Es un Mundo Vagabundo: Valencia... Where the heart is...

Adios Hasta Luego, Valencia!

It is possible that the delay of our blog updates is because of this very one...coming to terms with leaving Valencia and finding a way to put it all into words feels to be a project difficult for the mind, and almost impossible for the heart.

Valencia was chosen at random. About 8 months ago, my friend Katie and I, dreamed up a plan to live in Spain for 6 months. Valencia was chosen because it was near the beach, was a big city with an adorable historic old town, and had good weather. There was no other reason at the time. Little did I know, there were 6 more reasons... Santiago, TiMi, Virginia, Emilio, Victor, and Javi...

As I prepared to leave for Spain, I remember having a conversation with a few people about the journey that was ahead of us. One comment I made has stuck with me... "It is crazy to think that there are people we are about to meet that we have lived our whole lives without ever knowing. And after this adventure, we will have new friendships that we may not be able to imagine our lives without." This could not be more true.

If you have been following along the blog or Facebook, you will know a little bit about the friends we met in Valencia. We met four of the guys while watching the SuperBowl at the only American pub in town- Portland Ale House. As soon as we met these guys, we knew it was going to be a fun night. We exchanged contact information and as we walked away from them that night, I felt in my heart that we would see them again. After reminiscing on this night, the guys said that they felt the same way that night, "This cannot be a one night thing. We need to make an effort to be friends with these people". And an effort they made!

We spent the next two months chatting on Facebook, spending fun nights at the fútbol matches or dancing in town, watching "The Bachelor" at our flat, cooking them American dinners, and sharing in traditional Spanish experiences with them. Over the course of two months, we got to know each other extremely well and developed deep, lasting friendships. People have asked, "what makes these guys so special?" I have no answer except, their hearts. Their open, accepting, sincere, genuine, fun-loving, hearts. It is not often you meet people who make you laugh until your face hurts and who you feel safe enough with, to let them hold you, when you cry.

Our last days in Valencia were bittersweet, but mostly sweet. Valencia has a yearly festival, Las Fallas, which is a crazy party for most of the month of March. Every day at 2:00 pm thousands of people pack the main Plaza Ayuntamiento (Town Hall Square) to listen and watch "Mascletà"- about 5 minutes of constant, crazy explosions. You can't hear a thing, the explosions bounce off the buildings, making your entire body shake, and the whole square is filled with smoke- it seriously looks and feels like a war zone. The town tripples in population, from about 1 million to 3 million people during Las Fallas. 3 million people- dancing in the streets, setting off fireworks wherever they please, eating, drinking, and celebrating life. Every night there were HUGE firework shows all over the city- fireworks like you have never seen the likes of in the US! Needless to say, after a couple weeks of this, we had enough of the constant window-shaking, sleepless nights...
Throughout the month of March, these amazing floats made out of styrofoam are set up throughout the city. They are truly incredible. On the final night of Fallas, all of the floats are set on fire. The whole city goes up in flames! Did I mention the Spanish are crazy??? We were so lucky to have planned our trip overlapping with this crazy festival!

Our Spanish friends planned an amazing "last day in Spain" for us. They surprised us and took us to some of their favorite places near Valencia. We spent this day looking for seashells, flying kites at the lake, and eating Easter Monkeys (Monos de Pascua), a traditional Spanish treat during the Easter season. Later that evening, we went back to good ol' Portland Ale House where it all began. We sat around sharing our favorite memories of the last couple months, laughing at our first impressions of one another, and planning our next trips to see each other again. We ended the night at a local disco, dancing to our favorite songs, songs that will forever remind me of this amazing time in Spain.

The hugs and tears at the train station leave me with a heavy heart. But, as we stepped onto the train and looked back at our friends, I will forever remember the smiles on their faces as they waved goodbye, and the knowing look in their eyes that this was just the beginning...

Here's to the nights that turned into mornings. The friends that turned into family. The dreams that turned into reality and the likes that turned into love.

- Unknown

Spanish night at TiMi and Virginia's flat. Complete with tapas and fútbol!
Look at those smiles!!

Typical night at our flat, "Casa de Muchachos Borrachos".
TV, wine, pizza, music, and good friends!

A fun trip to Venice with Santi!

Victor. Such a great sense of humor. And sometimes, his jokes are appropriate... haha

Emilio Segundo... aka... Javi Button. Sincere, sweet, and has a contagious laugh!

Emiliooooo!
Probably the most genuine person I have ever known. And... will have you on the floor laughing at his off-the-wall, dry, sense of humor.

TiMi- one of those people you meet that you know belongs in your life.
Has a passion for life, exploring this beautiful world, and best of all... for being silly.