¡Feliz Fiestas!

¡Feliz Fiestas! Here in Spain today it is the dia de los Reyes (three Kings day). Dia de los Reyes is an important day in Spain, which celebrates the day that the three Kings reached Bethlehem after Christ's birth. It's pretty much as important as Christmas itself here in Spain, with parades, candy, presents and quality time spent with family. I always enjoyed dia de los Reyes as a child, especially the parades, all excited for the mass of candy being thrown at you and the frantic rush of trying to collect as much as possible to put in a bag and take home to eat (although I was never a very good candy enthusiast as a child, and never actually got around to eating many ^^)!

My family, Logan and I went to the San Roque los Reyes parade last night and although I'm not so much (?) of a child anymore (...debatable...), I still really enjoyed it, and I'm so glad that Logan was able to experience it for a second time (we went last year too!).

We arrived in San Roque a weeee bit early, so decided to spent our time waiting making use of our fancy shmancy cameras ^^

 The family waiting patiently for the procession to begin.

Wish I had a photo of my sister and I as kids at a Kings procession to show you just how much cuter we were back in the good ol' days of primary school, imaginary games and matching outfits (seriously)! ^^

Anddddd, the parade finally begins!

 ...

 Yet another cute little memory for the books with this cheeky one ^^

And for those of you who couldn't make it to the parade, have no fear, because I recorded it for you! Enjoy your first Reyes procession!

 -Alyssa xo

Thanks for the Memories 2013

Before we get too sucked into 2014, I wanted to dedicate a post to reflect upon my year in 2013! 2013 was such an amazing year for me, it was filled with many magical moments, and I certainly had a year full of love and laughter, thanks to all those around me, namely my family, Logan and my friends. I could list thousands of worthwhile moments from 2013 that made the year what is was, but I'll spare you the lengthy read, and pinpoint a few ^^

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Firstly, 2013 started off perfectly! It was the first new year celebration my family and I experienced living in Spain, and Logan's visit meant that I got to share his first time in Europe with him!

Secondly, I finished my first year of university with really good grades! Which really boosted my confidence and made me all the more determined to keep working hard to achieve the final grades that I want. 

Thirdly, I had one of the best summers of my life! Logan visited me in Wales to kick start my four month summer break. We climbed Mount Snowdon with my friends, explored Llandudno, spent a day in Chester and we just appreciated the company of one another. Once Logan went back to the U.S, my parents and my sister met me in England, and we spent 2 weeks looking around universities for Chloe ( I can't believe my little sister starts University this year!). Whilst in England I also got to see my aunt, uncle, cousin and grandparents, which I always really appreciate.Then we went back to Spain and I spent time with my family and worked to earn the money that I used to pay for my flight to the U.S! I had such a wonderful month in America with Logan. We travelled to three different states; Tennessee, Iowa and Illinois. We certainly did not waste any day we had together, because we were busy every single day, seeing the sights, and creating many wonderful memories.

Moving into the new house in Bangor with my Bangor besties was certainly a 2013 highlight for me. I have had such a great semester in the new house and I am so thankful to my friends for keeping me happy and optimistic.

Last but not least, my Christmas and New Year celebrations in Spain this year ended the year so wonderfully! Granada is so beautiful during Christmas and it just added so much to the festivity! My time in Granada was spent shopping, adoring the pretty Christmas street lights, eating churros and spending quality time with my family.

I could never get enough of churros! 

My puppies are the cutest things, they are the best cuddly bears and they always manage to cheer me up whenever I need a little uplift. I know you all know just how much I love my dogs...I could talk about them till my mouth fell off!

                 

Abuelo with his santa hat on ^^ I love mis abuelos so much, and I really enjoyed my week in Granada spending quality time with them. I  have had so many fun times with them and I am so lucky to have such lovely grandparents!

              

I can't believe Christmas is already over! I was excited about it for so long, and it's come and gone so quickly! I had such a perfect Christmas, and although I'm quite the creature of habit, and this years celebrations were quite different to my usual family traditions, I loved it all the same.

                              

 My New Years Eve could not have been spent any better, with the company of both my family and Logan, a wonderfully cooked meal, followed by a game of UNO whilst waiting for the countdown, and then the Spanish family tradition of eating grapes to every dong of the countdown clock, the toasting to a new year with champagne and a mini firework show as seen from my garden with thanks to the neighbors ^^ It was a cosy little new years eve, and it was spent with my favorite company. 

                                 

                                 

                              

My year in 2013 both started and ended with a bang, big beautiful ones, and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to share a lot of the times in between with you all! I've loved having this blog, and I'm so glad that I created it back in June. I'm so incredibly excited to continue and share my journey into 2014 with you all!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope the first few days of 2014 have treated you super duper well!

-Alyssa xo

Reunited with my Beautiful Boyfriend and Bestie

Logan's back in Spain with me! He got here on the 28th (the day after I got back to Cádiz from Granada) and I had butterflies in my tummy all day from excitement and anticipation ^^ It's so nice having him here to cuddle again and create more wonderful memories with. It's only our third night back together but it feels like we've already made a bundle of new memories! That's one of the perks of being in a long distance relationship.. the limited time that you do spend together is appreciated so much more, the experiences you share are heightened and the memories you create are invaluable.

Whenever I experience something whilst Logan and I are apart I always wish that he were there to experience it with me, and always dream to bring him to the places I've been and experience the things I have enjoyed. So that's exactly what I got to do yesterday! Logan and I and my family went to a cute little restaurant in San Roque for lunch that I've been to a couple of times before and wanted to bring Logan to at some point. The restaurant is called Restaurante Cortijo Guadacorte and it used to be a horse stables, which is probably a big reason why I like it so much ^^ The food is really good but it's the cosy atmosphere of the place that I love so much about it!

Mi rollitos de queso con hijos... delicious!

Chloe looking gorgeous as always!

My handsome man <3

Mi Ensalada.

Chupitos!

Spanish coffee never disappoints me, it's delicious!

Mis padres y mis abuelitos <3

I'm so happy to be back with my bestie, and I'm so excited to end yet another year and begin a brand new one with such an incredible person who means more than the world to me <3

Have a very happy new year everybody! May 2014 bring you much love, great health, and lots of laughter and happiness <3

-Alyssa xo

Granada Preciosa

Hola otra vez mis amigos! I had such a wonderful day yesterday in Granada city center that I just couldn't resist telling you about it ^^ My family and I went shopping for last minute Christmas presents and then we wondered around looking at (and taking a plethora of photos of) the gorgeous Christmas decorations. Granada is such a beautiful city, filled with such character and charm, but it's even more magical during Christmas, when the streets are lit with pretty little lights!

After lunch we took a ten minute drive into Granada city center, and as soon as we stepped out of the carpack, my camera was out of my bag and being put to good use ^^ Mi hermana guapa: Chloe <3

As we strolled along, mi Abuelo told me about the roman bridge, and how it was the original road of Granada. I love a bit of history, it's one of the things that makes a city like Granada so cultural and precious.

If theres one thing that Granada has enough of it's water fountains... they are every where!

I just HAD to get a photo of mis Abuelos standing outside the church they got married in <3 If it weren't for their marriage, I wouldn't be here today!

A nativity set. One of the many things I find most beautiful about Granada, and Spain in general, is it's strong sense of catholicism. I have always found religion so fascinating and beautiful, and it has always been a keen interest of mine to learn about the many forms. 

  Granada preciosa.

I loved these lights,they looked so pretty ^^

Chloe and I kept gawping at the little mini dohnuts drizzled in chocolate that everyone seemed to have their mits on... we felt pretty left out, so we decided to join the queue, and man they were some tasty little Buñuelos!

After enjoying our Buñuelos we strolled around town for a little longer to admire the gorgeous scenery.

 Dad, Abuela Y Abuelo <3

 Mum and Chloe <3

 My cute little family <3

 On our way back to the car we stopped to pick up some roasted chestnuts. I think Christmas is made all the better with roasted chestnuts from the street... theres just something so cosy about sitting on a street bench in the crisp weather, all snuggled up in a big coat and scarf, with a handful of warm chestnuts! Does anybody else get where i'm coming from here!?

 I told you there are like a hundred and one fountains in Granada! ^^

I had a lovely day in Granada, and I look forward to going back into the city center (hopefully on boxing day!) to do some more shopping before heading back home to Cádiz. 

I can't believe it's only two days until Christmas! I hope you're all enjoying your holiday as much as I am!

-Alyssa xo