Man Is A Universe Within Himself

Good Evening Bloggers :)

Alot has been batted around (Nice ashes pun) about this blog. Highly anticipated it seems :) This makes me happy... pressure hah i laugh in the face of pressure :p and i hope you enjoy this as much as i am doing writing it, i hope it bowls you over (Ashes pun number 2) :).

Why so much hype? Well maybe not from you guys in England, or in France or my beloved followers in Denmark (Hej) or the USA (Hey), Russia (Привет), and Israel (שלום). But here in Cadiz and hopefully around Spain there has been an event much bigger than Easter, much bigger than Spring Break, muuuuuuch bigger than Hannukah and the big bang (not quite as big as christmas!). This event was Granada '10 , the dual celebration of 21st birthdays. For within the space of 25-29 two dear friends on Natasha Pitt and one Michael A.V Mcpherson (better known to you guys out there as one half of Kike), turned the big 21. The last birthday that is looking, not quite up the up, more on top of the hill, you know, the one just before everything seems to start looking downwards, the days seem shorter and duller and the hair looks greyer, the beginning of the end! And to celebrate this epicness we decided, hey, why not hit Granada, visit the likes of Rob Coy, Bekki Chambers, Mairi and Kim in the meantime whilst hitting the likes of the Alhambra and Camborio and having a spiffing time.

I Hope you enjoy :).....

What do succssful writers write about?.... They write about great triumphs, great failings, great wars and great love. Of Romance, of Drama, of Humour and Sorrow. I cannot promise you everything, if i could i would promise you the heaven and the earth. However, as i am merely a Blogger, i can promise you one thing.... a bloody good read!

What is it that defines a man? It is not his successes, nor is it the failings of his life, but the actions which lead to said consequences. I swear i heard a dude say that once and i'v always wanted to say it myself :p Why is it that people judge success on the likes of money and career. I judge a man on his actions, the decisions he makes and follows, the paths that he not only follows, but creates through the life he chooses to lead. A proud man, for me, is not a man who prides himself on the clothes he wears and the cars he drives, but on the people he associates with and the fun times that he has. And this weekend, this hectic weekend, well ladies and gentlemen, you have made me proud.

I can safely say we expected as much as we got! We kicked off the long weekend with a thursday night 'Lash' for want of a better word, session i may use, we went out for a delicious dinner, tapas in Cumbres Mayores, for Tash's birthday. After which we hit the Old Town, Cuba, Nahu, Bhopal, the makings of a solid session in Cadiz. Also, im afraid, the makings of a jolly good hangover, uncurable it may seem in Spain, as there are simply no English Breakfasts!

SOOOOO the 12 o'clock bus to Granada was sure to be a hoot, headache in tow, bags packed, sarnies bought, journey.... dreaded! Group, unfortunately.... seperated. Drama? For sure! What kindof friends would we be if drama didn't appear at every opportunity? The 6 hour bus journey was a peach :-| 6 hours of pure torture, minimal leg-room, maximum Iphone diversion!

We eventually arrived in the wet, cold beauty that is Granada. A short taxi ride later we arrived at the Best Western Hotel in the centre of town, merely a 3 star paradise.

 Beds as comfortable as clouds and as big as the heaven they were made in! As we split off into our designated room groups we one by one lugged our luggage up to the correct rooms, myself and Kate in what could have been the royal suite, a beauty, nice sized, 2 huge beds, flat screen tv, 2 balcony styled windows, great bathroom with BATH woop and Pierre Cardin designed decor (One for the ladies ;p) and enough wardrobe space to fit the insane amount of clothes Kate and I had somehow managed to bring for the 3 day, 2 night stay in Granada!

3 hours later we were half way through an average at best meal in the pizzeria just downstairs from the Hotel, when who should roll up, but Tash, Sarah and Sam, fresh off the same torid bus ride! Let the drama commence :) A slight confusion in communication between the two bus groups led to 2 seperate tables for dinner and some rather cold shoulders, (gladly shurgged off by Saturday). After the meal, including the perfect pudding of Mikes;

We headed back up to the rooms and began getting ready for what was set to be a great first night in Granada.

Gustav Klimt was our first destination after some rather rowdy pre-drinking in the hotel suite; IPad Ring-of-Fire, Pirate Talk, Tinto Verano, Cheap Mixers and staff complaints gives you a vague idea of the pre-lash! After being offered to buy some weed, Friends styled photos and slippery surfaces we managed to get into Klimt, right after Mike got loooked up and down and almost refused that is! Chilling upstairs like the big cheeses we were set to be on Saturday night we were loving it! Meanwhile Tash and Sarah were knocking back the Shots at the Chupiteria with Mairi, Kim, and our newest acquaintence, Leeds lass Charlotte. As the night drew on, and the group remained split, me being, welll me, decided it was best if myself and young Sam-Wise headed over to collect the girls and hit Granada 10 where the night would end in fireworks. This however did not occur, we met up, i got beaten up by one Mairi Davies (Yes i have the neck scratch to prove it Mairi so dont argue yeah!?) and hit the hotel an hour after leaving Klimt with the whole night ahead of me :-/. What did i miss? Well only one Michael McPherson being thrown out of Granada 10 by the bouncers after being persuaded by the ladies to remove his shirt an 'Get on down' on the podium in front of a packed club! How could this get any worse... everyone understand the term Coño... if not, it don't matter, trust me! But the bouncer sure did, and a few arguments later, the group finally emerged to see Mike, Creditless and Hammmered, fliling around in a back alley, regretting listening to certain women!

The hangovers seen Saturday morning were memories to treasure! Breakfast, somehow, was too! Bacon, eggs, cereals, toast and fruit, the makings of a delicious treat to start what was supposed to be a aproductive day!... how did it end up? Being the begginning of a day where i saw daylight a mere 3 times and twice were me looking out of the bathroom window pre luxurious bath! Saturday became null, a few of us managed to emerge from the hotel and tour the city, me i made it as far as the cash machine at the top of the street to collect Alhambra tickets! However, Saturday night.... One to remember forever!

Lads suited up, shirts, ties, trousers, some jackets, some braces, me... Trilby of course

and others... well others, no names mentioned ey Sam Maloney, they wore pumps :-/. The Ladies, looking all lovely and what not in dresses, heels, jewellery and enough makeup, perfume and hairspray to bring down the chinese army and legs and boobs everywhere, gave us men a run for our money, but the Rat Pack reincarnated just pipped it! The plan? Champers in the room as we presented Mike with his present and the stragglers finished up getting ready, before heading to Alcazar for a sesnsational meal overlooking the Alhambra, lit up in all its beauty giving us the perfect backdrop to the perfect meal as we left all bad feelings, drama, money issues and relationship troubles behind us. The food... incredible. The service.... Tip Top. The wine.... delicious (supposedly). The night.... kicked off in true style.

After our mammoth meals we headed back to Gustav Klimt for drinks before heading back up the mountain.

The weekend was gradually catching up with a few of us and we needed a funsies injection. The suits, the dresses, the sheer style of the situation thrown to the wind... and rain as we headed first in taxi, and then by foot on the torrid journey up the mountain to Camborio, a club like no other. With stunning views overlooking the Alhambra and the downstairs club carved into the Cave, this seemed to be a great night in the making.... well guys, i can safely tell you.... it did not dissapoint.

We got there earlier than the likes of Rob, Bekki, Mairi, Kim and Charlotte and, in true Gaditan style, got both our Booze and Boogies on... renditions of Michael Jackson, Neyo and Beyonce making the night all that memorable. But did it get better, well of course it did! As the alcohol continued to flow, the fun and laughter back in our 'lash' filled veins the mood picked up and the crowd did too as Mairi, Kim and Charlotte came to escort us from the cave up to the 'happening' club upstairs, the one with the views, the one with the crowds, the one with the cheap shots, THE ONE! Boy oh boy oh boy, when i say this i means it... All the girls looked... incredible, but well, when one lil red dress walked in, the eyes in the room were in one place, the ghetto bootay somehow controlled, the abusive nature toned down, and the Lady in the red dress, jaw dropping gents, one more addition to the a) great night and b) brilliant mix of beautiful girls.

The night was a great one, as we moved up to the other half of the amazing club the guys and i went from tipsyish/buzzed/drunkish into drunk/crunk/hammered, some more so than others, Mike and Ashley taking his celebrations out on, what i presume was, a fridge full of beer and a bottle full of tequila. The odours of which were sure to hang around for at least the next 24 hours! An earlyish night was insitigated for some of us as we debated the prospect of getting up Sunday morning to not only pack and be out by 12, but have breakfast before half 10, and make it to the Alhambra before half 1... did we do it... of course we did! Room key drama, hangovers and tired eyes just adding to the hilarity of the situation!

The walk to the Alhambra, although bloody tiring, was also bloody beautiful. Mountain side views of the rest of the city in one direction, sensational views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range another. Although well and truly cream-crackered, everyone seemed still to be able to take in the sheer awe and wonder of the views we were looking at... a gift from god, a paradise on earth.

If you have been to the Alhambra i need not say much more, but if you have not, you simply must. I myself do not claim to be a lover of all things cultural, i would pick a seat at St James Park over a tour of the Louvre any day, but the Alhambra, well it was something alright! The 10 minute wait that lasted 55 minutes for myself and Mairi seemed not even to put a dent into my appreciation of the spectacular views and architecture around me. The christmas songs, cold bum and joyful banter over the longest 55 minutes of my life, in which i learnt that people in Devon are actually still living in the 18th century, and do tend to get "cross" with said ginger people, seemed to simply add to the enjoyment of what was panning out to be a surprisingly marvelous day. Photos can be seen on Facebook of the gloriously built Alhambra, there are simply too many to chose from, between the views, the gardens, the buildings and the ruins, you cannot simply stand there and say, yep this is the best, because, for me anyway, it is all pretty much perfect.

After walking around the Alhambra for a few hours, learning about the history of the wonderful place, learning how to read sign language;

with hangovers and hunger in toll, we finally left to get some pre journey home grub, where at well....

Of course! With no Dominoes or Pizza Hut in Cadiz, it was a cert that we had to hit it in Granada, and with value for money added in, a wiser choice could not be found!

Stuffed from the pizza and weekend glee we said our sad goodbyes. Goodbyes to mates, with whom strong friendships had been bound across the space of 2 amazing weekends. Friends who shall not be forgotten up in the Andalucian mountains;

Truly top lasses :).... pity they study in Brum ey! well some people just have to, i know, i dont get it either!

After the all the pizza was eaten, after all our goodbyes were said, and after we managed it back to the hotel in one piece, we headed in taxis to the bus station to catch our coach back to our Gaditan paradise. A far cry from the enormity and beauty of Granada, but our own, small, compact, sea-side, warm ...ish wonderland. And now 8 hours after setting off on a bus ride from hell, in which i had squashed legs, minimal IPhone battery and minimal grub, i sit here writing to you, my loyal readers, my friends, my family, my peeps :)

It is nice to get away every now and again, Cadiz can become claustrophobic sometimes, to be honest up until the ice skating rink was built over the weekend, there wasn't much to do but go to uni and play football manager! But i am happy to be back, to be back to our home, our cosy little flat, where after this weekend i can safely say, we all live in our little world, a bubble you could say. But it does not matter about the size of the bubble, because as i found out this weekend, as we shifted the bubble 6 hours north east, its not always about the place that you are, but its always about the people you are with.

Happy Blogging :)

P.S
Granada '10 Playlist

-Marry You - Bruno Mars. Dedicated to one Mathew Clarke and Kate Newman the roomies with a glutteny for Glee
-Single Ladies - Beyonce. Dedicated to all the ladies in our lives this weekend, single or not, partying hard through the alcohol and laughter and making it a wekeend to remember.
-Celebration - Kool and the Gang. Dedicated the Tash and Mike who both turned 21 this long weekend.
-New Shoes - Paulo Nutini. Dedicated to Sam Maloney.... get some!
-Don't Stop Believing. Dedicated to every person who added to this fantastic weekend, friends, randomers, even staff at the hotel, bars and attractions, couldn't have done it without you, and i just cannot wait for January to roll around and the 21st birthday celebrations to continue.