Mi {Piso} ... My Apartment

So what did you guess? Which piso do you think I picked?

(If you haven't made a guess yet stop reading now and go read Piso Hunters International first)

I picked Piso #1! (Did you get it right? :)

Why that one? Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words...

The view from my bedroom's balcony

My favorite things about the apartment:

1. The view (obviously ;)

2. My roommates. Samira is originally from Morroco, speaks Spanish, French and Arabic fluently and has worked in the field of immigrations here in Spain. Jorge from Córdoba and is a student at the local university studying for a technical degree in something that I'm fairly certain I wouldn't understand in any language.

3. It is right in the center of town, just a few blocks from the supermarket, tons of stores, all the best restaurants and beautiful plazas.

4. A nice big living room with heat and air conditioning (although I'm not sure when we'll have to use either. That's what tank tops and sweaters are for right?), cable TV and another small balcony.

5. Two bathrooms instead of one. 'Nuf said.

When looking for an apartment I told myself I would trade convenience and modernity for good company because I knew that close friendships more than anything would be what would make my stay here most comfortable. Luckily, in this case, I really didn't have to make any major sacrifices in creature comforts to also gain wonderful friends. I have already been out with Jorge and his friends to a tapas bar around the corner and this weekend we plan to take a short trip to Jaén and the following weekend to Córdoba. Samira helped me settle in by showing me where to buy sheets and towels, how to find the nearest supermarket and even made me a welcome breakfast the morning after I moved in.

Throughout this whole transition I have had to stop and wonder at how blessed I have been for everything to have gone so smoothly. I certainly don't have much to do with the fact that it has gone so well (the worst things can happen even to the most well intentioned people). And I'm convinced luck has nothing to do with it. More than anything I have always known I had a place waiting for me here in Spain... it was always just a matter of me taking the initiative and coming along to fulfill it. And now that I'm here to live it, I am so glad I did :)