Change Me - Ryan Long

Will finish later, but thought yall might want to see photos!!!

There really is no way to explain the past 10 days of my life, other than life changing.



Eilis and I did a pilgrimmage to Santiago, known as the Camino de Santiago, or the Way of St. James, and it was phenominal, exhausting, painful, and so rewarding. It all started with my cousins and Aunt Karen telling me how I have to go to Compostella de Santiago when I get to Spain, and how there is still a pilgrimage and thousands of people do it. Well when I met up with Eilis in Barcelona, I brought it up and a week later we are on our way to Ponferrada to start a 200 km trek across Spain!





We had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, we read a bit online and decided to go for it! They have alburgues (like hostels) that you stay in each night only if you have your creditials and stamps to prove that you have walked. So all we needed really was our pilgrims passports and hiking boots (we didnt have the second, but prayed that tennis shoes would be enough). So we got to Madrid, organized what we would and wouldnt take with us to Santiago (we have way to many clothes), and had a little old man at the cathedral get our passports for us (1 euro). Then we headed to the bus station, bought a bag to put all the stuff we were leaving behind in, and after packing and unpacking 10 times in the parking lot of the bus station we were ready! We got on a bus to Ponferrada, realized we would get in to late to stay in an albergue because it would be to late (they close at 10) and figured we would find a place. Well we met a guy on the bus and talked about how we were doing the camino, had no plan, weren´t sure where we were staying, decided to do it three days before ect. ect. all he said was ¨good luck¨. We started to worry about everything, but decided not to stress. After getting to Ponferrada and learning they had a festival, our need for a hotel became greater. We were walking around when suddenly we fell into conversation with this woman from Portugal! Using my awesome portuguese skills she took us to a place to stay for the night and got us a discount! It was awesome! (thats her and her friend pictured below)





The next day we were off! We read that the castle in Ponferrada had stamps (we had to get one at our first place and since we didnt have a albergue we had to get one there). Well we got there around 8 but the place didnt open till 11! after debating and talking to other pilgrims we passed, we decided to wait till 11 and then walk. It was our first day, we were feeling good, we talked to a really helpful girl who said it was only 23 km to the main town and we were sold. So we waited till 11 got our stamps and then set off! We were very excited and I was a little nervous we were walking to fast because everywhere I read said to take it slow. Well we walked for 3-4 hours stopped for a lunch of pb and nuttella.

We talked about where we were, either at 6 km or 16, I hoped we were at the 16km town because I was exhausted and my feet were starting to hurt... we werent, I lost so onwards we marched! We ran into the three girls from that morning and learned a bit more about them, two were from Barcelona and one was from Uraguay (she knew english). They asked if we knew to put vasaline on our feet to stop blisters and we said no so of course when we made it to the alburgue (like a hostel but cheaper) at 530 we had tons! I had two old blisters on my heels from NYC and they were in bad shape as well as 4 new ones. Well these lovely ladies told us what to get at the farmacia, then just came in with us, got us vasaline and bactine (to clean) gauze and tape and that night after a delicious menu de dia they popped all of our blisters! They were so helpful about giving us advice on what to do about traveling and things to look out for, how to find the alburgues, about the next couple of days and how the next day was 28-30 km up mountains to O Cebriero. They were a God send for sure.

Day 2:

In the morning, we set off around 730, worried because all we saw at that point was the bikers leaving, but oh well we had a long day ahead of us so we had to get going. Our feet were sooo sore and as the sun rose our feet just got numb and we just went. We passed people all day, and they passed us too. I was still amazed at how many people were doing the camino! I was told that july and august were the busiest times but a lot of people still did it in September. I was glad to do it when there were lots of other people doing it because it was cool to meet all these different people. Well day two was bad, from the beggining. My feet hurt at hour two like they did at hour 6 the day before! I was really worried about how I was going to make it up the mountains (we hadnt even hit them yet).

Dancing through Life - Wicked

Valencia



We bussed to Valencia after Barcelona because we both knew people here but Mark, my friend from Brazil was out of town, and Eilis´friend was also mia, but we found plenty to do. After we dropped off our stuff we went grocery shopping and then cooked delicious pasta at the hostel. We then had our complementary beers at the hostel and met these Irish boys who actually live in Valencia. Andy and Colim made us attempt to play pool, we were aweful, but it was fun. We talked about things to do and what to see. We then went out to a bar and after much dancing (see photos in slideshow) we had to head home.



The next day I had a cold, but we wouldn´t let that stop us. We cooked the rest of our spaggetti for lunch (we slept that late becase we bought earplugs and finally slept through the night, and well through the following morning). Colim had said he would show us around town on bikes if we wanted but unfortunatly he no longer could so we decided to rent bikes on our own. Well... after three trips to the bike shop (20 minute walk there mind you) we finally got our bikes yay! I also went into the church in Valencia that has the "real Holy Grail". It was really cool and beautiful. We biked through the old river bed park. Valencia had a river that went right through the city, in the fifties it flooded so bad that they decided to change the river to go around the city and made the old river bed a huge park! It was so neat to bike through with all the old bridges to go under. We biked by the beautiful art science buildings that have the largest aquarium in europe, museums, and imax all very cool. We went to the beach and had a great time.


The last day we biked around again and went to the big market, and to one of the old city gates, where we climbed to the top and looked out at all of valencia. We also got to meet Mark for lunch! I was so excited to see him! We talked and got to catch up a little before we headed back to the hostels to get our bags. We then tried to get the bus back to the main bus station to head for Madrid and our hostel lady gave us the wrong advice... After an hour and a half, and seeing the whole city of valencia, twice, we got to the bus station and got the last tickets for the 530 bus with 10 minutes to spare!

Barcelona and Valencia

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¨Summer in the City¨ -Regina Spektor

BARCELONA

After a horribly long night on the airplane (8 hours leaving at 5:40 pm and getting in at 2 am or 8 spain´s time) I was ready to see Eilis! I grabbed my bags from a surpisingly quiet baggage claim (quiet as in the actually belt was silent) and meandered through the very innovative airport. After a bus and a train and a metro I was walking towards the hostel! I walk in the door and Eilis is there waiting for me. Unfortunatly the hostel is full, but Eilis being the way more productive one has booked another so off we go back on the metro for Equity hostel! It was a great hostel and we had our bags dropped off and I look at my watch and it´s 1015! What on earth am I going to do all day when I am this tired? So off to La Ramba to explore! We went to the market, saw tons of food - candy, legs of meat, fish, pigs heads, cow noses, bread, fruit, and mysterious things that we´re still not sure of. We got some mango strawberries and kiwi to snack on and it was delicious.


Then we wandered around till lunch and had Paella - a traditional spanish rice dish and some tapas (very big here). And of course a sangria (most popular drink here)! Then I couldn´t make it so we went to nap at the hostel (I know erin but I had to). We got up a couple hours later talked strategy then walked down to the peir and had dinner - tapas and a big jar of beer and watched the sun set over the water.


Friday we explored Barcelona and went to the beach and had our first dips in the Mediteranean! People aren´t kidding about the lack of bathing suits in Barcelona, Meu Deus! But we had fun and then headed to Mt Jeyuic for great views of the city. Then headed to the market and bought little sandwiches delicious looking olives and these mini red peppers filled with cheese floating in olive oil (yes they were even better than they sound)! We bought a bottle of wine then headed back to the hostel to eat on our rooftop terrace. We found out we weren´t allowed to drink on the terrace, but that just made us plan... we got cups from the bar and my backpack and enjoyed our meal - wine and all- in the corner of the terrace watching the sun set over the mountains. Great day!

Saturday we slept in and headed to view all things Gaudi that we heard we ¨had to see¨from multiple friends, and man they were right! Of course I forgot my camera but Eilis shared the love. The church that has been in construction for over 100 years and supposidly 50 more is the La Sagrada Familia and it is the single most creative structure I have ever seen! The outside alone is so unique with the pillars leaning in to create a cave look from trees and the all different size steeples and the four armed cross, amazing. The front had images of the birth of Jesus carved into the wall including the shepards, kings and so on. The inside was to die for, the windows are phnemoinal. The colors that they made on the walls were breath taking shades of red, blue, green, orange, everywhere . Up in the top of the church were windows all with white stain glass because Gaudi always said he wanted his church to be one of light because life in heaven is bright (something like that but more well put). It was just the coolest thing how beautiful clear stain glass could be with all different textures. We went out to the back of the church where it has the death and scenes of Jesus falling and being put in the tomb a giant tree of life, turtles holding the pillars on their backs ect. Just all the detail and creativity and different way its built, so amazing! I decided I must go back when its finished!

Well at this point we have to go see the park Gaudi created, Park Guill, because we love him! So we metro and then walk for 15 minutes till we see this huge hill and then stairs, and decided that must be it so onward and upward! We had beautiful views of Barcelona as we made our way towards the main part of the park. It was beautiful these houses looked like gingerbreak houses and bridges looked like I was walking through the drippy castles we make at the beach! It was the coolest. There was this plaza with mosaic benches that we loved and this pyramid with a cross we saw off in the distance and knew we had to climb it! We made our way there, climbed probably 30 feet to the top which was a little nerve wracking with so many people and no hand rails up the roughly shaped stone steps (especially when its on the top of a mountain so you feel 200 ft in the air). Mom, I can feel you cringe. It was awesome! Great photos ensued! Then we headed home, exhausted, had dinner at the market again because it was so good. Unfortunatly it was closing and our olive and pepper man was gone so we got them from another place which was not as good, but still delicious! Then off to the hostal to pack and go to bed. The next day we were heading to Valencia!

Things I learned:
Barcelona only believes in escaladors up not down which works except when you have to go down stairs with giant backpacks...
People in Spain don´t all speak spanish, OH no, they have 5 languages: Catalan, Valencian, Spainish, Galician, and Euskera! Yep

"Give My Regards to Broadway"

So the rest of NYC was wonderful, as always! Lets see... I left off on saturday with seeing Betcina! Well there is so much to tell! Sunday I went back down to times square and went to a matinee of Chicago! It was so much fun! I had never been to a play alone so another first for me. I got really excited when I sat down and read the Playbill. The woman that played ¨Mama¨ (Queen Latifa´s caracter in the movie) was Carol Woods, the woman who sings ¨let it be¨in Across the Universe, aka my favorite redo of any Beatles song! So I was so pumped, and the lawer (Richard Geer´s character) was John O´Hurley (Elaine´s boss on Seinfeld). It was a really great show, but mama and the guy who played Roxy´s husband stole the show! After the play I walked slowly through central park, stopped in sheeps meadow, which is a really cool field in lower central park with an awesome veiw of the city. I finished Hunger Games which everyone should read, but don´t tell me what happens in the second and third ones because I can´t read them until I get home. Then I got a call from Lauren, Trisha´s roommate about going out with her to her friends birthday party in Broklynn. I walked through central park all the way home (over 40 blocks mind you) ate left overs and hung out till Lauren got there and we headed off to subway to Broklynn. The party was on top ofLaurens friends rooftop and it was ridiculous. You could see the entire NYC skyline! It was beautiful. Well we had issues on the subway ride home so Trisha´s flight actually got in before we did. So she was asleep when I got back (she had work in the morning) so I slept in!

Monday, I got up late, ran a couple errands (post office, calling parents, phone, bank, ect.) then wandered around Central park again over to the west side where I then went into the National History Mueseum! Really cool but unfortunatly they close at five so I only had a few hours. I may have stopped for rays pizza on the way.... But it was awesome! I hit my favorite parts, Space, Dinosaurs, and Marine life! Bam great day! Well then I rode into Grand Central Station because it was near Trisha´s work and I could just meet her as soon as she got off. I people watched and explored and was very entertained (at 6 pm its packed) and then started walking towards her work. Well Trisha got off we went and grabbed dollar beer at a bar close by and started the constant talking to try and catch up! Then we bused over to the west side and grabbed dinner at Shake shack (delicious burgers) and headed off to Lalo´s per Mom and Dads request. It was delicious! We loved it. Then we headed home to sit on the roof and continue talking till late into the night.

Tuesday we were off not too early for a run around the reserves in Central Park. Man do I wish I had my camera! It was beautiful, and also hot, but seriously saw so many buildings over the trees and water it was the coolest thing. Then Trisha and I were off to explore the city. We hit up near times square to grab lunch at some sandwich place, it was pretty delicous, then we went to FAO Swuartz and played around like kids. Wicked has a raffle and they give away 26 tickets to every show 2 hours before. So we both put our names down for two and 30 minutes later out of the 120 people or so there our names were not called...We were sad but we ran over to ¨promises promises¨ to try and get tickets. The play looked really good, it had Sean Hayes (Jack from Will and Grace) and Kristen Chinowitz (original glinda in Wicked who I love and was in Pushing Up Daisies)! Luckily they still had tickets and so we were set. In the short time we had before the show... we went to Little Brazil! which I didn´t even know exsisted until Betcina informed me! We had pastels and a chipriana! I was sooo happy (though it was not nearly as good as Casa do Pastel). Then we went back for the play and loved it! It was funny, witty, and we were talking about it long after! Then we had to rush home because all day we were getting a skype DPT going (dance party tuesday) like the old days... So Patrick and Erin were together in Denver, Trisha and I in NYC, and poor little Daniel in Portland by himself... or well with his dinosaur ha ha. So we skyped each other and caught up and did a little dancing! It was fantastic!

Wednesday I got up with trisha said goodbye and headed to the laudramat to do my laundry. That was an adventure in itself! Then I had one last hamburger and hoped on the subway for the airport. Made my last few phonecalls to friends and three to my mother to reassure her I would call while in Europe, and then I was off for my next grand adventure!