Today I am thankful for...

Welcome to my gratitude blog, which was formerly my 365 project (posts 5/30/10 - 5/30/11). I will continue posting 10 things for which I am grateful to help me (and maybe you too) stay positive.

Here's to optimism, gratitude, and all the simple pleasures of life :)

Madrid, Granada y Barcelona

I am finally done studying for my first exam. You know what that means? Catching up on the gratitude lists during my month-long backpacking trip! (Link to all Spain photos at end of post)

Reasons to be happy in España…

6/2/11 Departure

Layover in North Carolina:

Mom: “The news just said there was an E. coli outbreak in Europe, so don’t eat any raw vegetables!”

Me: @#$!

  1. Making it to the airport on time
  2. Having no problem w/waking up at 4am
  3. Roomie’s mom being SO kind and helpful
  4. Last hugs before we entered the airport
  5. Hearty croissant sandwich & hashbrowns
  6. Reading & writing on the plane
  7. Making my last phone calls in Charlotte
  8. Food service! Full dinner, then tea & danish on the morning of arrival
  9. Getting SOME sleep
  10. Getting excited for Madrid!

6/3/11 Day 1 in Madrid

  1. My first interactions in Spanish w/locals!!!
  2. Making it to the hostel alive
  3. Not busting my back
  4. Public transportation and the ease of the metro
  5. Enjoying España for the first time
  6. Having an ice cold Coke in Plaza Mayor
  7. A very satisfying jamón y queso sandwich
  8. Cliff bars
  9. The beauty of Temple of Debod
  10. Having a room to ourselves in Hostal Welcome

6/4/11 Day 2 in Madrid, aka MUSEUM DAY

  1. Green strolls in Parque del Retiro
  2. Seeing La GuernicaS by Picasso in Museo Reina Sofia
  3. Seeing Saturn (devouring his son) by Goya in Museo Prado
  4. Getting into the museums for FREE!
  5. Enjoying Madrid on a budget
  6. Live music everywhere - in the metro, park, and restaurant
  7. My hot dog and fries (so Spanish, I know)
  8. Our first paella :D
  9. Excellent service and complimentary tapas
  10. The most amazing flan. Ever. Seriously.

6/5/11 Day 3 in Granada

  1. Getting on the right bus
  2. Cliff bars never tasting better
  3. Somehow sleeping through the Italian man’s loud phone calls on the 5-hr bus ride
  4. A taxi saving our lives
  5. Excellent customer service at Hostel One
  6. The best cone of my life
  7. Seeing the beautiful cathedral
  8. Discovering our favorite part of Granada: Albaicín
  9. Having fun at gift shops and looking at funny pants
  10. The feeling of accomplishment and awe when we reached Mirador de San Nicolas and saw la Alhambra for the first time

6/6/11 Day 4 in Granada

  1. Moar Cliff bars & beef jerky
  2. Knowing our way to la Alhambra
  3. Adventures early in the morning
  4. Opportunities for photos everywhere I turned
  5. The preservation of la Alhambra’s detail
  6. Being blown away by history
  7. Damn amazing gelato cones
  8. Finishing our exploration of la Alhambra before it started raining
  9. Magical frozen yogurt making the rain stop
  10. Feeling very satisfied with our Granada adventure

6/7/11 Day 5 in Barcelona, aka the day we almost missed our plane and the day the Barcelona sky almost drowned us with summer rain

Snail: “Vamos a la playa.” … “Vamos a la playa?” … “Vamos a la playa!”

Roomie & me: “OKAY FINE WE WILL GO TO THE DAMN PLAYA.”

*Ten minutes after we sit down on the sand* “Those clouds over there are getting closer.”

TORRENTIAL DOWNPOUR.

  1. The taxi sent by God at 6am
  2. Getting seats on the bus to the airport
  3. GETTING ON THE FREAKING PLANE (10 min. before takeoff)
  4. My pants not falling down as I ran through the airport because there was NO TIME to put my belt back on after security!!
  5. Not giving up, and somehow being able to run with our +20 lb backpacks to the other side of the airport
  6. Easy navigating around Barcelona
  7. Awesome hostels
  8. Australian accents (and the charming man from Sydney who spoke in one)
  9. Visiting la playa… if only for a little while
  10. Being clean and safe with a roof over our heads

6/8/11 Day 6 in Barcelona/Paris

  1. Breakfast included at our hostel! Toast, muffins, juice, and apples instead of Cliff bars and jerky
  2. Seeing Parc Güell and that silly iguana
  3. Walking to la Rambla
  4. Fresh mango juice at the market
  5. La Sagrada Famila and BOGO free sandwiches at Burger King
  6. A kind French girl helping us get on the right plane to Paris
  7. Seeing Gaudi’s work all over Barcelona
  8. Our own room at Best Western in Paris via gift cards
  9. Making it to the hotel safely
  10. Real shampoo, clean bedsheets, and fresh towels!

See fotos of España here!