......................DAY 12........................

The day started off like any other typical school day-- struggling to wake myself up and actually be on time. I decided to wear a dress today for the first time here because it was supposed to be nice out and we were going to the beach. I specifically told myself last night as I fell asleep "Do not forget my camera. Do not forget my camera", because it was charging. Guess what? I forgot my camera...must be good ol´Mary Carrier´s genes. Thank you mother!! Luckily I remembered right as we were getting in the car so it didn´t make us late at all. When we left the school as a group, we walked to the train station and departed to Gijón by train. It was a nice change from the bus and didn´t take long to get there. Gijón is the largest city in Asturias and it´s right along the northern coast. Once we arrived, we first went into the aquarium. It was so fun because I always love looking at all the different types of sea creatures! Next we walked around for a bit and had 40 minutes to shop. There weren´t really any tourist shops, so instead we went into a clothing store and spent the entire time there. We can also thank Mary for this one-- I had to go to the bathroom so bad right as we were supposed to meet up, so Anna and I ran to the bathroom while everyone else waited...hehehe. We walked around for a bit more and at around 12:30 the teachers let us wander and meet back at 3. Grace, Kayla, Bri, Anna, Alisa, and I stayed as a group and went shopping a bit longer, had some ice cream, and then hit the beach! We met up with most of the others at the beach and took pictures, ate lunch (a banana, kiwi, some bizcocho, and some chicken sandwich), made pyramids, and played in the water, while people walking by would stop and watch us. I guess you could say we were entertaining :) After returning at 3, we walked around Gijón a little longer and then left on the train back to Oviedo. Grace and I had fun people watching on the ride back. Back in Oviedo, I walked around practically the entire city sweatshirt hunting with Marta and her friend Virginia. There is a sweatshirt I really want and we couldn´t find it anywhere! We finally found it in one store but they didn´t have my size. I guess I´m outta luck... My legs were exhausted and Virginia´s mom gave Marta and I a ride home at around 7. For dinner I had a type of macaroni casserole: pasta, mayonnaise, tuna, olives, and boiled eggs were the ingredients that I was aware of. Let´s just say it´s not my fave! I also had part of a steak fillet and bread of course. Well, as you can see it´s been a long day and I didn´t get my usual daily nap! I won´t have trouble falling asleep tonight.

Spaining It Up, Day 11!

Today was a busy day! Once again, I woke up by myself at ten, but this time I made sure the steel blinds were already open so I could see the light of day. After getting ready and eating breakfast, we piled in the car for a day trip to the coast. We drove for about an hour, but once again, it was worth it! I can´t get over how beautiful and blue the sea is here. I took pictures along the rocky coastline and watched the seagulls swoop down and around the coast. I remember feeling so so jealous as I watchd those birds, because they have the most freedom out of all of us. They were able to be part of the beauty, while I just had to stand and watch. We went to another city afterwards that had a harbor filled with boats. We also had lunch at a restaurant here. I was so sick of eating steak, so surprisingly I was willing enough to have them choose something for me. Not doing that again! The first plate comes out and the waiter puts it in front of me-- a big leg of some unknown meat. Apparently I ordered lamb. I had no idea how to cut it so Marta´s mother did it for me. I honestly have to say that seeing that bone shake back and forth as she cut it gave me a little gag reflex. I did eat it, and of course I did pretend to like it. The truth was, however, I did not like anything about the slimy textured leg of a once living animal on my plate. As full as I always am here, I kept telling myself throughout the meal that I deserved to have dessert. I´m so glad I did becuase the dessert was to die for! It was a glass plate with a pile of cut up strawberries next to a huge pile of whipped cream. I am in love with strawberries now. Next we made our way back to Oviedo and I fell asleep in the car. I woke up to Marta´s mother saying (in spanish) "Look, Allison! Look!" and then her father responding "Shh! She´s sleeping, she´ll see when we get there". I found this funny, and I also felt grateful that they thought I was still asleep because I was too tired to look. We reached the top of a mountain and got out to look over the entire city of Oviedo. It was an amazing view! Next to this lookout area, we drove a little further to a giant stone statue of Jesus with his arms opened out and a heart on his chest. It really did take my breath away, just realizing the symbolism of how giant he was, standing on top of the mountain, overlooking the entire city. We also went to two ninth century churches nearby, similar to the others I´ve visited while being here. When we returned home, I received a demo from Marta´s mother on baking bizcocho. Later, Marta´s brother Hugo and his girlfriend Paula came to visit. Marta´s aunt Begoña came soon after and stayed for dinner. We had chicken tortellini and I had a kiwi afterwards. Marta´s parents and I then made a CD of photos from their memory card of my stay here. I´m so glad they took pictures to share with me. Well, it´s already past eleven here and I have to get up early tomorrow to go to Gijón!