Hmmm … I’m feeling slightly bored. Why not book another trip?

At the EOI of Santander, it is exam period with all the English examinations happening over the next two weeks. Whilst the students seem to be stressing slightly (unnecessarily I might add – they are all superb at English), I have got off quite lucky as I don’t have to attend classes. I have some optional conversation classes that the students can attend if they wish, but these are just general conversations for practice. So, I don’t have to arrange any lesson plans for the next two weeks and consequently, I have found myself with some spare time on my hands.

Whilst twiddling my thumbs, I wondered what I could do to pass some time. Of course there was always the university work that I need to do, as well as the food shopping, the laundry and generally cleaning my room, but none of that really jumped out to me ;)

And then it occurred to me, why not book another trip away? I really fancied going back to Madrid to visit all the places that I didn’t have time for the last time. And with the long weekend that I have in February (it’s Carnival here in Cantabria then) I thought that this would be the ideal opportunity. Moreover, seeing as I don’t have to be back in Santander until the Wednesday, I could spend a day wandering around the historical city of Toledo – just about half hour (on the high speed train) south of the capital.

So, I did it. I booked the coach tickets to Madrid there and back, and booked the train tickets to Toledo for Monday 16^th February.

What is more is that I get to be reunited with some of my lovely UEA-ers in Madrid that weekend and I am uber excited.

Stefano lives there of course, and Francesca and Katy are going to travel north from Alicante to spend a great weekend altogether. I really really cannot wait.

Doesn't look bad, right? 

One thing that is different from my last trip to Madrid is the fact that I will be staying in a hostel instead of the cosy room of a friend from back home. Stefano kindly offered some space but, understandably, he doesn’t have too much room. So I thought I would book a hostel (which actually seems nicer than some hotels I have stayed in) on the basis that I will be staying for a longer period of time, and that a friend from Santander potentially might join.  

Now you might think that this would put me off a little, but actually I am quite looking forward to it. Y’see I really enjoy staying in hostels – in my fortunate experience, I have only had good times in hostels. Yes, I know, it depends an awful lot on the other people you are staying with: it could be fantastic but it could be terrible too. But what I like most about hostels is that you get to meet a range of people, from all over the world. And I like people. I like chatting to people and finding out common interests. So, if you had got it already, to sum up, I am really looking forward to it.

I am also very excited for the day trip to Toledo. I have heard from numerous sources that one day is all you really need in Toledo, but I want to use my time wisely.

I have looked up all the different places/museums I want to go, checked out their opening hours and prices, and figured out a solid plan for the entire day. Although I do hope to stick to this plan so I can get the most out of this trip, I am somewhat fexible and might miss somewhere if I am particularly feeling another place. But, right now these I the all places that I hope to visit and report back on:

Palacio Galiana

The Cathedral

Museo de la Espana Magica

Synagogue of El Transito

Museum of Victorio Macho

Of course, I hope to eat and take in all the views and architecture too (you can be sure that that is also penned in) but these are specific sites to aim towards.

But, like I said, I will report back on how it all goes when the time comes. For now I really do need to do my uni work – luckily it is only a few small details that I want to change.

Hasta luego! 

Back in Santander

Christmas seems a very long time ago now, but still is seems like only yesterday I was writing up my top Christmas films to share with you all. But now I realise that has been weeks since I last blogged and I reckon it’s time to change that now, don’t you?

So let’s start with the Christmas holidays, shall we?

Even though I am loving my time here in Santander, and have not suffered any severe homesickness, I am aware that I can settle very quickly back into home life. I am not necessarily a home bird, but being at home is one of the easiest things to do in the world for me. So I was a little worried that being at home in the UK might make it difficult to head back to Spain.

It didn’t help that I had the most wonderful time. When I first got home, we celebrated by heading straight to the local chip shop. I think most of my fellow British year abroadies had the same idea seeing as my newsfeed on Facebook was abundant in instagrammed fish ‘n’ chip pics. No one else does fish and a chip like the British – even when they claim to, it is never the same, and I have missed this dish an awful lot.

It was even more lovely as our house was decorated with all the Christmas decorations (although not many people put up Christmas lights this year, I found). And our Christmas tree was lovely and tacky, as always with everything up except the angel that I was responsible for.

We sat and watched crappy Christmas TV and all of it made for a very nice, cosy atmosphere. And of course, being with your family (who know who better than anyone) meant you could relax a lot more.

What’s more is I was able to go out with friends who all speak the same language to places that I knew very well. We were able to take pictures like this: we came to the conclusion that this would be the poster for our very successful sitcom. 

So at that moment, I thought: no, I don’t like the idea of leaving here again.

But, when the time came for me to jump on a flight back to Santander, I found myself feeling slightly indifferent. The only way that I can put it is that even though I was not looking forward to leaving the UK again, I was looking forward to being back in Santander if that is even possible. And with that in mind, I was sure that it would all be okay once I had settled back in to the life here. Meeting other language assistants on the journey back was lovely as well as it meant that I didn’t have time to think about leaving my parents at the airport again: we were a’chatting the whole way.

And when we finally were able to get out of the airport at the end, who else was waiting for me but Arina, who had kindly brought along bread (which I would always prefer over flowers). From that moment, I knew it would all be fine even if I do miss home on occasion.

I was proved right as the week went on, starting back at the school and getting back into the swing of things. I was happy to start lessons again, as I often enjoy talking with my students and trying to help them with their questions (lots of them have planned trips to London).

The intercambios and nights out began again, and what is more, the plans for trips away have already begun! And I am so excited for them.

My first trip is in just a couple of weeks when I shall be heading to Madrid and Toledo for a long weekend. There who else should I meet but uni people and I am really looking forward to seeing them. It has been too long.

And I also have Barcelona planned, as well as the break for Semana Santa. This Easter I am particularly excited as Arina and I plan to spend it in Seville, along with anyone who’d like to come. I can’t wait for it as I really do believe it will be something special. But we’ll leave that now and I’ll blog about it later.

Wish I could write more, but I have university work to do so I must stop here. But, I promise to at least try and be more regular with these posts. Hopefully now I have got the first one of the year out the way, the rest will be easy to do.

Hasta luego