After 22/7/11

There are no words to describe the tragedy of what happened in Oslo and Utøya yesterday. How privileged I am that my friends, family and dear ones are safe and sound. Today has been a sad and dark day. Flags at half mast everywhere. Festivals and joyful events cancelled out of respect for the fallen and those left behind. Norway is in mourning. Norway is not broken.

We will grow stronger and prove to the world and ourselves that we will not tolerate terrorism. We will not let evildoers win. We will stand together with our heads held high, our minds open and out hearts warm. We will show that being a member of the Norwegian society means respecting, trusting, helping and caring for all those around, regardless of their political views, skin colour, religion, citizenship or ethnicity.

Take care of yourselves and each other!

Snipp snapp snute...

A bus will steal me away from my Erasmus life tomorrow morning, bringing me to my next adventure: Portugal. I'll travel around the south for a bit, spending 3 days dancing and singing away my sorrows of goodbyes and failed exams in the Superbock Superrock festival, before making my way back to Stavanger via Barcelona. It is going to be sad as Hell leaving Granada and even more so, of course, leaving my friends and buena gente. 

Walls are bare, bags are stuffed, drawers are empty. In a few hours I will have washed away the last signs of 'home' from my room.

 

Today is not a very happy day, but we'll do our best to celebrate tonight, and not grieve. For every one of us this year has been EPIC! And we can all look on to new adventures, - now having a bunch of friends all over the world who are ready for visits, travels and looong skype-sessions... Before all that we will all go out for one last crazy Granada night! 

Guess what I'll wear...

 

Welcome to the mountains!

We had a dream! Gjertrud and I. We started talking about it already in September, right after we met. To conquer the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula. Mulhacén is located in Sierra Nevada National Park in Andalucia. From my balcony I can see its sister summit, Veleta (3398 m). The summit reaches a humble 3482 m, yet has a high topographic prominence - independent stature/height relative to surrounding peaks. It got its name from the second-to-last Muslim king of Granada, whose Spanish name was Muley Hacén as he is known in Spanish.

I just read this on Wiki... The only thing I knew before we went was that is was going to be a long, not too difficult and totally awesome hike! We went by bus to the village of Capilera right after Gjertrud finished her last exam. From Capileira we followed the river in the bottom of the valley, - the heat was on!

The weather was - as always - brilliant, the path easy to follow, the air fresh and the water refreshing.

Photo: Gjertrud

Some friends we made on the way up.

Looking up where we're yet to climb, the refuge is somewhere behind the hills to the left.

Never forget to stretch! Almost at the top, going slow the last couple of hundred metres. All in all we spent 5h30min climbing 1100m before reaching Refugio Poqueira at 2500m. We came just in time for dinner and a shower, made some friends and went early to bed.

The next day we took our time eating breakfast and packing our things before leaving the nice refuge around 8.30h. For a night in a bed with blankets and pillows, dinner, breakfast, hot shower and a beer, we paid 33€. Not bad!

Wiki - Mulhacén

After a couple of hours we reached the west face of Mulhacén, where it starts go get steep. This picture is taken from another peak and you can see the trail we followed up the mountain side. Going alongside the peak is a bicycle trail coming up from the gentler slope on the south face.

Enjoying the view from halfway up the trail, - we had many chances to do so, taking minibreaks every 10 minutes or so. A little to the right of the icy lake is another refuge, Refugio Caldera (pot).

Finally at the top after 3 hours and something, almost an hour less than we were told it would take. A cold wind was blowing, but some small stone walls have been made to provide shelter so we could enjoy our lunch at 3482m while smalltalking with other hikers.

Photo: Gjertrud

Then down again we went, now facing southeast.

We made our way down to a beautiful valley decorated with seven small ponds or lagunes, - logically named Siete Lagunas. We made another snack break and enjoyed the incredibly beautiful views, before continuing down along Rio Culo de Perro - the Dog's Ass River... Didn't quite see the logic in that one...

We realized that you actually have to descend quite a bit if you want to go from 3482m to 1500m. Already tired, legs aching, yet still in good spirit, we could finally spot Trevélez - maybe Spain's highest village (there is some dispute) - and saw that we still had a long way to go.

After 9h30min we reached our hotel La Fragua and checked in to the best room they have, - located more or less on the terrace with a breathtaking view of the rest of the village, the valley below and the surrounding mountains. We met up with Mette and Yannick, who had gone by bus directly to Trevélez to escape the heat in Granada. After turning the draining water in the shower brown, we all went out to eat dinner on a terrace with an equally beautiful view.

On Sunday we brought our fresh blisters and staggered down on stiff and sore legs through the different borroughs/barrios. With its aproximately 800 villagers Trevélez was quiet and peaceful on an early Sunday's afternoon, with surprisingly few tourists.

We bought some ham, of which Trevélez is famous, and ate lunch before trying to survive a 3-hour long bus/rollercoaster ride back to Granada.

This was my last of many adventures in Spain this year, although probably the first one planned. A perfect way to end my stay, - looking out over this beautiful country that I have gotten to know and love. Hasta la vista, Mulhacén! I'll be back!

Photo: Gjertrud

Catching up, moving on.

I would really like to give you - and myself - a clever and deep, yet witty blog post. However, my brain obviously stops working at 30 °C. Andalucia is enjoying a heatwave at the moment - meaning the last week(!) with temperatures easily reaching 37 °C, some days even daring to say hello to 40 °C and beyond. For all of you frozen and wet Norwegians: I would give anything to switch to your 12 °C and rain - if only for an hour (actually ONLY for an hour, - let's not get melodramatic).

I'm sorry, I already broke the promise to myself that I wouldn't blog about weather differences between Spain and Norway. There will come a whole post only about differences between the two in every aspect, when I'm back in Stavanger, - cold, bored, wet and heartbroken. Aaand I just got melodramatic. Aaand that brings me to the other topic that's off limits - at least for now: how sad and painful it will be to leave Granada, my Erasmus life and all the effing awesome people I've met here! Still off limits! Still (less than) two weeks till I leave it all!

*deep breath*

So, I'll just post some random photos of what's been going on lately (the last two months) and we'll see what happens, shall we? 

You don't really have a choice...

So, since my last real update on life and living in Spain, I have gotten lost in Spain's largest natural park, Sierras de Cazorla - Segura y Las Villas Natural Park. Not difficult when your map looks like this:

Photo: Lukás

It cost me some skin, sleep and a day recuperating, but I got so much in return. I got to see a fox eating chocolate before trying to open a box containing pasta. Please don't get hung up on what looks like an empty wine bottle, it was in fact a bottle of non-alcoholic grape juice. The two crushed beer cans to the left were, however, the real deal...

Photo: Lukás/René

I got excellent treatment for said missing skin (or rather the skin remaining). Always bring a Peruvian who knows what he's doing...

Photo: Lukás

I got to cool down in a freezing and beautiful creek.

We fought off a deer a bit too tame.

Make love, not attempts at kicking people in the face.

Most importantly, I got to visit and enjoy beautiful landscape and preserved nature, not just the acres and acres of olive trees, greenhouses and farmland I'm used to.

 

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The Spanish people are known for always being late and taking their time getting things done, so it was no surprise to us that they figured they should throw an Oktoberfest in May (yes, we reckoned they were late, - not early). We entered the bull ring and got to see how Germans like to party.

Yes, the crazy Belgian girl was back in town after travelling on through Portugal after our Easter adventure. That's just how totally osm Granada is! You always come back.

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Kristin also came back! Finally, three years after she decided that Granada is her favorite city in the world, she dragged her Ossie-boy all the way from Townsville, Australia to Granada, Viva España! Together they enjoyed and greatly appreciated the wonders of free tapas, and did wierd stuff in the park.

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Thinking about how awesome Granada is made me miss likewise awesome Trondheim. So I went up there just for a weekend, - the fact that I had to do an exam there had nothing to do with it. I went to see this yellow bird,

to dance with these crazy-beautiful-bestest girls,

and to stop on Bakke bridge at 2.30 am, slightly tipsy, to take in the incredibly beautiful view of Trondheim by summer night, the cathedral barely sticking up to the right.

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There are many reasons why I haven't taken the time to blog lately: I prefer spending all my remaining time hanging out with friends and doing stuff. I had many lovely visitors I had to show around this friggin' great city. I've had a helluvalot of school work. But mostly, I was afraid I would end up sadblogging about leaving a place, - and saying good bye to people I love. I will do so eventually. I have however also realized how much I miss Trondheim and my life and friends there, so going back won't be so sad after all. And as I've said: Viva España! Granada will still be here to come back to over and over again!

Hot cold brain freeze

I haven't had any inspiration for the blog in a long time, and now I don't have any time or energy either. It's exam time...

Pics are linked

I'm one down with six to go within the next two weeks, of which my goal is to pass at least three. I live in the library. I survive on coffee and the fact that it's too hot to be outside anyway.

 

I have strange dreams and tell stupid jokes. I'm grumpy, hysterical and numb. I don't like the exam version of myself.

Reason to miss the North

 

Picture is linked

"Sex is permitted in the park. But show respect! Many children's institutions visit the park."
 - Allegedly put up by the municipality in Copenhagen.

And in Granada you can't even sit on the grass in the city's only decent park without risking a fine. Yes, the police comes to check - either in a big van with barred windows, or on horses.

People can't sit on the grass, dogs can't run free, but the police's horses can leave heaps of dung in the middle of the pathway. Can anyone tell me the logic in that?

Marinen park in Trondheim, Norway

I made it and I ate it!

A Sunday with pouring rain and thunder and lightning is the perfect day to do some long postponed school work...

OR to experiment in the kitchen!

I felt a little hunger in my tummy and after talking to my waffle-friend (we have regular waffle dates - hei, Sigve!), I felt in the mood for – guess what – waffles! But seeing that this country still hasn’t realized the importance of a waffle iron in every home, I made pancakes instead.

Pancakes for dinner are so underestimated! At least in Norway, where we usually just eat sweet pancakes as a dessert or evening meal. I made both variants today: having dinner pancakes doesn't mean one should skip the dessert pancakes all together.

I made a super simple pancake batter, - eggs, milk, flour and salt, before starting on a spinach filling. Frozen spinach and cream (for cooking) is a match made in heaven! I threw in some raisins and walnuts since neither of them - in any dish - can ever fail, - unlike me in my classes this semestre. With some black pepper, ground nutmeg (muskat/nuez moscada) and freshly grated parmesan to give it both that extra taste and body, you end up with a healthy, mild and tasty blend!

Topped with fresh spinach

After satisfying my hunger for dinner, it was time for dessert! (Haha! Who am I kidding? It's ALWAYS time for dessert!). I put some sugar in the remaining batter and fried up a couple of sweet pancakes. The amazing perfection of apple, cinnamon and raisins together almost makes me believe in a higher power, - so for dessert filling I mixed them all in a pot together with a few drops of water, 5-6 teaspoons of sugar and some honey (total improvisation, - I really don't have a clue), and let it boil down from watery to sweet and sticky.

For one pancake I used half an apple. For the other pancake of sweetness I kept it simple, - cottage cheese and blackberry marmelade, topped with more cinnamon. In the initial brainstorming process I also thought about chevre (queso de cabra) with honey and walnuts, or youghurt with banana and honey, - the possibilities are endless!

Here in Spain I enjoy lower prices and a bigger offer of different goods, as well as an extra Erasmus scholarship. I have to take full advantage of this combination while I can, before it's back to oatmeal and potatoes, and no more student luxury... Sadface...

Based on a true story - fairytale

Once upon a time there was a young princess who lived in a beautiful, strange kingdom called Erasmusutopia. Although it lay far away from her own kingdom she felt almost more like a princess there than in her Northern home where her parents - the King and Queen - and her servants lived. In Erasmusutopia every day was an adventure and a fairytale, - and being a princess she certainly knew the importance of such things.

However, there came a day when she started to get a bit bored with the everyday adventures. When living in her castle for so long she felt she knew all the possible endings to her daily fairytales. And so it was, she decided to travel north of the sun and south of the cold, east of the unknown and west of the familiar, and explore this here amazing kingdom.

- I will go on an adventure like never before, and I will pay 20 gold coins for whoever can build me a carriage worthy enough, - one that can cross provincial borders as well as personal barriers, the princess announced. In short time a noble knight stood forth and humbly explained that the weather was too warm for him to build anything in such short time, - but it would be an honor to bring Your Highness as far as I can in my grand carriage 'La Gorda'. The noble knight Raúl promised to bring a maiden and a joker to entertain and assist the princess on the way, - it will be a long journey, he explained. The princess accepted and so the adventure began.

La Gorda

The four of them had a humorous, but long journey as far as Zaragoza, where the princess was given a royal welcome by her friend The Dutchess of Flamenca. - My dear friend! What news of the South do you bring? Please, do tell me about your journey! The princess promised to do so, before bidding farewell to her travel companions who she hoped to see again soon for new adventures. That day would come sooner than she could have dreamt of.

The Dutchess

The Dutchess had found a suitable place for the two royalties to stay for a couple of nights, - in the humble abode of four wise sorceresses. They were welcomed with a delicious feast prepared by the apprentice of one of the them, and were told stories about the mysterious life of a woman of the art. The next day they visited an enchanted fortress full of colors, smiling people, good food and handmade treasures. The princess felt so happy, - this journey is truly an adventure and a fairytale! she exclaimed, and the Dutchess could do nothing but agree.

On the third day Knight Raúl contacted the princess and expressed how honored he would be to assist both her and the Dutchess on their journey onwards. So it was decided, and on their way to Pamplona they went, in his luxurious La Gorda. Oh! but what foul play! An evil wizard had cast a spell on the signposts to obscure them and put the Princess and her companions off track. Knight Raúl was however a man of wits and soon found back to the right path.

Even so, they arrived too late in Pamplona for the Highnesses to travel further the same day. Yet again knight Raúl had the solution, - Your Highnesses are welcome to spend the night in the home of a dear friend of mine who happens to be the Baronesse of The Winelands. I am certain that once she hears about Your position and situation she would like nothing more than to act at Your assistance. And so it was.

Also staying at the Baroness' mansion at that time, was a young earl from The Land of a Million Drums. The young royalties told their story and how they were on an adventure, an activity of great importance for people of their stature, to which the earl eagerly told them - Aso! I will in fact travel on north by midday tomorrow. My carriage is merely worthy of carrying Your Highnesses, but Your acceptance would be my greatest honor. - Dear, earl, replied the princess - the honor is all on our side. We are truly blessed to have met so many good helpers!

And so it came to be, that in the morning on the fifth day the young princess and the Dutchess of Flamenca woke up in a castle on the top of a hill in magical Bilbao, where the kind earl had brought them. Owner of the castle was the wise Lady June of Pikara who would be their generous host and guide for two wonderful days. Together they explored both beauty and ugliness, grey and colors, food for the body and food for the soul. It is always important for any young woman to know both sides of the story fairytale.

 

On the sixth day they felt ready to continue their adventure and following the advice of the kind Lady June, they decided to go by train to the city of San Sebastián. - The train ride to San Sebastián is just marvellous! It is so green and so close to the coast, - you would love it, I'm certain! she told them. They bid farewell with the Lady over a pancake lunch a princess worthy, before making their way to the train station and buying the tickets to the luxurious trainride. On the train they had time to reflect upon their good luck so far, and how good it was of them to create this fairytale.

Arriving in San Sebastián they were soon met by Karol, the Duke of L'Oyiére. He had agreed to host them beforehand, though only for a night due to all the chambermaids going on vacation the next day. - Without any chambermaids I truly cannot host such Highnesses as yourself, Karol excused himself, - you deserve so much more, it would be a stain on my good reputation. - Say no more, good Sir Duke! said the Dutchess, - we are more than grateful to make use of your splendous acommodation for but a night.

The Duke sent for his valet and good friend Piotr and together the two of them showed the young women around San Sebastián, the city centre as well as the small mountain, Monte Urgull, separating the city's two beaches. - This is such a beautiful city! stated the young princess. The Dutchess agreed, although she pointed out that the smell was less than rosy. Piotr was a well-read and intelectual man, and entertained the young royalties with stories and facts about the city and area. - Your Highness from the North must find it an interesting fact that the villagers used to hunt whales just outside the coast here. - Oh, please! Such talk of blood and killing is no topic for the innocent ears of a princess! protested the Dutchess. - Nonsense! My ears are no more innocent than are yours. It is an interesting fact indeed, but your talk is making me hungry. 

They all agreed that it was lunch time and let some of the locals prepare a royal picnic basket, which they happily did to show their gratitude for having two such highstanding and beautiful women visit their town. - This sure beats the time Julia Roberts came here for the opening of the new cinema! one of them said, and they all agreed while putting the freshest apples and the most delicate cheese in the basket. The royal highnesses found themselves a bench on a plaza in the old town to enjoy their picnic and take in the relaxed holiday atmosphere surrounding the town people.

 

Came nightfall the young women reluctantly packed their things - they had to do it themselves now that the chambermaids had left. They truly did not want to end this marvellous adventure so soon, however, royal duties called them elsewhere. As true gentlemen, the duke and his valet followed the princess and the Dutchess to their carriages and assured that they would get the royal treatment they required. - What a positivly wonderful time we have had with you strapping young gentlemen! I do indeed hope we meet again some day, the Dutchess said. - It has been an honor and a pleasure, I assure you, replied the Duke of L'Oyiére. They all bid their farewells after such a too short visit, and the young royalties boarded their separate carriages. Different duties required their presence in different cities.

As the young princess saw her dear friend, the Dutchess, leave San Sebastián in her carriage headed for Gijón, her own carriage silently set its wheels in motion and pointed its nose towards Granada yet again. She spent this time, in the dark of night, in her luxurious and comfortable carriage, to think back to the first days of her fairytale. - How truly rich am I, she said to herself, not thinking one bit about all her royal treasures, gems and costly clothes, - to have the possibility to wander out into the world and be greeted by so many amazing people and good helpers. What an adventure is this life on Earth.

And with a smile on her face she sank back on the silk cushions and shut her royal eyes, waiting for more fairytales to come entertain her through the night...