The Cave of Wonders and Green Things

Yesterday was just what I needed: we finally went to La Sierra which is about 1 hour north of Huelva. It was a nice relaxing outing where giant trees, hills and mountains surrounded us wherever we went. We also visited lots of little villages, Aracena being one of them where we went on a 45 minute tour of a cave called La Gruta de las Maravillas. It was unbelievably beautiful. Too bad lots of pics didn't come out right since it was so dark.
The cave was gigantic, which is good since I am claustrophobic and wouldn't have been able to participate if the cave would have been really tight and small. It was very humid in the cave and a balmy 17 degrees (water was dripping everywhere). I felt like I was in another world...it was all so beautiful and quiet. Really worth visiting (I wished you were there with me Shane, you would have loved it!).



We basically went for a stroll in lots of different little villages surrounding the area. This pic was still taken in Aracena (it was above the cave). It was a cloudy day for the most part and a tad chilly with the wind, but I wasn't complaining...I wore my winter hat, Shane's mittens that he gave me last Christmas and thermal underwear (sexy!), hehe...










This pic was taken on top of a giant hill in Aracena. This used to be a tower of a castle, but the French destroyed it in 1812...grrrr.


Look at meeeeeeee! I'm going to lift off, wheeeeee!

















Me and Angel, still in Aracenas. This was a nice square that was located in the city centre...not too too much here, but clean and nice to look at. The town was very quiet, probably because of the cold and it being winter and all that...









This was very interesting. Our car was parked close to an area where in the old days, women used to come and wash their clothes in a huge communal "tank". They also each had their own stone scrubbers where they would rub the stains out of their clothes. Hmmmm...green, slimy water anyone? I'm sure it works better than Tide...or "Colón" as the most popular detergent is called here in Spain (cringes).













Scrub, scrub, scrub! I wonder how long ago these things were used... Are we EVER lucky not to have to do that anymore.













A beautiful church, one of only a bagazillion that Spain has to offer. I swear, this town had about 5 churches or so (Angel pointed them out to me). It wasn't even a big town, too.







This pic was taken in a little village called Linares. I think that there were only 200 or so inhabitants. The sun had started to peak out at around 4 p.m., so it was nice to feel the warm sun on your face while the wind blew fiercely. Made me think that it was spring already (but then again, this WOULD be spring in Canada).







These next few pics were taken in a teeny tiny area called Peña. It wasn't even a village since there weren't any houses...it's basically a beautiful area where one goes to get married (there's one church located on top of the hill) and then gets photographed at several gorgeous spots throughout the area.
There was actually a wedding going on while we were there, and the couple seemed to be posing for about 3487938247 pictures. We stayed there for a LONG time and they were still walking around with the photographer in the end, posing and smiling for more pictures.
This was just a lil monument where one could make the bells ring. It was located in an area that was to the far right of the church.


No, I do not know this muchacho. I took a pic of him because I loved the way he was nonchalantly rolling his cigarette and ocasionally staring off into space...that plus the hat and the coat wrapped around his shoulders screamed,"I'm begging to be looked at and taken notice of."

When I saw this tree I almost gasped. It reminded me of a scene in What Dreams May Come. I think I took about 5 pics of this one tree...I even snapped one of Angel (without him knowing it at the time) walking down towards the tree. I think it looked really good (one of my faves) and I later showed it to him. Just makes for such a pensive picture...and a peaceful one. I loved that tree.

Just me and Donna relaxing by the tree. After Angel took this pic, we pretty much just sat there and gazed at the sky and the scenery. It was breathtaking...and I think that we sat there without talking for a good 10 minutes or so. I hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. It's so easy to forget REAL life and its beauty when we are constantly surrounded by sirens, motorbikes and people gabbing and fighting away over insignificant things.

I later stretched out on the grass and looked up at the swaying branches in the tree. I just couldn't wipe a huge grin off my face, try as I might.

Love you all, H.xoxoxoxo

P.S. Next Weekend Trip: Cordoba! Hostal's booked for 4!!! So excited...may I never stop travelling...

Insert Best Title. Ever.

This weekend was nice. I FINALLY went to another concert that was happening in the city on Friday night. Yeah, after U2's show in Aug.'05, it was about time, eh? (Checks calendar and blushes)
The band was called Celtas Cortos (The Short Celts) and they played Spanish/Celtic music. It was odd to hear a band sing in Spanish while playing celtic music...but it was awesome! They really got the crowd going with their stomping and hopping around. I loved how 8 men were able to play all kinds of different types of instruments. It made every song seem different and fresh. There were violins, guitars, accordeons, drums, flutes, trumpets, etc etc. For one song they'd quickly change from one instrument to another, never missing a beat. I loved it :)
At my request, we also went out for some chinese food...hmmm...
Yesterday I went to see The Prestige, and liked it. It sure wasn't Babel-goodness, but it had its moments. I was pissed that I wasn't able to hear Micheal Caine's real voice, though. I really like that actor...he does good work. He made The Cider House Rules gold in my opinion. Actually, come to think about it, it's one of my favourite movies. I should watch it again someday...
In other news, mark your calendars: The German's coming home on July 31st. I expect all of you at the airport greeting me with bells and fanfares. Yeah, I can't believe that everything's booked. My mom and I were looking at deals online last monday and found some sweet flights with the German company LTU.
My parents are gonna come see me on the 18th of July and then we'll tour Spain together...then, on the 27th, we´ll fly with Lucy the Wondercat to Duesseldorf to spend a few days with my family there. After, it's bye bye Europe and we're home on the 31st.
I've decided to trek through Italy during the first two weeks of July. Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice and a short day trip to Pisa. Any interested souls? I'm thinking of leaving around the 3rd of July and coming back on the 15th...I'm gonna buy a railpass to make my travels cheaper as well. Oh, and the best thing is that flights from Madrid to Rome are now only 100 euros..so perhaps I should start booking everything in February already and get a headstart on hostals and such. What can I say? God gave me the gift of planning (or is it a curse?).
I think I'm addicted to travelling. Which is good. But also bad.
Shane and I will be travelling to Portugal together sometime in late March (if all works out) and then we'll be spending some time in Paris in early April, when I have a week off for my easter break. Oooh, France! Paris! "Bonjour Paris!"
I guess I don't have to say how much I'm looking forward to this.
So as happy and care-free as this entry may sound, I'm feeling kinda so-so right now since I've just been talking to a teacher friend of mine and he was saying,"Oh, you'll definitely get into all the universities you applied to...except U of T, which is super selective. That one is gonna be hard. Oh, what was your number one choice again?" Urgh. I have to realistically acknowledge that there's a big possibility that I won't get into that school. I shouldn't freak out about it right now, but I have to mentally prepare myself so as not to be totally blah once April comes around.
But enough about that. It makes me edgy.
The weather is supposed to get colder for this week. Colder as in 10 degrees during the day and between 0-5 at night...which is arctic weather here. Time to use the micheline man snowsuits and 7 foot scarves, everybody! It's the North Pole out here...
Meh. Betcha by next week it'll be back to 17 degrees by day and 7 by night. Not that I'm complaining. I cringe thinking about what awaits me for next year...I'm so gonna die. The All Mighty One was very kind to me over the holidays and spared me of frostbite.
I'm running out of things to say and getting sleepy...think I'm just gonna end it here.
To cap things off, I chose an awesome Jesus and his Posse bracelet from the chinese restaurant (you get points when you eat at their establishment..and for 1 awesome-enriched point I decided to get this little gem). Rachel, I thought of you and will likely give it to you when we see each other at the airport and you shower me with posters of Take Off Your Pants while dancing to Men Without Hats songs which you will be blasting on your ghetto stereo.
People might stare but they don't realize how cool it is to dance if you really really want to.
H xoxox

Pandora's Box

One of my New Year's resolutions was to finally get my butt in gear and discover new music again...Pandora has been the key to this.

Now I don't feel so pathetic anymore and feel that I can actually catch up with some of the new music that's out there...(Spain has just not helped in introducing me to good English music).

Here's a list of my newly discovered top 5 artists:

1. Van She
2. Fischerspooner
3.The Boy Least Likely To
4.Regina Spektor
5.Cat Power

I'm so excited. So much great stuff to discover...this is such a great music player.

(incidentally, Van She music is hard to download, anybody got some for me? I've only got Kelly and Mission. Try getting Sex City, it's great.)

I haven't done much this weekend...most of my friends are out of town. I did go see Babel on Friday night with Donna which was AMAZING. I really loved it...one of my favourite movies from the last few months.
Today's just another quiet Sunday and I'm just downloading tunes and wasting time by listening to aforementioned artists and other Pandora artists. Might go for a walk later...even though the weather's looking kinda weird out there.
This upcoming weekend I might finally be going to La Sierra...(will it ever happen?) Cordoba might only fly in early February since my buddies are broke and want me to wait for them. D'ah well...I don't mind waiting if it means I'll be joined by my friends.
Nothing much happened over the past few days...this week I was just busy getting everything organized for the 2nd school term. I DO have lots of planning to do for the next few weeks, but it'll be alright.
On another note, has anybody seen that godawful interview that Paula Abdul gave recently? I don't remember which show/channel she was giving the interview to, but if you haven't, go to youtube and write Paula Abdul interview in the search bar...it's hilarious. That woman is so full of prescription drugs/alcohol/crack & cocaine that would make Courtney Love and Whitney blush. Like, wow. I couldn't even finish watching the interview because it was just THAT embarassing and painful. I'm sure you guys would get a laugh out of it though.
I'm out like her sanity.
love you all xoxoxoxo H.

Maybe it's because I can't sleep...

...but I´m suddenly in the mood for some late-night blog posting which involves pictures taken over the holidays. I'll deal with the "awwwmygawwwd killllll meee now" feeling tomorrow morning when my alarm rings.



This is Bono. Now Rachel, don't start enlarging the pic and looking at it with a magnifier cuz it ain't THAT Bono. It's my Dad. You're probably asking yourself:"Why is this man standing in front of that old horse carriage?" You might also be wondering; "If this is 1885 why wasn't great-granny Hildegard here for some line dancing and the pie baking contest I held after xmas?"

Well, the reason is quite simple: your pies just taste like ass, man. But seriously folks, this is Tillsonburg, Ontario. This is the area where my parents live...and this parking spot is reserved for the Amish that dwell in the area. I had to quiet down my mother several times whenever we'd bump into Amish people at the local Canadian Tire or Shopper's Drug Mart: "Look, Heidi...look!"

Now you believe me that Tillsonburg is 2 hrs away from TO?



















My Dad insisted on taking a picture of me in front of the carriage. We lingered there for quite a while, and I was kinda scared that some crazy Amish with a 5 foot beard would come chasing after me...then I'd trip on his beard and would be forced to look after his 23 children and cook pea soup for the rest of my life.


That horse is probably thinking, "You think YOU got problems?"





Here's my girl. Right before I had to leave you all, we decided to go to the Pickle Barrel for some half yards. I felt too rushed to finish my beer, and as you all know me...it would probably take me a few hours to finish it. I'll try much harder when I'm back in the T-dot...and not feeling all wishy washy knowing that I'm leaving soon.






















My girl and my guy.


Our waitress was a good-for-nothin´but we had a good lil time...

They taught me a new word that day. Apparently I am a pacifist. I know, I know...I'm an English teacher, I should know this, right? But hey, gimme a break, it ain't my first language...;)







Can I doggy-bag this please?









Enough said.































Take this crown and stick it!!!

Props go to Rachel for this one...was it you who had the idea of sticking my paper crown down my pants? The only bad thing about this was ripping it to shreds. Heck no, I take that back...I WAS able to make some spiffy paper earrings out of it.

Gin and Ginger ale never went down so good...or was it Seven Up? Who cares.

Could use some Father Ted humour now..."Drrrrrrrrrrrriiiiiinnnnnnk!"

Mis amores, hasta luego H...xoxoxooxoxoxoxoxo

Biggy 2007

I'm back.
My 2 weeks in Canada were simply great. I had a wonderful time with my family and friends and just like I had predicted, didn't feel that 2 weeks were enough. It was just so nice to finally get to see my parents´new house and to be pampered with good food at home.
On Christmas morning, my father finally arrived home and we opened presents. Never had there been so many people at our house for xmas. It was nice.
In the late afternoon I went to Shane's grandmother's and finally met a lot of his relatives and got to talk to his parents for more than just 2 minutes (grad ´05). Everyone was very welcoming and friendly and I had a delicious dinner (albeit later than everyone else cuz by the time I had arrived everyone had already finished). In the evening, we went back to Shane's place and exchanged gifts...Shane got me a beautiful amber pendant from Egypt, and Depeche Mode´s Best Of CD, and a piece of coral from when he was at the Red Sea. He also wrote me a beautiful card which had a nice photo of the giza pyramids on it. From his parents, I got a silver necklace for the pendant. :) Heidi was a happy girl (and still is).
We later went to see Dreamgirls which was a big dissapointment. Half of the audience was laughing during the music sequences. I, was sometimes one of them.
On the 26th Shane came over to my place for a turkey dinner and finally got to meet my own folks. He also came over on another day when we all played Uno...grrr and he beat us all while talking on the phone to Mairin (it was her birthday that day). I think he won 3 times...argh. My day shall come! ;)
New Years, in my opinion, was fun enough. Yeah, the music sometimes sucked and the crowd seemed a little strange, but it was great just being surrounded by friends. I think we were also glad that Rachel felt better after around 11-ish...yikes.
(sigh) Too bad I couldn't go to Dance Cave with all of you on the 5th (but you know, I had other matters to tend to, like jetting off the continent). Hope you all had a great time...argh so jealous! I feel like I just got to experience 1% of what TO has to offer...I think I would like that city a lot if I got the chance to live there.
I really wish I could have had more time with all of you, but it's hard when you only have 2 weeks and you want to be with so many people at once. Hopefully summer of ´07 will rectify that. I miss you all so much and can't wait to hang out with you again!
Evy, Shane told me that you liked my little gifts...it wasn't much, but I just wanted to show my best bud how much I miss her and appreciate her.
So my flight went well, although it was all excruciatingly LONG. I had my own personal TV screen again but the SOUND didn't work. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I could have watched The Queen!!!!!! I was so frickin' mad, you have no idea. You guys know how angry technology can make me...(eve especially). So yeah, I spent the whole flight back to Brussels sleeping and not finishing my in-flight meals. Not that they were bad, I was just tired and a bit miffed. So sleep overtook. The flight from Brussels to Madrid was non-eventful and I slept some more. Iberia always sucks anyways. You don't even get free snacks. Nothing.
Then I took the bus back to Huelva from Madrid...and slept some more during the trip. I also listened to my Belle and Sebastian Tigermilk CD and realised that it was very good.
I saw a lot of cartoons over the holidays. Happy Feet with Shane on the 1st (good, not amazing, but good), Cars (pay-per-view at home), and Chicken Run at Shane's place. I guess I like cartoons...nothing wrong with that, right?
I could write so much more about this trip, my 2 weeks were just really great. I managed to spent a good chunck of my time with my parents, so that was nice...I also finished my book Teacher Man by Frank McCourt yesterday and started The Odyssey by Homer. It's interesting and reminds me of my Myth and Symbol class readings, so it should prove to be good.
Tomorrow is back to work day...it's always a slap in the face to restart, but I think that I need the work routine. It'll be nice to see Belen and Donna again, too.
Oh man...I have SO MUCH to do this week...a lot of xmas decorations to take off, undecorate the class' xmas tree, make new star posters, new attendance sheets...
Ok, let's not think about that yet. One day at a time, right? This year seems to be flying faster than last year anyway...
I hope all of you had great holidays, and I can't wait to see you again this summer...I miss you all so much already and love you to pieces.
Did anyone make New Year's resolutions? I would LIKE to stop biting the skin around my fingers, but it's sooo hard. I'll try though.
Shane, thank your family again for everything...that dinner at that French restaurant was really nice as well...
Ok everybody, have a great start to 2007 and I had a nice time with all of you...looking forward to the sequel xoxoxoxoxo H