Stuffing Suitcases

During my time here, I have learned to live without many of my favorite American things (711, tex mex and target) I have also learned to make substitutions and how to make lots of things from scratch (apple sauce and brown sugar)  But some things just can't compre!  

With my upcoming trip to New York, I have already began my shopping list, and my actual shopping (horray internet shopping!) 

the view of my back yard during breakfast

So what am I planning to bring, to buy and to bring back?

To Bring: 

*My bridesmaids dress for one of my best friends' wedding (the main reason I am making the trek across the Atlantic!)

*6 Desperados (a beer mixed with tequila for my daddy)

*6 bottles of wine requested by my mother (she requested one, Estebans parents bought 6)

*A touristy MADRID bag for my moms coworker

*Perfume from Valencia's Perfumarte

* 5 Other bottles of various wines (I have a feeling all of these wines won't make it

* Gifts from Istanbul (turkish delight! yum!)

*Esteban

To Buy:

*Flats (already have 3 new pairs waiting for me at home)

*Boots (sorry Spain, I have big American feet and need American shoes... made in China)

*A fall/winter wardrobe from the Gap. I need warm sweaters because all clothes in Spain are made for layers and I prefer minimal clothing

*Tootsie rolls and tootsie pops (ive been craving them)

*Dark chocolate hershey kisses... sometimes I just want a small dose of dark chocolate, individually wrapped.

*Vitamins. Here I paid 16 euros for a bottle of 30 vitamins. On target.com, 60 or 80 vitamins for under 10 euros.

*Anything from target, victorias secret, and the Tanger Outlets
*Sponges for school as well as buttons
*FLOSS FLOSS FLOSS FLOSS FLOSS!!!

To Bring Back:

*My scrapbooking supplies and embellishments

*The afghan my grandma knit for me

*Possibly my viola

*More sweatpants and sweatshirts
*Esteban

Things to Enjoy (The things that are available to me once or twice a year:)

Flavored Coffee creamer

Pumpkin Picking, and carving

Apple cider

BAGELS

NY pizza

My family
Diners

Hopefully a trip to Cortland

My comfort zone

Bagels yummm

halloween cerca 2009... will not be repeated!

Hanging out in a Hanging House

This past weekend was a much anticipated reunion familiar, unfortunately not with my own biological family. But non the less, the weekend was a good one, and it helped me feel more a part of this country and culture and brought me closer into a family that is slowly evolving to be my own.

Destination: Cuenca. A small city about 1.5 hours from Madrid, famous for their hanging houses and all things Manchego.

Invitees: The Rodenas Family, including spouses, children and significant others. We were 20 adults and 3 children in total. This is Estebans side of the family, originating from the province of Albacete, however many now reside in and around Madrid.

The Plan: We started off at La Ciudad Encantada which is about 15 minutes form Cuenca in the forest, where you can find large rocks in the shapes of things, imagination needed. There is a 3 km circuit, and it is a very nice paseo.

alligator and an elefant, joined in the center

Then we went off to lunch where there was entirely too much food (no surprise, here in spain). Afterwords a siesta then off to check out the city by night.

The city at night was breathtakingly gorgeous. However, also strenuous. Hanging houses dont mean they are just magically hanging above you... you have to WALK up there to see them! So, it was an uphill battle all 23 of us embarked upon, with worthwhile views (sorry, no photos.. the camera used at night is still on vacation)

After a cena de ensaladas, we went back to the hotel for bizcocho de chocolate and champagne in Estebans parents' hotel suite! Yum!

beautiful day in plaza mayor

The next day we ventured back up to the city for some day time views. We saw the palace, or whats left of it (nothing) and then we split up. I chose to go into the Abstract Art museum, only because it was inside of one of the coveted hanging houses. Inside it was like a maze, rooms on different levels, it felt never ending!

a view of the sierra from the hanging house

After we snapped some photos with the houses again, and then went to our farewell five course meal. Of course, delectable.

Cuenca was a gorgeous quint city with lots of beauty around every corner. Its a place I would definitely take a foreign visitor to. I would love to go back and have more time to explore, and less time dining in restaurants. Luckily, its very close by!