Bull Ring¬madrid

Outside the Ventas torros stadium... Looking out the window on my floor the top one... My ticket and the ring behind...not a lot of people there(early in the season)... Cape work few other things happen..this is after it was stabbed with the sword(twice) Now it is dead...and one man stabs it in the neck and usually the bull flares it head up and then stabbed again....until sure it is dead... Next bull, cape work...the bull has the sticks with fluff on them Bull look at horse(horse can´t see blindfolded)...the guy in horse arrevgated bull to do this.... yep hit it...horse is protected with pads and wood I believe, but then the guy on the horse does this.... Stabs the bull...this is done twice the guys with the capes distracts the bull then it is done the second time. see it is distracted and see the horse is fine Another bull....this is the stick thing...it is doen three times with two sticks... Action shot of the guy sticking the bull with the objects It was too much to see, but an experience within inself. Hope you got the gist of it... It starts with a man and a cape Then man with cape and horse then man with sticks then man with cape then man with cape and sword dead bull (done 6 times that I saw) I left it was cold and I had enough...the last bull was hard to watch. I don´t know what happened after, but looking at the listing there might have been two more bulls for the novices.

Who would have thought...

I got to see a roman aquaduct and a egyptain temple...interesting.

Here is the temple.


View of the stones...well made, don´t you think?


I got to touch it too, I was transported to egypt...ok well maybe not, but that doesn´t matter I got to touch it anyway.


Close up shots of the carvings inside the temple.


Look how detailed, amazing. No power tools, all hand carved.

HOW DO YOU READ THIS?¿?¿?¿?

Stare at this for awhile... All I understood was that the 27th of March there was show going on. I knew that I could go see it. Now the bottom I couldn´t seem to figure out....


That is when I had a conversation with an older spanish man. He didn´t speak english and with my poor spanish we had a conversation about these parts of the sign. All I know is that the ticket office was open when I when there. So this section not so much important to me.


Now this sign...this is important , why don´t you all try and decipher and see if you get it.


The red square going down(not across) are the levels at the bullfight building. Andanadas is the top-nose bleed seats...Tendios Bajos is the bottom- front row. The red going across says sombre, sombre, sombre y sol, and sol. Which in translation means shade, shade, shade and sun, and sun. Then this prices are listed. I got nose bleed seats and in the sun and shade. There are going to be 6 bulls and 3 should be in shade and 3 should be in sun. I paid 3.20 euros for the ticket. That nice man who was helping me told me that all seats were good. So anything would be fine for me. I learned that the bulls live in the stable things attached to the ring. I learned that it hold 18,000 people, and the building is 100 years old or so. It is a pretty building.


Yep that is me...



It has a mosque, islamic feel to the outside. Very pretty. Will take pictures on Sunday of the bulls and torredo or the guys with the red fabric. I think we call them manadors.

Ok off I go tapas tonight at the hostel.

Hola from Spain

A taste of spain...

Don Quixote..how fitting a crazy man following his dream...who does that sound like?


Yet I got to see in Spain a Roman Aquaduct...stone by stone was made...this thing was long and huge (check out next picture)


Ba-BAM it even goes behind me. Those Romans...amazing.


Cathedral in Segovia


Me in the Castle in Segovia...wouldn´t you want to live here just for the view.


Leaving Segovia - walking back to our bus

I am no longer on US soil....

Current Status: Backpacking Europe

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed

by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.

So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

2 Weeks Left...14 Days

It is so close now...

Completed the Austin Marathon

Here is how I felt run/walking 26.2 miles...
I was nervous/sick to stomach and anxious to get started
I waited around for the start...and then I waited with my group for the crowd ahead us to clear the way
I got a cramp the first minute in my stomach, ease up after three minutes
Then my left ankle hurt, then that eased up
I started with a 4 minute walk and then a 1 minute run up hill
I took one hill at a time, then later took one minutes at a time
I felt good for the first 11 miles maybe 13 miles
Then I realized I have a blister forming on my feet, the right foot worse then the left
I was tired, exhausted, hurting, and plugging away the miles
I was excited after mile 18 because it was one more mile I hadn't accomplished before
YEAH 19
YEAH 20
YEAH 21
YEAH 22
YEAH 23
YEAH 24
YEAH 25
YEAH 26
YESSSSSSSSSSS FINISH LINE!!!!!!!!

So I had a pit crew aka my mom and dad who where there to support me and give me anything I asked for. I looked at the start line for them, but didn't see them. I looked for them at mile 2, but didn't see them. I knew for sure that I would see them at mile 6. I saw my dad and he told me mom wasn't feeling well so he drove her home. I was still in good spirits and aware of my surroundings. I requested a half of a cliff bar. My dad and I said see you in 6 miles. I saw him at mile 10.8 because the course had a cut off time and he needed to know if I made it threw that. He passed me a water bottle and I drank that quickly. I asked watchers on the side of the road if they could recycle the bottle if I passed it to them, they said sure. By that point I was ahead of my group and never saw them again.

The next time I saw my dad was mile 16, my mom had join him and she said she was feeling better. I scream 200 yards away that I needed a half of a cliff bar. As I approached I said you need to meet me in 2 miles with salt pills and water. I remember that from 10.8 to 16 miles was too long of a time period and I had no way of getting a hold of him to get to me sooner than that. I remember telling myself he will be there I just have to keep going until you see him. I was getting a headache, I think because it was so hot. I remember closing my eyes when I walked and ran due to being tired. When I made the statement 2 miles, it was all I could think of handling. My feet were feeling like blisters were forming and I was hurting. As my mom told me later she was worried I wouldn't make it and pass out on the course because of my eyes closing. [note: police and EMS golf carts drive the course back and forth to make sure no one is down]

My dad meet me a little after mile 17 (my mom waited in the car across the highway) with Advil and salt pills and water. I remember run/walking down this stretch of road and seeing a red shirt looking like my dad's, but it disappeared and I thought he had left, like he missed seeing me, but I was just seeing things. I also had a time card for a 6 hour 30 minutes finishing time in my shorts and it was hard to focus on the numbers to see what it said, it took me a little to get down the numbers. I remember saying to him I have blisters. He was like you want to stop and rub some cream on them and I was like no. He said meet you in 2 miles, I said good.

During the next 2 miles my blisters had gotten worse and my right foot popped and stung, but I keep plugging away. I saw my mom and dad right before mile 20. My mom had a water cloth to rub my face, I told them about me blisters, I got water and half a cliff bar. My mom later said I perked up a little, so she wasn't as worried. My dad thought that I was going to start walking the miles, but every time he meet me I was on the same pace and I was still doing the run/walking (3 minutes walking 1 minutes running). Right before we separated and meet in 2 miles my dad talked to me about my pace and how I was keeping it. He also put numbers out there and some other stuff, but I have no memory of what he said except you are going to finish this before the cut off time, which was 2pm. We agreed to meet in another 2 miles. All I keep thinking was I have already gone so far. I was looking so hard for Duval street (I have train on it so many times in the past 6 months, I know the hills and the streets), I knew that if I got on Duval I would know where I am and then the end was near. I got some extra energy somewhere, do I know where? Nope.

I do remember receiving a high 10 from a little boy in a spider-man costume or maybe it was spider-man. ha. He gave me the encouragement to keep going. It was nice to have the spectators still out after so long of a time. I mean this was like hour 4 or 5, the fast runners finished 2 to 3 hours ago. The next meet up was mile 22, I remember always getting water, and wiping my face with a cold cloth, I think I got a half of a cliff bar. During the the 2 mile stretch, I realized I had rub raw under my arm and after every water station there was medic stations with Vaseline. I gave a rubbing signal to one guy who caught my understanding. I was to tired to communicate long sentences. I said I can't see it can you put it on and he did. He asked if I needed the other side, I said no. I said thank you and left. Right before the water stop, it felt like my skin from the popped blister flipped over (it didn't come to find out), but it stung and hurt worse. I keep going.

Before I meet my parent for the last time at mile 24. I got excited after mile 23, I had reached Duval. YEAH DUVAL! I knew there was no way in hell I was NOT finishing this thing. Ohh Duval. As I worked my way down Duval, there was a point I saw ahead that they were stopping runners because of traffic. I thought maybe I would get there and wouldn't be stopped, but it didn't happen. The policemen was like we have to ease traffic up. So I stopped and swayed. He was like you okay, do you need to sit down. I was like if I sit down I won't get up. I hadn't stopped this hold time, just go, go, go. I was like jello a little. He finally let me threw and I kept going. I saw my mom and dad told them about the policemen, they gave me water, a wet cloth, and gummy bears. They said see you at the end. I said ok. As I headed to the home stretch.

The final 2 miles were hot. I remember just plugging away. I knew the first hill I went up would be the last hill I went up. I put my head down and walked it. I don't remember feeling it like the first time I went up that morning 6 hours ago. As I reached the top the mile 26 marker was there and I knew I needed to run it. So I headed down 11th street turn right into home stretch down congress. One more block. I saw my mom and dad cheering. I tried to smile and look happy crossing the finish line. I stopped my watch 6 hours 18 minutes and 10 seconds. I had done it. I ran/walked 26.2 miles and I didn't die nor did I DNF (Did Not Finish). I didn't cry, I didn't collapse, I just kept walking received my metal and walked to the side waiting for my mom and dad. They hugged my sweaty body and congratulated me. I was hurting.

I don't think it really has hit me yet, I can tell you that my body knows that I did 26.2 miles. It is sore, tired, and hurting.

Enjoy the picture below, taken by my dad during and after the race.

Mile 6, feelin' good...hanging with my group (from left to right: John, Suzy, Myself, and Ingrid (who is a very fast walker))


We made it to the split in time(had to be there before 10:15 or they routed you to the half marathon pace we got there at 9:45 roughly)...Mile 10.8.


Home Stretch...I am running it in. NO WAY I AM WALKING IT! Few moment later...


I received my metal and congratulations from my pit crew aka mom and dad. An what do you get when you mix, 6 hours 18 minutes and 10 seconds of run/walking, a hot day starting at 60 degrees and a high of 80 degrees, and sun in Texas....


A nice sunburn...whooo and a ouch.

WHIPPED IT, BEAT IT, CLOBBERED THE 26.2 MILES WITH BLISTER, SORE MUSCLES, AND A SUNBURN AT THE END....COMPLETED!

Gave Notice

As this trip comes closer, there are changes also. I gave a month notice at my job. It is a bittersweet moment. I have learned a lot from my bosses, co-workers, and even customers. I have learn how much work and people go into creating a retail store. This decision to travel has been a 3 to 4 year process. When I turn 25 I made the decision that I needed to do it before my 26 birthday. I didn't know if that was a possibility with time, money, etc. Now as the time is coming closer I am thinking about the experiences I may have and how traveling solo is scary, but also rewarding. I will learn about myself and how I handle situations. I will have to get from point A to B via any transportation by myself. I will make decisions about where and when I want to go somewhere without relying on anyone elses input. I don't know what my travels have ahead of me, but it is sure going to be an experience that will be with me forever.

Countdown Continues....

Next weekend, I am walk/running 26.2 miles...Wish me luck!

Completed the 3M Half Marathon

I had a few worries before the race. One was would my knees hold up. I have had some painful weeks where my knees hurt or would click or there wasn't strength in them. Second I was worried about the top of my foot. For some weeks now my left foot has felt like a hammer is hitting the top of my foot. I have tried to re-lace my shoes, but nothing seem to fix the whole problem. Thirdly, was actually finishing a 13.1 mile race. Would I be able to? Has my training paid off? Did I slack when I should have pushed harder? All my concerns didn't come to fruition, it was a great run and hope to have the same feeling when doing the Marathon in about 2.5 weeks. My knees didn't hurt, my foot didn't hurt (even though I had to re-lace my shoes to get the right feel in the beginning when the race hadn't started), and I made it through without much issue.

I finished in 2 hours 53 minutes and 58 seconds. I was trying for under 3 hours, then as the miles went by I decided to up my tempo from 3 minutes walk and 1 minutes run to 2 minutes walk and 1.15 to 1.30 minute run. By mile 9 or 10 I realized I might get under 2 hours and 55 minutes, so I pushed to do it.

Also along the way I had a great support team with signs and bells. My mom and dad meet me at mile 6, mile 9, mile 11, and at the end. It was great to see them along the way. I could hear my mom, then hear my dad with the cow bell scream "GO KATIE!" "YOU CAN DO IT" "WE ARE PROUD OF YOU" "LOOKING GOOD, KEEP GOING"and I would wave and high five them as I passed.

Here are some photos at the end at home:

CONQUERED AND COMPLETED 13.1 MILES!

New Year, New Adventures

Under 70 days left...
Almost 2 months to go...

where is the time going?

Slightly panicking today! Ekk.



Ok, I'm better started looking into what to do in the cities and writing down what else I have to do/get here in the States. All is coming together slowly. I think the panicking will get worse as it gets closer. As I was told when buying the plane ticket with my friend on the phone.

*Tick-Tock* *Tick-Tock* *Tick-Tock*

Checking off my list for my trip

As I look at what to do for my trip, slowly things are becoming more secure and becoming set plans. Now I do have a lot un-planned, but I do have a hostel to stay at in madrid, I have a day trip tour in spain that takes me to segovia and avila, I also have a tour that take me to Granada, cordaba, seville, and toledo.

In italy the only thing planned is my tour that take me around all of italy, so i am excited about that.

In paris, I have a hotel for my birthday, which was nicely provided by my parents as a birthday present. There is a picture below of where my hotel is located from the Eiffel tower. I also have a train ticket for the eurostar that goes under the english channel.


As the trip gets farther and farther from spain it gets less and less planned. I will see where the train may take me. ***On Aboard***


13 weeks left!

Completed IBM Classic 10K

Checked off my list. My dad and I ran together at my walk/run speed, which we did 3 minutes walk 1.15 run. We finished the race in an 1:22.34 which was a personal record from last years 1:31.23. Well, off to relax and go to bed. I have a long week ahead of me.

Not a leader, but a follower.

I made a decision before my 25th birthday to myself, to try new things by myself(to not follow as much). I am not a good leader, meaning making decisions, having the confidence to do something without needing back up reinforcement, going outside my comfort zone, doing things alone, and a few other things. I feel like I rely on people to much for outside reinforcement that I don't have and wished I had more of. I just want to gain more confidence, gain strength(physical and mental), and overall change my life and see where it goes, good or bad.

I have decide to check some things off my Bucket List to fulfill my promise to myself:
Complete a half of a half marathon(6.1 miles) - Oct 17 - IBM Classic 10K - signed up
Complete a half marathon(13.1 miles) - Jan 30 - 3M Half Marathon - signed up
Complete a marathon(26.2 miles) - Feb 20 - Austin Marathon - signed up
Travel Europe - got ticket
Go see a Broadway play in London or New York - planning stages
Go on the train that goes under the English channel - planning stages

All these things will be completed in 6 months or less.

Added a Tour

I will be doing a Tour in Italy called 'Simply Italy' with Conitki, which provides trips for 18-35 year olds. Now with those set dates in April. I know I arrive in Madrid in the morning of the 21st of March and I have to be in Rome in the second week of April. Now I get to plan the 20 or so days in between. I know that I want to go see Barcelona(after Madrid of course) and then stay toward the coast of the Mediterranean through France and then down to Rome. Choices choices...

Maybe instead what to bring I should state where to go?

Starting in Madrid, Spain


Ending in London, England


The in-between countries:
France, Italy, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Ireland

Any suggestion on places(i.e. buildings, museums, food places) and/or cities to experience.

What do you NEED to backpack Europe?

hmmm...

- check - Backpack - check - 2 Shorts
- check - 1 toothbrush - check - 2 Tank
- check - Wash cloth - check - 3 Long sleeves
- check - Hair cloth - check - 3 Short sleeves
- check - Body cloth - check - 8 Underwear
- check - Razor - check - 3 Bras (2 everyday, 1 sport)
- check - Pummel stone - check - 7 Socks
- check - Bar of soap - check - 2 Shoes (1 athletic, 1 nice)
- check - Bar of soap container - check - 1 baseball hat
- check - Day Pack - check - Money belt
- check - Eye mask - check - Moleskin minijournal
- check - Passport - check - Ipod and their charger
- check - Converter plugs
- check - 2 Scarves (1 winter, 1 nice to cover hair for mosque)
- check - Pack-it cubes (laundry bag, med., small, large)

Last Week Buys
(last week buys) Feminine Products
(last week buys) Prescription
(last week buys) 1 container of pads for face
(last week buys) Powder
(last week buys) 1 oz. Moisturizer
(last week buys) Make-up stick
(last week buys) Razor blades
(last week buys) floss
(last week buys) flip-flops for shower
(last week buys) earplugs
(last week buys) Q-tips
(last week buys) TP (small rolls from target)

Fill-up Last Minute
(fill-up last minute) 3 oz. Go toob toothpaste
(fill-up last minute) 3 oz. shampoo and conditioner
(fill-up last minute) 3 oz. shaving soap

Maybe get, Maybe not
cup???
3 Pants (1 day, 1 PJ, 1 nice)-----(maybe 1 more for x-mas present)
Camera and their charger-----buy 16GB card, buy(maybe borrow) one extra battery
Sunglasses

GOING to EUROPE

I am done with getting injuried.

A week ago I got a really bad sunburn while tubing with Beth and Matthew. That was fun healing from, the itchy-ness, the pealing of legs, back, hands, some part of my arms too. I have no pictures of the burn or the pealing, which I think most people would be happy about, but I do have fun ones as we went down the river, here are a few.





_________________________________________________________________

Yesterday, I was making some fish for my mom for her dinner, when I put the fish in to fast and splashed melted butter on my right hand wrist area.

_________________________________________________________________

Well today, I cut myself with a box cutter. I now have 4 stitches on the top of my left thumb. Luckily I didn't cut anything important (tendons, muscles, etc.), but there was a lot of blood going on. There was a reason, I know a box cutter, but actually I cut my artery in my finger, so it spurted blood as the doctor was trying to close me up, but he had to clamp it to sew up the sides before he could sew up the artery.



Tah-da...all bandaged up. I will take it off tomorrow afternoon and then I will wear a bandage, and a stint(like they use for sprained fingers) for my other work days this week. I get the stitches out on the 27th the day before I am planning on going to schlitterbahn with my dad, Justin and Stephanie.

Sunburned

I went tubing on Saturday with Matthew and Beth it was so much fun other than the bad sunburn I received. (pictures up later in the week-if they turn out good). I am officially sunburned - blisters and all(which started forming on my back this afternoon). I am pink/red on my legs, arms, breasts, tops of feet, tops of hands, and back. Lets just say if I was ever captured by a terrorist or someone trying to hurt me all you have to do it make me itch. I will give up any information to make the itching STOP. My back is driving me up the wall. Itch, itch, itch all day long. I am now using lanacane which is a miracle cream that makes the itching stop for a few hours. HEAVEN!

Whitney's College Graduation, Patrick's High School Graduation

Congrats, both of you!