All the fun at the fair and everything else in between 🇪🇸💃🏽

Time really is continue to fly by and so my mission to do as much as possible continues. This week in let's see what Lissy can cram into her week, we have lots of random things. 

Firstly, I got the pleasure to be apart of the Clara Campoamor day, I mean it wasn't even my week at your school and I don't even work Fridays, but some things (only some things, don't expect me to give up my 3 day weekend all the time 😝😝) are worth showing up for, and this was. I mean mainly just because I couldn't have felt like I was anymore in Spain- I've never ever seen that many tortillas in one place! 😂😂 maybe next year you should enter the Guinness world record books for most tortillas in a school, I think you've got a good chance. Well, aside from the tortilla, it was so lovely to see all of you come together in one place and do lots of wonderful things- it was special to see and be part of. Well done to 4 eso for bossing your acrobatic routine, you should be proud of yourselves for getting up there, and for the pieces of music you picked- I was a massive fan! but also, thank you for letting me run a bit of the day- the Irish dancing! I feel privileged to have been able to show you all something that has been a massive part of my life and I think you all did great, even if it was quite difficult! Well done to those of you that made it to the end of the session- perseverance is key in life! 💚🍀☘️ well, thank you for putting up with me for an extra day! 

If Clara campoamor day wasn't enough dancing, fería was something else! The only other fería I've been to whilst here in Spain is the lucena one for Araceli, but cordoba, wow, that was something completely different. we took the bus to cordoba at 10am ready for a day full of Fería and mission number 1 was to find a flower for our hair of course!!! I was maybe a little too excited about wearing a flower, I just wanted to feel Spanish for a day 🌺🌹😂 and well, we were all very fussy about our flowers and walked around until we found the perfect one. I'm very indecisive so picked a blue and red one, mainly because they matched my dress andddddd well, a red flower is just very Spanish. However, there was a price to pay for mission flower.... silly me decided that wearing heels was a great idea, it was not!! I'm pretty sure we walked over the WHOLE of cordoba and my feet were not happy bunnies 😳😂 but I think the flower was worth the pain and well, Feria must go on!!! Here below you can see the 'flowerpuff girls' and so move over power puff girls! (I'm not sure if you have that programme here) 

After stopping refresh ourselves and prepare ourselves for Fería, it was time to go in and oh my lord, it was incredible, I've never seen something so spectacular and so full of life. It made me so happy to see everyone without a care in the world and all the Fería stuff placed there- it felt like I was walking into a theme park!! Of course I was jealous of all the flamenco dresses 🌹💃🏽 they are so beautiful and stunning and so very very Spanish hahaha after having a photoshoot (you can't go to Fería without A photo shoot) it was time to go to the casetas, and I discovered my new favourite drink called rebujito!! I had to admit that I really don't have any talent on the sevillanas front, but it's so beautiful to watch everyone dance in time with one another and how they move so effortlessly and know the steps!! I really did try and maybe just maybe by the end I understood about half of it. I just seem to lack the coordination of the arms with the feet, so if anyone would live to give me a lesson, that would be fabulous!! I had such a fantastic time at Fería and enjoyed every moment, one of those days were you genuinely love life and live in the moment- I'll never ever forget my cordoba Fería experience!! I loved it so much that I even went again on Wednesday evening (ooopsy a school night) and once again had an awesome time dancing the night away with wonderful human beings! Just one day I'll get to go in a horse and cart hahaha (a girl can dream, tight

After all the excitement of the Fería, I really needed to rest, however I seem to have an issue with this, in the form of not being able to stop doing things because I think life should be for living and making the most of it. So, I went to Zuheros for the first time with Isa (the English teacher), who some of you may know. I had such a lovely day, and Zuheros is just breathtaking, I really couldn't believe it was in Spain. Spain is just full of surprises and so diverse!! I loved the countryside and it reminded me of back home with the reallllyyyy green grass, farm animals and hiking places. I also learnt lots about the countryside and Zuheros itself from her family. I'm so lucky to have people to show me all the nucks and crannies of Spain, and people who I love spending time with. After doing a mini hike and seeing the countryside (the ground was too wet to do a proper hike... never thought I'd hear those words being from England, but then you guys don't even do PE outside even if there is only a little bit of water on the ground hehe 😂😝) it was time for tapas! I'm beginning to really love tapas, until someone asks me what I want and I really really do have problems deciding 😂😂 maybe it's the pressure of picking a tapas in front of spaniards, or that I just really don't mind... I'll never know haha but we had revuelto, flamenquin and some meat- it was really yummy and I got to spend time with Maria, Isa's daughter! The sun really did shine so brightly that we even had to put up an umbrella. Sadly that sunshine wasn't to last when as we arrived in Lucena and started eating ice cream, the heavens opened and I've never ever seen rain so heavy o so much hail (and that's coming from someone who lives in England) and so we were impresioned in the ice cream shop until it passed a little- but I guess there are worst places to be stuck in the rain haha thank you isa for such a genuinely fantastic day, I'm so lucky!

I've also been doing lots of other random things in my free time! I've visited my first bodega and that made me feel really really grown up knowing about how wine is made. The area around the bodega was also so pretty and like a mini Tuscany. I've also been to malaga to spend a day at the beach to regain energy after all you noisy kids 😝😝😝 but sadly I have finally got burnt and now look like a typical guiri on holiday, I was doing soooooo well!!! and in Malaga I had my first cien montaditos, they're so cute!!! I love the idea that I can choose lots of little sandwiches of my choice, but there really is such a thing as toooo much choice! And finally I went to have a night of German food with the other language assistants and my German au pair friend. We have become so close as friends and so now we are making the most of our time. If I'm being completely honest, I really don't remember what it was called that we ate, and I don't want to offend any German speakers haha but it was like a homemade pasta with lots of cheese- it was yummy and we all had fun trying to make it and more so, trying to pronounce it. it was such a pleasant evening filled with chit chat! 

And well I guess that completes my penultimate blog for you all (don't get too excited that you don't have to read me again 😂😝) but I guess I've just done lots and lots of random things and making the most of life here in Spain! Memories are the key to everything, and I'm certainly making lots of them to cherish forever. 

Well, I'll see you all in a week or so!! ⭐️💕🌸 I look forward to spending 2 more days with you all, you're the best! 

The end is nigh 🕓

And so it seems that 9 months has suddenly become 1 month, and I have no idea where the time has gone, you know what they say 'time flies when you're having fun' and I completely agree. The weird and wonderful thing about time is that it is completely yours to spend on whatever you want and with whomever you want, but we never reallllyyy spend it wisely until we can see an end. 9 months seemed like such a long time and now a month seems too little and I know it'll zoom by. Anyways, now I've been on a mission to make the most of my time left even more and live each day, hour, minute and second. I always try to wake up and spend each day as if it were my last, especially since as you all know, my dad died. It really was a wake up call as to how quickly time slips by and how we never truly know when will be our last moment of time; and so we should make the most of any bit of time we have, try to be as positive as we can, spread joy to others, surround yourself with those who make you feel truly happy and do the things you've always want to do. I guess this year here has made me realise that time is more valuable than I ever imagined. Well, this panic that time here is flying by might just explain my weekend full to the brim with wonderful activities. 

On Friday i was super excited to go to 'Los patios' in Córdoba, so many people had told me what a feast for the eyes it would be and how it was one thing not to miss. I didn't want to get up my expectations too much, because expectations kill everything, but I was looking forward to going. The truth is I love flowers, they're a truly beautiful thing and brighten up my day with all their tones and shapes and sizes, and well, no 2 flowers are the same. They show that beauty comes in many different forms. 🌼🌸🌺🌻🌷 I met my friend that's working as an auxiliar in Cadiz and she brought one of the American Auxiliar's that she's now friends with. It was nice to meet someone new, as I haven't for a while and I really do like getting to know new people. I have to say, the patios were all that I hoped, and truly gorgeous and spectacular. Those people should be very proud of themselves for creating their masterpieces and I loved that no patio was the same. The patios were 'blooming' brilliant!! Whilst in Córdoba I also acted a tour guide for my 2 different visitors, I really wouldn't recommend myself as a tour guide. I learnt that the key was just to make up dates about buildings 😂 and well, in this life we have to fake it until we make it. I was however better at being tour guide for the shops and restaurants; you can see where my priorities lie. But you really should all be proud of me for suggesting that they try typical Cordoba food aka flamenquin and salmorejo (I definitely did not have any salmorejo) to be honest I was more excited about my smoothie, basically the fruit version of salmorejo. 

After the spring filled day of Friday, Saturday was time for another adventure!! although this one really was an adventure. But before this, I really needed some energy and so went and got a toastada with tomate and jamón. (I'm secretly becoming Spanish at heart) the adventure of Saturday was to climb the sierra de Rute. You may be thinking 'wow, are you crazy?!' But the truth is that I love hiking and being in the great outdoors. It makes me feel at home and as a child I was brought up going for walks in the countryside and being surrounded by nature and incredible views. Obviously with me going on a trip, it didn't start off super smoothly as we got up and walked to the front of the bus too soon for the bus stop, to which the entire bus started looking at us weirdly and laughing... obviously we were the definition of 'guiri' and then when I went to Mercadona to get a pastry, the woman at the till told me I had to weigh them. I MEAN IN WHAT OTHER MERCADONA DO YOU HAVE TO WEIGH YOUR PASTRY AND OF COURSE THEY WERE THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHOP! But I really did want that pastry, so I complied with her rules and smiled sweetly, whilst she definitely judged me as a silly tourist. 

Don't worry, we eventually started our hike, and all of it was just so much fun and with incredible views. The whole way up we could see the Iznajar reservoir and it was stunning, i really couldn't stop looking at it, so much so that I walked up the hill backwards so I could look at it (and well, the hill didn't seem so big if i couldn't see what i was climbing 😂) the reservoir glowed with the sun and it was definitely more full than when I went in October (obviously the rain was good for something). When we reached the top of the sierra, I couldn't quite believe my eyes, the view was breathtaking and you could see for miles! It was worth the clambering over rocks and basically rock climbing and my foot getting stuck in between 2 rocks 😂😂 at the top we took in the views and of course rewarded ourselves with food and a beverage! 

After we had restored energy it was time to descend this mountain, and this sounds crazy but I actually prefer climbing up the mountain because my clumsiness affects me less 😂😂 also, it's a lot of brain work to climb down rocks on a slope, I found this out when I was being a typical chatterbox and tripped down some rocks, but hey, I have some lovely leg scrapes as a souvenir! And at least I didn't fall completely down the mountain because then you wouldn't be getting anymore amazing blogs 😝😝coming down the view of the reservoir was incredible, the water looked like the bright blue Powerade drink and as the sun began to go down, the whole environment changed. However, once again the ground wasn't my friend, it turns out that gravel is reaaaalllyy hard to walk on when going down hill, so much so that I adopted the slide on your bottom approach 😂😂 But it was worth it because when we made it to the bottom, there were 2 newborn goats still with the umbilical chord, so probably less than an hour old. It was magical and truly felt like spring. They were so cute and adorable, I named them Craig and Cathy (obviously so there was alliteration with Cabra) . Sadly we had to pull ourselves away from the goats to get the bus, but on the way, we bumped into the virgin celebrations in Rute, with lots of people in flamenco dresses and with flowers and music booming down the street. I REALLY DO JUST LOVE SPAIN AND ALL ITS WHAT SEEMS LIKE SPONTANEOUS STREET CELEBRATIONS. Of course the bus was half an hour late though haha

After such an eventful Friday and Saturday, it was time to finish my weekend on a high, and that I really did! 😌 I've been lucky enough to have one of the loveliest people as my bilingual coordinator here in Clara Campoamor, Marta, who some of you know. She was kind enough to invite me to her house in Cabra to spend the day with her family. After making friends with the bus driver on the way, who kindly told me it was no longer the morning, but now the afternoon (I've officially converted to the Spanish timings of the day), i safely arrived in Cabra. Firstly, we went to a garden centre to buy a bunch of flowers, lucky we both have a sense of flower arranging as the man working there had no idea how to coordinate colours of flowers... let's just say his eye for detail wasn't great, but the bunch turned out to be so beautiful. After this we went for a walk around Cabra (it really is a beautiful little town, but I'm not going to compare Lucena and cabra because I don't want to make any enemies by saying which one is the prettiest 😝😝) and I met some of her family. I really love meeting peoples family, and this was no different! They were so friendly and welcoming just like Marta and I enjoyed my time with them. Then it was time for lunch, tapas of course. We sat in a beautiful park by her house and I felt verrrrry Spanish as I ate flamenquin, croquetas, olives (which her daughter realllyyyy loved, so she's definitely being brought up the Spanish way 😂) calamari and some coated fish which tasted like home, because obviously it's fish and chips is the only thing I eat coming from England 😝 it was such a relaxed lunch and I really love being able to talk about everyday things and feel at home. 

Next it was time to have a 'siesta' something that I really really can't manage, so unfortunately for Marta, she was getting no siesta this Sunday, I'm sorry 😌. But it meant that I had time to play with her most adorable and sweet daughter just filled with character, she's already started learning English, well 12345! 👌🏻being able to play with children is definitely an excuse for me to release my inner child, because let's face it, I sometimes love to feel like a kid again. Following the siesta I was lucky enough to be taken to an important religious service, so I could experience something new. It was really interesting and I really enjoyed my time there, and felt privilidged to be apart of something so united. It was truly moving and captured my heart, and the hyms had lovely lyrics, although I couldn't sing too loud otherwise I would deafen everyone 😂😂 I'm really not blessed with a great singing voice. After this touching service, her daughter offered flowers to the virgin, which is also a moment I will cherish forever. It took place in a really beautiful place with lots of flowers and pots, it was really peaceful and the perfect setting. It was truly inspiring and I'm happy I witnessed something so special to many people. 

After this magical service, we went to a park with marta's daughter, and I forgot how much joy parks bring to young children. She truly was loving life and in a moment of pure happiness and she slid down the slide- I think it reminds me to be happy about the simple things. Of course I couldn't resist going down the slide too!! Lastly we went for ice cream... I REALLY REALLY LOVE ICE CREAM!! in case you're curious, I picked mint choc chip flavour, as i love the chocolates after eights and well, that was my dad's favourite flavour, so I suppose I ate it in his honour! it was very yummy and it felt like summer as we all sat chatting in the sunshine with not a care in the world about what was happening around us. Sadly such an amazing day had to come to an end, but the journey home with Marta's husband was a chatty journey and the sun was setting, so the countryside looked like it was glowing. 

Days like these make me feel so lucky to be surrounded by people that fill me with joy and that make me laugh. I think it's important to cherish days like these and remember how fantastic humans can be. Not only does time go fast in life, but people also come in and out of your life too, the important thing is to make the most of time when you are surrounded by great people #deep. 

So I guess what I'm really trying to say is that, this weekend was spent wisely, doing things I love doing, experiencing new things and doing it with people I really enjoy spending time with. I hope you all had a great weekend too and you're  not studying toooooo much and making time to enjoy your weekend by doing things you love and with people that lift you up and make you happy. ☀️⭐️🌸🌺🌷

Well, here's to making the most of things! 

My Adventure with Araceli

Well, here I am, sat on my sofa  with a cup of tea and some Cadbury's chocolate; of course trying not to eat the whole bar or fall asleep after the craziness of this weekend (could I be anymore British) But, the thing is, this weekend I haven't felt British at all, my heart has been here in Spain and in Lucena. I'm actually struggling to put into words what I saw this weekend, which for me, as some of you may know is a rare moment that I have nothing to say! 😂🙈 but I'm going to try my best to convey how incredibly lucky I feel to have seen this festivity. 

I'm not quite sure where to begin, but I should really admit that when I arrived in Lucena I never thought the name Araceli would play such an important role in my life whilst being in Spain, or anywhere in the world. I can't lie that it all began when little by little I began to realise that there are a lottttttt of Araceli's in Lucena, it's such a beautiful and original name. But it must be confusing to have so many Araceli's when someone calls 'Araceli' in the street or even the classroom, sadly I don't have that problem as I've never met another Dellisia. One of my classes has 5 Araceli's in, and well, at least if i say Araceli, someone will answer. Well, apart from it being such a lovely name, I soon realised that she is the saint of Lucena and it made a little more sense. But this was only the start of my Araceli journey. 

I quickly learned that I could go and visit Araceli on the hill, well mountain if you try to climb it by foot 😂 and that's where my love-hate relationship with her began, I really really wanted to see her as I learnt more about what she symbolised and the important role she played for most people here. Anyways, to cut the story short,  3 attempts to see Araceli later by walking up that slope... I FAILED!! It was closed all 3 times I climbed, even when my mum and sister came. Let's just say they weren't too impressed, with my mum telling me 'so I've walked up this hill just to see the olives I saw from my plane' 😂🙈 well, it's a good job that I like hiking, I got some exercise and the views are amazing , andddddd it added some more excitement to FINALLY see Araceli. 

As you can imagine, it was a big moment when I finally got to see Araceli, but in plaza nueva and not up the mountain. She was worth the wait, but all the best things never come easy and good things come to those who wait! 💪🏻 I was quite nervous to see her the first time after so many attempts. The church was full of people admiring her and praying, there was even a small girl singing and dancing which was very moving. I even lit a candle for my dad in there. Also, I can't believe I've not been in that church before, it's been a mystery as I walk past it everyday! 

However, it's now time to talk about about the real excitement and the reason I'm writing this blog (I just seem to get distracted and waffle a lot). Well, these fiestas aracelitanas have really captured my heart and also left me very confused. The truth is that I'll never fully understand the events of the weekend, but it filled me with so much happiness and emotion, even if I was mind boggled. It all started with the party that is the feria of Friday night. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the casetas or a feria, as we don't have them in the UK, but I've decided that we really should start having these amazing social events!! 👏🏻🎉 before going to the feria, us guiris decided we should pay our own respects to Araceli, so we set off a Chinese lantern with messages for her. However, not all went to plan (of course it didn't with my bad luck) and it set fire to itself and landed on the roof- let's just say we quickly had to become firefighters to extinguish the fire, nobody wants to be known as the arsonist guiris😂😂 and well, wouldn't be getting the deposit for the flat back then hahaa 

Saturday really was something special to witness, and I've never seen anything like that in my life. There i was going for tapas oblivious to the events in plaza nueva, but little did I know that as I turned the corner, I was about to witness something rather unique and inspiring. There were what felt like thousands of people queueing up to offer flowers to Araceli, and some of the bouquets were incredible! However the most spectacular and interesting thing was a donkey, a real life donkey carrying flowers into the church for Araceli. To be honest with you it felt like a dreams and I couldn't quite believe my eyes, but it really did happen. Also, the dresses that lots of women were wearing was another intriguing thing, not to offend anyone but they did look like something from Victorian times, but hey, that's my opinion and I'm sure they're very traditional. I enjoyed the variety of colours of them that people wore. Well, it was a feast for the eyes, such a fantastic thing to see. Later that evening it was time for the, yup you guessed it, feria again with some friends here and one of your previous language assistants, some of you might know Caroline. She says hello. 

Well, this final section of this verrrrry long blog (or more like the entire Quijote) is the Sunday and the part I really really wanted to talk about!! After my street stopped flooding and the rain eventualllyyyy came to a stop, I honestly thought I'd need to get a boat (I may be used to rain, but this rain was a whole new level) I was able to stop being a prisoner in my own flat and escape to join the festivities! I was told that Araceli wouldn't approve if I didn't dress nicely, so it was an excuse to be able to dress up and look like an acceptable human for once. 😂😂 So, we were ready for Araceli to make her way out of the church, and it was a tense moment as they tried to get her out the church along with the music, and I have to say I was in awe at the amount of people lining the streets to see her- a moment of pure joy! The orchestra played for her and the damas de honor lead the way with their multicoloured dresses. 

Saving the best until last- THE SUNDAY EVENING!! In all honestly, an evening that I will never ever ever forget!! It was an evening of pure happiness, unity, joy, love and a moment I felt truly happy to be alive. I had no idea what to expect about these fireworks, but they did not disappoint. I was luckily able to get a great spot by standing on a bench in plaza nueva (perfect because otherwise I'm so small I wouldn't be able to see, even with my heels) and as Araceli entered the plaza silence filled the air as everyone concentrated on her. It was truly inspiring and beautiful to watch as the lights were switched off and Araceli glowed and moved so effortlessly through the sea of people. I was already blown away and touched by the situation, but then the music began and the fireworks. THESE FIREWORKS WERE LITERALLY OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! I have no words to describe how fantastic they were and how stunning the looked with the backdrop of San Mateo and Araceli edging closer to her destination. I have to admit, the moment was so compelling, that it brought me to tears! But I really think moments like that make you think deeply about how lucky we are to be alive and to share such precious things and how we have to make the most of every single moment! I am truly so lucky to have seen those fireworks. Well, after trying to sort out my mascara that miraculously hadn't ran down my face (I can't believe I've found a mascara that when it says waterproof, it actually is haha) it was time for, you'll never guess what, THE FINAL NIGHT OF FERIA!!!! 

Anyways, it was such a wonderful weekend filled with hikes, partying, spectacular sights, time spent with amazing people and something I'll never forget!! It was lovely to see so many of you around and I hope you all enjoyed as much as I did! I really think I'll be returning to watch it again next year.