However, for this year that's about to arrive, I do have a big one. Finally. RETURN AND VISIT my lovely, beautiful Spain. It's been too long.
I look at my blog entries, and notice that about a year ago, I said that I would be returning soon...and then that year passed, and look where I am again now. It's been 3.3 years since I've set foot on European soil, and that's far too long.
My Canadian life has been very good to me. I have a great boyfriend, a nice house and a great job. I couldn't ask for more...except to see Spain again, every once in a while. Since these are the holidays, and I get two full weeks off as a teacher, I've had lots of time to think about where I would love to go and how much time I would like to spend in each area. It's quite difficult planning something like this out, especially when all you want to do is stay for a few months and see every city possible.
But, I can't stay for a few months and I obviously can't see every city possible in my 2.5 week planned trip. Now, I say "planned" but it's still tentative.
Here's the route I'm thinking of taking for the summer of 2011, if all goes well:
Madrid-Salamanca (stay there for about 2 days)
Salamanca-Santiago de Compostela (stay about 2 days)
Santiago de Compostela-A Coruna (stay about 2 days)
Now, this itinerary is all done by bus and train. Mostly train. If you look at a Spanish map you'll see where I will plan on taking a bus.
Then, I'll fly from A Coruna to Sevilla and take the train to Jerez de la Frontera, where I am planning on tasting their local sherry with a heaping pile of tapas. Actually, I'm planning on eating great big piles of tapas wherever I go...this is Spain, after all. :)
Then after a two day stay in Jerez, I'll head back to Huelva and stay with my Spanish friends for a few days...and then, take the early train back to Madrid on my second to last day there.
Oh, so much to think about, to plan! I'm in my element. God, I've missed this. C'mon girl...no turning back (unless something terrible happens over here, God forbid...(shudders). Let's hope not). I keep telling myself that I will regret not going if I don't go this upcoming summer. Yes, it's expensive just getting there. The cheapest flight I've found so far is 962 CDN all taxes included, which is actually a steal...(sigh). I have the money, yet I am stubborn and keep waiting for the prices to go down even more. What the heck am I waiting for? That they drop to 29 bucks? Yeah, dream on. I think I'll snatch up my ticket in about a month or two...? It's hard to know when it's a good time to buy, since ticket prices keep changing daily. So far, Travelocity has been very kind to me...please keep dropping that price! I don't expect it to go below 900 bucks, but here's hoping.
So yeah. It's expensive just getting there, but darn it, I deserve this trip. Just thinking about it makes me so happy. That's a sign, right? I did make a promise I'd go back one day...
I've been daydreaming about it, dreaming about it at night while I sleep...I have to go. I've reached a certain point where it's now or never, basically. I have got to stop making excuses and do this for ME. I need this adventure. I need this experience again. I don't even think that I will have any travel partners for this one, even though I would love for my boyfriend to experience this with me. I don't think that he will be able to come, since he is thinking of taking another online course for teaching job.
Oh well, it's not like I haven't done this before! If I do end up going alone, I know I'll be okay. I'm not sure that my parents would like the idea, but parents are parents. I did quite well on my own for many months in 2005 and 2006.
That's not to say I won't somehow try to get myself a travelling buddy. One wants to experience something with another, right? Plus, it's a pain always asking strangers to take pictures of you grinning goofily and pointing towards some kind of statue...
Anyway, consider this blog back up and running. I'm really going to try to do this for 2011. Spain, my love, let's make it happen soon.
