Well, well, well where do I start? It has been a good long while since I've posted and I do apologise. Although I have probably spoken to almost everyone who reads this in the meantime so at least you'll be aware I'm still with the living.
Year Abroad part two has begun: I am in Barcelona!
I've been here for two weeks now, have just completed my first full week of work and am settled into my new flat. But HEY, hold up there Katie, I must start from the beginning, which just happens to be the end of Córdoba.
I'll admit it, going back to Spain after three glorious weeks at home was really difficult. They don't warn you about that part so much. I think it was mainly because I was only going back to exams (which nobody likes) and I therefore had a lot of free "revision" time. However, it was great seeing all the girls again and we had a few pretty darn good nights.
Yes, of course they mostly involved food. But just look how yummy.
I was only back for a couple of weeks but it flew by. Having had my exam results back (which I'm happy with) it is strange to think I don't really have a connection there anymore. While it had its fair share of downs, I had some cracking ups in Córdoba too and am now very fond of it.
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| Getting the oranges off the trees in Patio de las Naranjas. |
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| The smell of orange was AMAZING. |
I was lucky enough to make a really good group of friends and look forward to a reunion whenever and wherever it shall be.
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| How could I NOT miss this girl? |
My time in Córdoba was made brief as I had a big surprise in store. The one-of-a-kind Em Dave turned 21 at the beginning of February and so I decided I just couldn't miss that; you may know I'm a big fan of surprises even if I'm not on the receiving end. I will never forget the dazed expression on her face when I turned up on her doorstep, it was a real gem.
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| Doesn't she make a purdy 21 year old? |
As usual Exeter treated me bloody well and I had tons of fun - I might make this surprising malarkey a regular thing.
And then it was time to go again! Having spent a really lovely lazy week at home I packed up my bags and off I went. After a luggage kerfuffle at the airport I arrived with 20 kg less than I'd started with and am actually quite proud of how ruthless I was. Not easy for a girl! It was strange stepping out from the metro and being in a big, cosmopolitan and BUSY city after little Córdoba. But also pretty damn cool. There really is something to look at everywhere, and my list of places to visit is just too long to write down.
I stayed in a hotel for the first week so that I could flat hunt easily. I saw about 10 flats altogether and my oh my do they vary. Some were absolutely tiny with building works literally just outside the window, whilst others were as modern as can be, equipped with tumble dryer, double bed and the whole shebang. I settled on a typical Barcelona-esque flat in the Gothic Quarter. I have a double bed, good storage space and a balcony that I'm really looking forward to using when it gets a bit warmer here. While it can be ever so noisy, I'm really happy to be living in, what feels like, proper authentic Barcelona.
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| La catedral. |
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| The kids at the top were genuinely about 8 years old. Terrifying. |
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| Barcelona's little piece of Paris: the Arc de Triomf. |
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| The charming Izzy Miller. |
I really don't know what I'm going to do about all the bakeries and coffee shops here. There are too many pastries to eat in five months. But, I have a duty to do and it shall be done. I started with an Izzy Miller recommendation.
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| Florentines and macarons. |
Just delightful.
