This is my last post abroad. I’m emotional.
I remember deciding to start these weekly updates like it was yesterday when in reality, it was about four months ago. I knew this time would fly by, but now it actually has and I am left here in shock!! I hope you have all truly enjoyed these blog posts, and that you have had the time to check out and subscribe to my new YouTube channel as well. It has been such a beautiful journey for me and I have absolutely loved being able to share my experiences with you virtually.
And now, for this week’s update!
Friday I took all four of my final exams starting at 9am and finishing at 8:30pm and the relief I felt after walking out of that last Spanish-American literature exam was immense. My friends and I went to an Irish pub to celebrate and I left shortly after, as the next morning I would leave for Paris at 4:30am.
I arrived in Paris Saturday morning to meet my grandparents for a long weekend getaway! We spent our first rainy day there at the Louvre, and what a sight it was to see! The gorgeous architecture of the building outside is a perfect prequel to the incredible art you will experience inside. That night we went to an Italian restaurant for pizza and caught up on everything we had missed from the last four months.
The next morning, we decided to take a “hop on hop off” big bus tour, which allowed us to see all of the major landmarks in the city in record time, and which included a historical audio guide. This was one of the best decisions we could have made, as Paris is a large and spread out city, so if you only have a few short days like we did, I would highly recommend checking out this option.
The next day, we went on a tour of the Champagne region of France, which was about an hour and a half outside of the city. We visited two beautiful champagne producers and learned that both of them had at least 20 kilometers of champagne cellars underground to store the bottles in the perfect temperature. We also visited the gorgeous cathedral in the quaint city of Reims. It was so relaxing to be on a guided tour for the day and to not have had to plan anything. We enjoyed our champagne tastings and being able to see some of France’s gorgeous countryside.
The next morning, we headed for Sevilla! I am so nostalgic.
It is my last two days here. Yesterday, my grandparents were exhausted, so while they relaxed, I went to Feria de Abril, a large festival that is held every year in Sevilla. The women dress up in Flamenco dresses and the men in suits. They spend all afternoon at the Feria festival grounds and stay into the morning, (try 7am as a returning home time). My friends and I went to Plaza España to take photos, to a tapas place, and then took a shuttle bus to Feria. We walked around the grounds, danced, and drank Rebujito which is sherry, 7-Up, and ice; the typical Feria drink.
Knowing that I would have a long day of showing my grandparents around Sevilla the next day, I got home around 3:30am. After 5 hours of sleep, I woke up this morning and met my grandparents at the cathedral at 9:50 for a 10am mass. They were both drawn to tears from its beauty upon entering, and it made me remember how incredibly blessed I am to be living a 5 minute walk from such an incredible site.
Today we toured all of Sevilla in one day, including the Cathedral, Plaza España, Feria grounds, the river, the Alcazar, and the Setas. My grandparents fell in love with Sevilla, as all of my visitors have. I am so happy to be able to share it with the people I love, and I hope that one day, you too will come to experience it.
Thank you for tuning in to my blog this semester. I am forever thankful to everyone who supports me in my passions and adventures, and you are a part of that! I hope you have enjoyed following along with me here in Sevilla, Spain, and I will be seeing you very, very soon.
Here’s to a wonderful semester abroad!!
¡Salud!
XOXO
AV
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"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
- Isaiah 40:31
