A Realization

I had a dream last night. I dreamt that I left Granada and went back to the US. In my dream, I cried.

My dreams have been strangely insightful since I've come to Spain. Unlike my average I-am-a-spy-and-being-pursued-by-the-mafia-and-a-pack(?)-of-giant-spiders dreams, the ones I remember here have always reflected my current preoccupations. For example, within the first couple weeks (when I was feeling generally homesick and stressed out having to deal with everything by myself), I had 2 memorable dreams. In the first, my family came to visit (what I have been looking forward to since my first day here. And now, this week, it is finally going to happen! I can't tell you how excited I am...), and in the second, IES offered to give me a roommate (also something I really really wanted in the beginning). Of course, both these dreams took strange, unrealistic turns (in the one with my family, I found out they had been living in Jamaica since I'd left for Spain and they decided to only stay for a day before taking another trip to Hawaii--understandably, I was upset), but at their core, they were very representative of what I was thinking about at that time. This one took me by surprise, but I realized the truth in it instantly. The truth is, I love living in Granada. I love the city, the way of life, the weather... I love taking my two-hour long walks every day, getting delicious fruit and pastries whenever I feel like it, and the "no pasa nada" (more or less "nothing happened" or "don't worry about it" or, more accurately, "whatevs...") attitude that the whole city seems to share. Perhaps it is related to the fact that the last three days have been ridiculously warm and sunny, so much so that I have a very distinct tan-line from my shirt yesterday, but it seems that lately, my love for Granada has spiked. And I realized, as I was walking around this morning, enjoying the sunshine and warmth and pretty fountains, that leaving Granada will be one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.

In conclusion, I would greatly appreciate it if everyone I knew would make a collective decision to move to Granada.

I visited the Alhambra for the first time this week, but I'll save pictures of that for a bit later, when I have more time (midterm tests this week...). It was pretty amazing. More details with the pictures. On Friday, there was beautiful weather so I wandered around, found another amazing view, and ate the most delicious plums I have ever tasted. Juice everywhere. I ran across another parade-like thing, with a marching band and some military people, watched some random clowns do a show, and listened to the many street musicians.

Friday night, I went to the Spring Festival, which was basically just a giant gathering/excuse to get drunk. I went with Enrique's young cousins, who were very amusing. It has been a very hanging-out-with-Spanish-people-I-don't-know sort of weekend, because I spend a good six hours of Saturday at a school party thing with my host family. I got rather sunburnt, made a lot of awkward conversation, sat around awkwardly for extended periods of time, and was given like five Tinta de Veranos by my host family, who once again could not understand why I would refuse a drink. That night, I sought out the sunset in the Albyzin.

(Above, the sunset. Below, the view in the other direction with the Alhambra and Sierra Nevadas in the background.)

This morning, to top it off, I went on a walk, got cafe con leche and gelato, did homework on a sunny bench in front of a fountain, and ate a few delicious mini-palmeras (pastry shaped like a pretzel, more or less...). As always, there were protests in the streets (this time against what is going on in Egypt and Libia).

 

Making the Most of It

It is time for some more Granada pictures. I've been taking my camera with me when I take walks, in case I find something to take a picture of, which happens pretty darn often. For example, one day there was a procession that went all over the city, marching band and all. I believe that it was something related to the processions that will happen during Semana Santa, but that could just be a hunch (most likely given to me because of the Jesus statue thing that they paraded all over town--you can see it in the photo below). 

I brought my camera back to the IES center and, luckily, the door was already open, which saved me probably a good ten minutes of fighting with it and the inevitable humiliation of failure. Here is the view I promised from the balcony of the IES center.

On Tuesday, I had no classes, and so I decided to send myself on a quest that did not include hunting down Rellenos de Chocolate or Teal pants. This quest was to find the Carmen de los Mártires. I visited it during orientation week and have wanted to return since then. It is really a beautiful place and completely deserted, at least on a Tuesday morning, making it my new favorite location in Granada. Not to mention there are peacocks.

I spent a good twenty minutes playing "peacock paparazzi."

After my walk around the gardens, I went next door, to some building with a patio with an amazing view. In this patio, there was a stray kitten-cat that I befriended. And then some photographer took a picture of me petting the kitten-cat in front of the pretty view. 

That's all I have for pictures, but not for stories... This weekend has been a strange one. Thursday night, we had a "clown workshop" for my theater class (clown in the European sense (more about failure and being ridiculous), not the American sense (creepy...)), which was interesting enough. It was basically about making a fool of yourself and trying not to be embarrassed (didn't work). The first fifteen minutes, however, we were just instructed to dance as crazily as we could, which brought back memories of my dance parties with Dano. Afterward, I went out for tapas, and this old guy tried to bribe us into going to the discoteca with him by promising to buy us drinks. That is what they call in Spain a "viejo verde" (old pervert, more or less...). 

The following night, I went out for tapas again, and this group of guys asked Anna and I to take a picture. We said  yes, assuming that they meant they wanted us to take a group picture of them. Apparently, what they really meant was they wanted a picture with one guy and the two of us. I'm ending up in a lot of other people's pictures lately... Afterward, we went to a club, which had strange, un-dance-able, 50s-esc Latin music, so that was kind of a fail. 

And last night, to top the weekend off, I went to a movie at the theaters, which, it turns out, have "date seats" (they are grouped in 2s...). Also, they have assigned seating. I ended up sitting next to a middle-aged man. Kind of awkward. I spend a good chunk of the movie wondering if I should offer him some of my popcorn.

I returned home after the movie ridiculously early by Spanish standards (11:30), and there were family friends at the house. I got roped into sitting down and drinking with them and my host parents. Being the responsible person I am, I declined more drinks after I had two, but they have never been very good at listening. "Why shouldn't you have more? Your bed is right there, all you have to do is go to sleep. Have just one more." I ended up having four because they would ignore me and fill my glass anyway. And then my host dad tried to get me to sing Karaoke. It would have been super amusing if I had known the song or the words, but I didn't, and it was out of my vocal range (which is rather limited), so I didn't really sing. I ended up going to bed at 4, simply because I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore, but the party was still going strong. Even the 6 year olds were wide awake. Way to make me feel lame. 

Excursion to Córdoba

Last friday, we took a day trip to Córdoba, stopping first at Medina Azahara, the city built by Abd al-Rahman III to demonstrate the power and wealth of his reign among other political reasons. All that remains of it now are the ruins that we visited, pictured below. 

Once in Córdoba, we did very little besides eat lunch and visit the mosque (though the ticket claimed it was a cathedral... lies). Below: some old looking buildings and horse-drawn carriages (I've been wanting to ride in one...).

The tower of the mosque has become the symbol of Córdoba, and it is easy enough to see why. The following three pictures are all of this tower.

The interior of the mosque was beautiful and huge, with rows and rows of red and white arcs.

There was some of the most elaborate decorations I have ever seen in this mosque. Below, the mihrab. 

And, to throw in one of my ceiling pictures, the domed roof above the mihrab:

Easily the strangest thing about this mosque was, however, that it hid a cathedral (two actually, but only one was super impressive) in its depths... The cathedral (pictured below) was in the middle and contrasted starkly with the mosque that engulfed it. Apparently, after the Christian conquest, the Christians decided the mosque was too pretty to destroy, so they just built their cathedral inside. Makes sense, I guess, as strange as it was to see paintings of Jesus hanging on the mosque walls.

That's it for the Córdoba visit. Time is really flying here. I realized a few days ago that I have 12 (or maybe less) measly weeks left, and have already used up 6. My time in Spain is 1/3 over, so I'm going to need to start making the most of what I have left. I'll let you know how that goes.

To finish off the Madrid trip...

I am always 2 weeks behind on these posts. Though regrettable, I think it is unavoidable.

Sunday morning, we went to the largest flee market I have ever seen, with a very large and random selection of items (everything from antiques to undergarments) and then to el Parque del Retiro, which was huge.

These two pictures are of el Parque del Retiro, where we ate our lunch (tortilla bocadillos... which are basically just a Spanish omelet sandwiched between two slices of bread). 

Then, it was off to the Prado, easily the most memorable part of the trip. We spent 5 hours there (as much as my legs and eyes could handle) and covered basically the whole museum, which was quite the feat. It was HUGE. But the paintings were incredible (lots of Velazquez ("Las Meninas" has always been one of my favorite paintings and it felt very surreal to see it in person), el Greco, and Goya). Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), photos were not allowed. 

However, I did manage to take a few of the prettier parts of Madrid while I was at it...

Our last day there, we stopped by another museum that had a lot of surrealism, Picasso, and Dali. Below, a Picasso: dying horse #253 (there are quite a few of them). His famous "Guernica" was there too. Huge, and completely awesome to see first hand. 

That just about sums it up for the Madrid trip. Since then, I have been to Cordoba, so a quick summary/many many photos of that come next. And thennnn, I may get around to telling you about my very pleasant day yesterday . I had a day free from class, and decided to make something of it. Be prepared for many pictures from there as well. I have officially found my favorite place in Granada.

Toledo day!

The second day, we went to Toledo which, in short, looked like something out of a story book. 

We went to Toledo from Madrid via high-speed train (which was not quite as high-speed as I was hoping. My mind was not blown). Below, an arco de herradura (thank you Art and Architecture class).

Once in Toledo, we visited a museum, pictured below. I was admiring the courtyard layout of the museum (the doors to all the individual rooms lead outside) and wondered for the briefest of moments why we don't have museums like that. And then I imagined it filled with snow. 

Toledo has an incredible view to add to its assets. I must have spent a good twenty minutes just staring a it.

While in Toledo, we ate Paella (still not as good as the Paella I had at the art fair back in Minnesota... I didn't think good Paella would be that hard to find in Spain, but it is proving otherwise), and I tried Mazapan for the first time, which was strange but quite tasty. Speaking of tasty things, I ate my first Kinder Bueno, which I felt obligated to do, as they are everywhere in Spain, and they are DELICIOUS. Might have to get another couple hundred before I leave. Also, there's this cereal here, called "Rellenos de chocolate" that are literally that: filled with chocolate. These are a few of my new favorite things. 

Granada is the best.

I came to that conclusion after visiting Madrid and Toledo, though they were lovely enough. Madrid has a little bit of the big city, noisy, busy, anonymous feel about it, while Toledo seemed a bit on the small and touristy side. Granada, on the other hand, is perfect. <3

I don't have a whole lot to say about the last two weeks, perhaps because I am becoming accustomed to this life and things do not seem so new and strange anymore. Or perhaps simply because I've been boring recently. I'll try to do more noteworthy things this upcoming week. Still need to find that Spanish guy with a moped.

Last weekend, we went to Madrid for the 4 day weekend and stayed in my first hostel, which was an experience that I'd rather not (but am almost certain to) repeat. Turns out they are not so glamorous. Strange, huh? Honestly, though, it was fine. I wouldn't go so far as to say comfortable, but it met all the basic needs and was cheap, which is always a plus.

Upon arriving, we were dropped off at some random location by our confused-and-not-willing-to-admit-it cab driver. Eventually, after much walking around/contemplating and direction asking by the more direction-apt members of the group, we found our hostel and then headed off to Plaza Mayor. Prepare to be impressed by how many people pictures I have (always a weak point in my photography...).

Above: Anna, Atalie, and myself in front of the building with cool paintings of people (also below...).

More pictures of the plaza...

Bob Esponja (one of my host sisters' favorite shows) also made it to Madrid! As did several Mickey Mouses and an overweight Spiderman. 

While we were there, some sort of crazy hippy rally/dancing demonstration was going on, apparently because "the government wants to prohibit music in the street." Which would be tragic.

Next stop was the palace, which was incredible. Unfortunately, photography was not permitted (or, as the Spanish signs say, "fotos no") in the most incredible part by far (the inside). I've never seen such intensely decorated rooms. The jungle room (*not its real name*) was my favorite.

The cathedral (Catedral de la Almudena?) by the palace. Fun fact: I stood in the shadow of the middle statue to take this picture.

The palace:

By the precedence they take in my photos, one might conclude that the lampposts interested me more than the actual building.

I couldn't resist...

And the picture below just about sums up the trip. Note that while some plan/sort things out as they pour over the map, others... not so much.

I've now reached the end of day one. Day two has far too many pictures to attempt to complete at 2 am, so I'll save that for another day.