Granada.. is.. the shit. Im really gonna miss it. One more month, peeps! The weather has been awesome, we're all chillin cuz schooooools outttt forrrr summer! I still have 2 finals to get through, so theres been a delicate balance of studying, tanning, hanging, and making the most of gtown before its time to go. The cool thing is that this place still has so much to offer.  During the past 2 weeks, I got lost up in this beautiful neighborhood above the center of town and found my new favorite look-out point. I started going to a free yoga class at some indian dude's house, I started running along the river and fields behind my house, I went on a hike behind the castle in Granada, I took a trip to the most popular beach in the south of spain, I went to a moroccan tapa place that was BOMB, I hung out with a bunch of spaniard friends, met a bunch of swiss peeps, and I've been spending time with some of the girls in my program that I rarely get to see.

Gtown definitely has its own charm, and so does the essence of a "study abroad year," but recently ive been thinking about how i can bring the epicness of this year back to cali. Life is what you make of it, right!? So anyways, here are some pics from June...

"Best beach in the south of Spain" apparently. Sorry for the crappy pic. The water was clear, not too cold, no waves! It.. was.. awesome. This creeeeeepy man followed us around all day. Heres his pic too...

This is my friend Becca. Becca loves health. For my birthday she gave me "health day": a free pass to her fancy gym/spa, a personal training sesh, and a nutritious meal. Very inspirational. Turns out working out is kinda cool. Been doin it ever since!

Running path behind my house

The river that runs thro it!

The place i got lost at, called "the albaicin." I chilled on these benches for a while and studied cuz the sun doesnt go down til like 10pm :)

This is haley--another girl in my program. She is a runnnnnner capital R. We hiked behind the Alhambra and i basically died, while trying to keep up casual conversation. GORGEOUS trail tho--overlooked all of granada and nearby pueblos. We're going on a sunrise hike next week!

(the run with haley)

same trail. helllaaaaaaa olive trees. 

This is my granada family. Ten or so cali kids, 5 spaniards. We got together to make mexican food :) or any other excuse we can find. Gonna miss these peeps aaaaaaaalot.

We also got together to make sushi. Gtown is seriously lacking in the mexican/sushi department.

I went to Murcia, another city in the south of Spain for a weekend to babysit 6 spanish kids under the age of 8. They called me "queso" all weekend--the spanish word for "cheese." haha such a joke trying to understand little baby voice spanish. But we made it! Exhausting weekend.

Just some more of granada :) 

Truth.

Hey friends and faaaaam,

Happy June! May was pretty crazy. I went to my friend Jessica's little sister's first communion. What a trip! Also my sister Shell came to town for 2 weeks.  It was AWESOME.  Aaaalso, my roommates went bat $#!% cray and got reeeeal mad at me for a week or so.  But now its June and all is well.

Jessica and her sister Patricia. The communion was in all honesty a wedding for 10 year olds, minus the groom.  There were gifts (including an ipad), hugest meal of my life, open bar, cake cutting, 1hr church ceremony, and the big white dress.  I love visiting Jess's home town--she has the coolest family.  For example, her mom: she works 14hr days, is an amazing cook, reads A TON, studies english, plays the clarinet, and frequently goes out dancing.  Their family listens to classical music while eating dinner, because "it makes the food taste better"... and the top 40 while washing dishes.  They dance together :)  

18 kids had their first communion that day.  Boys wear little sailor suits, and girls wear wedding dresses.

Jess's fam.  Her and her sister Maria look soooo much alike. 

60 relatives came. 60...

Cake cutting

Their town is known as the city lost in a sea of olives.  Its surrounded by olive trees!

Then this girl visited Granada.  

We didnt see a bullfight but we went to the ring and pretended to be in The Gladiator. 

Went to a beach town and got bottomless bowls of Paella.. a classic southern-spain dish.

My cafeteria food! Love it love it love it.

The Alhambra. (some famous castle)

She came during an awesome week: the fair was here.  Nothing like an american fair.  1 euro beers came out of every vending machine, entrance was free, it closed at 6am, there was verrrry little security, lots of flamenco dancing, unsafe and fantastic rides, people of all ages, and delicious food. 

By her choice, we then went on a bike ride. Pretty epic actually.  A part of granada i hadnt seen before. 13 miles!  Alberto's dad gave us the grand tour and it.. was.. awesome.

She came to class with me too.  Really took an interest in learning about spain, which i appreciated.  This professor is my all time fave this year; reminds me of robin williams in The Dead Poets Society. (he's in the center in white)

The whole town went crazy during fair week.  Its because of a holiday called "corpus cristi," or "christ's body." There we're religious and non-religous parades, constant attractions, shows and events.  Here's a group of little girls dancing flamenco that we ran into in a plaza near my house.

It was a really special time having Shell visit.  It felt so grown up and mature to be in Europe together with my little sis... like we we're friends or something. Haha. It was a great time!  Hope youre all doin well :)  Love you and miss you more everyday!