The Sierra Nevadas

Javier and Ana took my mom and I on a road trip to the top of the Sierra Nevadas today! It was a scenic drive through the mountains, and it was cool to see the terrain slowly change from greenery to snow. By the time we got to the top there were multiple feet of snow. Javier said that every time it rains in the city of Granada, the Sierra Nevadas get snow. And it has rained all week. He said he had never seen so much snow before, it was pretty sweet and made me feel less homesick.

Ana and I during the car ride up the mountain

And and her birthday present, her stuffed animal seal, Focki

Ana and I played in the snow for the majority of the day, going sledding and having snow ball fights. The view from the mountains was absolutely amazing. My pictures don't do it justice, I just wanted to stay there forever. It wasn't even that cold, the sun was so strong that I was actually sweating. My multiple layers of clothes probably didn't help but that's ok. Little Beatriz didn't come, so I got to borrow her snow pants. They fit in the length, but were too small in the waist so I had to leave them unzipped. It wasn't a problem until I tried to slide down the mountain on my belly and I got snow all down my jacket and pants. Oops.

Mom and her short sleeve shirt...dont worry, she eventually put on a jacket

Javier went sledding, Ana chased him

Me and Ana attempting to go sledding together...we didn't make it far

The end result...

We're a bunch of flojos (lazy people)

Selfie! I love my mom!

Lunch time on the slopes!

We packed sandwiches for lunch, so we sat in the snow and ate while enjoying the view. It was such a beautiful day out. We then drove down the mountain and into the ski town. Unlike at home, the Sierra Nevadas has one "ski resort." Little did I know, but it is a town that is filled with ski shops and coffee places, and the ski lifts are right in the middle of the town. It was the coolest thing. I felt like I was in the Swiss Alps because of all the lodges on the mountainside and the ski village. It felt like a movie more than reality. I was in disbelief at how pretty it was. Javier says the ski season lasts from about December to March, the same as at home.

While in the village Ana and I played in the huge snowbanks. We also stopped at Javier's favorite coffee shop for tea and crapes. The tea cups were so cool; they had a steeper in them, and a cover for the cups, which you then took off and put the steeper on. I got a crape with chocolate and bananas and whipped cream to share with mom, it was delicious. We sunbathed on the mountainside and enjoyed the view, and then made our way back down the mountain and into the city. It was probably one of the best days here so far, just because it reminded me of home (with a twist), and it was just so different than anything else I have seen here.

Sunbathing at the coffee shop 

I feel bad for whoever owns this car, it's gonna be a process digging it out

Crapes!

Happy Birthday Ana!

Mom and the Alhambra

I took Mom on a walk ater classes on Thursday to see the Alhambra and various other sites in the city. We had a lovely time together. Thursday was a day of new foods. Mom and I cooked pancakes for dinner, some with chocolate chips and some plain. Mom had brought Aunt Jemima syrup and pure maple syrup from Maine for the family to try; Big Beatriz had been looking for an opportunity to try them, hence the pancakes. I also made s'mores in the oven for the girls and Javier to try. They obviously loved them, I mean, who doesn't. I also made a chocolate cake for Ana to bring to school using the cake mixes and frosting from home. She died at the sight of the triple chocolate dessert, heaven at it's best!

Oh hello there 

Javier and Ana playing Spanish-English learning games on the iPad

Ana and I making her birthday cake

The end product! 

S'mores for the first time ever!!

Braiding Beatriz's hair 

And...Ana playing with the penguins

Javier's parents, Pepe and Lola. Aren't they the cutest?!!

Friday was Ana's 9th birthday!! Mom and Beatriz went to the market in the pouring rain to get food for the party while I stayed home and cooked paella with Javier's mom, Lola. Pepe, Javier, Beatriz, Lola, Mom and I hung out in the kitchen drinking wine and having tapas while we waited for Ana and Beatriz to get home from school. We ate when the girls got home, and man did we eat! Lola had prepared a 5 course meal for our lunch, it was fantastic! First we had paella with various fish and chicken which was delicious, followed by pork with pineapple, and tapas. For dessert we had a strawberry and whipped cream/yogurt dish that was to die for! It had fresh strawberries blended in it, along with more cut up on top. I don't even like yogurt, but I could've eaten 5 bowls of it! 

Ana's birthday cake!

What's a party without balloons!?

Happy Birthday Ana!

I was pooped after lunch, but there was no time to rest. Ana's friends came over for the birthday party at 5, right as Mom and I were finishing blowing up the balloons. Many parents stayed for the party, so Mom and I hung out with them and talked as best as we could. A lot of the parents had host kids in their house too, so they were used to it. Many of the husbands spoke broken English, so we sat at the table as they tried to give us Spanish lessons. I found it very helpful.

Amy and her host family came over later in the night, so mom finally had another American to talk to. She was so excited to see all the American food in the house that Mom had brought. We spent the majority of the night socializing with the parents and watching as all the men got drunk off of wine, cubalibres and beer. It was very very entertaining, and made for a long, exciting night.

Saturday Mom and I babysat the girls while Javier and Beatriz went out to do errands. We had bought Ana a stuffed seal for her birthday so she brought it in and played with me and my penguins. I shouldn't have told her that seals sometimes eat penguins, because she chased me around the house trying to eat my penguins! In the end they were all friends though.

Javier took us all to the Albazyn for lunch. We went to the Mirador de San Nicolas, my favorite place in Granada. It has beautiful views of the Alhambra, and even though it was cloudy, it was still very beautiful. For lunch we went to this cozy little restaurant in the Albazyn that has amazing views of the Alhambra. We got a bunch of food to share; my favorite was the salad with a honey mustard dressing. It was sooooooo good!!! Mom was in awe at how pretty the area was.

What a view!

Me and Mommy!!

We are quite the dysfunctional group of girls, gotta love it!

Lunchtime! The restaurant was beautiful 

One of the cutest families I have ever met! I'm so thankful to be living with them

I love my host family 

The best salad ever!  

Walking in the Albazyn

After lunch we continued to walk through the neighborhood of the Albazyn. It was raining but worth it nonetheless. When we got back to the center, we witnessed three bachelor parties taking place at various bars. Apparently in Spain, the men go out to the bars, and the man-to-be has to wear a ridiculous costume. The women do the same for the bachelorette parties. It is a riot, all the men laugh and sing and dance and have a grand old time celebrating the last day of being single. On our way home Ana and I stopped by the pet store, and the German Shepard puppy was out and about playing in the store! Of course we had to go in, and the owner let us play with him, he was the cutest little thing! I think Javier would've bought him in a heartbeat if they didn't live in an apartment building. I was in heaven with the puppy!

Such an unfortunate bachelor's costume...

At least this guy got to be a king

Such a cute little puppy!

We had a nice quiet night in the house. Ana and I played with the penguins once again. They actually got married, it was very romantic. I also showed Javier and Beatriz pictures from my cross-country road trip, they were amazed at many of the things I had seen. Everyone went to bed fairly early, so Mom and I hung out in our room before falling asleep.