SPAIN!  A little fun from my side of the world:

So, I may have made a few mistakes in my video.  For one,  I exaggerated how many locks we have on our door (it's really 4, promise).  

I also showed my undies for all to see..luckily you weren't surprised if you have read my other post.

I love my Spanish life here.   Everyday I wake up thinking it can't get better than the one before..and then it does!! It's amazing.  I can't even explain how blessed I feel to be here!

This is where I live.  Can it get any dreamy-er? No.  I love, no LOVE, the roses.  They are the  BIGGEST roses I have EVER seen!

See what I mean?!?! Even here I find my simple joys...FLOWERS!

So, Everyone knows that bull fights are just part of the Spanish culture.  So, I went to one.  Do you want me to be honest with you? Ok, fine, I will then:  

I cried a little bit.  For like the first 15 minutes I sat speechless, wondering if I would make it through the whole thing.  Then I got a little teary eyed, and well! I just like to look "tough" so that couldn't keep going.  So, I stopped crying and got myself together, and tried to understand why the people liked this sort of tradition....I still don't know.

But, it was fun to go with my group and have the experience.  If anyone wants to come to Spain and have me give them a tour, I'd be MORE than happy...but don't count on a bull fight with me.  I don't think I'll be going to any more of those.

We were in the section called "Sol" which means sun (or sunny).  And boy, it would've been bad if that were true.  BUT! We actually had great seats (in my opinion).  We had shade, and were far enough from the bull that I couldn't smell it's sweat and blood dripping off.  Before I start going on with details, let's just say that it was close enough for me!

The Madrid, Spain Temple!  What a beautiful and comforting site!  I was so excited to go here! There aren't any gardens, but still the grounds are beautiful and calm...just like how you would imagine.  In this tree you can see the amazing (and OLD!) olive tree.  It's incredible! It symbolizes the Garden of Gethsemane; beautiful! 

My beautiful (and of course tall! I'm always paired with the tall ones) roomie, Hilary!

Cuenca! What a pretty little town! You wouldn't come here if someone didn't tell you about it!

In the royal palace gardens.

I just couldn't get enough of this!  I tried to walk fast so I could see the whole thing..too big!  So I slowed down, walked around, read a book, and enjoyed being in the middle of a beautiful place!

It was my host dad's birthday a couple days ago..doesn't that cake make you salivate? Ya me too.  Pretty sure we ate half of it..and there were only 4 of us! He's a funny guy! "He kept saying cut them a little bigger!" to his wife..and let me tell you, she is NOT stingy when it comes to food!  Too funny.  And then today, after we finished lunch (which is actually always a HUGE feast b/c it's like dinner here), our host mom asked if we wanted any dessert; when he asked if there was any cake left and she said "yes" he responded with a "fine, I'll make the sacrifice and eat it for everyone!"  He's got a good sense of humor!  I'll take him as my Spanish Dad ANY day!

My Spanish parents!
Aren't they just adorable?! 

(he's holding the card we wrote him for his birthday!)

Isn't this sweet?!!  So, as you may know (or you do now), my town is the birthplace of the author of  Don Quijote.  (If you don't know what that is, google it asap! It's a classic)  Anyways, here (and pretty much everywhere in Spain) there are drawings, sculptures, statues, etc... of Don Quijote EVERYWHERE!  Pretty sure I love it...and pretty sure this is one of my favorites.  This is just right behind where I live.

I eat like a queen!  Every day we have a HUGE lunch and then a HUGE dinner! (lunch is always the biggest meal here)
I love it, but I love more that my host mom makes everything look amazing! She is quite a chef, and makes everything look gourmet!  Seriously!

The famous dish: Paella! 

Served all over Spain; it's delicious!  Ellie, you would love it!  It's pretty much just rice, chicken, fish, and veggies...and if you get the "real" deal you get some rabbit in there.  

El Escorial
This place is very unique, built during the Spanish Civil War (pretty recent actually) by the slaves.  Another thing to google when you have the time!

Castle!

View from the castle!  Beautiful! 

Now, let me tell you something. These people may not have any peanut butter, but they sure know how to eat themselves some nutella!  Welcome to heaven if you even like this stuff!

We went and had a picnic in the park (yes, if any of you even slightly know me..it was obviously my idea).  If you don't want to be dumb like me, don't ask anyone how to say picnic in Spanish! (It's just "picnic" for those of you like me, and didn't know).  This park is in the middle of Madrid, and is HUGE!  I don't even know how big it is!  There are soccer fields, parks, paths, old buildings, parts of museums...and well I'm not even sure what else! It's always fun walking through and finding something new!  We rented boats and went paddling around the lake for a short time! What a great way to spend the afternoon!
(the pic above is the same park, just on a different day)

We end (and sometimes start..too) our days with ice cream.  Do you think this one's big enough for me?  Ya, me neither!

Buenas Noches from a little chica in Espana!  

Clarificación

There's some confusion for some (family) about what I mean about love. Which, if you've never been to Spain before, is understandable.  I posted about love locks and such.  Let me take this opportunity to explain (or re-explain to some) what I mean:

I am in love.  

With Spain.  

The end.

Ok, but on a more serious note, it's true.  I am in love with this wonderful place we call Spain.  Last summer I really wanted to go on a study abroad, but was too nervous to do it because my sister was having a baby, and all these others little things kept creeping into my schedule that I was afraid to "miss out" on.  Then, my wonderful sister (Ellie) gave me one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received.  I ALWAYS want to do a little bit of everything, so it was hard for me to realize that by leaving I would miss some things, but she said: "Loren, no matter what you do in life, you'll miss out on something.  You just hope that the things you decide to do in place of the things you miss out on are worth it."  

Yes, great advice.  And now that I have fallen in love with Spain I understand even better what she means.  You have to give up something to get something else.  So, this spring I gave up the States to go to Spain.  And I love it.  It's hard, but I love it.

Everybody good now?

Kim, Trisha, Loren (ya that's me!)

Side note:  These are the wonderful angels I had as roommates last semester.  I say angels b/c if you know how hard my fall semester was the word "angels" wouldn't even justify how grateful I am for these wonderful ladies!

Sometimes you have to leave love behind to find new love. 

It's hard.

It's never supposed to be easy.

And, like they say, it's better to just rip the band-aid off, than slowly peel.

Well, I don't know if either of theses statements are ALWAYS true.

But I do know that they are true..most of the time.

In Spain, and apparently all across Europe, there are these "love locks." 

I have a new obsession with them.  

They remind me of all the love I have in my life...and all the love I am continually gaining through my experiences in life, especially my experiences here, in Spain.  

I have learned to love new people, places, sights, smells, food, buses, big cities...etc...the list could go on...forever.

  And I have gained this new love all because I took a leap.  A leap that was very hard for me to make, for various reasons, but none the less, a necessary leap.  

And I have never been so happy.  These leaps of faith are what try me the most because I have a hard time trusting someone will catch me. Yet, I am always caught. 

And each time I am caught, I learn to love more.  Learn to love differently.  Learn to love again.

And this time I have really learned what it means to give up something to get something else.

And usually, that's exactly how love works.  

So, enjoy some of the love, and remember the loved ones (or even the "things") you love most. 

As I did today.

These are the lovers of Cuenca, by the way.

(*My journey through Cuenca to be posted also...but love is always more exciting, 

so I thought I'd start there)

The lover's locks:

(It's said they throw the key, usually in a river, to make sure the lock is never opened, "locking" their love forever)

LOVE

(and let me just tell you, this is NOTHING compared to some places SMOTHERED in locks..oh, love!)

the view from MY window

This is the view from MY window.  MY window in Spain.  

From my window I can see people walking the streets, cars buzzing by, buses stopping to let on

 the gente (people), apartments crammed with people, lovers in the park, birds in the

 trees, and even my own reflection looking out.

My window in Spain includes a lot.  But let me tell you about something it does not include:

The wonderful Mar Garcia Nieves Family.

This family is made up of a simple couple: Jacqueline and Gerardo.

They are a family of 2 that leads a modest and comfortable life.  

And yet, even with this amazing window with a view...I am the lucky one that gets to see inside.  Inside the window. Inside MY Spanish window. Into a world know but by few.  I am in love with this view inside my window.  The people, the food, the smells, the feelings. All are close to my heart.  And now, so is this family.

Jacqueline is an amazing woman.  She cooks for us, cleans for us, straightens up our things 

(and usually our quickly made beds..but always made!), and washes our clothes.  

But there are things about her that are more amazing than home chores.

And that is her love for Heavenly Father. 

Before coming to Spain I prayed for 4 very specific things:

1-to have a roommate I could get along with

2-to have a family to live with that I was "healthy" (so I could eat!)

3-to be able to run safely and sufficiently while here so I could still train for BYU

4-to be able to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with my family here

Almost the first day here, Jacqueline asked us questions about the church.  She LOVES the Mormon heritage, and honestly can sometimes explain it better than me.  She knows so much, and is so PREPARED.  She is prepared for the Gospel.  Now it's just the matter of getting it to her, to her family, in the way that she needs is-and so she can accept it.  

Today at lunch we laughed as we talked about the missionaries of our church, and how Jacqueline knows who there from here in Spain and in her homeland of Venezuela.  The conversation mentioned other things, and each time something came up I could feel the spirit there.  I know this is where I am supposed to be right now in my life.  I don't know that I will be the one to infiltrate the Gospel into their lives, but I know my example can do so much to help them on their way to this knowledge.  

I have prayed everyday before coming and every day since being here to have more opportunities to keep sharing the Gospel with them.  And I do keep getting them!  The power of prayer is insurmountable.  

I have received ALL 4 things I prayed for before coming to Spain, and MORE!  It's incredible.  MY life, and the window I look out to see it, is amazing.  But what's more amazing, usually, is what's inside.  And I am full inside today of gratitude for my Savior Jesus Christ, and for his example.  

I will continue to pray for my new Spanish family for the rest of my life.  Like my mom JUST told me: 

 "One day we will miss this place and the opportunities we have here on earth."

Pray for the things you want.  Work for the things you need.  And hope for the things you're unsure about.  Somehow, it ALL ALWAYS works out.

You just gotta believe it will.

Picture Overload, starting... ... NOW!

BARCELONA! 

(sorry, this one's a little out of order!)

Cathedral in Burgos

Gold people...solid gold.

Burgos.  Still love the trees here. 

 They will grow in and make a nice canopy tree tunnel!

Burgos: Plaza Mayor

This is how you eat pizza around here...

yes, those are hatchets.

 .

Old church...

there are old (and I mean OLD) churches everywhere!  It's amazing! 

They're HUNDREDS of years old, and just sitting around waiting for people to see them!

Cathedral in Leon.  AMAZING! 

This was one of my favorite cathedrals because of the stained glass! 

It is incredible!

Cathedral in Leon

(pics above, and the one below!)

Castle!

This castle was fun because you could go in, under, through, 

around and down some creep stair cases and check it out! FUN!

Barcelona gang!

Day 1!

Always make sure you know what you're doing when you get to the train station....

otherwise people look at you REAL funny!

Me and my peeps!
(just waiting for the train)

What did I tell you about the birds?!

(It doesn't help that everyone encourages them either...)

The famous: Las Ramblas

Christopher Columbus!

Now this is a pirate ship!

La playa!

Chantelle and I: first time in the Mediterranean!

Chantelle, inspiring me to take the plunge!

(thankfully!)

Our wonderful sand castle!  

(you can notice my shorts tan STILL! Embarrassing...

but that's just the life of a runner! Permanent lines.)

*Oh, and my cute suit...thanks Ellie for making me keep it!*

Barcelona Cathedral 

(closed while we were there for some festival)

Ok, so there were a ton of these strange, STRANGE

 people dressed up as "statues" to get money.

(Some were PRETTY creepy!)

He was good...until you got closer, 

and realized he was too short to be the real "Mask"

My favorite...by far!

Pablo Picasso Museum!

(Awesome!)

The Moment You've All Been Waiting For:

LA SAGRADA FAMILIA 

(In english: The Sacred or Holy Family)

*This side symbolizes the birth story of Christ, and has symbols of the sacred family all over it (the other side is themed as the Passion, or the death of Christ, and is actually really creepy.  It looks really modern, and weird. Another artist actually created it (not Gaudi) b/c many of Gaudi's blueprints were lost in a fire during the Spanish Civil War. 

There's no way to tell how amazingly huge this place is in this picture!

Inside the Sagrada Familia

Still inside:  these columns symbolize trees going up into the heavens.  

*everything inside and out was inspired to Gaudi through nature, so cool!

Ya, I took this picture! SWEET!

*You may be wondering what I keep getting cranes in my pictures...well that's because this building, already so magnificent, is still being finished.  It will not be finished for at least 30 more years to come, and when it does, will be the largest church in the world!

Guell Park! 

Beautiful and creative-again, inspired by Gaudi! 

His houses surround the area also, and they're sights all in themselves.

A captivating view from Guell Park

I was afraid of getting mobbed after I took this picture (my flash went off and everyone stared at me!) But this was so cool! The metro didn't have doors, but was all connected, so you could see from one end, all the way to the other!

*THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS TO A GIRL WHEN SHE'S NEVER BEEN TO A BIG CITY BEFORE!

This is what castles are SUPPOSED to look like! 

Flowers, and greenery EVERYWHERE!

This one's in Barcelona, one the mountain with the Olympic Park!

(my most touristy pic yet...great!)

The Olympics were here...HERE!  (in 1992)

I can't even explain how bad my body wanted to go down and run on that track!!!