Shelagh turns 21...

...in a quiet old city in a country where it doesn't matter. This, however, did NOT stop me from getting shamefully intoxicated. I apologize to everyone who remembers me when I was "this big" and "still in diapers," but this is the American way- a civic duty, if you will.

Is it embarassing to look forward in the calendar to see what day of the week your 21st birthday is when you are 17? Oh, it is? Well then, forget that comment. It turns out my 21st birthday was on a Saturday. SUPER WIN. The Boston University program had a trip planned on the weekend of my birthday. We were to leave for Córdoba, Spain on Friday (the day before my birthday) and return the evening of my birthday. I planned to celebrate on Friday night (starting at midnight of course) and then on Saturday in Madrid. I was excited to spend with my birthday with 40 people that I knew pretty well- everyone loves a good birthday posse.

A little tidbit on Córdoba: It is a city in southern Spain that was founded by the Romans in 169 BC. The reason you may have heard of it is that it is home to the famous "Mezquita," (mosque) which is the 3rd largest mosque in the world. It was built in the 8th century, then, in the 13th century, a cathedral was built in the center by christian conquerers. The inside is really beautiful:

The ceiling of the cathedral built within
La Mezquita in the 13th Century

The mosque has over 856 of these arches. Legit.

We did a lot of other cultural and historical stuff that day. Some of which I don't remember. Of course I DO remember going to the oldest synagogue in Córdoba. I should have mentioned that I have been to Córdoba before (in the summer of 2007) with a high school group. Therefore, I distinctly remember taking a ridiculous picture in front of the menorah there. I decided I should take another to show how much I have grown and matured since high school: 

Let's jump to after the sunset. Our group went to a flamenco show that night. This was obviously after a few of us consumed a few bottles of cheap vino tinto. When some people think flamenco, they envision castanets and full skirts. This however, is not always the case. Flamenco is characterized by a Spanish guitar, rhythmic clapping and (for lack of a better word) stomping. Our show was a little unorthodox as there was a singular female dancer and no male. All males and females in attendance agreed, however, that she had a very nice butt in her "man outfit" (no homo). 

When the show ended, we attempted to go to dinner with a group of 12 of us. We succeeded! Natalie and I split 'rabo de toro' and I have to admit, it was just ok- too much fat, not enough MEAT. Here is a picture of the así-así dish.

 Have you figured out what rabo de toro is? Maybe you're familiar with the typical Spanish dish... BULL TAIL? Sorry if I seem hypocrytical for crying over the bulls a couple weeks ago, then eating one, but I had to try it at least once. I am imbibing (masticating?) the culture, people. Ok? CULTURE. 

Speaking of imbibing, let's talk about the birthday festivities. 

When we told the waiter it was mine, as well as my friend Kellyn's, 21st birthday at midnight, he gave our entire table free chupitos (shots) of... something. I have learned to drink whatever waiters and bartenders give me for free and not ask "Que es esto?" Next, Kellyn, Natalie, myself and many others went on a journey to find something, ANYTHING, to do in Córdoba for two birthday girls and their obnoxious American friends. When we walked by a bar sign advertising mojitos we saw no reason to continue walking, so we made a pit-stop, enjoyed delicious beverages, and left energized and refreshed. Current time: 23:00. (for those of you not living in Europe, they always use military time and 23:00 is 11:00 pm). 

I planned to do the 21 shot challenge for my birthday. This is no surprise to anyone who knows me; I will be a part of almost any competition regardless of how idiotic it may be. That is, if you call having 21 shots in one day idiotic. And don´t reprimand me for this stupidity because there's no use in crying over spilt vodka, or tequila, or whatever. I had a distinct plan to have my first shot at midnight to kick off the festivities/pain and and time was running out. My birthday posse and I walked around for an hour, the clock struck midnight and I was sure that this birthday, my 21st, was going to suck. 

As all optimistic thoughts departed at 12:05 am, we turned a corner and saw it. Finally, in front of me, a beacon of hope, a neon sign with a big scary guy out a front. A CLUB WITH A BOUNCER!!! The 21st birthday suckage started to dimisnish. I have to admit the club did not look like much from the outside, but inside was completely full, and even better, half the people inside were from my abroad program! It was a perfect mix of friends, classmates and creepers in a loud and raucous setting. I would recount each of my 10 shots, but I unsurprisingly only have a a vivid memory of the first one. My friends Jack, Kedzie, and I went to the bar to get my first shot and the bartender magically knew that my favorite kind of alcohol was FREE alcohol! Fortunately, Natalie did a first-shot photo shoot for me. Kedzie and I are hams, clearly:

We were really excited about the shots. Then we drank them. These shots tasted what I imagine the sweat of satan to feel like running down my throat. I only wish there was a video of our horrified faces when we swallowed them because it would have been PRICELESS. The night went downhill from there as the other 21st birthday girl and I went shot for shot until I decided 10 was enough for me. We kept track, of course, by recording each shot with a pen on our forearm. Classy. Hilights (or low-points, variable based on your personal opinions) of the night included being surrounded by a circle of random Spanish young men, dropping it low with Henry, yelling at Natalie to get a picture of each shot I took, and  being generally ridiculous like any person turning 21 should. You can see the entire photo montage and embarrassment on Natalie's facebook if you´d like. 

The "day after" photo looks pretty similar, except a little less excited and with a little more remorse. I was actually pleased to have such a miserable hangover on my 21st birthday because I am THAT obsessed with quintessential experiences. The night of my birthday, my birthday posse and I went to "El Tigre," a tapas bar where you can get a beer and a plate of food for 3 Euros. Natalie and I went in, got really stressed out by the insane crowd, and went to an outdoor cafe around the corner to get mojitos. When we told the waiter it was my "cumpleaños de 21 años" he gave each of us a free double shot of Jose Cuervo. I redeemed myself that night by slowly sipping on my mojito and (actually) being classy with my best friend in a plaza in Spain. We met up with the rest of our friends, got a 1.30 euro bottle of wine, had a botellón in the plaza, then went home. 

Needless to say, I did not succeed in my 21 shot challenge as my fellow birthday girl did (she is a CHAMP if I have ever met one). I made it to 12 shots, 2 mojitos, and about a bottle of wine. I am slightly ashamed, but my parents should be proud of my good judgement to only have 2 shots the second night right? HOWEVER, cheap jews rejoice, because EVERY single shot I had on my birthday was FREE. If that is not the makings of a successful 21st, then I don´t know what is.