Staying in Santander :)

Santander Bay with snowcapped mountains in the background

Happy February everyone! I had a quite relaxed end to January and since there have been very few traveling stories, I decided to wait an extra week for to write an update. I've very much enjoyed the time I've spent in Santander instead of whisking around to a different country every weekend like last Spring. I also know that come April and May, the pace of life, work, and travel is going to triple, so I am embracing this slower season while it lasts.

Since my last post I've successfully completed dry January, started tutoring a new student, and fixed the pain I was having in my right achilles. Elena, Chris, Pau and I checked out a spot where you eat diner food and play board games and Anna and I ran around the city looking for new herbal shops to explore. Definitely a report of random events, but so is the life here in Spain!

Sunbathing Pana

I've continued my studying for the DELE exam and although progress has seemed very slow going lately, I think by the time May comes around I'm going to feel ready. However, I have noticed an increase my confidence in day-to-day speaking which I think is a result of the work I've been putting in! Always encouraging to see some positive results no matter how small.

On the half marathon front, I had to back way off on training since just after my last post because I couldn't walk without pain in my right achilles. I think the combination of a long run and hike on steep terrain really overdid it and I paid the price for jumping back into things too aggressively. After some rest and stretching, it's finally good enough to run on again, but I am still being very cautious...no use training for something I won't be able to run because of an injury!

Plaza de la Esperanza

I notoriously do not like not being able to run/walk/bike for any period of time but this rest week forced me to try some different gym classes that have changed the game for me. I especially love the stretching and pilates stretch classes because of the lovely instructor and because of how much of a difference 45 minutes of guided stretching makes. These classes are definitely going to become a permanent part of my routine so I can hopefully avoid any injuries as my training progresses.

French goat cheese

Anna recently visited the basque region of France and came home loaded with goodies including wine, cheese, and chocolate! Last Saturday, she very generously had Elena and me over to sample the treats and get ready for a night out. Everything was delicious but I think the fan favorite was the floral goat cheese shown above. So gorgeous and tasty!

That same weekend, Pana, the dog that I live with, was recovering from being neutered which we were all hoping would make him a bit less high energy...it hasn't. The day that he came home from the vet he looked SO confused and drugged-up that we were all doting on him. However, the second the cone came off his head, he transformed back into the normal, crazy version of Pana we all know and love. Talk about dramatic.

Best actor of the year...Pana

This most recent weekend I was feeling a bit under the weather but the Santander soccer team, Racing, was playing Málaga FC Saturday night so I rallied to go watch the game with some friends at a bar. It was a close and very exciting game where we managed to squeak out a 2-1 victory! I definitely want to see one more match live at the stadium before I leave in June but this type of viewing was also so much fun.

To round out this random assortment of updates, my friend Laura and I spent a very rainy Sunday testing out a bagel recipe we're going to use for an upcoming brunch. I had never made bagels before and honestly have not been baking much, besides chocolate chip cookies, since moving here in October. All that being said, we were ecstatic at how well these turned out!

Bagels!!!

We tried a mixture of different toppings including flaky sea salt, rosemary salt, cinnamon sugar, and aglio olio seasoning. I have only tried a piece of the cinnamon sugar and the rosemary salt, but they are light and chewy and exactly what you want from a bagel! Bagels are one of those foods that are so much better in the US and it was really exciting to recreate something similar to one of my favorite breakfast options back home.

I rounded out my Sunday at a dance workshop with Elena where we relearned some very basic salsa and bachata moves. The salsa portion was very helpful for me since I get so turned around with the rhythm and steps. However, I think I have finally graduated from being a basic bachata dancer since a group of us go to a class every Thursday! I have seen so much improvement in my skills and confidence just from going once a week for an hour and it is SO fun. Thursdays are my my new favorite day of the week...

More bagel appreciation

Thanks for following along and staying up to date with my life over here! More updates and pictures to come shortly!