If I could live anywhere...

Today's #30for30 topic is "If you could live anywhere." I really love living in Louisville, but if I could live anywhere else I would choose Spain. If I lived there, though, I would want to bring all of my family and friends, so I could still be close them! I went on a summer study abroad trip to Spain in college, and it's one of the most beautiful and enjoyable places that I've visited. I stayed in Madrid for a week, and then spent the remaining four weeks in a town north of there called Segovia.

My favorite spot in Madrid: Parque Retiro

In Segovia, we stayed with a host family. The family I stayed with was an older couple, Alfonso and Lola. Their two children were grown and lived out of the country. They lived in an amazing apartment in the old part of the city, just a few blocks from the Plaza Mayor (the city center).

My street in Segovia: Calle Mal Consejo (which means bad advice, ha!)

I really loved the culture in Spain. There is very relaxed nature towards things that is so much healthier than the American workaholic attitude. They take time to truly enjoy the good things in life. The people are very straightforward, which can be a little harsh at first. But it's not personal and once you get used to it, it's actually pretty awesome! They have siesta which is a long lunch in the afternoon, that often involves a nap... which is always a good idea in my opinion. Most people go home for lunch in the middle of the day to eat their main meal with family. Most businesses and shops close during that time too.

A park that surrounds the city of Segovia with a view of the castle Alcazar

Another big part of the culture there is the night life (which is probably why they have siesta in the first place!). Everyone goes out at night: old people, young people, parents and children... everyone. And this is at midnight even during the week. It's a way of staying connected to the larger community, and it's really something that I enjoyed and admired about living there. Our host "parents" even scolded my roommate and I for coming home "too early" one night, around 2:30 a.m. So we learned to stay out later after that! ;)

Roman Aqueduct

I would live in Spain if I could choose anywhere because I truly enjoyed the way of life that I experienced while I was there. It seemed like the people there truly knew what to value in their lives: family, friends and neighbors, their beautiful, historic yet modern country, and delicious food and drink.