Marbella to Morocco

Hotel Barceló Marbella

My free weekend could not have started off any better.  At the end of class, getting 50 euros was a good way to begin four days of pools, boats, camels, snakes, food, and relaxation.  Taking the bus to Marbella was simple and checking into the 4-star hotel was even easier.  We spent the first day relaxing by the pool, knowing we had to be up at 5am the next morning to go to Morocco.  

Straight of Gibraltar

We used a tour company to take us through Morocco.  This was the best decision we could have made.  They picked us up in Marbella and bused us to the Ferry and took us across the Straight of Gibraltar.  Within the first 2 hours of being in Africa, we were able to ride camels, visit the Cave of Hercules, see a snake charmer, and tour the ancient city walls of Tangier.  

Cave of Hercules

Returning from Morocco was as easy as getting there.  The whole weekend was enjoyable and well-needed.  I don't think I would have an opportunity like this if it were not for UD and this Study Abroad program.  I am thankful to a lot of people for making this possible and I hope to study abroad with UD again in the future.  ¡Nos vemos España!

Flamenco and Arab Baths

When we were told that we were going to the Arab Baths, I was not completely sure what they were.  Everyone seemed excited in the class except for me.  After arriving to the baths, I was completely amazed at how intricate and authentic they were.  It was relaxing just being in the building, prior to hitting the water.  The intricate walls and sound of water helped me to forget about class, tests, and worries.

The minute I walked into Flamenco class I knew I would enjoy it.  Maria Jose was not only a good dancer, she was probably the most beautiful Spanish girl I've seen the entire trip thus far.  After I was done googling at her, I learned about the importance of the dance and how it originated in Andalucia.  Dancing, in my opinion, was definitely a bonding experience for the whole group because no one was better than the other.  We danced and laughed together, knowing that we looked like fools compared to the instructor.

All in all, both of these experiences made the last week in Spain more enjoyable and authentic.

Manolo Mayor

Well, 2 weeks of classes down and one more to go. Five classes to be exact.  The group has really taken well to Profesor Manolo.  His strategy of incorporating a joke into every sentence seems to pay off with the class.  As of now, English has been forgotten, considering he doesn't know how to speak it.  The first hour and a half consists of exercises, vocabulary work, and group presentations. However, we always finish class with a 30 minute discussion comparing an aspect of the United States to an aspect of Spain.  It usually results in Manolo telling us that our culture is trashy and unsophisticated (haha).

I am attaching a picture of Miki and me after class one night.  It has nothing to do with the story but we both look damn near adorable.

I've Nerja Been To A Place Like This

I am sure everyone who is going to blog about Nerja will talk about the beautiful view of the beach, the mountains in the background, and the 102 degree temperature for 3 days straight.  The most adventurous part of my night in Nerja was at the hotel desk after the Spain versus France futbol match.  Two guys from England were fighting about who was the better team and it turned physical.  After repeated British insults, one man punch a pane of glass in cafeteria and sliced his wrist straight open.  Instead of looking for a towel to stop the bleeding, he proceeded to the reception desk to ask for a cab to go to the hospital.  Meanwhile, I was standing there waiting to buy a password to use the "NOT-FREE" wifi.  His trail of blood went from the dining area to the front desk out to the street.  The blood stayed there for a good 40 minutes before some decided to clean it up.  This man was so irate, I've decided that he had 'fuego en la sangre'

Cordoba

Today we visited the city of Cordoba in the Andalusia region of Spain.  I was not aware of the extreme Muslim and Jewish influences that the city possessed within its architecture and culture.  Within the city walls, the plaza was lined with orange trees and dates of palm.  The tour guide made it clear throughout the visit that after the Christian reconquest, many of the muslim and judaic structures were destroyed or leveled and used to build Christian places of worship.  This destruction of history does not allow for current day visitors to experience the true Muslim influence that Cordoba had.  This ancient capital of the Iberian Peninsula is now home to over 300,000 people and was once a flourishing mega-city located on the Guadalquivir River.  Being Roman Catholic, it is hard to imagine that a Bishop of Cordoba commissioned that a Muslim mosque be converted into a Catholic Cathedral due to the reconquest of the Christian religion.  The Cathedral of Cordoba holds precious gold and silver; however, the most impressive feature that it had was the colorful arches emblazoned with Arabic and Hebrew scriptures.

Granada and Huerta de San Vicente

Four classes down and nine to go.  Week one of classes went by quickly due to the fact that I had to adjust to a new city (Granada), a new family (the Sanchez's), and a new professor (Manuel Mayor).  After what seemed like a nine hour bus ride, I arrived in Granada with much anticipation to meet my host mom, who ended up being a tad late coming to pick me up.  All in all, the first week has been nothing but a blessing.  Señora Elba is one of the nicest people I have met while in Spain and she continues to open up her home to me.  I have decided to experience Granada in two different ways: by day and by night.  Culturally, Granada is much more easy-going and settled than the capital Madrid.  During the day, I have found eateries, the Centro de Lenguas Modernas, and stores around my house.  At night, I attempt to interact with local Spaniards and other students studying in Granada.  I have interesting conversation with my host family about politics, sports, and food over dinner.

The house of García Lorca in the Huerta de San Vicente was an interesting place to visit while here in Granada.  Visiting the house of an influential 20th century writer allowed me to get a better look at the perspective that García Lorca had.  His summer residence was simple and allowed for him to focus on his plays, stories, and poems.  His forward thinking approach is inevitably what got him killed; however, his death may have triggered awareness for others to have more liberal-reaching views of the world and oppose the fascist party in Spain.

Valle de los Caidos

As Irma said, el Valle de los Caidos is the most controversial monument in all of Spain.  Before I was told the story behind the monument, I thought of it as a beautiful representation of the Catholic religion in the country.  After I learned of the history of the monument, I was able to relate to the pain of the people who do not agree with the placement of Franco in the Basilica.  The monument should represent the men and women who died fighting during the Guerra Civil and not a man who died many years later.  There was an eery feeling when walking through the Basilica because it gave off a feeling that it admires the most powerful dictator in the history of Spain.  Though it may be a controversial topic, it is enlightening to talk about the subject that troubles the entire country.

Palacio Real

It is hard to imagine such a large "home" that is not occupied by a family on a regular basis.  In the United States, I am accustomed to living in a culture that is extravagant and self-indulgent.  In my opinion, the palace is an example of the power of the royal family and the wealth that they wanted to project to the world in the 18th century.  It is hard to picture the way the Kings lived in that palace over 200 years ago.  The heat, mixed with the decor, would make for a hard lifestyle for any man or woman.  It almost seems like a waste to have such a grande palace and not have the current nobility living there however, the country has turned the palace into a tourist destination and has drawn crowds from all over the world.