Oops, lied, not in France yet.

August 16, 2010
2:54 PM
I really need to work on the “looking-at-tickets-before-you-leave-thing.” First, as mentioned in my previous blog, I was under the impression for weeks that I was leaving on Tuesday instead of Monday… figured that one out just in time! But apparently double checking the ticket for the date didn’t prompt me to recheck the time, hence I was at the train station over an hour before the train ended up arriving, because I had in my head that it left at 9 AM instead of the real departure time of 9:35. That makes a difference when you’ve been out saying goodbye to everyone the night before til all hours of the morning… but I guess at least I erred in the direction of being early rather than late.

But speaking of being early, I also need to stop being so worried about being places early, I really do. Three and a half hours in Madrid would have been PLENTY, but instead I decided to go for six! Two down, four to go… maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if there were free wi-fi, but it’s €6/hour or something. Anyway, I’m blaming my dad on this one. He gave me the genes for being early, it definitely wasn’t my mom! I honestly think I spend just as much time sitting in airports and train terminals when I’m traveling as actually physically moving from location to location.

My fears about the weight of my suitcase are pretty legitimate by the way. I can barely lift it up the two steps to get on and off each train, and that is NOT because I don’t have muscles… I took the “bodypump” weight lifting class religiously at the gym in León, I’ve got some strength ☺

Yesterday I went to a pueblo with my señora and the abuela for the day, where I hung out with a bunch of little kids and attempted to understand 4 year-old Spanish. Let me tell you, it’s difficult. I also got the chance to explore more of the mountains around León, which are gorgeous. Also fell in love with a Spaniard named Alejandro, although he unfortunately is only ten years old (I’ve decided that I’ll come back in 20 years and our age difference won’t matter anymore). Oh and while in the pueblo I was so tired that I ended up falling asleep on one of the beds in the house for an hour. I had a dream where my mom told me “Brianna! That’s so rude! Get up and go talk to your hosts!”, at which point I got up and went to talk to my hosts… haha. Turns out most of them were sleeping as well though, so there was really no need to worry, Mom!

Well. Not really done but going to post this now. More later!

Brianna