Andalucia was a great time. The internet has been awful here, but I’m finally managing to get this posted online.
On the bus ride there we watched 2 movies and I read a lot. We stopped in Cordoba first and took a tour of their magnificent la Mezquita (Mosque). The design was influenced by Muslims, then Islamic and finally Christians. The architecture was very interesting to observe because each religion has their own style and requirements for a place of worship.
We arrived in Granada around…6ish. They gave us a lot of warning about Gypsies (Gitanos) and robbery but we didn’t see a single one.
The first night we went to a Flamenco performance which was very interesting. Not great though, mostly because the second group to perform for us was younger…about our age and looked like they were being punished by having us be there. They also were talking in Spanish about some weird inside jokes during performances and said it was okay because we didn’t understand…but we did. It was just kinda weird. The first group was older…one lady had arthritis in her wrists which made her dance difficult. But still the performance was fun and I was glad I had paid my 22 euros for the show/transportation and one free drink.
We crashed at our hotel. Katie, Liz and I shared a room. HOWEVER our room consisted of 2 bedrooms that were really nice, with a bay window overlooking the city. It was air conditioned and had amazing food. Katie and I shared a room but we each got our own bed. I guess other people just had 3 beds pushed together in a square.
The second day we toured the Alhambra. It was incredible. There were so many picture opportunities and just a gorgeous place to witness. I guess it is up for nomination for the new 7 wonder spots of the world. I would vote for it.
The rest of the day we just lounged by the pool, read and drank lots of water. At night our new friends Chris and Marcos took us out to some pretty local feeling bars and then to the place where Clinton said it was “The most beautiful sunrise in the world” but it was only midnight haha so we didn’t witness that. On the way home though we got utterly lost! It was the Arabic influenced neighborhood with really windy streets. Thank goodness for the boys and their map annnnnd Marcos is from Argentina so directions would have been easy if the locals hadn’t given us a million different routes to go. But still it was a long walk and we didn’t get back until 2 hours later.
We shopped on Sunday and then made our treck back to Toledo. Katie got heat exhaustion later followed by motion sickness. I felt so bad for her. But once we were through the mountains she was feeling a lot better.
Well that was my weekend in a nutshell.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Weekend in Madrid
I survived my trip to Madrid! It was a lot of fun and a lot of stress! With the school group we toured the Palacia Real de Madrid which was a great palace! I took a lot of pictures that I'll post on a site this week for you two to access.We also did a bus tour around the city and ate lunch at the Museo de Jamon (museum of ham which seems to be a popular chain around here but yet we at chicken???)
Then we split off. We saw the Prado art museum which was completely breath taking. All of the artists I have studied for years upon years had their original work there. I saw a lot of Valasquez y Miro y Dali y more.
Did some shopping but really didn't get much. I don't really want to waste money on clothing although I did purchase a pair of shoes and a sun dress (it was only 9 euros and yellow!). Of course we just "HAVE TO MAKE A STOP AT H&M" so we went and outside the building was a mob protesting the dangerous conditions of the streets for construction workers. Apparently a man was killed at the corner and they wanted action. We of course freak out (my friend Katie and I) and we're like 'oh my gosh! that orientation at the Fundacion is testing us!' because they had told us to stay away from protests and political anything. So that was interesting.
Finding our hotel was an another experience in itself. We thought we knew where we were going and we weren't far off. BUT when you have a group of like 12 girls walking around,directions become a little blurred. We were told there was a street that would take us there. Well the street was apparently where all of the Madrid prostitutes stand on the street...across from the police station. Katie and I were immediately on speed walk.
At night we had a really nice Italian dinner on the Plaza Mayor and we went to a fun discoteca for a little bit but then called it an early night (according to Spanairds...it was like 2). Other girls stayed out until 4 or 6!!! I don't know how they can do that!
Today we saw another museum that had THE ORIGINAL 'Guernica' de Pablo Picasso!!! Talk about pretty much dying happy right then and there! We were all in awe! The rest of the day was just kinda wandering around some shopping by the other girls and then we took the AVE back to Toledo. That is a great deal and easy for suitcases! Half hour...8.6 euros (not great but ok price) and then we marched up the hill instead of taking a bus (which is also really easy or there are taxis too which would be pretty cheap I would assume).
I was so glad to get back at the end of the day though. We had our ups and downs but boy it was tiring and the sun was getting to us. So we had a relaxing night after dinner at the Fundacion. We went and got helado (ice cream) and watched people on the Plaza Zocodover. There are fireworks outside my window right now 'cuz a suburb is having a little fiesta tonight.
I hope you guys had a good Friday and Saturday cuz I sure did!!
Then we split off. We saw the Prado art museum which was completely breath taking. All of the artists I have studied for years upon years had their original work there. I saw a lot of Valasquez y Miro y Dali y more.
Did some shopping but really didn't get much. I don't really want to waste money on clothing although I did purchase a pair of shoes and a sun dress (it was only 9 euros and yellow!). Of course we just "HAVE TO MAKE A STOP AT H&M" so we went and outside the building was a mob protesting the dangerous conditions of the streets for construction workers. Apparently a man was killed at the corner and they wanted action. We of course freak out (my friend Katie and I) and we're like 'oh my gosh! that orientation at the Fundacion is testing us!' because they had told us to stay away from protests and political anything. So that was interesting.
Finding our hotel was an another experience in itself. We thought we knew where we were going and we weren't far off. BUT when you have a group of like 12 girls walking around,directions become a little blurred. We were told there was a street that would take us there. Well the street was apparently where all of the Madrid prostitutes stand on the street...across from the police station. Katie and I were immediately on speed walk.
At night we had a really nice Italian dinner on the Plaza Mayor and we went to a fun discoteca for a little bit but then called it an early night (according to Spanairds...it was like 2). Other girls stayed out until 4 or 6!!! I don't know how they can do that!
Today we saw another museum that had THE ORIGINAL 'Guernica' de Pablo Picasso!!! Talk about pretty much dying happy right then and there! We were all in awe! The rest of the day was just kinda wandering around some shopping by the other girls and then we took the AVE back to Toledo. That is a great deal and easy for suitcases! Half hour...8.6 euros (not great but ok price) and then we marched up the hill instead of taking a bus (which is also really easy or there are taxis too which would be pretty cheap I would assume).
I was so glad to get back at the end of the day though. We had our ups and downs but boy it was tiring and the sun was getting to us. So we had a relaxing night after dinner at the Fundacion. We went and got helado (ice cream) and watched people on the Plaza Zocodover. There are fireworks outside my window right now 'cuz a suburb is having a little fiesta tonight.
I hope you guys had a good Friday and Saturday cuz I sure did!!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Dia Dos
Well it´s just another rainy day in paradise.
We (my friends Katie, Kelly and Rachel) we wandering for necessities today. I bought an umbrella which unfortunately led to the singing of that Umbrella song by Rhianna, or however you spell her name. I also bought a hairdryer and more shampoo because I was there and it was there...and I didn´t know if I would ever find my way back...haha but it´s been fun.
We discovered a market around a corner that has some food for a normal grocery store price. Our favorite was the Bimbo Bread. We´re so touristy and laughed at for a moment at it and of course...a camera is whipped out (not mine may I add!).
AND this time we found our way back. Yesterday we were completely lost twice in terrential down pours with no umbrellas or coats and today we get the umbrellas, find our way home and it´s just a mere drizzle...¿es vida no?
The food here is Sara friendly. I´ve been very happy. No upset stomach from food yet! Today´s meal consisted of thick slices of roast beef, some sort of rice with peppers, artichokes, pees and sauce (tasted Chinese to me), some sort of soup with little noodles, mashed potatoes and of course the salad bar (fresh lettuce, tomatoes, corn, cold spaghetti with sweet tomatoe sauce, watermelon and bananas and beets.
Rumor is the last group that came here got really sick with the flu within the 1st week. Say a prayer for me on that one!
Well with the rain and lack of much transportation (due to the rain some of the roads are closed and buses are having a hard time commuting to and from the city) we´re a little stuck in the Fundación and the surrounding streets.
Last night I went straight to bed after dinner. I had skipped my siesta and thought I was never going to fall asleep until I laid down and woke up at like...1AM here....then again at 7 and finally at 8 when I thought I would get up. We had a tour scheduled of the city but that was cancelled due to the rain as well so really, nothing exciting to report and there´s a lot of free time (hence me on the computer with a lot of the people here).
¡Abrazos! ¡Besos! ¡Ciao!
We (my friends Katie, Kelly and Rachel) we wandering for necessities today. I bought an umbrella which unfortunately led to the singing of that Umbrella song by Rhianna, or however you spell her name. I also bought a hairdryer and more shampoo because I was there and it was there...and I didn´t know if I would ever find my way back...haha but it´s been fun.
We discovered a market around a corner that has some food for a normal grocery store price. Our favorite was the Bimbo Bread. We´re so touristy and laughed at for a moment at it and of course...a camera is whipped out (not mine may I add!).
AND this time we found our way back. Yesterday we were completely lost twice in terrential down pours with no umbrellas or coats and today we get the umbrellas, find our way home and it´s just a mere drizzle...¿es vida no?
The food here is Sara friendly. I´ve been very happy. No upset stomach from food yet! Today´s meal consisted of thick slices of roast beef, some sort of rice with peppers, artichokes, pees and sauce (tasted Chinese to me), some sort of soup with little noodles, mashed potatoes and of course the salad bar (fresh lettuce, tomatoes, corn, cold spaghetti with sweet tomatoe sauce, watermelon and bananas and beets.
Rumor is the last group that came here got really sick with the flu within the 1st week. Say a prayer for me on that one!
Well with the rain and lack of much transportation (due to the rain some of the roads are closed and buses are having a hard time commuting to and from the city) we´re a little stuck in the Fundación and the surrounding streets.
Last night I went straight to bed after dinner. I had skipped my siesta and thought I was never going to fall asleep until I laid down and woke up at like...1AM here....then again at 7 and finally at 8 when I thought I would get up. We had a tour scheduled of the city but that was cancelled due to the rain as well so really, nothing exciting to report and there´s a lot of free time (hence me on the computer with a lot of the people here).
¡Abrazos! ¡Besos! ¡Ciao!
Friday, June 15, 2007
Estoy Aqui
Hola, you better all appreciate the effort I just put in to accessing this webpage. The computer keyboard is for Spanish...all the websites are in Spanish and although something may be the obvious term, it´s never the right button. But, I´m here.
I´m here, I´m alive, I´ve already been sick and lost. I can tell this will be a fabulous trip! JK but really it will. The people here are fun and nice and so far we haven´t spoke in Spanish much.
I hope everyone is having a great time in MN.
We landed and of course...it rains. 52 degrees and raining...haha stupid MN weather. I´ll write more later, but I skipped my siesta and might take one now.
Hasta pronto!
I´m here, I´m alive, I´ve already been sick and lost. I can tell this will be a fabulous trip! JK but really it will. The people here are fun and nice and so far we haven´t spoke in Spanish much.
I hope everyone is having a great time in MN.
We landed and of course...it rains. 52 degrees and raining...haha stupid MN weather. I´ll write more later, but I skipped my siesta and might take one now.
Hasta pronto!
Monday, June 11, 2007
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Getting ready...
I'm getting ready, starting to THINK about packing. I did purchase some less robable bags to almost help me not get pick-pocketed in Spain. Here's hoping!
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