Crazy Condensed Summary Post to Tide You Over!!

I am very behind in blogging. Stacey is updating her blog at a better pace then me, so if you want more details up to barcelona at this point check out http://stacey323.livejournal.com

But, heres a short short summary of everything so far.

Ibiza-went to another beach the second day. it was a farther bus ride but also a great beach in a really nice and calm cove. Ibiza was a great way to start the trip and we got really rested and kind of tan

Barcelona- The hop on hop off bus was a great was to see some of the city. Loved barcelona´s public art and both new and old architecture. Really loved Gaudi and his style. Our second to last day in Barcelona we did a walking tour through the Barrio Gothic and went to the neat Museu de la ciutat which had roman ruins, and also went to the Picasso museum. We also had delicious gelatto that day. Our last day in Barcelona we dropped our bags at the bus station and then wandered through a huge park in barcelona, took a gondola ride from the beach to the hills, went to the Poble espanyol which is a recreation of an old spanish village and had Paella on Las Ramblas before catching our bus to Pamplona. Also, shopping trip number 1 to H&M--oops!

Then we took a bus to Pamplona. We got in at 5 in the morning and arrived to a bus station where it was swamped with people in white and red sleeping everywhere they could. Pamplona doesnt have enough accomodations for everyone who goes to the San Fermin festival so people sleep in the bus stations and parks or dont sleep at all. Luckily Stacey and I booked our accomadations in May. They were a short bus ride from the city center which was perfect because the city center was nuts and packed and so loud I would not have wanted to have stayed there the whole time. We got very little sleep this whole time though. Also Pamplona in general was very very cold. When we first got there I was so cold that I changed clothes at a bus stop to put on jeans and a warmer top. (around 6am). We saw a huge "Big Heads" and San Fermin Parade, 2 bull runs (once on the street and once in the stadium) and one bullfight. They were all crazy experiences. (I hope to explain them in more detail at some point in my blogging future). It seems that after we left Pamplona, the bull runs turned violent, but we managed to escape those human tragedies. Also, everyone in Pamplona got the Memo that one needs to wear white shirt white pants red bandanada and red sash for the entire festival of san fermins. Stacey and i didnt get the memo, but we adapted and bought the right garb, except for the white pants, which are never flattering...ever.

After Pamplona we took a bus to Bilbao where we stayed for less than 24 hours but had many fabulous hours to check our the Guggeneheim Bilbao, which is a fabulous and beautifully designed museum inside and out. I really loved that museum and tons of the art in it. Also, the riverside in Bilbao was really nice and had some great bridges and walking paths.

Then we took a bus to Santiago de Compostela. 9 hours later we arrived, I was sick with quite the cold and lack of sleep but we arrived at our Parador whcih was luxurious and beautiful. The next day we explored the church which is a huge pilgrammage site, and the old town, and moved to our much cheaper hotel.

The next day we took a bus to Porto, Portugal where we are now. We walked around the city a bit yesterday but it was dead on Sunday. Today we did a hop on hop off tour and explored the old town which is a Unesco world heritage site. Tomorrow we are talking a boat ride on the river to explore and see some bridges and who knows what else will be in store for the day.

Then the following day we are off to Viseu for three days to visit Sofia (who is TC and Matt´s sister in law). It should be great to get a taste of the less-big-city-like portugal and to experience Portugal with some natives!

From Viseu we go: Lisbon-->Seville-->Granada-->Madrid!!

PHEW! Hows that for a summary?!?!

Hope you are all doing fabulously!! I am!

Xox
Hannah

PS: The food, ice cream, desserts, pastries etc are all still awesome. Also, I have wayyyy over 1000 photos already!! And people in Portugal dont eat as late as in Spain. And people more or less understand my Brazilian Portuguese which is good! Also three places so far in Spain have had their own language besides spanish, Catalan, Euskara (basque), and Gaelic--yikes...!