A Colonial Weekend

I have been in D.C. for five weeks.  Five weeks.  Had this been Spain, I would be coming home tonight.  For some reason it seems like Spain was so much longer than these last five weeks have felt . . . but maybe that's just because I know that I still have 2/3 of the way to go.  Whatever the case, it seems like a long time and a short time all wrapped up in a I-still-feel-like-this-is-unreal package.  It's great.

This weekend I continually had this overwhelming feeling of love for the world.  Like it was going to burst right out of me.  It is really hard for me to put into words, but I imagine other people feel like this too so . . . hopefully you understand.  

Full of excitement.

Brimming with joy.

Giddy with love for the beauty of the earth.

You know, normal stuff.

To start off, let's just say that I am in love with Monticello.  The architecture, the draperies, the library, the gardens, everything.  So wonderful.  So beautiful.  We spent a good few hours wandering around, and we would have stayed longer if we hadn't been so hungry.  But we went to a really cool authentic colonial tavern for a late lunch and ate our little hearts out.  And then we looked around the area, went to some colonial shops, and then made our way to Williamsburg for the night.  (Where we may or may not have had ice cream from dinner.)

Amanda and I have been searching for these for weeks.
So when we saw them we just had  to get them.

A lady who worked at the store came up to me and told me that I needed to get this shirt.

It was a rainy day in Williamsburg, but that seemed to make it all the better.  I loved learning about everything, but my favorite part was walking around the canal by the Governor's Mansion and getting hot chocolate.  We spent our entire day wandering around there and then stopped by Steak n' Shake for dinner on our way back up. 

Dad, I found a perfect store for you.

And we made it back safely.  It was a wonderful weekend.

But the most exciting part of the weekend . . . . I just saw dad!!!!!!!!!!   Here's to a great next 2 days, 10 weeks, 60 years, etc.

paz afuera.

In a matter of minutes, I will be leaving.  It's weird to think that it's actually happening, that the last five weeks went by just as fast as I knew they would.  But the last two days were the absolute perfect way to say goodbye.

On Thursday night, there was a festival for la Noche de San Juan.  We went to the plaza by the Cathedral to see some really weird performance (not even the Spaniards understand it), almost get hit by fireworks, and then throw wishes/things you want to forget into a giant bonfire.

After, we went to a few discotecas and danced like it was 1999/going out of style/our last night in Spain.  We walked around and talked and got chased by a wild boar to finish off our night (or morning if you want to be exact).

Yesterday was probably the most beautiful day I've seen in Oviedo.  The weather was absolutely perfect and there was just something about the air that made everything pleasant.  We graduated, talked with friends, hung out in the park, got ice cream, sat and chatted in an open cafe, bought some flowers, and talked more in the park.

It was one of those days where I was just trying to soak up every moment.  Once I got home, I went with my family to the Tennis Club for drinks on the terrace.  It was really pleasant and we talked about school and food and fry sauce (or "pink sauce" as my brothers call it).

Paul (19) is on the left, Jaime (18) on the right.

It was sad to say goodbye to them, but I really hope and think that we will keep in touch.  And it is going to be sad to say goodbye to Spain.  But life goes on, and I'm so excited to see you and the family and my friends.  And I'm excited to spend time with girls at tennis camp next week (and the next three weeks).  And I'm excited for Lake Powell and Brightwell & Logan coming home and this one wedding that I have to go to in August and our family trip and summer days and etc.  So I think I've got enough good in my life that I can happily move on to the next adventure.

¡Adiós España!  And I'll see ya tomorrow mom.

more goodbyes

Goodbye to Sidra and those who drink it.

Goodbye to weird Spanish ping pong tables.

 

Goodbye to the festivals of Oviedo.

Goodbye to my apartment.

Goodbye to class.

Goodbye to [some] friends.

Goodbye to the University of Oviedo.

Goodbye to Campo de San Fransisco.

. . . and still more to come.