ABCs of Traveling.

A B C D E F G H.....I can't count the number of times I've sung the ABCs over the last year (ok, nor the last week.) I play ABC bingo several times a day. Hangman is always a hit, "Please, guess a letter." Here is my own version of the ABCs which is much more fun than any ABC game in the classroom. This version allows me to relive my favorite memories and share them with you.

A: Age you went on your first international trip: If Epcot in Disneyworld doesn't count, then my first international experience was when I was 10 (or so) I went to Michigan to visit some family (I know that is not international...) and we went on a day trip to Canada. While it's still in North America, it's still a foreign country with Canadian pennies and the coolest McDonald's I can remember.

B: Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where: The best beer I've EVER had was in Amsterdam, Holland. It was OLM brand & it was PINK. It was a cherry beer I think... as it was not normal. I've yet to find it again...but the search continues!

Yummmmy! Amsterdam, September 2009, with my friend Missy Brown!

C: Cuisine (favorite): Seriously, there aren't many things I don't like. For this reason, I have favorites in all the places I've visited... In Spain, paella and tortilla. In Morocco, couscous. In Bulgaria, shopska salad.

Just the right mix of cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers! (goes perfect with Fanta!)

D: Destinations, favorite, least favorite and why: Like food, I have so many favorite places. I have been to many places with different people (friends, family, study abroad groups, long weekend trips, several week trips...) and each trip had its good points and bad points. Rila Monastery in Rila, Bulgaria, is my favorite site in Bulgaria - just look at it! As for least favorite, when in Navalmoral de la Mata, Spain, stay away from pig ears. That would be my least favorite thing about Navalmoral/Extremadura/Spain. "Yuck! Cartilage!" - Maria Green

Rila, Bulgaria. One of the prettiest places I've ever stepped foot.

Just looking at our expressions tells you you're not missing too much. With Rachel, the new American in Navalmoral.

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”: Pueblo Parties in Extremadura: In Winter, Los Escobazos is celebrated in Jarandilla de la Vera - they light branches on fire and hit people with them. We are taught to NOT play with fire in the USA, and here in Jrandilla, they are taught TO play with fire and hit everyone around them. But, don't worry, most people (I say most, because I had none) wear protective overalls. (Warning: if you are the only native English speaker in town/ a teacher, beware, you will be a main target overalls or no overalls.) >>In the fall, they celebrate El Cristo with bulls in the Plaza Mayor - basically, it's a week long festival to drink all day and night - which I joined in on for a weekend. :)

Fuegoooo!!!! Plaza Mayor, Jarandilla de la Vera, November 2010.

Toros in Jarandilla, October 2011. This is the same Plaza Mayor as above, but this time it was full of make-shift seating and bulls were running around chasing people. These crazy people would run behind these gates for protection. It was such a site to see!

F: Favorite mode of transportation: Not my legs, which I use most of all. I like elevators - and I use them whenever possible. As for getting around from city to city, Spain has wonderful trains (with movies!) - but I usually take the bus because it's cheaper! I love you, Avanzabus, but I wish you gave free drink tokens like Alsa bus.

G: Greatest feeling while traveling: When I leave one country and arrive in another, it's exhilarating! When I rely on myself, and I succeed (overcoming language/cultural barriers), that is the greatest feeling.

H: Hottest place you’ve traveled to: You'd think it'd be the Sahara Desert, but it's not; at night, I was always freezing! Navalmoral de la Mata in the summertime is a killer with no air-condition. Southern Spain, in general, was an inferno...so, Spain is my answer!

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where: I'm really picky to impress with service; there was only one time I remember saying to a waitress that she was great - and I can't remember where that was! It was definitely in the United States, as Spain has NO customer service whatsoever. And, don't get me started about Bulgaria - I got accused for eating someone's food when the waitress made a mistake. I continued eating and gave her dirty looks. European countries need to adapt "tips" to their services - it makes people try harder and care about the customer.

J: Journey that took the longest: Getting home this past summer. I was in Italy visiting my friend Gina... I had to fly back to Spain then to London...Chicago...STL. I had one day in STL before I got in a car for 9 hours with my parents and drove to Michigan for my cousin Michelle's wedding. I had no idea what day it was nor what time zone I was in. A second close call would be the 4 trips I made to Chicago to get my visa for Spain...6 hours each way by train and we went and returned in the same day. That's what I call a long day.

K: Keepsake from your travels: FANTA. I love trying the different flavors of Fanta in the countries I visit. (Did you know there are over 90 different flavors throughout the world??!) My favorite so far has been grapefruit Fanta in Holland. Also, I like to buy something typical from each country I visit. Every country is different, so all of my souvenirs are unique too. One of my favorite keepsakes is my traditional slippers from Bulgaria! They remind me of Bulgaria, yet they are useful every day! 

Albert-Cuyp Market, Amsterdam, Holland, where I fell in love with Pomelo Fanta.

L: Let-down sight, why and where: Before I went to main land Greece, I always imagined Greece with blue doors, white towns and donkeys! But, this vision is the Greek Islands - so, if you imagine Greece as I did, don't go to the main land, it's not what you are envisioning.

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel: Summer 2008 in Salamanca, Spain. Before this study abroad experience, I'd always traveled for vacation. But, finally traveling and living in a foreign country was a dream come true... I learned so much about daily life (ok, in Salamanca, I learned about student life in Spain) and I wasn't a tourist. Salamanca changed the way I lived life and viewed life. 

Novios espanoles. Sombras para siempre. 2008.

Spain's best Plaza Mayor - Salamanca.

N: Nicest hostel you’ve stayed in: The best hostel I've stayed in was Hostel L'Imbarcadero in Venice, Italy. It was right off the Grand Canal near the train station. Mimo, the Hostel manager, gave us a private tour of Venice by night and we partied in a disco/pizzeria! 

O: Obsession—what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?: Taking pictures of my feet. I think it shows "Whitney was here." My new favorite place to take pictures of my feet is on top of sewer drains - sounds weird, but they are unique to each city, as they have the city name on them. You can't take a picture of "Navalmoral de la Mata" in "Jarandilla de la Vera".

I miss calling this place "home".

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where? If you count my passport stamps, it appears as if I've never been anywhere. When traveling from one EU country to the next, you don't get stamps. It's like traveling from Missouri to Kansas - you just cross the border and you're there. For that reason, I've got countless stamps in and out of Spain and the USA. I also have stamps from Bulgaria, England, Morocco, Holland, and Italy for a total of 28 stamps.

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where: A Urinal Museum in Ciudad Rodrigo, Spain. It hosts a collection of 1,300 pee-pots from 27 countries. Seriously strange, but very interesting to see, as most of these potties were really crafty - some were even for special birthdays. Could you imagine, getting a new toilet, engraved with "Happy 14th!" WOW.

Pottys.

R: Recommended sight, event or experience: Sleeping and riding camels in the Sahara Desert. Enough said.

It's a nice day to ride a camel, Morocco.

S: Splurge; something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling: Once in a lifetime experiences. For example, I went to Tenerife, Canary Islands. We visited El Teide, Spain's largest peak, which is actually a volcano. It was about 25 euro ($34) to go to the top on the Teleferico (tram), but I figured I'd never be back to see El Teide, so I paid and went to see the top. I later learned that the Teleferico is usually closed due to dangerous winds. So, it was my lucky day that it was open. I'm happy to know that I've gone up to the top of El Teide because I splurged a little bit.

T: Touristy thing you’ve done: I've done the touristy "hop-on hop-off" red bus tour in many cities. It's very cost efficient and a good use of transport around big cities. It takes you to the main sites but if you want to walk around and explore the nearby areas, you can, because you have no time limit to get off and explore. Thank you, trusty red bus.

U: Unforgettable travel memory: Attending the MTV European Music Awards in Madrid in November 2010. We only wanted to go to the free concerts (David Bisbal, Fangoria, El Efecto Mariposa, Linkin Park, 30 Seconds to Mars, Katy Perry) at Puerta Alcala, but ended up getting free entrances to the last 20 minutes of the actual show! We arrived just in time to see Lady Gaga accept an award from the Jackass Crew and see Bon Jovi perform. We also saw Katy Perry about two feet in front of us as she was exiting an elevator and we walked on the red carpet! What an unforgettable night! (We got home around 4am and went to work the next day!) The end.

Johnny Knoxville crowd surfing at Puerta Alcala, Madrid.

V: Visas, how many and for where? I have 2, both from Spain. One from studying abroad in 2009 and the other one being a teaching assistant in Extremadura. I'm still trying to get my residency renewed for this year in Valladolid - which is a big pain. I think it would have been less hassle going back to the USA and getting a whole new visa.

W: Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where? The BEST sangria I've ever had was at Outback Steakhouse at the Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. Hands down. But, while traveling - I would have to say Luz, a delicious white wine that I often drank at Boulevard Cafe in Navalmoral de la Mata, with my friend Edna.

X: eXcellent view and from where?: I like the view of Prague from Prague Castle. You can see countless steeples! I went on a trip with my grandparents and mom; we had a fantastic time!

Beautiful Prague, September 2009. Czech it out!

Y: Years spent traveling?: I've had Europe at my fingertips on and off since 2008.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where?: Every day I have a Spanish student who asks me, "Who is your favorite team?" And, they assume I understand they want me to pick Madrid or Barcelona. Having lived in Castilla y Leon and Extremadura, two regions near Madrid, I usually say "Barcelona!!!" And they get upset. So, all of Spain is a zealous sports fan, and they have good reason to be...European Cup Champions, World Cup Champions, Rafael Nadal with tennis... the list continues. 

I hope you've enjoyed my ABCs. I hope next time you'll sing with me. Come join me in my experiences! 

Nasdrave, Bulgaria!

March ended on a (super!) high note; I spent a week in Bulgaria! Maybe you're wondering where the heck Bulgaria is...

We (Divina, my tutora in the primary school, and Toni, a fellow teacher/my Comenius mom!) spent the first six days in Varna, where we attended a "Comenius meeting".  In September 2010, Jarandilla hosted the Comenius meeting with 12 schools from 14 countries. Bulgaria's meeting was smaller, with just 6 schools in attendance - but it didn't mean it was less fun! IT WAS SO MUCH MORE FUN! Seriously, this Bulgaria trip ranks high in my list of places I've traveled. If you ever have the chance to go: GO! The last three days we went site-seeing (just the three of us) in Sofia, Bulgaria's capital. 

Like my first time to Morocco, I was taken by the language! I get a thrill out of not being able to understand/read anything... the first experience was on the place from Spain to Sofia.  They were passing out Bulgarian newspapers (it was obvious they were only giving them to Bulgarians/people who looked Bulgarian/people who understood when they said "newspaper") BUT I asked for one: 

Flight attendant: "I'm sorry, they are only in Bulgarian." 
Me: "I don't care. I just want to look at the letters!"
About five pages in I was able to say: "Look! It says Michelle Obama!" 
(The only give away was her picture...or else I would have had no clue!)

The picture on the top right is of our Comenius group visiting the Varna school!
Can you read anything??

Upon arriving in Varna, I noticed that Bulgaria's communist past was still very evident in it's buildings. There was no color - everything was gray - and it was quite depressing. However, it's people couldn't have been more opposite! The teachers in the Varna primary school were some of the nicest people I have ever met! And the food - ah! where to begin about their food?! I was in heaven for 9 days. We went to traditional taverns at night to have dinner...and danced the nights away!

Flats in Varna near the school.

A Typical Bulgarian Restaurant

On any given night in Bulgaria, people go to taverns where they have a nice meal with friends and family. There is live music that makes you want to get up and do traditional dances - well, even if you didn't want to - you would get pulled out of your chair and added to the dancing chain! It's such a cool atmosphere, as all the people are dancing in a circle around the restaurant, holding hands! I wish America had traditional taverns and dances like these (square dancing and line dancing DON'T count!) I got to be quite good at a few of the different foot works (which came in handy in Greece!) 

Dancing around the tavern!

People, Places & Things
We went to visit a Fossil Forrest; a rock forest that use to be at the bottom of the Black Sea. It was very interesting, said to have "magic" and bring good luck if you hugged the rocks. Well, I hugged as many as I could.  I also tasted some wonderful rose jam just before we left...and of course (because I can't say no to buying cultural foods) I bought a jar to send to my family. In the afternoon, we went to see an old Roman bath house.  They weren't too well kept, so we were imaging how it would have looked, which is always necessary when looking at old stones! Calling ruins "old stones" isn't so great, but some of the people (aka Robert from Holland) on the trip always referred to them as "just more old stones" so it has become a part of my vocabulary too, as visting places such as these always make their way into Comenius meeting trips! 

Fossil Forest - Circle of Wishes!

Hugging the rocks for good energy!

The old Roman bath house - where they had fires to heat the bath water above.

A very unique opportunity we had was to be VIPs at the Zachary Stoyanov School spring concert! Students from the Varna school put on dances, songs, and a short play for all of their parents (nearly 750 students' families!) and us!  While I didn't understand anything except "Michael Jackson's Heal the World" that was sung by one of the classes, it was a very exciting evening, followed by a wonderful traditional dinner and more student performances that "WOW-ed" us! 

Traditional vs. Modern dancing performance.

Look how appetizing those stuffed grape leaves are! YUM!

This girl and her younger sister were incredible!

Divina, Toni and I danced all night!

On Sunday March 20th, we went to Cape Kaliakra! We were high above on the cliffs that overlooked the Black Sea, where we enjoyed a nice (cold!) walk in the (very!) windy "breeze".  We had lunch in a nearby town after we toured the Balchik Castle that belonged to an old Romanian queen. We drove by some of the big vacation complexes that attract many tourists in the summer; Golden Sands Resort is the biggest and best if you ever make it to Varna, Bulgaria, in the summer months! The day's activities came to an end with a visit to Aladja Monastary. This monastary was unlike any monastary I've ever visited, as it was carved into the side of a mountain. The monks made their home here, in the rocks, deep within a forest. Lastly, we went for another traditional, wonderful dinner with plenty of dancing! 

High over the Black Sea at Cape Kaliakra

Souvenirs just outside the castle... so many cats!
I wanted to bring one back to Spain!

Balchik Castle

Unlike any other monastery I've seen: only carved rocks!

Monday started off with a visit to a Bulgarian Health Museum, where we learned more about the human body, healthy diet, and watched a film on preserving the Earth (ok, the group watched the film - I took a siesta!) to continue the theme of the Comenius: Eco Friendly Citizens.  After, we went to have lunch in the Zachary Stoyanov School, our Comenius partner. Well... They prepared us a very nice meal - but I regret to say, I didn't have much of an appetite after I entered the school's canteen. I had been having wonderful meals in beautiful taverns the previous nights and this was the first time I experienced poor(er?) Bulgaria. While the classrooms and children were very cheery, I fel really sad in the cafeteria, while the students weren't affected by it. I guess it was just so different than school cafeterias I've visited, that I was left thinking about everything rather than just living it. We ate here on Friday as well, and I had more of an appetite, as I knew what was ahead of me. So, I guess it was really the shock of things that made me not hungry, as those of you who know me well know that I eat anything and everything (except pigs ears!) After the school lunch on Thursday, we had a group working session - YES! WE WORKED! (for just 1.5 hours, with 2 coffee breaks - I can't complain about my "job"!) Monday night was spent wine tasting! Who knew Bulgaria had such wonderful vino! I bought a bottle for my family (to go with the rose jam!) that I hope they can enjoy sometime soon. 

If it weren't for the pictures, I would have been lost!

Zachary Stoyanov School - Our Comenius Partner
Two schools share this same building because there is a lack of schools in Varna.
There are two shifts (7am - 12pm & 1pm - 6pm) and they alternate every other month.

Eating in the school's canteen.

Proof we worked. "Welcome" in Bulgarian!

In the wine cellar where we tested 6 types of wine/liquor.

On Tuesday, we made a trip to Euxinograd Palace, a complex of many royal buildings, just a short walk from a beautiful overlook of the Black Sea. Later, we went to a dolphin show in Bulgaria's only "Delphinarium", just before having our second lunch in the Zachary Stoyanov School. We had free time in the afternoon; Divina, Toni, and I decided to go to the center to see the Cathedral and buy some souvenirs. We went to the beach/sea to be able to say "We touched the Black Sea!" (For some reason, I really expected the water to be black or darker because of it's name, but, it was the prettiest light blue! I guess I should have thought this to myself before mentioning it to a few people... I got lots of responses like "Did you think the Red Sea was red?") I learned that the Black Sea gets its name from the roughness of its waters and is prone to stormy weather, hence its name "Black" Sea. 

Euxinograd Palace

Comenius group in Bulgaria.

Dophin show.

Old Buildings in the center of Varna.

Varna Cathedral

Black Sea (as blue as ever!)

Another wonderful dinner!

Wednesday, our last day in Varna, we toured an archaeology museum to see Bulgarian gold and jewels. We took a long walk in the Sea Garden, a park that goes throughout all of Varna. In the afternoon, we went to the airport to catch our plane to Sofia, where we spent three days. 

Walking in the Sea Garden

Sofia

Toni, Divina, and I arrived in Sofia late on Wednesday evening.  Thursday we toured all of Sofia, seeing the Alejandro Nevski Cathedral, St. George's Church, a Russian church, street markets, Boyana Church, and many buildings that use to be communist headquarters, that are now art galleries and museums. Roaming the streets we were able to see the great divide between rich and poor Bulgaria. The main street, Vitosha Street, is beautiful - lined with expensive stores, pastry shops, bars and restaurants. The streets just behind were nearly dirt paths; we saw many people looking for things in dumpsters.  It was very depressing and really made me think about all the nice things we had done in the week in Bulgaria. I just don't understand how there is such a great divide. I guess this is the result of a previous communist country. 

Flats across from our hotel.

St. George's Church, surrounded by modern buildings on all sides.

Vitosha Street

Birds in support of Japan's Eathquake, just outside the Alejandro Nevski Cathedral.

Alejandro Nevski Cathedral

This opera theater was so pretty!

WHITNEY graffiti in Bulgaria!

Not Vitosha Street.

A traditional street market.

Friday was our day adventure to Rila Monastery, the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. We went, by taxi, to Rila - to visit its beautiful monastery. It's located just about two hours south of Sofia. This place was unlike anything I'd ever seen! While I've never visited the mosque in Cordoba, Spain, it reminded me of pictures I had seen of its candy cane stripped arches. Rila, sitting high in the mountains, just below the snow, has space for 300 monks. Pope John Paul visited here during his pilgrimage throughout Bulgaria! If you ever find yourself in Bulgaria - it's a must see! I am so happy we went. (Sorry for the abundance of pictures, but I want to show all aspects of it!)

Rila - the church in the middle of the plaza.

Toni, Divina, Yo

The fresco paintings were so detailed.

At the base of the Rila Mountains...

Taking it all in.

I'll tell you everything we did on Friday and then ask you how much you think it cost us for the entire day! The taxi picked us up from our hotel. We drove two hours to Rila. While we toured the monastery for about 1.5 hours, the driver waited for us. We were hungry so we stopped to eat on the way back to Sofia...this was another hour of waiting for us. Two hours driving back to Sofia, with a few stops to see waterfalls and mountain goats at a small prayer site along the highway, which our driver pointed out to us and wanted us to see! Now, how much would this cost in euros? A 15/20 minute taxi ride in Madrid costs about 25 - 30euro (just guessing from some of the rides I've taken) and a 2 hour taxi ride from Navalmoral to the airport in Madrid cost 150euro (about $200) Well, about 7 hours with our taxi driver cost us 140 levas - which is 70 euro - about $100 - for three people - for nearly an entire day! We left him a generous tip, which was only a few more euro for each of us, but nearly 40 extra levas for our driver/guide "Waman!" He was such a nice man, and I will always remember his hospitality on our trip to Rila! 

Roadside pilgrimage and mountain goats!

Having a coffee with Waman after lunch.

Speaking of currencies... Bulgaria is part of the EU, but it has it's own currency.  Because of this factor, Bulgaria is very cheap! When we would go to dinner at night in Sofia, we would spend just 10 euro for the Bulgarian equilivant of 20 leva. So, basically, we ate the most expensive things on the menu for half price. I felt like VIP - 50% off everything!!! And, because I have a European job that pays me in euros, I was very rich in Bulgaria - what a nice feeling - unlike the feeling I get when I exchange my dollars for euros!!

This trip to Bulgaria only left me yearning for more of this wonderful country. If I can manage, I would love to go back and visit my favorite Bulgarians over the 2011 - 2012 school year in Valladolid.

Until the next time, Bulgaria. Blogadaria! Nasdrave! (Thank you! Cheers!)

On March 1st, everyone exchanges red and white bracelets. When you see a stork, you take it off and put it on a flowering tree to signify that Spring has come! Everywhere you walked, you were reminded of this holiday which represents health, happiness and luck throughout the year! Every time I see my bracelet, I think of the kindness and hospitality that I received during our trip to Bulgaria. (I refuse to take it off because storks are everywhere in Spain.) Nasdrave!