Ya esta.

Well, it´s down to the wire now: I officially have a week left in Spain. No more toying with the idea of extending my trip and bumminng around Europe. I start school again  in 2 weeks, and return to Boulder and one. It´s been a good ride, but I guess it´s over.

I have to stay: that is the down side. Saying goodbye to friends. Taking my last walks down the Spanish streets. Cashing in my tickets at the Chup. Things are looking up, though…

My friend Ben is apparently coming to visit! Mr. Kennedy is a conesieur of life on the road. Very Kerouac-like, I´d have to say. He plans to travel around Europe this summer, and we spoke this morning, as he was having his breakfast tea in London. He really wants to see Granada, and he and his friend may be here this weekend! So excited to spend time with a familiar face from home and share my experience here with him.

Granada, you just keep doing things right.

I’m not really sure where the time has gone at this point. It feels like I was just counting down the days until I got to sail around the Atlantic Ocean on the Sangria Boat Cruise. And now, eating what will probably be my last churros con chocolate, we’re almost down to the single digits.

I’ll be coming back to the states in 10 days. While I am really looking forward to seeing my friends and family when I get back, I am even more overwhelmed with having to leave this country. 

I will only get to walk down Recogidas so many more times. Drink tinto de verano at the botellon so many more times. Have to eat ham and cheese sandwiches so many more times. 

Finals begin this week, but it’s just surreal. School is not the most important thing on my mind right now, even though it very well should be. Instead, I’m more concerned with saying goodbye to this life that I’ve grown so accustomed to.

My closest friends are always with those who are not just a 20 minute drive away. Eva and Hannah are in London. Now Lora will be in Philadelphia. Amanda in Buffalo. Kyle in Texas (although I will be an excellent Aggie when I visit there!) 

I can’t believe it’s already been a week since I was in Portugal. That’s just insane. We were just sitting on the end of the world, talking about how we’ll never forget that exact moment. A week ago, everyone was holding my hand as I dipped my toes in the ocean. It was already a week ago that we had our last extended family dinner, Shawnna and I in the kitchen, serving food to our smiling (and starving) friends.

It’s hard to explain what all happened in Portugal. It was more than just the five of us there. It was an extended family of friends. Kind of like Lora’s birthday. Hundreds of familiar faces, dozens of good friends. Both events were filled with just everyone that we love here, nothing but good feelings and friendships. 

I’m not too good with goodbyes, and now it seems that I have to brush up on that. Nos vemos cuando nos vemos.

It’s been a whirlwind, this Spain trip. It was just January; I was just clutching Anna’s hand as we touched down in Madrid, taking my first siesta, meeting my best friends. Now it’s the last week of April. I have 27 days left in this country. 

I thought March was going to be the fastest month because I had so many visitors. March did wrap itself up somewhat quickly, but April passed in the blink of an eye. I’m not sure where the time went. I could’ve sworn I just went to Barcelona…

My mom was just here! Like…what??? Qué??? We went to Mallorca, we went to Madrid, we hung out with Iñigo, and now she’s back in the States! The planning process for her to get to Spain took so long, and the week went by so fast. No tears though; we’ll be seeing each other in 4 weeks.

FOUR WEEKS. 26 days from yesterday, I will be on a bus headed to Madrid, crying my eyes out after saying goodbye to Lora, and listening to Holiday in Spain with Anna. It’s a big circle, and it all ends with Anna. Haha, Anna Begins. Counting Crowes, making the soundtrack to our friendship. 

In the past week, we’ve had Semana Santa, Easter and Amanda’s birthday. These are giant events. And they happened in Spain. Being away from home on Easter was the hardest. There was no Easter dinner, no watching the little kids hunting for eggs. It was tortilla de patatas and Project Free TV. I did manage to go to church, though. An Evangelical Church with Anna. That was fun. 

Amanda turned 21 yesterday. She didn’t want to go out for shots at the Chupeteria or down a bottle of Spanish wine. Instead, we woke up and ate chocolate biscocho, watched some Dawson’s Creek, ate the biggest lasagna ever, and did some light shopping. She wasn’t feeling good towards the end, so we just ended with some family time. 

Everything is happening so fast, and I need to manage my time. London? Maybe. (If projects and money works out.) Portugal? Definitely. I’m going to Lagos on May 6! It’ll be a nice last trip with everybody from Granada. 

Four more weeks. 27 days.