Brief Overview

Hello All,

Just a quick note before you begin your journey through my spring break. I realize that when I post the blogs in chronological order you ultimately read them backwards… so if you would like to chronologically follow my break please use the “Blog Archive” on the side and they are all under March starting with "Day One:Tour of Bilbao."
My spring break didn’t go according to my well organized itinerary. There was an air control strike in France so my original flight on Tuesday morning to Paris canceled, as was my later rescheduled flight. As my prospects to get to Paris by the weekend looked grim, I decided to stay in Spain. Thus, my spring break turned into a broader tour of northern Spain (so I could not complain.) Just a little explanation for everyone who was looking forward to Paris photos, but I hope you still enjoy!
I’m now back in Berlin. Happy to be back to a familiar language, sights and people. The snow has melted although the weather is still grim at times. But it feels great to be “home”!

Love, Jillian Mary

P.S. Please comment! It may be selfish to ask but I love hearing what you all have to say!

Day Nine and Ten: Back in Bilbao, Saying Goodbye to Bilbao

We got back to Bilbao later in the afternoon on Saturday to wind advisories warning of 100 mph winds. Josh’s roommate told us of how the city was awaiting dangerous winds and that staying in was probably the best idea. Tired from our trip, Josh and I made dinner at this apartment and watched “Vicky Christina Barcelona” with a bottle of wine we bought at one of the wineries. We did go outside to grab dessert and were surprised to see, or rather feel, that the wind was not too serious in Bilbao but that the heat had set in. It must have been in the upper 60s, which is unusual for Bilbao. Just as my skin had adjusted to constantly being cold, it was tricked into enjoying warmer weather again!
The weather continued into Sunday. Josh and I strolled to the Museum of Fine Art’s café for a afternoon coffee break. The café looks onto a park and is perfect for people watching. The park was full of older couples strolling arm in arm, young children running around and, of course my favorite, dogs!
After a lazy afternoon of reading, we spent my actual last night with a return visit to “La Deliciouso.” I think one of the main ways to sum up my trip to Spain is this- bread, steak, wine and dessert.
My unexpected extended stay in Spain turned out to be a treat—great food, great wine, great weather. Josh was a great tour guide and he got us through Spain with his impressive Spanish! Most importantly, I got to see more of Spain than I think I would have ever put an effort into seeing.

Day Eight pictures of bodegas

Day Eight: Logrono and Laguardia

Once I decided to stay in Spain, Josh and I decided to take a quite weekend trip to Spanish wine country of Logrono and Laguardia. We took an early bus Friday morning to the town of Logrono where we checked into a hotel before catching a quick bus to Laguardia. Laguardia is a small charming town that has fortress walls surrounding it that were built in the 13th century. No cars are allowed in so the streets are small and quiet. We began with a tour of the Church of Santa Maria de los Reyes. The church has a 16th century stone painted portico that is closed to the public but we were able to snag a tour (unfortunately in Spanish, so I relied on some art history knowledge).
We took two tours of winery or “bodegas.” One was outside Laguardia’s city gates at a very modern winery called Ysios. The architect of this winery is the same of Bilbao’s airport and the White Bridge in Bilbao. It looked like something out of this world, with its wavy, metal roof- quite a sight. The tour was interesting, the facilities gorgeous and the win delicious!
Our second tour, Carlos San Pedro, was at a more traditional winery within the walls of Laguardia. Laguardia has an entire underworld of caves once used for weaponry holding and hiding spots in case the city was attacked. For the past 600 years, the caves have been used by families to hold and produce wine wine. We went down in the caves and got to climb up a ladder to take a look at a tank holding wine. We also did a tasting straight from one of the tanks down in the cave- pretty picturesque.
We got back to Logrono later in the evening and had a late dinner in the town’s old district. We somehow stumbled upon a restaurant that had recently been awarded a Michelin Star this year. Another delicious meal!

Day Six and Seven pictures...

Day Six and Seven: Getting to know Bilbao Better

I was lucky to have the option to stay with Josh in Spain after my plans were changed. His roommates understood my situation and let me stay at the apartment without questions.
On Wednesday, I spent the early afternoon reading up on Etxebarria Park. The weather was incredible—sun shining, partly cloudy, no rain! It felt great to just sit and read a good book with occasional spying on dogs playing on the grass or exchanging smiles with locals walking through the park. After a quick coffee at Deusto University’s cafeteria (which puts USF’s to shame, especially with its view of the Guggenheim) with Josh’s friend Clint, Josh and I made our way to Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao for its free admission day. Although it was my second visit, this time I definitely enjoyed it more as I didn’t have a flight hanging over my head. The museum has an extensive collection of art from the Baroque period through modern art, which requires a coffee break in the museum’s great café in between.
Thursday was a lazy day, I spent the early afternoon in Moyua Plaza walking in and out of shops. I bought a dress at ZARA. I felt a bit under the weather so I took an afternoon nap while Josh was in class. Later that evening, Josh and I went to see the Bilbao Orchestra Symphony. They played Tchaikovsky with a guest cellist. I was blown away, there is something about string instruments that make me cry. After intermission, the horns and drums joined in and the orchestra played an epic piece by Shostakovich. Afterwards, we grabbed a sweet at a café that has been open since 1903. The café was beautiful with bright tiles, dark wood and beautiful antique lamps.

Day Five: When the French decided to alter my plans

Like the good traveler my parents raised me to be, I was up and ready with my bags packed Tuesday morning. Josh took me to the bus station, said goodbye, and I got on a bus that takes you directly to Bilbao’s airport. After a 30 minute ride, I arrived at the airport ready to begin the next part of my journey. I walked up to the Air France counter and all I could see was the word “Cancelled.” Luckily, I remained calm and got redirected to the help counter. While in line, I talked with a man who had heard air traffic control had gone on strike. The Air France workers said that the next available flight was at 8:40pm, so I got myself on that flight. Luckily, I was able to text Josh with our American cell phones and he directed me on how to get back to his apartment on the bus and metro. After settling back in his apartment, Josh had to get to class and I went with him and made my way to Bilbao’s Fine Art Museum, “Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao.” I strolled through the galleries for a couple hours before meeting back up with Josh for lunch. After he was done with class for the day, we made dinner at his apartment and I refreshed for my long journey to Paris that night.
The next scene is tragic- I was sitting at Josh’s desk brushing my teeth. I had finished an email to my mom telling her that everything looked like it was going as scheduled. Right when I pushed send, I refreshed the Air France page with my flight information to see the word “cancelled” right next to my flight. Sad to say, I started to cry just as Josh walked in the room and I was quite a sight sitting there with tears running down my cheeks and a toothbrush in my mouth.
Luckily, my mom was able to leave work to get on Skype at home and she called Air France for me. The chances of me getting to Paris by the weekend were slim, so I decided to change my plans and stay in Bilbao to avoid further pains of cancellation and stress.
It was a painful decision as I was planning on hanging out with my dear friend Emilie from my Berlin program, meet up with my friend Meggie who is studying in Belgium and be reunited with my dear, amazing, lovely friend Addysen.