From Spain to Italy in 4 Crazy Days: A Wedding in Sevilla and a Train Lost in Italia

Greetings everyone, from a train that just broke down in Italy!

Yep. Here’s a quick update: I arrived back to home sweet Spain 4 days ago, and since then have pretty much fallen off the face of the earth with lack of WIFI, and virtually no time to seek it out. Travel probz. But not to fret, I’m alive, kickin’…And on my way to the Almalfi Coast (if I even get there, as I’ve now been on this train twice as long as expected, and have to now transfer from a train to a commuter bus in a small Italian village. YAY!) Since my whirlwind of an arrival in Madrid a mere 4 days ago, lots has happened. And I mean, LOTS.

I’ve attended a beautiful Sevillano wedding…

And thrown rice at the bride (it’s the tradition here, apparently. Happy wedding, right?!)

AWC cultural account #1: In America, if a bride who spent 3 hours and 100 bucks on her hair got rice thrown in it, she’d probbbbbably go ape shi** and attack all of her guests in fury. And maybe rip their hair out. Just sayin’.

I’ve reunited with my Spanish friends from good ol’ Fregenal.

I was so excited I almost spilled sangria on myself. (Which is ok, as long it wasn’t on the bride—although she already had rice in her hair, maybe sangrias ok too??)

Ate a 3 course feast in an old Arabic bath underground Sevilla

It’s called San Marco Santa Cruz if you wanna go, and it’s actually Italian food. Yea, Italian food in Spain. Ironically, I was brought here the day before embarking in a two week adventure through Italy, lol…

Entered Sevilla’s Plaza de Toros when it was completely empty

Got transformed into a Sevillana flamenco dancer …by the queen of Sevillana herself.

AWC Cultural account #2: A friend of a friend took me into her home, and proudly showed me her closet full of flamenco dresses she’s collected over the years. Most of them, past down from generation to generation. She had me pick out my fave, then proceeded to dress me up in the full garb: the floral pendent hair, bright red lips, earrings as heavy as baby elephants…the whole shabang. After being her Barbie and modeling for the whole house, she then said to me (in Spainsh, of course)…”It’s yours. I’m going to adjust the size so it fits you perfectly, and you’re going to wear it to the Feria de Abril in Sevilla this year.” HOW NICE. Idk, maybe I just don’t know the right people in the US. But, how often would essentially a complete stranger take you into their home, dress you up, and become your personal stylist? Another reason why I just love Spanish people.

And finally. 4 days into this adventure…

I realized I’m a complete CRAZY person.

Or wanderer, at least. When planning my travel itinerary for the month of September, I did’t think it was that crazy. I thought, “OH! I have a month before I start teaching in Madrid. So much time to kill! So I made THIS as my itinerary:

Day 1: Leave NYC and arrive in Madrid, then train it to Sevilla.

Day 2/3: Attend a wedding in Sevilla

Day 4/5: Wander off to Italy. Arrive in Positano, one of the most difficult southern towns to get to in all of Italy, apparently (as I’m sitting on this broken down train for now 5 hours)

Day 6/7: Capri, Italy

Day 8/9: Naples, Italy

Day 9/10: Rome, Italy

Day 11/14: Arrive back to Spain…Feria de Fregenal here I come! (The big festival of my lil’ old Spanish village).

All within 3 weeks, before I have to be back in Madrid for work…without a home.

I didn’t realize how wildly spastic my travel itinerary was until I told everyone at the wedding my big plans. I got a whole lot of blank stares, followed by “que loca tu eres!” Yea, yea people, I know I’m crazy. But that’s what makes me A Wandering Casiedilla!

So, I bring to you over the next few weeks, the “How to Wander Like a Complete Spaz through Italy & Spain” series.

This series will comprise of shorter posts than usual, just so I can give you kids flash updates on my spastic-licious wanderings, each tied with a neat little bow of my lessons on how you TOO, can travel like a spaz:

So, in conclusion, spastic travel lessons, Part 1:

1. When your travel plans go awry and your train breaks down, don’t panic. You’ll get to a bed at the end of the day, even if it’s not the one you might have planned on. Take it as an opportunity to get to know some locals, and observe the peeps around you. Often, public transportation is one of the best ways to see a culture in the flesh! Just look at the NYC subways. It took me 7 hours longer than it should have to get to my hostel in Positano, but the bright side? I met some awesome Italians on the way!
2. And…If someone throws rice at you on your wedding day, smile and say thank you.

Now. Ready…set…ALMALFI!