Al final de mi primer mes...

It's been a while since I've blogged, but Ill try to catch you up with all that's happened since last time...
Two weeks ago I got to go horseback riding with my program. We just walked past a lot of corn fields and buildings where they dry tobacco. My horse was named Chico, and he listened pretty well, as we slowly made our way from the back of the line to almost the front by the end of the hour (guess I'm not gunna be training horses anytime soon).

 

That Friday, I went out to dinner with a friend, and tried Moroccan food for the first time. We had some skewers, meatballs, and a chicken rice dish (as always I thought EVERYTHING was tasty)!

Saturday we went on an excursion to the Alpujarras mountains tasted some wild blackberries and cherries, and went to a telaría? (where they make carpets with a loom, "Wanted" style!). This was pretty cool, but I don't think the woman working there was any type of assassin... bummer

That night, Jilli, Zoe, Molly and I went to Sevilla on an impromptu turn around trip... The next day we saw ALL of Sevilla (Plaza de España, el Real Alcazar, la Catedral con la Giralda, y el Torre de Oro) needless to say I was exhausted after our less than 24 hrs of being there. Sevilla was pretty amazing though, and I must say the Plaza de España was my favorite (I guess a scene of Star Wars was filmed there!)

 (at our Hostal)

 

(Plaza de España)

 

(at Real Alcázar)

This next week was my last week of school, so I spent most of it getting ready for our tests on Friday, writing a paper (yeah I actually go to school here), and of course still having fun.
Monday we went to the Arabic baths, which were AMAZING!!!! They have 3 rooms with baths (cold, warm, and hot). We also got peppermint tea and a 15 minute massage, which I have been waiting for since I got here! (Don't have my mama here to ask for one). I will definitely be going back next month.
Wednesday we went to a Garcia Lorca performance. It was at la Alhambra, so a beautiful setting, but I could go without having to watch flamenco for 2 hours for a while...

Friday was the last day for most of the people in my program, so we all went to see Montruos University. Later we met up for drinks and went to a discoteca called Camborio that overlooks la Alhambra and all of Granada!! Sad to see them all leave but it was a great last night.

The next day (Saturday), I left for Cádiz to visit a friend for the weekend. Its a small beach town on the south west corner of Spain. I got to see the old and new town, and eat dinner overlooking the ocean. Definitely had my fair share of delicious seafood :) I also had my first experience in the Atlantic Ocean!! The temperature was perfect!!!, but a little too many dark shadows of seaweed for my liking, but I had a wonderful day beach side with a few sangrias.

All in all I've had a busy last couple of weeks, but I could not be loving Spain MORE!!! I can't believe I've already been here a month and I miss everyone from home (SB and Rancho) but I'm so glad I still have one month left. These last couple day I got to rest, and today I met the 7 new students in this months program. Can't wait to get to know everyone better.  I start class again Thursday, and we're planning a trip for Malaga this weekend, so I'll be keepin busy!

Hasta la pasta ;)

Intercambio

At Centro de Lenguas Modernas they offer an intercambio (exchange with a student learning your native language/ native to the language you are learning). As much as I'm surrounded by it, its too easy to speak English with everyone in my program. So I decided to sign up for this. So last Thursday I met up with a Granada local named Amalia. She was really friendly and we ended up talking for way longer than I ever expected. I hope to continue doing this because its also great insight into the life of other Granadians. She's in her 30's and its amazing the different life experiences that we've had so far, it makes me thankful for the opportunities I have had to go off to college and now travel to different parts of the world. Life could be so different!

On Friday we had a tour of La Alhambra. La Alhambra is a palace built in the 14th century in muslim style. Its is enormous and amazing. I really enjoyed this because I have been learning a lot about it in my art history class and I finally got to see all that I had been hearing about! Parts of it are altered (made boring) or destroyed by the Christians that came later, but it unbelievable the rooms and parts that are still are intact. There is incredible detail wherever you look and even better views.

This weekend we went for a trip to Nerja beach. I can't tell you how excited I was to be back by the beach... if there's one thing I miss here its escaping to the beach whenever I want. I couldn't wait to relax in the (slightly cooler) sun and just SWIM! The beaches were beautiful, clear BLUE water that was refreshingly cool. We hung out there for a while until we have a delicious lunch of paella con marisco y pollo. It was pretty good... but not nearly as great as what Elba (my mom here) can make! That afternoon when I returned I had probably one of my biggest learning experiences since Ive been here. I knew Id be sharing a hotel room with 3 other girls, but I didn't expect to walk into a room with 4 little twin sized beds crammed together (almost wall to wall). Hey, I guess its like a slumber party that I always dreamed of as a little girl? Anyways, after a long day at the beach I just wanted to shower... but none of the lights worked. There were prolly about 10 switches that I walked around flipping on and off, NOT A ONE WORKED. So I ventured downstairs to the front desk to solve my problem.  I tried to politely explain in spanish that my lights didn't work, and needless to say the attendant wasn't very helpful. Eventually when my roomates returned they new the trick... aparently in Spain (and other parts of Europe) you have to put your key into this box to turn on the electricty, to cut down on wasting it... WELP atleast someone knew!

Sunday we left Nerja beach to visit Herradura beach. On the way we stopped in a little town called Frigiliana that wraps up a hill. It was really cute (apparently they filmed the smirfs there?) and had some awesome views...

That afternoon at Herradura we had a delicious lunch of Pescado Rosado, calamaris, pollo y migas (which is kinda like a cuscus/ stuffing/ grain thing, but tasty!). Later we had the opportunity to kayak and ride on a catamaran. Both were a lot of fun, but boy was I exhausted after this weekend!

Yesterday we had a free day, which I spent studying for my "midterm" for art history that I had today. I still managed to make it out to a trivia night with a few friends, (only things I could help with were about Spice Girls and The Backstreet Boys ha). Anyway, I had my first test today at CLM... I think it went pretty well (hoping for an A!). Tonight is friends bday, so all the girls are going for sushi and then to a discoteca. Maybe if im up for it I might even catch the All Star Game (2AM here), but if not...

GO NATIONAL LEAGUE!

El espectáculo flamenco

     Monday our activity was flamenco dancing... This meant not only were we going to see a show but we also were going to "learn". Needless to say that was quite the experience! This flamenco restuarant is in the gypsy area of el Albaicín and parts are in las cuevas (caves).We started with some easy toe-heel steps (punto-tacon), and then slowly went on to a more complicated step, and also added the hands. Yeah, I'll leave to flamenco to the professionals. It was fun to watch all of us Americans struggle with our coordination though. After our lesson we had algunas tapas y tinto de verano (summer drink here the has wine, juice, and soda water) as we waited for el espectáculo (with the real dancers). Once the show started I was in awe. They make all the movements seem so simple (fancy hands and feet), and everyone is dressed beautifully as well. There is a singer, guitarist and drummer. And boy could these singers belt! Afterwards I went with some friends for drinks and tapas, where I saw more street gypsies performing flamenco. I must say, the culture and life here in Granada never gets old.

     Tuesday our activity was "Spanish Cuisine Tasting Classes". Now this is right up my ally! We started off with trying different types of olive oil (with bread). Then we moved onto different types of meats, tomatoes, and cheeses (ALL WITH BREAD). And ended our tasting with different types of nuggets. Everything was delicious, but there  may be a little more of me when I come back to the US! Afterwards I went for a drink with some of the girls from my program. Everyone's really friendly and I look forward to hanging out more and getting to know them all better.
     Tuesday nights, this pub called Hannigan & Sons has open mic night (and baseball games on the tv!). One of my friends wanted to perform so I went to support. So far all the music I hear here is American. This open mic night was no exception... I've never heard so many remixs of our classics. This one girl from Finland loved the stage (they couldn't get her off!). But all was fun, and I even got to hear a little of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
    Today were supposed to go on a bike ride at 530 (about the hottest part of the day)... and its been around 40 degrees Celsius (=100+ in Fahrenheit). Hopefully I don't melt too much! But I look forward to it (get some exercise besides walking a gajillion miles).
-Until next time...

Estadounidenses tontas...

     This Friday we had a free day, so some friends and I decided to go wander around. We found ourselves at Café Futbol (suggested to us for their chocolate[melted chocolate not hot chocolate] y churros). Anyway, we figured no better time to try it than the present so we sat down and 3 of us ordered a churro each (and some waffle with con chocolate). The waiter comes out and brings us this tower of churros... little did we know that ONE churro is meant for 2 people! We did the best we could, but after sugar-coma started kicking in we threw in the towel and brought the rest back for a roomate... (lesson learned: ask about portion size!) Needless to say I slept great that night with a belly full of chocolate y churros :)

     The next day we went on a hike to Cahorros. This place was amazing! There are waterfalls and creeks that come from snow runoff (super cold!), and it was so green! Germán loves to point out different plant for us to smell/ try (lavender, sage, mint, figs, among many others) Though I thoroughly enjoyed it, this hike was definitely challenging... and I'm not talking about the uphill mile or so it took us to get to the hike. Thoroughout the hike we are walking on a skinny path along the mountain (which at times we have to scale or crawl under). However the hardest part of it for me was crossing the puente colgante (suspension bridge). Anyone who knows me, know heights are NOT my favorite, but I did IT! and have pictures to prove it :) Anyway I would love to go back to this place because its truly one of the most amazing hikes Ive ever been on.

     We came home that day and I took a 3.5 hr nap (I was pooped). That night we went to a show put on by the city of Granada (que se llama Les Amants du Ciel). It was this couple that danced up in the sky on the side of the Ayuntamiento. It was pretty cool, but we left early to go get some tapas for dinner. Jilli and I ordered a sample plate to share with some sangria, all of which was delicious!

     Sunday I woke up late and met a friend for lunch. We wondered around Granada, and he showed me a view point near where he lives (pretty spectacular, but quite a climb fro the center of the city where I live). We got some Alhambras (la cerveza de Granada), and went shopping around (most all stores are closed on Sunday except those that are like department stores).

     Now its Monday morning, and I accidentally slept through my first class of the day (atleast Im allowed 2 ausiencios). Tonight we get to learn to dance Flamenco. We'll see if I have any coordination, but it should be fun! I'll have to tell you later how that goes...

¡Hasta Luego!

Mi primera semana

     Its finally the weekend! Tuesday I had a placement test (took 3 hours!), but thankfully I placed well enough to take the culture classes that I wanted. So for this month I'm taking 2 classes: Historia del arte en España y Historia de España de Siglo XX.  That afternoon we went on a tour of the cathedral that I saw on my first day. It was amazing! It's renaissance and baroque style, so inside it is very decorated, and there's a lot of GOLD! Outside of the cathedral is the Real Capilla de Granada. This is a chapel where King Fernando and Queen Isabela are buried, along with their daughter Juana la loca and her husband, Felipe I. It's pretty amazing that I get to pass this everyday!
     On Wednesday I started class (at 9am) which I have Mon-Fri. Both of my teachers are pretty awesome, and so far I've had no homework. (Lo cual me gusta). Since I'm only taking 2 classes I'm done at 11 and have time to explore on my own until everyone else is done. Later we toured around Realejo (=little royal village) and went to a Téteria (tea house). The Téteria is in this little village with lots of shops so I needa go back there! (they love the Aladdin pants here... maybe I'll bring the style back to the states)
     Thursday after class I got a croissant choco and ate it in this pretty little plaza a couple blocks from my house. After I went shopping and made my first purchase. Until mid august they have this thing called Rebajas where ALL the stores have sales, so the streets are filled with people taking advantage of this before it ends. Later that day we toured el Albaicín. Its a beautiful Muslim neighborhood that overlooks much of Granada. Towards the top is where the gypsies live en las cuevas (caves), really their houses are built into the hills. Afterwards Jilli and I joined other students from our group and from the month before ours to celebrate the fourth of July! We went to a little burger restaurant (which had all the free mojitos after your meal). Later we went to a pub called Hannigan and Son's (definetly not a spanish vibe). Some people wanted to go to the Chupateria (which sells chupitas/ shots for 1euro!). It was a fun experience and I got to know more of the people that I'll be around for the next month.
      Now that I've been here for 5 days, I'm feeling more comfortable in my surroundings. I can pretty much get home from wherever I am with out having too much confusion. I'm really enjoying the little tours we go on and talking with our directors, Gérman y Noelia. I'm learning a lot, and I think my spanish has improved a little since I arrived :) Well today we have a free afternoon and I think later we may go try a tapas bar. The photos I posted are: 1. inside el catedral, 2. Graffiti by El Niño de las pinturas, which normally have a thought provoking quote: when I couldn't find the answer, I decided to change my questions (beside on random walls, many shops in Granada hire him to paint on their door so the don't get vandalized: apparently taggers respect other artists work), and 3. is of Jilli and I in el Albaicín with more of Granada in the background.

Now time for siesta, and to enjoy the weekend!

He llegado a Granada

¡Hola amigos y familia!

I got in from 16+ hrs of travel last night at 6pm (Granada time= 9 hrs ahead of CA). Its pretty warm here but no hotter than Rancho. I have a roommate name Jillian , who is 19 and just finished her first year at UCD. There are also three other students staying with the same family: Todd, Chris and Ana(who is 17 from Austria!). My host parents are Elba and Juan, both are very nice and talk to us at a pace we can understand (thank goodness).  We had our first meal of mashed potatoes, chicken, salad and melon at 9pm, so I went to bed with a full stomach :)

Today I woke up at 11:30, and after desayuno (breakfast) Jillian and I wandered around for an hour until stores started to close for siesta (2pm-5ish).We also came upon this humongous cathedral that I posted above, just a few streets away (needa find out more about it). So now its time for lunch (3pm) and tonight I have my orientation for my program. Can't wait to see more of Granada!

¡Hasta Luego!