After Segovia, I went to Avila which was a lot like Segovia. Except instead of the Aqueduct, the center of Avila is built within castle walls. I walked along the top of the castle walls for great views of the city and my hostel was about 25 minutes away so I walked back and forth from there about 6 or 7 times. The theme of Avila was walking. I am seriously considering becoming an Olympic Speed Walker. Seriously, have you seen how fit they are? There was a track outside my window and I really wanted to go for a run, but after so much walking, my dogs were barking so I settled for watching the young men at futbol practice. It doesn`t start getting dark until about 10pm so at 9 when the sun is still up, I`m thinking it`s about 5 and wondering why everything is closed. I had the worst luck with the supermarket hours. They close for siesta, but a lot of shops close at different times so I would try and make it to the market every time I walkedback to my hostel, but it was closed every time and one time I got the finger wave from the lady standing between me and the fruit display. No no, cerrado! On my last night in Avila there 
was a craft fair with over 100 booths of really cool bells and whistles (not literally bells and whistles). I`ve never seen so many interesting adn creative items for sale. If only I had money to blow and the patience to ship things home, I would have bought some really unneccessary, but really cool things. The booths were all set up along the outside of the castle walls and the sunset was glorious.
was a craft fair with over 100 booths of really cool bells and whistles (not literally bells and whistles). I`ve never seen so many interesting adn creative items for sale. If only I had money to blow and the patience to ship things home, I would have bought some really unneccessary, but really cool things. The booths were all set up along the outside of the castle walls and the sunset was glorious. The next morning I caught a bus to Salamanca to meet Tony Magro, my friend from Napa who was studying there for 6 weeks. He had his last exam on that Monday but I got there on Saturday so he did some studying during the day and by night, it was party time. It was his friend`s birthday, a local guy, so I brought two English girls from my hostel and we met the group at a park. It`s weird having no one care that there are 15 people sitting in a park in the middle of town, drinking rum and cokes. If only they were so relaxed in the states, ahh life would be so much happier. Probably not, but it would be more fun at least. We ended up at a disco at around 3 in the morning and it was totally dead. To the average person/American, one would think the night must be winding down. Wrong. The clubs don`t even start to get busy until 4:30 or 5am. I don`t get it. I loved South America and I love Europe, but I just don`t think I could keep up with the nightlife. It`s fun every once in a while, but I`m a lame-o and hate sleeping the entire next day away. So the next day we watched some Olympics and I got yelled at by Tony`s house mum for using the ¨services¨of her resedencia. She told me to stay in his dorm room and not be in the kitche
n where the TV is. Sorry Fatima, I guess I shouldn´t use the bathroom either because it`s down the hall!? Anyway, one day I discovered a lovely little garden with grapes. I felt so at home. Meanwhile, Kevin from SB had been planning a trip to Sweden to visit his roommate from last year, Sara, a native Swede. He also wanted to make a stop in Greece, but I strongly suggested that he come to Spain instead to meet me. It all came together quite quickly, and before I could say hot potato (because I say that a lot), he was on his way to Barcelona. Of course this completely screwed up my plans of going to San Sebastian first, then to Barcelona, but I decided to selflessly sacrifice my plans for Kevin :) So I`m crossing through Spain, not exactly the route anyone would plan, but it works. I took an overnight bus to meet Kevin in Barcelona and then we met up with Tony three days later in San Sebastian. These long bus rides are seriously damaging my dreams of speed walking champion of the world.
n where the TV is. Sorry Fatima, I guess I shouldn´t use the bathroom either because it`s down the hall!? Anyway, one day I discovered a lovely little garden with grapes. I felt so at home. Meanwhile, Kevin from SB had been planning a trip to Sweden to visit his roommate from last year, Sara, a native Swede. He also wanted to make a stop in Greece, but I strongly suggested that he come to Spain instead to meet me. It all came together quite quickly, and before I could say hot potato (because I say that a lot), he was on his way to Barcelona. Of course this completely screwed up my plans of going to San Sebastian first, then to Barcelona, but I decided to selflessly sacrifice my plans for Kevin :) So I`m crossing through Spain, not exactly the route anyone would plan, but it works. I took an overnight bus to meet Kevin in Barcelona and then we met up with Tony three days later in San Sebastian. These long bus rides are seriously damaging my dreams of speed walking champion of the world.Barcelona. Whew! What a great time...for next time..
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