When something is bothering me, I generally find one song that I feel encompasses it all and listen to it on repeat for weeks on end. Beginning in May, my song has been "Sign of the Times" by Harry Styles. Even now, I sit and stare at the screen and wonder where all of the time has gone. One year ago I was sitting in the same coffee shop I am at right now, writing that first blog post, and dreaming of all of the places I was going to see, all of the people I was going to meet, and all of the things I was going to experience. And I did, I saw, I met, I experienced; it was more than I could have ever hoped for. I had the perfect year, they are not exaggerating when they say exchange will be the best year of your life. If someone told me I was about to repeat the entire experience again starting tomorrow, I would jump right in without hesitation. Exchange has formed my personality and molded my world view and I could not be any more grateful. Exchange taught me how to be more authentic. When language inhibits your ability to express yourself, you are forced to literally be yourself. I focused on finding and sending energy the that I hoped to discover in the new friends I was making. Rocío y Ale, soís me gente de verdad. Soís las mejores amigas que una persona podría tener. Me ayudáis perseverar sin saber que lo estáis haciendo. Mi año era definado por nuestra amistad. Gracias por todo, mis cielos. Exchange redefined my idea of spirituality and morals. Where does happiness come from? Why are people nice to each other? These ideas and many similar ideas have rattled through my busy head for years. Everything that I thought I had understood was questioned, tried, and redrawn while abroad. Stuart, if you ever read this, although the conversations we had upset me in the moment, I am thankful for the ideas and thoughts that you exposed me to. Exchange heightened my curiosity for cultures and languages. As I have written before, I used to be very irritated by the idea of only being able to experience life from the perspective of Megan Lenss. I ran from here to there constantly in search of something more. Being abroad made me realize that the ability to learn another language is that something more. Travel allows us to find connections and truths that we would not otherwise be able to understand. It exposes us to the histories of other peoples that we end up finding bits and pieces of ourselves in. What I am trying to say is that, humanity is a gorgeous institution in which we are all intricately connected and all we have to do is take the time discover those connections. A mi padre español Fernando, me enseñaste cada día de mi intercambio. Tu inteligencia y perspectivo del mundo me ha inspirado aprender todo lo que puedo. Gracias por ser el mejor profesor de mi vida. These three lessons only scratch the surface on the things that I learned on exchange. If I could send a thank you note to every single person I talked to while in Spain, I would. No words could ever encompass the way that I feel about this year. My heart bursts with joy, gratitude, energy, and passion. Thank you Rotary International, Sunrise Rotary of Cedar Rapids, Tim Michels, and Elizabeth Daly. Thank you Caitlyn Loux, Emiko Coffey, Alicia Miltner, Maeve Cameron, Elizabeth Sorenson, Peyton Recker, Alaina Marti, Annie Sigmon, and Emily Potocki. Thank you Jaclyn Richmond and Auntie Sheila. Thank you to my mom, my father, and my brother, Connor. Gracias a mi profesora de lengua, Mariajo, a mi profesora de música, Maica, y a mi profesor de filosofía, Wicha. Gracais a Rotary España, espcialmente Sagrario y Choni. Gracias a todos los tíos Crespánes. Gracias al padrino, a Nanito y su familia, y a Andres. Gracias a los abuelos. Gracias a mi mamá Ana y mi papá Fernado. Y gracias a mi hermana. Os agredzco todos con todo mi corazón y cariño, me habéis cambiado la vida. Now is the time for those final words. The timing of my exchange is calling for an end, but the timing of my life will carry the legacy of this year forever. One more time, thank you, thank you a million times more.
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I left Spain on June 17th and after a grueling string of airports I finally touched down in Iowa on the morning of June 18th. Just one week later, my dear host sister, Ana, came to spend three weeks with my family for a mini exchange in Iowa! I had so much fun showing her the places that have formed me. She was able to meet many of my friends and my entire family. We celebrated her fifteenth birthday and the fourth of July together. She saw many parts of Iowa like Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, our cabin in Bernard, Maquoketa Caves State Park, Lake Macbride State Park, and a few other of my favorite places. I was even able to have her at my presentation to my Rotary club! We also showed her around Chicago and Minneapolis. Over the fourth, we spent a week in Hayward, Wisconsin. Ana made her first s'more, tubed for the first time, caught fish off the dock for the first time, and experienced many goofy Lenss family moments. Her wonder and amazement at the place that has always been my safe haven reopened my eyes to just how gorgeous the north woods truly are. Her reaction to the welcoming and caring attitudes of my family reopened my eyes to just how grateful I should be for the amazing family that I have.
Sometimes I look back and think that a year ago I had no idea who she was and now, she is my sister. She is my best friend, my rock, my favorite person to hug, and everything more. I couldn't have been more honored to have gotten to live with her family and introduce her to mine. Ana, eres mi hermanita de verdad y no sé que haría sin tí. Gracias por todo y te quiero más. There are so many things I could say about this life changing ten day tour to Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin and Prague. But, as a blog post can only hold so much, I will give you my personal little take on each of these European capitals.
Paris- If Paris were a human being, she would be gorgeously elegant, fantastically arrogant, yet simultaneously a complete scandal. Paris has an air of egotism, this awareness of an unparalleled beauty. We spent two days in Paris and saw the Lourve, Mont Marte, the Sacred Heart Cathedral, went up to the top of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triumpf, Notre Dame, and took a boat cruise down the river Seine. Paris is a romantic dream, a place I cannot wait to see again and get to know better. Brussels- We only had a few hours in Brussels, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. We saw the Old Town and the Atomium. What really caught my eye about Brussels, is that it is an incredibly wealthy city and has ornate and breathtaking old buildings, and also very modern and eccentric architecture. My favorite part about Brussels was the food, we had waffles, chocolate, and really really good french fries. Amsterdam- Amsterdam was my favorite stop on our tour by far. The culture is so open and accepting and the city itself is beautiful. We went to the Anne Frank house, a very powerful experience, took a boat through the canals, and went on a four hour bike tour. They say that there are more bicycles than people in Amsterdam, and it was evident that the Dutch live very healthy lifestyles because I only saw ONE McDonald's. What made Amsterdam my favorite, was the contrast between such old and traditional architecture and the progressive culture. Berlin- Now, people can argue me on this one, but in my opinion Berlin is not an aesthetically pleasing city. What gives Berlin its character are the powerful histories contained within its streets. Our tour guide in Berlin had studied Third Reich history in college in London and taught us many many things about Berlin's turbulent history. She took us to many memorials, my favorite being the Burned Books Memorial. We also saw all three remaining parts of the Berlin wall. On our second day in Berlin, we went to the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Sachsenhausen was not the most brutal or notorious camp in the network, but it was extremely important because it served as the model camp. It was where architecture styles, methods of control, methods of abuse, methods of dehumanization, and methods of execution were tested. The concentration camp was an eerie and unsettling experience, a piece of history that I believe everyone should bear witness to. Prague- Prague is a modern fairytale. They say Prague is one of the best conserved cities in the world, because it was never bombed as fatally as other capitals during WWII. Also in Prague, is the best preserved Jewish quarter in Europe, because Hitler had planned on keeping it and using it as a museum of the lost race. The buildings in Prague are overwhelmingly beautiful, they are ornate and painted in pastels. The entire city is overlooked by the largest standing medieval castle complex in the world. Prague made me want to write sonnets and play minuets, something refined and sophisticated to fit the tasteful atmosphere of the city. In the end, I was sad to see the trip end. There are so many things I still want to see in each city, I guess I will just have to go back :-). Las Islas Cíes are a trio of islands located at the mouth of the Ría de Vigo and are a part of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park. This past week I took the short ferry boat ride to the Cíes twice to hike their rugged mountains and lounge on their world class beaches. The enormous crescent beach that connects the northern and center island, Rodas Beach, was named among the top ten beaches in the world in 2007. Although the the pure white sand and pristine turquoise waters allude to a Caribbean paradise, the frigid temperatures of the Atlantic waves more clearly reminisce a glacial lake. But, the glassy water gave us gorgeous glimpses into the complex life of the Atlantic coast's inhabitants, including a multitude of fish, starfish, mussels, anemones, and even dolphins. We had a fantastic time diving off of the rocky shores and observing the wildlife below us. With less than four weeks left here in Spain, I am working hard to seize everyday and appreciate the incredible place I have been privileged enough to call home this past year.
This past weekend, I made a trip across the channel to visit my lovely Auntie Sheila and spend a rapid few days touring London.
I flew in on Friday, and we hit the ground running. Although we had three days in the city, the four royal boroughs wait for no man. We took the tube (mind the gap!) to St. Paul's Cathedral, a fantastic 17th century affair dedicated to the Anglican faith. St. Paul's is situated on the highest point in London, and its regal doom keeps a keen eye on tourists and locals alike in the streets below. After, we crossed the mighty Thames via the Blackfriars Bridge and found ourselves transported back to the Middle Ages on the narrow cobble stones of Clink Street. We meandered through a local food market, enjoying tangy lemon cupcakes and acoustic street performers, before finding ourselves at Southwark Cathedral. Southwark Cathedral is a cozy gothic structure whose enchanting choir called us in for a sit. Reenergized, we continued south, paralleling the Thames until we got the photo op we were looking for with stately Tower Bridge. Satisfied with the sight seeing, we stopped for dinner before continuing on to the contemplative art hosted by Tate Modern. Saturday morning was dedicated first and foremost to Westminster Abbey, a rather impressive place finished in the 18th century, although first bricks were laid hundreds of years earlier. Westminster's royal facade proudly boasts its history, yet refrains from any sort of arrogance. We spent hours among the pointed arcs and stained glass windows, soaking in the stories the ancient walls had to share. Next to Westminster are the Houses of Parliament, well, of course, Big Ben. Touring the Gothic buildings left me in awe of the intricate and traditional government ran by the English people. Whether or not one views their joint church and state procedures as productive, one has to admit that it is very august. On our walk to lunch, we passed by Buckingham palace, where we had the good fortune to see a show by the infamous guards. Prince Harry happened to be hosting a garden party that afternoon, so preparation processes were well underway. Then, we explored Soho until we came upon the animated Trafalgar Square. Here, we stopped at the National Gallery and observed works from Van Gogh, Cézanne, and Rembrandt among many others. Before dinner, we spent time at the enormous Harrod's, appreciating the pricey garments of many innovative and modern designers. On Sunday, we attended mass at the Brompton Oratory. The Oratory is done in Baroque style and a spectacular site for worship. Following that, we appreciated the stunning sculptures and artifacts in the Victoria and Albert Museum before continuing on to Hyde Park. In Hyde Park, we said hello to Kensington Palace, soaked up the sun at the Lady Diana Memorial Fountain, and questioned the provocative exhibit currently housed in Serpentine Gallery. The gardens of Hyde stretch for miles, surely we could have spent an entire week inside to fully give respect to every blossom we passed. Time flew, as time does, and suddenly I was once again in the air returning to my home here in Spain. The weekend was quite fabulous, one that I know both Sheila and I will recall fondly for many years to come. I travelled through the pine trees last week
With all the people I call my family Even though we only met last Friday (Family: n. the power of being part of an institution where empathy is audible in every footstep) Most of them carry pieces of my heart Pinned to their Sunday morning best Instead of growing up, we grew in Earning ourselves blisters We graciously welcomed the pain (Blister: v. the rub of raw vulnerability against pensive thank you’s) When the rain came we laughed When the sunshine broke we cried And the wind taught us how to embrace Each simple feeling the clouds had overcomplicated (Simple: adj. the opposite of pragmatic) I used to believe that if I thought hard enough I would be able to assign each wave a reason for crashing Until my pine tree family explained The mountains are tall The sand is soft And the moon exists solely because it can (Exist: n. the moment of realizing our hearts continue to beat without any direction to do so) We have accepted the days go by too fast That there will never be a clearly justified sunrise And that, in the end Although the expiration date makes our knees buckle We can all hear the permanence of “I love you” In the incessant rise of our own heavy breathing (Rise: v. the genuine action of understanding) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This past week, I walked just over 100 kilometers of the Camino de Santiago through Galicia with a group of about 60 other inbounds. I wrote this poem about the experience this morning and thought I'd switch up the type of writing I normally publish on this blog. :-) The rest of our Andalucían tour brought us through the three remaining big cities in Andalucía: Granada, Málaga, and Sevilla.
After the magic of Córdoba, we entered under the spell of Granada. Granada is situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and offers incredible views of numerous ski runs in snow covered mountains. My host mom tells me that of all the Andalucían cities, Granada is most similar to a true Arabic city, logically spoken as Granada was the last city to fall during the Reconquista and remained under Moorish control until 1492. We started our adventure at the Cathedral of Granada, which is done in the Andalucían Renassiance style. During the Renassaince era, the Andalucían architects took all of the typical characteristics of the style, but added their own twist by making everything in the cathedrals white, rather reminiscent of a meringue pie. Granada is also famous for the tombs of the Catholic Monarchs, which are located in The Royal Chapel of Granada right next to the cathedral. The tomb is the resting place of King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I, the Catholic Monarchs, their two children, and their grandson. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, among many feats, are notable for being the monarchs that granted Christopher Columbus the funding for his original ground breaking voyage to America. There are two important neighborhoods in Granada, the Albayzín and Sacramonte. First, we followed the river and walked the hills to the Albazyín. The streets of Granada are absolutely enchanting, they are shoulder width wide and packed with street vendors offering crystal, clothing, bracelets, candles and the like. Every other store is either a tea shop or a hookah bar and the people seem to hum mysterious songs of their Arab ancestors. The Albazyín is also full of vintage, traditional, Arab style mansions called "carmens," characterized by their mosaicked arc doors and aromatic patios, like those of Córdoba. The Albazyín also offers breath taking, panoramic views of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada and the Alhambra. Behind the Alabyzín, is Sacramonte. Sacramonte is a small mountain where the gypsies live. The gypsy culture is much more prominent southern Spain, the gypsy women stand in the streets offering sprigs of Romero for good luck and palm readings. In Sacramonte, the gypsies originally lived in caves carved into the mountains, which have been preserved todays as bars and flamenco taverns. Sacramonte is the birth place of flamenco. After watching the sunset over the Alhambra, we went to an authentic flamenco performance. The shows are held in the restored caves and are done in a uniquely intimate style. The spectators, only about 20 or so because that is all the cave can fit in, are seated around the perimeter of the cave and the dancers are in the center. The production was comprised of two 45 minute acts. The first included two female dancers, a male singer, and a male guitarist. The second act featured a male dance, a female dancer, a female dancer/castanet player, a male singer, and a male guitarist. I'll admit, the power and passion of the performance brought me to tears. The dancers were so close to us and their ardor and the intensity of the vocalist and guitarist calling out "guapa!" and "ole eso es!" combined into an art form that is truly transcendent. The next day in Granada we had a five hour guided tour of the Alhambra. The Alhambra is a complete fortress and castle that remains from the Moorish rulers. Although earlier construction dates are known, the majority of the buildings were built in the 13th century by Moorish emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar and later converted into a royal place by Yusuf I, Sultan of Granada. After the Reconquista, it served as the royal court of the Catholic Monarchs and Carlos V added his own Renaissance style palace. Aside, from the history there really are not words that can properly describe the enrapturing and intricate beauty of the Alhambra, I have to let the pictures speak for themselves. Next, we traveled to the city of Málaga, which is the most modern city we visited. Our stay here was rather short, but we got to see the Renaissance style cathedral, the Picasso museum, and spend time at the Mediterranean beach. Málaga is the birthplace of Pablo Picasso and hosts a great collection of his work, which is really splendid to see. I was VERY excited to see the Mediterranean, but have to say these Galician beaches have really spoiled me and I definitely prefer Samil or Patos. Finally, we spent two days in Sevilla. Sevilla is a vast city with a population of about 1.5 million. We easily could have spent the entire week in Sevilla to see it well, but I felt lucky to even get a taste of the riches Sevilla has to offer. The first place we explored was Parque de María Lusia, which hosted the world fair in 1929. Many of the original pavilions from the fair still stand stay, most notably the Spain pavilion. The Spain pavilion is done in a gorgeous combination of azulejo mosaic and brick and has a mosaic designated to one of each of the fifty provinces in Spain. And, like the good tourists we are, we took a picture at each one that I have had the blessing to travel to this past year. We took a horse carriage ride through the park and surrounding area to see as much as we could. The fun thing about Sevilla is it's deep historical importance has left the city with an overwhelming abundance of castles, palaces, and monuments. It seemed like every where we looked there was something captivating to learn about. For our only full day in Sevilla, we saw the Cathedral and the Alcazar. The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See is the largest cathedral in the world, the largest gothic cathedral in the world, and the third largest church in the world. We took an audio tour of the Cathedral and spent nearly three hours inside seeing and learning about the 15th century construction. The Cathedral also holds the tomb of Christopher Columbus, which was very interesting to see. At the end of our tour, we climbed the 36 flights of stairs to the top of the bell tower for fantastic views of the entire city. Later, we had a guided tour of the Alcazar, which is a royal palace built by the Moors. The Alcazar was first started in the first century, but most of the Moorish remains today are from the 12th century. After the fall of Sevilla during the Reconquista, King Alfonso X added the Gothic Palace. The buildings boast extensive gardens done in Arab, English, and French style and also the original baths from the Moorish occupants. Like the Alhambra, there really are no words for places like these, but I do have photos. In conclusion, Andalucía was a journey through a lavish blend of cultures and an experience that I will never forget. One of the other Iowan outbounds said it is like we write love stories in every city we visit, and Andalucía has surely stolen my heart. Holy Week in Spain is akin to spring break in the U.S., which meant no school and an opportunity to travel! My host family took me on an incredible road trip through Spain's southernmost state, Andalucía. Andlucía is home to eight separate provinces, the Sierra Nevada mountain range, miles and miles of olive groves, Costa del Sol, and a rich history that blends together the Christian and Muslim conquerors that fought over the region for centuries.
We began our journey Saturday morning driving to the town of Mérida, the only non-Andalucía city we stopped in. Mérida is a small city located in Extremadura, Spain and was originally founded in 25 b.C. under the name of Emerita Augusta under the Roman emperor Augustus. Mérida, therefore, is home to extensive and well preserved Roman ruins. Most notable are the theatre and the amphiteatre, which still hosts plays during the summer months. Also throughout the town is the aqueduct and a large bridge. Our second city on the list was Córdoba. Like many cities in the region, Córdoba's history started with Neanderthals, followed through the Romans, the Visigoths, and reached its climax with the Moorish conquers, before it became part of kingdom of the infamous catholic monarchs. Córdoba's highest historical fame was during the Middle Ages, when it was home to 500,000 people. Modern day Córdoba has a population of 200,000 people less, a stark difference when thought compared in historical context. The city today is an ecclectic mix of the clashing cultures that inhabited it for so many centuries before. During the Middle Ages, the city was divided amongst three neighborhoods, the Muslim district, the Jewish district, and the Christian district, which are still distinctly marked today. Walking through the streets of Córdoba one can find traditional Arab patios, beautiful crucifixes, and didactic synagogues dedicated to telling the forgotten stories of the Spanish Shepard Jews. Córdoba's main tourist attraction is the Mezquita. The site of the Mezquita was originally a Visigoth temple before the Moorish conquer in the 1st century a.D., when the mosque was built and finished in the year 987 a.D. In the 13th century Reconquista, when the city returned to Christian rule, the mosque was converted into a catholic church. Renovations to the mosque ended in the 16th century when a Renaissance style cathedral nave was inserted into the center of the building. Today, the Mezquita is a functioning Catholic cathedral, but is the fourth largest mosque in the world and the largest mosque not located in an Arab country. The original Arabic patio "Patio de las naranjas" still remains along with the Islamic bell tower. The building is completely unique as there is no other church in the world that so intricately blends together Arab and Christian architecture. In Córdoba we also visited the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. The Alcázar started as a Visigoth military fortress, before becoming an Arab palace, and finally the wedding site for Spain's catholic monarchs. Many homes in Córdoba are built in tradition Arab style, which featuring a patio in the center of the house. The city puts on a competition among the homes in which patios compete to be the most floral, fragrant, peaceful, and refreshing. We were lucky enough to go on a patio tour and see eight of this years contestants . The citizens open their private homes to the public for small compensation fees and to show off their hard work. Traditional Arab patios were mathematically styled to stay cool in the sweltering heat, as Córdoba is the hottest city in all of Spain. The patios boast aromatic floral and fruit tree arrangements as well as serene fountains and special flooring to keep the area cool. The Arabs really had their aesthetics down to a T. Also important to note, because it was Holy Week, we ran in to many, many processions. Holy Week in Spain is celebrated by processions through the streets that start at churches throughout the city and end at the cathedral. The processions can include drums, brass bands, Nazarenos, choirs, and floats. Most notable to the American eye are the pointed hats and long robes of the Nazarenos in the processions. No, it's not at all KKK related, I googled it! A Nazareno is someone who comes from Nazareth and the costumes worn are a recollection of a medieval dunce cap, worn as a public humiliation for a self punishment of sins. The color of the costume corresponds to the meaning of the procession and the day of the week. The floats that are carried during the processions weigh tons of pounds and are carried by groups of men, also as an act of religious honor and humility. The floats typically depict scenes from the Passion of Christ or images of the Virgin Mary. Córdoba was pure magic to me, like Disney World, but better. Like every city we have visited, I left promising myself I would live there some day. This past Sunday Sam and I ran a half marathon. Although tough, it was a successful race for us both and we enjoyed running it.
This was the 17th year the Vig-Bay has ran. The course is infamous among local runners for being the most beautiful half marathon around. It starts at the Playa Samil, a beach in Vigo, and follows the coast to the small port town of Baiona. It is also infamous for being incredibly hilly, and I can confirm that the course definitely lived up to this expectation. There were over 5,000 runners this year from Spain, Portugal, England, and of course us two Americans. The weather was perfect for a race, 60 degrees and sunny. I was the 2,064th finisher and the 123rd female with an official time of 1:45:56, a 20 minute PR! I was also the youngest runner in the entire race. For more pictures from the race check out these two links and the RUN RUN VIGO Facebook page. www.atlantico.net/album/deporte-local/vigbay-2017-imagenes/20170402145705581868.html http://www.lavozdegalicia.es/album/vigo/baiona/2017/04/02/media-maraton-vig-bay-fotos/01101491123199997494147.htm This past weekend my host family and I finally found time for a trip I have been asking to go on since I first arrived, to visit la Playa de las Catedrales. It is a beach located on the northwestern coast of Galicia that is famous for having huge rock arcs that give the sensation that one is inside a cathedral. We invited another family that we have traveled with before and booked apartments for the weekend and off we went!
La Playa de las Catedrales is located in the province of Lugo, Galicia. So the first day we arrived, naturally, we went to the city of Lugo. Lugo is famous for the third century Roman wall the stretches two kilometers and surrounds the center of the city. The wall is the best conserved Roman wall on the planet and also inscribed on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site's. The easiest access to walk the wall is located at the Cathedral of Lugo. The Romanesque Cathedral of Lugo started construction in 1129 and because its 150 year original construction period and numerous additions and restorations, it is a unique blend of Gothic, Baroque, and Neoclassicist elements. The cathedral also received permission from the Pope to have the Eucharist on permanent display, making it an incredibly sacred place. After walking the length of the wall and exploring the cathedral, we had tapas for lunch before continuing on to Castro de Viladonga. A castro is the name for the ruins that are dotted all over Galicia and northern Portugal that were left behind by the Celtic people. This particular castro was inhabited from the second until the fifth century and is protected by a series of earthen mounds built through the surrounding mountains. The next morning, our first stop was at the Island of Pancha, a small island located off the coast in the Cantabrian Sea and home to a quaint light house. There is something incredibly peaceful about the Cantabrian Sea, the beaches boast to steep cliffs that plunge into the marine blue water. The wind is cold and salty and the waves are frothy and powerful. Although the light house was closed this day, we all enjoyed just sitting on the island and listening to the waves. Then, we traveled to two different mountain towns. The first, in Galicia, is called Ribadeo and is home to a fantastic display of victorian homes that were originally built as a symbol of wealth by the explorers who had traveled to America and returned to Spain. The next small mountain town, Taramundi, is located in another region of Spain called Asturias. Here, we enjoyed two typical Asturian dishes, fabada, a hearty bean stew with chorizo, and octopus served with shrimp and a garlic sauce for lunch. I would venture to call myself an octopus eating expert at this point in my exchange, as it is a classic Galician meal, but I had never tasted octopus cooked like this before, it was DELICIOUS. Taramundi is famous for artesian knives and mountain hikes. We enjoyed the views and the fleeting sunshine before calling it a night. Our final day in Lugo was devoted to the Playa de las Catedrales. We woke up early to pack the car and get to the beach for low tide, which is when you can walk through and around all of the stony arcs. We spent over two hours exploring the awesome rocks and enjoying the salty winds. Some moments on exchange I feel like I am living a movie scene, and the magic of the Playa de las Catedrales absolutely gave that impression. After that, we went to the Sargadelos factory, a famous ceramic factory where ceramic is hand made a decorated with traditional Celtic symbols. It was fascinating to see every step of making a plate, a mug, or a statue, each done by hand. Our final stop was in another small mountain town called Mondoñedo which is known for a local almond cake and another cathedral. Weekends like these never fail to blow my mind, it is so wild that we can drive two hours in the car and arrive at cities that were ancient Roman military bases or cross a regional border and the Spanish dialect spoken completely changes. All I have to say is thank you. |