Parque Garcia Sanabria

I have managed to find somewhere to live so now I am just waiting for the Foreign office appointment to come through. Which means I have some free time! Holiday!
Wednesday I went to Parque Garcia Sanabria, a pretty little park only a few minutes walk from here.
But first of course I stopped for a coffee.

Wrong time but pretty

There were loads of flowers out, some I recognized but most I didn't, which is not surprising considering my extensive horticultural knowledge. :)

bird of paradise

No idea

No idea either                                   

I had a walk around the edge, working my way in and stopping a few places to chill out. I usually ended up moving because someone came to sit near me. I had forgotten how much the Spanish smoke. :(

Arcs

Into the gardens

 My favorites were the cacti. There are there little guys all over and I have seen them around the city too.

                                                    

I found one walkway with a serious of arches and benches in-between. And the benches were fairly isolated (so little risk of smoke). It smelt lovely (i.e. not smoke) and I probably spent about an hour sitting reading in the sun.

Relaxing

There were also lots of statues and sculptures, both traditional and abstract.

This one was my favorite

At the centre is a fountain and statue, though I am not at all sure what the woman is supposed to be doing. And proportions didn't seem to be a concern for the artist. (Her hands were enormous!)

On her Throne?

Central fountain

Dog decided to cool off. Seemed like a good idea actually!

On the way back (after finding the supermarket, which was very well hidden) I had another wander around the Principe (or Prince's) park just outside my hotel.

So far, I have been doing the days old school Spanish with a siesta. :) It's just too hot to wander around during the middle of the day plus everything closes. So I have been eating lunch in the hotel and relaxing for a few hours. 

The past few nights, as I have had to Skype etc, I have eaten in hotel room with goodies from the supermarket. Things are surprisingly cheap. You can get a decent wine  for about 4 euros ($3.60). I did go out for a drink the other night and it was only 2 euros for a glass of wine at a restaurant ($1.80 or 1.4o pounds). Very nice. With the weather, I am going to like it here.

Feast

home and another move

I had a great time at home, though not long enough. A lot of time was spend chilling out with mom and dad which was brilliant. The weather has not been great (of course!) but that didn't stop us breaking out the Pimms even if we did end up inside instead of in the garden.

Pimms

 I didn't take many photos. Mainly because I was too lazy. Mom managed to get most of the week off work (YAY!!!) so we went to lunch a few times and did some shopping. I also had practical things to do like unpack my boxes and repack. (The flight to Tenerife only allowed me 30 kg and only 5kg in hand luggage which was a serious pain and required a lot of sacrifices.)

I did get some time to play with my new lens as well and moms orchids made great subjects!

The last night we got a Balti in (with a few nice glasses of wine of course). I have seriously missed good Indian food.

Last night feast.

It just wasn't enough time at home. :(

Sunday I flew out to Tenerife. The flight was ok, though everyone was very excited to be going on their holidays. Except me who is still dreaming of a holiday. I got in late-ish last night and thankfully Ismael, my new boss, picked me up from the airport (complete with paper with my new on). :) 

My hotel is very nice (though missing a kettle to make tea - something I intend to rectify later day). It over looks a little square and is close to the centre of town. I haven't had chance to explore yet but I have 2 weeks here so plenty of time. And the weather (in Santa Cruz anyway) is lovely! (Not so much in La Laguna.)

Dawn view from my hotel

park outside the hotel 

Cute!

I have spent today starting the long process of getting things sorted out. There is a ton of paperwork that need to be done before I can actually start work and more importantly get paid! Now to find somewhere to live.

Last week in Blacksburg

The last week has been a bit stressful with the move. Everything had to be sorted, sold, packed, shipped etc within 10 days. Plus sorting a bunch of forms for the next job. Thankfully I sold all of my furniture. Which did mean for the last week I was sleeping and sitting on the floor.

My "sofa"

 And then there was all the cleaning. I spent Wednesday and Thursday (when not working) just cleaning. It was made more bearable with some music and a great bottle of wine!

Bribery to clean

 On my last day at work, the weather was gorgeous and I got some nice last pictures of campus.

Burruss Hall

War Memorial 

VT (and road works)

The campus is definitely the prettiest I have been on. (Minus all the current road works.)
For the past week I have been helping the VT police department with orientation, doing demos of the RAD stuff. I am really going to my police department and my friends there.

Watching the presentation

 The last night was exhausting but I managed to get everything done. And finished off in the morning.

My last BB breakfast

I got a lift to the airport from Nicole and we had a lovely lunch before checking in. (My luggage was exactly at the maximum weight.)

The first part of the trip from Roanoke to Washington Dulles was mostly uneventful though we did have some serious turbulence thanks to thunderstorms. And I managed to be leaving Dulles from a food dead zone it seems. The flight out was delayed. First, they hadn't stowed the luggage. Then the electrics kept crashing through the cabin and then the cockpit. They had some great movies but I ended having to restart and fast forward the avengers film about 5 times as it kept resetting. Then they couldn't detach the outside stairs from the plane. Thats a new one!

I was hoping to catch up with Caroline at Heathrow as we both landed at the same time. But you needed a boarding pass to get to where she was leaving from! :-( 

I am now home, after a lovely English breakfast in the sun (it has, of course, since clouded over), a shower and a nap. The main reason I am updating this is to stay awake! I have to stay awake so I avoid jet lag. Which considering I got no sleep on the plane is not easy! 

But it's good to be home even if it is only for a short time. :)

4th July Celebrations.

I have been trying this weekend to get everything done that needs to be done while still having a good holiday week (my timing with the move sucks) and seeing everyone I want to before I leave. And I think I have done pretty well. I have packed the boxes ready to go next week. And I have just sold my chair which, other than the bed which goes tomorrow, was my last piece of furniture. So the next week is not going to be the most comfortable but will make me appreciate furniture all the more in the future. Plus it's a lot easier to clean! (Or would be if I hadn't covered the floor with the things that were in the said furniture.)

Anyway, Cait asked if I want to join her and some friends for the evening on Saturday, Independence Day. I jumped at the chance not to spent the evening packing! Plus, I was secretly hoping someone would ask me to do something for my last (for a while at least) Independence Day. :)

Her friends were so lovely and I really appreciate them letting me join them. The food was amazing, though I only took a photo of the best watermelon ever. (Though Cait thought it was a gun. It is the US of A after all.)

Watermelon flag.

 After nibbles, I played my first ever game of corn hole. I have seen this a lot of tailgate parties (pre-game parties using involving truck tailgates oddly enough) but have never played. The idea is, in teams of 2, to throw the beanbag onto the board (1 point) or through the hole in the board. Cait and I lost miserably - we really weren't very good. But were having too much fun to care.  :)

Playing corn hole. 

After playing and eating, Cait and Lauren practice some of their Acro Yoga. Thankfully they know what they were doing and no one got hurt! It was super impressive. (I wish my balance was that good.)

Flying

The throne

No idea what this one was called but still impressive.

Deb also decided to have a go. They asked if I wanted to to and normally why not? I'd give it a go. But I have 3 flights int the next 2 weeks and really don't need any broken bones. Plus I didn't want to hurt any one! With my current weight and amazing grace (not!), that's more of a certainty than possibility.

Deb flying!

After this we went up to the deck ready for the fireworks. Thanks to the rain in the last few days, the bugs were out in force. I have (thankfully) doused myself in bug spray (I was not going through that again so soon) but I forgot to bring it with me. Cait went to extra lengths to avoid the bugs. 

The ghost that is Cait!

The fireworks were very cool. And, as usual, at the end, they just seemed to set everything off. The deck was perfect for watching the display.

After the fireworks, we rushed back inside to avoid the bug invasion and eat desert. And it was all gluten free so I was in heaven!
We spent a few hours playing card games (I now know some very cool new ones) and Taboo. It was so much fun and I spent most of the night just laughing. A great way to spent the holiday evening. I love all my friend here but I have been missing nights like this with people my own age, so it was great to do that and I really appreciate them including me. :)

Today I spent the morning skyping home, organizing next weekend and finished the boxes (now 90% ready to go - just waiting for the labels to be spent). And a few hours this afternoon with Cait and some of her friends playing Kickball and soccer at the Blacksburg Rec Centre. As there were only 5 of us, kickball was a lot more running than I have done in a very long time. It's basically a cross between baseball where you kick the ball instead of hit it, and dodge ball, so if someone can hit you with the ball you are out. So a lot of fun but with our small numbers, much running.

After kickball. we tried soccer. Much better as I installed myself in goal as soon as possible. You may get hit with the ball a few times (which I am fine with) but a lot less running. Plus they were very competitive. And like I said, broke bones = bad!

group photo, post soccer

We were all pretty tired (and hot) at the end. And I am definitely the less fit. :( they all do cross fit etc so this didn't come as a surprise.  But it was nice to get out.
now I get to spend the rest of the evening doing some more packing. Oh the joy! :(

Floyd jamboree

The past week has been crazy. My travel plans changed when I got the new job contract and I am now leaving the US two weeks earlier than planned. Which means I only have one week left to sort everything out. So crazy stressful. I have managed to sell nearly everything and early Friday morning finally got everything inventoried and the paperwork (excessive amounts of paperwork!!!) sent and shipping sorted. 

My apartment is a mess. (And actually now looks even worse as I have sold even more furniture so there is more on the floor!)

Chaos!!!!!

However the YMCA must love me. They got a ton of stuff and I still have more! It all has to go.

1/4 of the YMCA donations. 

 So Friday, after finally getting the shipping sorted, I took a bit of time off to chill out and watched some of Game of Thrones (playing season 5 catch-up). And on the evening I meet up with Steve. He was teaching in Floyd for a few hours in the evening, so I tagged along. We headed out early and went to get BBQ. We have been hearing about this place and it did not disappoint. It was only a truck stop really but the food was so good.

True south BBQ

With Beans, Sweet potato fries and the required sweet tea!

It was a bit uncomfortable as there were a group of guys standing by the truck near where we were eating, showing off their guns to each other. It was a true complete American experience. :-/

We had a bit of time before Steve's class so we grabbed a glass of wine, true southern style.

In the mason jar.

As Steve had to teach, I amused myself at the Floyd Country Store where they have a Jamboree every Friday night. The first band was gospel. The music was very pretty but I'm not really into religious music or gospel. 

Gospel

It was standing room only which was actually great as I found a stop near an AirCon vent. As it was so hot in there, it might have been the best spot!

Enthralled. 

I chatted the the couple in front of me who were lovely. And when they found a seat, they snagged me one too. :-)

The country is still a store, with the front section selling all sorts of interesting foods and cute signs.

The store

The second band were more to my taste, with some great mountain music. And at this point the dance floor was packed. I am not really sure about the dancing. It was, for amateurs, hopping from one foot to the other, and for the more advanced, doing the same with a few tap shuffle steps throw in. I decided to just photo it and not join in .

Second band.

Dancing

Having a great time.

Fiddle on fire.

Waltzing.

I chatted to lot of people and just lost out for the free cap for the the furthest travel to someone from Norway. :-( But the people were all so lovely and the music was fun. 

It was a good way to spend my last Friday night in the US. (This time next week I will be home!) I am hoping to weather improves before I leave. With the UK in a heat wave, it really doesn't seem fair we are having heavy rain!