Making unforgettable memories with unforgettable friends :)

 Last Sunday, my "Friday Night Crew" took me out for a farewell lunch.  It was so amazing...super emotional.  These friends have been family to me ever since I met them in January, and for the most part, we met for dinner every Friday night, sometimes Saturday too. 

Thank you so much to everyone: Natalia, Silvia, Toni, Fede, Maria Dolores, Juan Antonio, Blanca, Juan Ma, Eva, Maite, Carolina, Maria and Jose Antonio.  You are all so important to me...I am so lucky and extremely blessed to have met you all.  Thank you for welcoming me into your circle with open arms.  Love you and I will miss you so much!  Friday nights won't be the same without you!  I will be back to visit, absolutely....  No es adios, es hasta luego.... :)

Met up later with my friend Carlos and his friends, Luis and Antonio.  Good times!

Luis told me he was a juez  (judge)....I did NOT believe him.  So...he then said fine, follow me (this was at like 3am, mind you).  Let's just say I believe him now haha.

Hanging out in Galicia one last day

Spent my last day in A Coruna relaxing and reading on the beach, soaking up the nice weather (chilly, but sunny and pleasant.)  After my last hours of zenning, I caught the train hotel at 9:45pm and slept in my small train bunkbed until the next morning at 8am.  Successful trip.

See ya later, beachwalk.  It's been real....

Zen Trip Day 3: Santiago de Compostela

Before I decided to make a daytrip out to a closeby city Santiago de Compostela (35 min train ride each way), I took advantage of the non-rainy morning in A Coruna.  Like I said before, I had outstanding luck because this place is known for its rain.

Here are some fishermen gettin there fishing on.

Here's a cool spear-looking piece of art---I'm a bad tourist, I forget the name.  Very pretty though upclose.

Hip-Hop Shop New York StylO---I know I don't know every single word in the English dictionary, but please, help me out with the meaning of "stylO".

Train ride to Santiago de Compostela.

So a little history lesson for you...

Santiago de Compostela is the ending point of the very commonly hiked Camino de Santiago (Path of Santiago).  This became a very touristy (well, actually tourists, Spaniards, Europeans, people from all over...) challenge, and the people who trek it are known as pilgrims. 

The Camino de Santiago came about because it is said that Santiago the Apostle preached in this region of Spain, and after he died in Palestine, was buried here.  It is said that his tomb was discovered by a "religious hermit" (as said in my tourism book) in the year 813 who apparently followed a guiding star.  The name Compostela comes from Latin campus stellae, to then Spanish, campo de estrella, which all put together means "field of the star".  Then there was a church built on the holy remains, and ever since, people have continued throughout the years making the journey.

Old part of the city.

The catedral in Santiago.  I got goosebumps standing in front of it.  You just feel this old, gothic sense.  Incredible building.

Of course, I had to try the typcial Galician dish, pulpo (octopus).  This particular style is made with a lot of paprika.  Not bad, but if you are looking to have some serious heartburn the rest of the day, EAT THIS lol.

Tarta de Santiago (Santiago cake)---very traditional almond cake, very delicious

Sculpture in the side of the cathedral of the 12 apostles. 

Another cafe that was named its name because I think the owner just liked the sound of this word.

Zen Trip Day 2: more Coruña

I think I walked a total of 10 miles today while exploring :) 

As in many cities in Spain, there is a lot of intense graffiti.  Fire-breathing dragon? Why not!

Self-taken senior picture.

Senior picture #2.

Of course I had to get the Spanish cat in there! :)

These benches were AWESOME.  They were like built into the side of the hill and you lounge.  Very relaxing.

Zen mode.

Senior pic #3.

This, my friends, is a statue of Hercules.  This town loves Hercules.

Ok so you try to get creative with the camera-timer when you travel alone haha.

The Torre de Hércules, (tower of Hercules) off in the distance.  This lighthouse was built by the Romans wayyyy back when and it is now the only functioning Roman lighthouse that remains.

It was so nice just exploring through all of the pathways around the Hercules Tower.

"Hey I have an idea...let´s make an enormous watch statue."

I absolutely LOVED going out for runs everyday along this coastline path.

I think this is what some people here in Spain do:

"Hmmm 'handicap'....What does this English word mean?  No idea.  But I like the sound of it, so I think I'll name my cafe 'Handicap Cafe'.  Perfect."

People always hatin on Americans, yet there is ALWAYS a bar or cafe in each city with a New York name.

Here´s the very touristy trolley that went along the coastline path.  However, I think the driver kinda went by his own schedule whenever he wanted.  I only saw it come by like once every 4 hours.

Total Zen mode.  I was reading for maybe an hour or so, I get up and see that other people had joined me to relax out on the rocks.  Howevvvvvver.....the difference was that I was wearing a jacket and scarf because it was COLD, and the people around me were older´(I´m talking aged 70s-80s) women in bikini bottoms and topless.  That´s always a nice surprise! Yikes!