Papas Fritas

So we went out for tapas last night with some local Spaniards. They It was fun. The food was very interesting. I haven't taken many pictures of the food because it hasn't been too exciting recently, just sandwiches, pizza and gyros, or I don't have my camera on me. Anyways, at most bars in Granada when you order a drink you get a free tapa. We ended up having 2 rounds all for only 5 euros! Esta Barato! Lauren, another girls on the trip, and i split each of our plates so that we could try all 4 types of tapas. They all came with a side of fries, so I knew there would at lease be something I would like. The first was a lamb sandwich with cheese, interesting, kinda gristly, the next was carne con salsa which was my favorite, but again gristly, the next was super weird, it was a deep fried pork hot dog thing stuffed with cheese. I didn't like it but after all the beer I was definitely hungry. Then the last one was funny yet really good, it was deep fried mashed potatoes with a side of french fries, a little repetitive of a tapa but oh well. From what fun everyone had I would say that that was the first of many Granada tapa nights. Next time I think I'll order for my self though.
Everyone has been studying spanish pretty much when ever they aren't sleeping or bebido(I tried last night to no avail). But I'd like to think it is coming along nicely. Just one week and we are already through 3 chapters. Our first test is on Monday and tomorrow a group of us are going to Malaga for the night so that we can enjoy a nice day on the beach, and be back in time to study Sunday for the test. Malaga is on the southern coast, just about an hour and a half away by bus. Should be lots of fun and I hear it is very pretty!

Holy Toledo

So I was sitting on my balcony last night doing some spanish activities from my notebook, and I can't really see over the railing because I am sunk kind of low in a chair, but I started to hear a certain noise. At first I thought, "hmm, this sounds slightly familiar, but it can't be what I think it is." After the continuous repetition of clicks and clanks, I had to investigate.... Guess what I have directly out side the front door of my hotel?


A completely skatable mini ramp! I am contemplating how to go about getting my self a board and shoes. It has been awhile since I've dropped in, but so long as I'm resurrecting my spanish skills I might as well give skateboarding another go. it will probably kill some major time, but it will be a good break from the studying

So here is the picture of Toledo I promised. actually didn't take too many interesting ones there so here is just one for you to enjoy

Es fin de dia dos de clase de esponol...
Pienso que necesito una cervesa.

Aye Carumba!

We went out to dinner last night here in Granada, and like I said earlier, it was sunday so most places were closed. After wandering around the city we ended up stopping for Shwarmas, which is basically a Greek Gyro, at this little hole in the wall where only one man working, and let just say our group of 15 or so completely overwhelmed him. it definitely felt like I was in Greece again.

Well today was our first day of class. After 4 and half hours of spanish my head is throbbing. I guess I didn't learn as much as I thought in those two years of Spanish with Senior Watkins. I'm feeling a little lost in the lessons, but after talking to the other students I found we all feel the same. Grades will be very interesting to see. I'm just hoping these classes will be like running. The first day out is terrible but the more often you engage with it the easier it will get. Gotta build up Spanish endurance!

Torres torres

Yesterday was our last day in Madrid, and we really immersed our selves in the culture by going to a bull fight. I was excited to go, and in retrospect am glad that I went, but honestly, it was probably one of the saddest things I have ever seen. I don't want to get too gory so I won't go into details, but watching three bulls die right in front of me was a little shocking :( On the second fight the bull was actually able to dish it back to the matador a little when he trampled him once. There was also a close call with one of the horses, I was about to call it quits when it gat rammed twice and was stuck on it's side, but thankfully the horse was able to get back up and ride away.



We then went to dinner and did a little grocery shopping for the evening. Lauren and I decided to get some of the Spanish cider. It was pretty good, kind of takes an acquired taste I'd imagine. The cider here is much more acidic like vinegar. Also, the Spanish love lemon fanta, they seriously drink it all the time and mix it with everything... including beer (they seem to do the same with mayonnaise too, yuck). So we were keeping with the Spainsh tradition and also had that and Don Simon sangria of course! We were pretty low key, just hung out chatting then took a quick walk to the Plaza Colon. The next morning we were on the bus to Granada by nine, made a quick stop in Toledo. It was a pretty small town, some of us just wandered around the streets, actually we were trying to get to the Greco Museum or the torture museum (as if the bull fight wasn't enough torture!) but got lost and just ended up admiring the streets of the city. They were all decorated for some parade, I'll share the photos tomorrow, I haven't loaded them yet.

Well we have just arrived to Granada and are about to go exploring and find some dinner, but since it's Sunday not much will be open so it will probably be a few days before getting a true feel for the city.

Reina Sofia

Today, after loading up on our delicious breakfast buffet, seriously it is so good; tons of fresh fruits, fresh toasted multigrain bread and grilled vegetables, slices of spanish tortilla (an egg and potato omelet type dish), an assortment of cereals, cookies and milk, yogurt, and a fancy espresso machine. And that was only my breakfast, there were tons of pastries from chocolate croissants to churros, juices, a fresh salad bar, rolls, scrambled eggs, a variety of spanish meats and cheeses, usually cured ham(salami), prosciutto, and turkey, manchego, provolone, and others. we all eat a lot in the mornings because we are usually busy and it's 2 o'clock by the time we are free. The time is really flying by here.
So today we went to the Reina Sofia center of art, which was almost all modern and post modern art. Our tour guide took us through really quickly and just focused on Picasso, Dali, and Mira. It was really cool to see their work. And just a little FYI, Dali was actually expelled from the surrealist movement for being too commercial according to the other artists. When the tour was over some other students and I went back through to see some stuff we walked right past and I really wanted to see Bunuels film, The Golden Age. After leaving the museum some of us ventured around back to the hotel; I took a little siesta and am now getting ready to go see a bull fight. I hope it won't be too gruesome, maybe the bull will have the same fortune as Ferdinand and will be sent back home to play in the fields.
The entrance of the Reina Sofia.
PicassoAnother PIcasso
Dali: The Endless Enigma
Dali: Figure at the Window

...Just a few of the ones I enjoyed.

Tomorrow we are leaving early to head to Granada. It wil be another long bus ride with a lunch stop in the city of Toledo.

I hope everyone is off to a good weekend!
Todos te amos!

Madrid

Today was hotter than heck in Madrid. One thermometer on a bus stop read 37 Celsius, which is about 99 degrees. Add in the Mediterranean humidity and you'll get me walking in shadows all day! Wait, you mean tomorrow is only going to be hotter? Joy. So much for getting a break from the valley heat. So today we visited the Museo de Prado where we saw A LOT of the spanish artist, Goya's work. it was neat despite our tour guide who was as plain and dry as saltines, a little boring. When we were finished with the tour we were free to explore the city. I'm a bit of a dumb dumb and allowed my camera to die so I was only able to take a few photos today. We walked a long ways to the royal palace of Madrid, did a little shopping and grabbed some lunch.

Garden de Madrid, this place was huge, like everything else I blog about.
I was so hot I got in the fountain at the Palace.
And my last photo before my camera died of only one of the palace's wings.

Last night in Barcelona

We just arrived in Madrid. I think the is my favorite picture from Barcelona,
it is from the farmers market which was gigantic, as was the fruit!
Last night we went out to a bar and a club to celebrate our last night in Barcelona. The Bar was really cool. A boy in the group has a brother living in Barcelona right now, so he took us to more of a locals place. It was called The Black Sheep and felt more like a German tavern where we had a big thing sangria for the table. The sangria on draft? I don't really know what to call that.

Alyssa Then we went to some club, or lo siento, a discoteca. In my opinion the bar was more fun, the discoteca played really bad music for a club, think Y.M.C.A., Twist and Shout, Rock Around the Clock Tonight, and Green Day...? Honestly though. But we still had fun dancing and didn't get to bed till about 4 a.m. We then departed at 9 the next morning, so running on 3 hours of sleep I thought I would make it up by sleeping on the bus but instead got hooked on my new book, Zeitoun by Dave Eggers, and watched Pulp Fiction. We took a long lunch break in a really pretty city called Zargoza,
then were back on the bus for another 4 and half hours; in total it was about an 8 hour bus ride. I'm thinking that tonight I'll just wander around Madrid a little, get dinner and hit the hay.

Hope everyone is keeping cool in the Visalia heat!
Miss you all

Oh My Gaudi

Today we took a trip to "New Barcelona" which consists of the restoration area for the 1992 olympic games to get the city in top shape. And it was very attractive because according to our tour guide, tourism of Spain has flourished after the Olympics' coverage of the city. Es muy maravilloso aqui! In new Barcelona we visited some historic sites, the masterpieces of the famous architect, Gaudi. We learned a lot about the man, and his style of organic geometry, which influenced his designs. We first visited the apartment complex he was hired to design for the wealthy Spaniards called, La Pedrera. It was inspired by the waves of the ocean.
The Facade

Lauren and I on the roof-top terrace, the odd structures are chimneys.

The kitchen of the apartment

The laundry room had the classic Isham Singer!

We were able to tour one of the apartments. Before the 92 olympics the bank of Spain purchased the building to fully convert it into the tourist attraction that it is today. Unfortunately there were still residents in the appts at the time of purchase, and since the bank cannot evict them, they are slowly waiting for the tenets natural exit.

We then took the Metro over to see the almighty Sagrada Familia cathedrial. And I thought the Cathedral de Barcelona was big? This one could swallow Barcelona whole!



The alter

It has been in the building process for a little over 129 years. The inside was completed last november, and the facade is planned to be finished in 2025, but will most likely be done in 2026 in honor of the 100 year anniversary of Gaudi's passing. To be brief, there was much thought that went into the design of this cathedral. And currently, the facade has 2 parts, the front of the birth of Christ, and the back of the death of Christ. The third, the glory of Christ, is still under construction and will include both the new and old testament. What really blew my mind was that the current highest points of the bell towers of the cathedral will soon be out done. They represent 8 of the 12 disciples, the last four still need to be built. The next 4 bell towers are for the gospels and will be taller, then the final bell tower is for Jesus, and will stand higher than the rest. So ladies and gentlemen, the cathedral will be even more immaculate! this is the model of the finished product.


Well tomorrow we head to Madrid nice and early. I'm sad to be leaving Barcelona, but am still having a blast meeting new people and am looking forward to the rest of trip!

The City of Reinvention

What a day walking around the city of Barcelona. I'm exhausted, but luckily no problem with jet lag.

This is my roommate, Nicole and I.


Myself in the cathedral de Barcelona, the place was HUGE!


We visited the Picasso museum, unfortunately no cameras aloud so this is my only photo, but such a fun exhibit. All of his really famous pieces have been sold to major museums in places like france and the U.S. but we were able to see the progression of his artistic career consisting of many styles. As well as his first collaborative work with his father at the age of 3(?) and his rare ceramic collection. Definitely my favorite museum so far.


and a quick stop to walk along the shore of the Mediterranean. Little did we know we were wandering into a nude beach, and fully clothed I'm sure we stuck out like the tourists that we are!

I am absolutely in love with this city so far. I can't wait for what else is in store!

Barcelona

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Jake and Abbey Morren! We had a great time in Avila this weekend celebrating the marriage of my neighbor, Abbey. The wedding was beautiful, and as always, lots of fun. Then 5:30 the next morning Dad, Meagan and I were off to Santa Barbara to catch my flight to Spain. What a Dad to drive so early, I hope you had a good father's day and had some fun out of the boat with Dave!

I have successfully arrived and am currently sitting in my hotel room after a short siesta and quick shower. We have orientation here in about an hour where I'll meet the other students and hear the game plan for trip.

So far Spain is beautiful! We are staying right by the Plaza Cataluna. The streets feel very open; lots of energy and shopping. The weather is gorgeous. It was breezy and partly cloudy when I first arrived, now it's a clear blue bird day. And thankfully not as hot as the good ol' Visalia...yet.

I miss you all already, but I have a feeling these days are going to fly right by!

Avila

Suit case is packed and ready to go! Just three days until departure. In the mean time I will enjoy my remaining days in America on the beautiful central coast coast with fine wines and fresh seafood, two things of which I hope to consume a lot of while in Spain.

Well the sun is out and we are off to the beach!

and a nice day it was!

It's the Final Count Down

First day of finals, starting with two back to back tomorrow. No worries though, this time around I am keeping my personal hygiene in check and am publicly presentable. My favorite part about dead week, which is the week before finals were there is nothing going on around campus but studying, is that the Creative Studies school has a class that involves a final project being shown covertly around school. This quarter involved real life art so there were several people camped out doing crazy things. I didn't have my camera handy and I would have felt a bit odd photographing them, but my favorites would probably have to be the girl who buried her self in grass along the bike path, and a guy who built a life guard tower and sat all day monitoring and whistle blowing at a round-about heavily congested with bike traffic dressed in full beach rescue attire, zinc nose and all. He probably got a great tan while the rest of us were copped up cramming!
I do, however, have a two cell phone photos from a few of last quarters hidden art that I managed to find.


in the court yard of the Humanities and Social Sciences Building

This one was a fun and interactive one in the bathroom of the library. My roommate told me she saw a Marylin Monroe one on another floor... which makes me wonder what was in the Boy's room.

The Bucket List Photo

Well I finally did it. Cut off 10 inches for a good cause. Annnd here is a cute little cartoon about it by the one and only, Madison O'neal!