First off, the family left a day early to go to the coast of France so I had time to relish in before heading to the beautiful coast of Spain. What a dream!
Hannah and I did a little photoshoot in the jardin des Plantes in Paris and she slept over one night where we watched a movie and attempted to make smores... the fire wouldn't start and french marshmallows are disgusting.
Back to Spain-
I flew out of the Orly airport on Thursday and while taking off, I looked out (across the laps of my neighbors) and saw Paris miniaturized and perfect looking. I swear, I could have been looking at a Lego model of the city or a game board. The miniature Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe were a sight that these eyes will never forget.
I landed in Barcelona and took a bus to the Placa de Catalunya where I was welcomed by beautiful buildings, a lively night-life, and a fun time! My awesome hostel was steps from the plaza so I unloaded my stuff and wandered the streets for a few hours, well into the night. Unlike Paris, all of the stores and cafes and restaurants were open until 11pm and the restaurants/outdoor dining tents (the miles and miles of them) were stark empty until AT LEAST 9:30pm. What a life!
I had not done much research on Barcelona so I really didn't know what to expect but I was happily surprised to find extremely clean cities, decent public transportation, beautiful architecture, and nice people who serve churros and chocolate. (Seriously as good as it sounds)
Friday morning I woke up before sunrise and began touring the city before I had to catch my plane to Malaga. I bused up to Parc Guell where Gaudi influence was everywhere and overlooked Barcelona. The sights were incredible. I saw the Sagrada Familial in the distance and drove past the bull fighting ring. Even walking back to the Placa, there were buildings all over the place designed by Gaudi and the street benches even. It was fabulous!
But the best part was yet to come- Malaga!
I landed at the airport and was met by Hermanas Frost and Redd. Thankfully I spotted the name tags from a distance and found where I needed to be! We took the tram to Fuengirola where they lived and I was in awe of this place. The Mediterranean sea was so close and the buildings were white and clean and the mountains were jutting out across the horizon. I had no idea Spain was this magnificent!
We stopped by the mission office where I met Elder Llavina who said "Hermana Cook and I were homies!" The first of the people who knew Jaycee and Tanner. The piso that Elder and Hermana Frost lived in was minutes from the sea, had a fabulous view overlooking the sparkling white buildings and palm trees, and was walking distance from fruit markets and grocery stores and shopping plazas and delicious restaurants. I would give an arm and a leg to live there!
After lunch at Mama Kebabs (way better than Paris), the wifi man came to hook up their internet where I helped them with my Y Generation skills. After sorting that out, they took me to Institute class in Malaga that night where we continued to walk around a bit. Even at night, the air was warm and the people were lively!
The next day we went to Ronda, a little, mountain-top village that is nestled in the stunning countryside of Spain and is built on a huuuuuuge bridge that connects two sides of the city over a valley. There was the bull fighting ring, white buildings, cobble stone streets, and views of Spain unlike any other. The main cliff lookout point had a large gazebo where a lady playing the harp and singing songs that reminded me of Enya When the Redds and their Argentinian friend, Charlie, met up with us, we decided to look for a place off the beaten path for lunch. Hermana Frost was kind of in charge of picking and we ended up at a very hole-in-the-wall place...with one staffed worker....and a microwave.... It was interesting. By the time we got our desserts, we all ordered what she called "creme brulee". It was a store-bought cup of vanilla yogurt! Needless to say, we were fed for 10 euros each and we went on our way.
The drive home was very windey and very long while we tried searching for the right way to go home. We did come across the Smurf Village though! Unlike the rest of the white villages along the countryside, this one decided to paint itself blue and stick some Smurf statues along the street. It was so small but so funny and so random. Hahahaha.
The trip was so relaxing and warm and fun! I laid out on the beach one day and swam in the Mediterranean, I roamed Malaga for a while and even attempted to find the Pizzeria Planet and yellow gelato shop that Jaycee loved on her mission. I found it (closed because of that dang siesta) and then never did find the right gelato. Needless to say, I did eat gelato :)
The store "Al Campo" is the same line as France's "Auchan" but it was Super Walmart size! *Heart-eye emojis* I have not been in a big store with so much to choose from in soooooo long! It was heaven. I walked out of there with some mock-wine from Spanish grapes and some peanut M&Ms. And Spain even has Costco! Oh la vache, I need to live there.
On my last day in Spain, we went to lunch with some missionaries while two Hermanas (one who just had adenoid surgery) stayed at the piso.
I sent a pic of me eating ice cream on the beach to aycee and lo and behold, she described exactly the ice cream bars that I was eating because 1) they were so cheap that she used to buy these on her mission and 2) they were so good! I love that we think so much alike on some things like ice cream!! And then the famous missionary Texas Sheet cake! The secret recipe :) Hermana Frost and I whipped one up before I left that day and not only was it sooooo good, but she sent me home with cocoa powder to make it!
The superstar missionaries! I hope we meet again in the future, whether in Europe or in the "land of wall to wall carpet and round door knobs"!
Spain was awesome!
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