Venezia

After what seemed like an eternity to our young hearts Colin and I were set to reunite in Venice. I would fly back from Boston to Madrid, where I had a 12 hour layover, then from Madrid to Rome, where I would sleep in a hostel near the train station, then take the train from Rome to Venice, where I would have to endure another 6 hours of waiting for Colin to arrive. Colin would fly from Provo to Milan (I can't imagine that was direct, but I don't know where he pivoted), then take a train Milan to Venice. Obviously I met him at the station. It was a movie scene reunion. Luggage fell to the ground. We ran into each others arms, and to the romantic Italians we were just another happy couple.

We stayed with two architects (a la Air BnB) who lived 20 minutes outside the city. Federica was blond with the personality of carefree fairy. Paolo was dark and solid with a 2 lb race bike and dolphin shorts from a couple decades ago. Her artwork gracefully swathed the walls. I am saving the link to their apartment for when we build our dream home: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/556812

We stared at the ceiling of St. Marks Basilica, proud of ourselves for being able to identify some of the bible depictions. We marveled in Doge's Palace, and wondered at the watery walkways. One evening we stumbled on the prison after wandering through what we mistakenly thought was the Jewish quarter. Who knew Venice had an underbelly.

Courtyard of Doge's Palace

St. Mark's Basilica

Basilica in the background Doge's palace on the left

Doge's Palace

Doge's Palace

Venice is beautiful, but the seasoned restaurateurs, shop owners, and gelato gods, know all too well that you can't take your business elsewhere and still be in Venice. And you want to be in Venice. For the purple flowers that beautify the city walls. For the blue azure water that glistens under countless footbridges. For the experience of walking on dry streets that have been submerged under water and lived to tell the tale.

The Tweener Phase

After Barcelona we hit the tweener phase*: wild and crazy emotions, a million changes, long phone calls, and acne. We were about to leave Madrid, but not settling into Boston right away, and we had a million things to get done in between.

Colin gave his one month notice to Tuenti right before we went to Barcelona. We notified our landlord, and we broke the news to our 80 year old neighbors. Then we got growing pains. Our travel plans seemed to sprout into existence like the limbs on an awkward tweener. This is what we ended up with:

My itinerary:
Madrid to San Diego
San Diego to Boston
Boston to Madrid (for 13 hours)
Madrid to Rome (for 14 hours)
Rome to Venice, where I finally reunited with the love of my life after a million** long days

Colin's itinerary:
Move out of our Madrid apartment by himself
Madrid to Provo
Provo to Milan (for 6 hours)
Milan to Venice, where he ran down the train platform to hug me after "tooooo long."

I went to San Diego to speak at my high school about the need based financial aid program. As I reminisced about the privileged years I spent at Bishop's I felt incredibly grateful for my blessings. One of those blessings is having an incredibly loving and supportive family. It was special to spend a few unexpected days with them!

After San Diego I spent a week in Boston working, looking at apartments, and biding my time until I could rest my head on Colin's pecho again (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_Xa2f1c4Bg).

Here's another #Throwbackthursday to high school

Halloween 2005- our powers combined, we are captain planet!

While we were apart Colin and I found time to talk on the phone, but with  9 or 6 hours between us it wasn't easy. I have never missed Colin so much in my life, and I hope I never do again. 

Colin left Madrid at the end of April to go to his brother, Ross's graduation at BYU Provo. Leaving Madrid was quite the escapade. The night before leaving the city he got amazing service from a taxi driver who he had mistakenly given an 11 euro tip. The next morning he couldn't board the airport bus because he had over paid the taxi driver. After arriving at the airport via taxi (they accept credit card), he had a fun run-in with an Air France clerk. His carry-on weighed more than it was supposed to, so, naturally, Colin started layering up. He was told that would not be allowed, and he had to pay 70 euros to check the bag. A little disgruntled, Colin arrived in Utah for a great weekend with family. 

Leaving Madrid was a mixed bag of emotions. We loved the city, but we were excited to go back, and barely had time to think about any of it. We took some pictures our last few days. Going to Madrid was wonderful, and we are so happy we made that decision. We grew to love each other more than we could have imagined, and made memories that we'll always remember thanks to this blog :)  

Plaza Mayor, directly behind our house on Calle Mayor

Plaza Oriente

Museo de Joaquin Sorolla

Looking down Calle Mayor on a bright spring morning

Opposite direction down Calle Mayor

Entrance to Plaza del Sol

View of Palacio from Templo de Dibod

Templo de Dibod

Next up- ITALY!!

*I had to explain the tweener phase to Colin, who apparently didn't have one. For those of you lucky enough to pass over this, tweener phase is the awkward time in your life when you're between phases.
**million = to 11 in tweener talk

The City We Almost Didn't Leave- Barcelona

We arrived on the train platform three minutes ahead of schedule. Our itinerary: take the cercanias train from Sol to Chamartin then catch the overnight train to Bar-ze-lona. The sinking feeling that we'd forgotten something rushed from my toes to my heart with urgency, "the camera! It's still in the apartment!" Colin's body paused and his eyes widened, but his ever enduring pragmatism took it's queue from my panic. Calculating train schedules he concluded he could run back to our apartment, get the camera, and make the next train.

I waited at the door of the Chamartin train to Barca (pronounced barsa or barza). I kept wondering if the camera was worth missing our trip. As quickly as they had tensed, my muscles relaxed, and my smile erupted as Colin ran down the platform steps with sweat dripping down his brow.

In the sleeper car of our train from Madrid to Barcelona

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Gaudi in Barcelona

Gaudi lived and created marvelous art work that both integrated with and stood apart from Spain's coastal city. He drew inspiration from the brightness of the sun and vibrance of nature resulting in an abundance of color which, for me, evoked a thrilling happiness to be alive. When we were in Parque Guell, or at the base of one of Gaudi's houses or especially in Sagrada Familia we felt as if we were able to experience the natural beauty of our surroundings through Gaudi's eyes. Colin and I talked about the significance of the Sagrada Familia's architectural distinction from other basilicas we had been too, and yet it's inclusion as a sacred place of worship. Being inside the building it was evident that Gaudi built and planned the church as an act of and place to worship the Lord. There is beauty in knowing that our tributes to the Lord are as unique and numerous as we are.

One of the houses Gaudi designed

View of the city from Parque Guell

Us blocking the view of the city

Parque Guell 

Parque Guell

Parque Guell

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 Open minded
"Bright room minutes from the beach, off the main tourist street." The airbnb listing promised a lovely stay with a young British couple. We could never have imagined the ways that Ben and Emma would unknowingly invite us re-evaluate our goals and expectations. We came to find that Ben and Emma had arrived in Barcelona from a very different route than Colin and I had. Through our conversation with them we realized just how little we know about the lives of others, and how ill equipped we are to make assumptions and judgements. Ben and Emma are beautiful individuals who reminded us how many ways there are to live this life, and just how blessed we are to cross paths with people from all over the world with diverse interests, dreams, and thoughts.

Maybe it was the combination of the perfect weather, life evaluation, and artistic intrigue, or maybe it was just the adventure in us, but Colin and I seriously considered staying in Barcelona for another year. We absolutely loved the city. Going to Barcelona was like talking to an old friend after years but being able to pick up right where you left off. We felt at ease, happy, and excited for what might happen next. In the end we decided it wasn't the right place to be, but Barcelona is the city we also didn't leave.

Although Barcelona felt like it could be home, we really only need each other to feel at ease, happy and excited for what will happen next. Thank you, Colin, for bringing sunshine and joy into my life.

Now for a few more pictures of our trip:

On the beach minutes from our airbnb

Empanada shop we found one night

Easter procession