A White Sendoff for the Last Day

Here in Cordoba, and most of Spain (and heck, Europe for that matter), the last few weeks have been wet. Very, very wet. In over three weeks, I only recall 4 separate days (not at all connected) where we've seen the sun. Those have definitely been days to celebrate.

Two of those sunny days were when Mom was here, and we indeed used the opportunities to do a little traveling in Andalucia: first going to Sevilla and the next occasion, going to Malaga.

Two more of these days were this past Friday and Saturday. A perfect ending to my winter break, as if the sun was sending me off as well as my last days of freedom (and I'll always use it as a good omen for the semester to come).

Finally, the sun was to disappear again today indefinitely. Forgetting that according to weather.com I would need my umbrella, I skipped off to the gym this morning forgetting mine. When I left, what to my surprise, was snow - or a snow like substance, as it was really more frozen rain. Skeptical that it would last long, I rushed home passing many others who had faces as surprised as mine.

After lunch, the snow continued, with even more ganas as before. My roommates told me to get ready and get warm because we were going to take a little drive to the foot of the Sierras and see more of the snow. So we did.

Taking our warmest jackets and cameras, we headed up to see the rare Cordoban sight. When we made it to what was now a winter-white park, we jumped out of the car. The Andalucian oranges and palms covered in a topping of snow was so strange and so beautiful. Jumping to it, the roommates and their friends starting building a snowman (muñeco). I stayed the observer as I lacked gloved (tragically left in my other purse) and in the end contributed to some twiggy hair. As we were there it was clear we weren't the only ones astonished by the phenomenon as many other Cordobeses drove up and past us, cameras in hand, to take it in. Some families even brought sleds to ambitiously try the powder for themselves.

Although I was most cold and ready to get in the warm car and head back after about 15 minutes, the roommates and friends (who were clearing more accustomed to the cold than my warm-blooded Arizona self) stayed out playing and chatting for a few minutes short of my cold hands and feet falling off.

Finally coming back home, it seemed to take forever for my 20 cold digits to become full functioning again (not being able to zip my sweatshirt, I became legitmately worried - demonstrating how rare it is for me to experience genuine coldness, aka below 70F). But despite the few seconds of panic, I found it was a perfect ending to 3 wonderful weeks now sadly behind me.

Me, the roommates, and our snowman.