I didn't really get back into the blog the way I intended. Lots of things have been changing and I'm trying to work out what the hell I'm doing generally, but it looks like it's kind of settling down and I'm doing a million things at once and answering that age old question (which I hate) "What do you do?"
I travel. Hell yeah. I know that that makes me happy and somehow I've ended up with a job that sends me to other countries, so that's cool! I'm also teaching English, and editing English, and teaching more English, and am about to try branch out into a small artsy business venture with a friend. And also, that I still love Spain hugely. HI SPAIN! CAN I WORK I WITH YOU?
I went to Barcelona end of last year for a tourism and event management fair, and got a few days to hang out in the gothic quarter and catch up with a friend from London. The weather was miserable, and I got sick - a common occurrence these days, (if you have any suggestions as to how or why I am ill every second week, let me know!) but drank far too many cocktails and wine, ate lots and saw some pretty awesome sites.
And then this week I went to Malaga! Which sealed the deal. I was working so I didn't get to hang out and chill, but what I saw was beautiful, and relaxed, and comfortable. Malaga felt like New Plymouth in a lot of ways - beach town, big port, lots of cafés and bars (though with a Spanish flair and far more culture) and very calm, none of the chaos of Istanbul, and lots of people out exercising, riding bikes, generally smiling and saying hello! With half a million inhabitants it's much bigger than NZ towns but it had small town charm and exquisite old buildings.
I forgot my camera :s
Work was paying and I got to eat at the events we were managing so ate a lot of jambon and seafood. There was flamenco dancing, Spanish guitar music, a Michelin chefs restaurant which I found delicious but confusing, a castle dinner, wine and espresso constantly, tapas, and a day trip to Granada to see the Alhambra!
