all of my ridiculously heavy luggage and just laying down in the airport, but I made it exactly at the minute they were closing the doors to my plane to Brussels.  I have never sweat so much, and I stayed hot for the remainder of the 6 hour 40 minute flight!

Brussels: I had a three hour layover in Brussels in which I took the time to talk to my parents (in the bed at 2am!) and some friends.  And I was FINALLY able to quench my thirst with a liter of water because apparently a cup the size of my hand is considered enough by the airline.

Bilbao: I finally made it!  I took a veery small plane from Brussels to Spain and for the first time was able to see the sun.  The plane was fairly empty except for the incredibly dirty bros seated across from me.

Once I got to Bilabo, Jonathan and Laura picked me up to take me to my new home!
Vitoria is such a neat little place (even though it feels huge).  Here's a link to a website that lets you see some 360 views of areas around the city: right hur.

I have yet to take any pictures as I have been running around with Laura and Jonathan for days now from city center, to houses, to the mall, bars, etc. and I have eaten more than I ever thought possible. But here are some ideas of what I've seen so far.

The Mall (much bigger than Hanes Mall and Crabtree!)

Plaza de la Virgen Blanca in the center of the city (no snow here, though!)

Catedral Santa María (medieval cathedral under live renovation, meaning you can visit while under construction).

I promise I'll actually take pictures so you guys can stop thinking I'm so terribly lame, but I just thought you'd like to know that I wasn't dead.

Here is the only picture I've taken so far, and it's a bad one!

This is Noa!  She's my new "pet."  She's a Basque Shepherd Dog and she's the sweetest thing.

Until next time, which is hopefully tomorrow,

Autumn

"A great pleasure in life is doing what others say you can't" via fortune cookie

The time has come everyone!  Tomorrow at 2:20 pm I will be starting my journey to Spain.

• Raleigh --> Newark, NJ --> Overnight to Brussels, Belgium --> Bilbao, Spain!

Bilbao is about 30ish minutes from Vitoria-Gasteiz so I'll be picked up from the airport by my new family (hi Laura and Jonathan!).  

I can't believe it's finally here, it seems like just yesterday I was deciding what country I was going to travel to.  It even seems like not that long ago that I was receiving this passport holder from a very important person in my life.  I've waited a long time to use this beauty and now I finally am.  

I'm nervous.  I'm terrified.  But more than anything I am excited to start this journey and have you all see me through it.

Autumn

What this is for.

Bienvenido a mi blog!

Welcome to my blog!

At all costs I wanted to avoid being "that person" with the lame blog while studying abroad.  However, I have decided that this could be a wonderful tool for letting all of you (friends, parents, extended family, whoeva) know about my life in the coming months ahead!

1. I am going to Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain for 6 months to study at Universidad del Pais Vasco.

2. It's in the northern part of Spain in the Basque Country near the French border.

3. I will be leaving January 16th and returning mid-ish July.

4. This blog will NOT be purely text!  Snooze fest.

5. Whatever I deem interesting, beautiful, cool as all get out while abroad will appear here for your viewing pleasure!

I will try my best to keep this updated and I hope at least one of you decides to keep up with me too!

Peace n' blessins

Autumn