tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71356198485715805492024-03-13T09:42:23.484-07:00The Dawg's Abroad (or, 'La perra está en el extranjero.')Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-21519948249379810752012-05-08T08:23:00.003-07:002012-05-08T08:28:32.545-07:00Semana Santa<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">An enormous apology for a long overdue blog update! As the semester here draws nearer and nearer to a close, I find myself being buried under a growing pile of <i>composiciones, examenes </i>and (OK, I admit) the temptation of a sandy beach and 80°+ weather. My theory regarding the workload increase is that the professors are making up for lost time, considering the different holidays we've had off from school over the past few months; the most recent being <i>Semana Santa</i>, or Holy Week, which is celebrated the week leading up to but not including Easter Sunday.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">From what I've witnessed, Semana Santa in Cádiz</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">province is celebrated with great fervour and passion. As the provincial capital, Cádiz holds some tremendous, extravagant processions-- on par with those of all the other capitals in Andalucía. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Strictly speaking this is a religious festival, but for most of the week it seemed as though solemnity wasn't the keynote. There was a lot of carousing and frivolity, and once again <i>los gaditanos</i> lined the streets and crowded into the plazas (where large bandstands had been erected) to munch on kilos of sunflower seeds while the processions continued their deliberate marches. This is Semana Santa </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">in essence: The marching in procession of brotherhoods of the church and penitents, followed by elaborate floats on which sit seventeenth century images of the Virgin or Christ. The most impressive element is the man-power, since </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">underneath the decor and all but entirely hidden from public view are the men who haul these floats on their shoulders and shuffle with their burden through the streets.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; line-height: 17px;">What's startling is the dress code during Semana Santa. Men of all ages are dressed from head to toe in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><i>Nazareno</i> robes, including sandles and <i>Capirotes</i>, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">which are tall, cone-shaped head dresses (and the cause of some initial astonishment). While some Catholic groups wear </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><i>Nazareno </i>robes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"> in red, purple, blue, or black, there are others that instead wore only white. Our Spanish friends couldn't understand why Jason and I were shocked at first, but the image of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">70 or 80 men carrying fire and crosses, robed in white and wearing coned head dresses and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><i>Capuces (</i>another part of the head dress that covers the face)... the image as a whole had such a terrible connotation that it took a day or two of watching the processions for Jason and I to get accustomed to seeing it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">The music, however, I fell in love with almost right away. Full bands accompany the processions and cycle through the same four or five exuberant songs, while a drum line follows behind striking a powerful and unfaltering tempo. Throughout the week, the processions leave their respective churches all over the city from early afternoon onwards (sometimes, in the black of night), snaking through the city and back to their resting place many, MANY hours later, but I could have listened to the music much longer than they could have kept playing it (which is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">already </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">an admirably long time).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; line-height: 17px;">I hope to post some pictures soon! I think I captured a few nice ones thanks to a <i>gaditano</i> friend who let us watch the processions from her balcony. However, I'm going to use my overwhelming amount of homework as an excuse again to explain why I haven't yet moved photos from my camera to my computer. In the meantime, here are some videos I pulled from YouTube to give you a better idea of what I saw!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; line-height: 17px;">The first is a promo video for 2012, with images from 2011. It's professionally done and does a great job of conveying the intensity and emotion of Semana Santa: </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tZy5sgPc3ak?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">This other video might be a bit boring visually, but I really wanted to share the music with you!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 8px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 8px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://3.gvt0.com/vi/Ph8qV_fCg6c/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ph8qV_fCg6c&fs=1&source=uds" />
<param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" />
<embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Ph8qV_fCg6c&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks again for reading!</span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-46478261131029834272012-04-01T15:40:00.001-07:002012-04-01T15:41:30.663-07:00Portugal: Spain's Canada**<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Portugal is... OK. It's hard to be inspired to write a creative, interesting and exciting blog entry about a trip that was, for me, just "OK," but I'll do my best to keep your interest as I share with you my reflections on our little four-day excursion to Portugal.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On one hand, the group trip to Évora, Lisboa, Sintra, and Belem was a great refresher in terms of the scenery. Everything I saw was just so <i>green</i> in comparison to Cádiz and the other </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">completely urbanized</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Spanish cities that I've visited! Having lived for over two months confined by cityscapes, I was at first completely taken aback by the lush fauna and sprawling grassy hills that surrounded us during the bus ride into the country. Then it completely put me at ease as I was soon reminded fondly of the thriving landscapes that I am accustomed to back home in the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pacific Northwest</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the other hand, Portugal is quite. Portugal is subdued. I've acclimated to the Spanish custom of flocking to the streets and to your neighbor's and to the plazas to mingle and socialize whenever possible. In stark comparison, it was initially difficult </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">in Portugal</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to find anyone to interact with (granted the exception of other international tourists, and drug dealers). When, on occasion, we did manage to speak with some of the locals, I discovered that they are quick to jump the Spanish-to-Portugese language barrier and speak instead explicitly in English. As a result, I feel as though our trip, although pleasant in general, was strictly an <i>excursion </i>as opposed to the <i>immersion</i> that I've enjoyed in Spain.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">An anecdote: One friendly native does stand out in my mind, and I remember our exchange fondly and with a compulsory chuckle. Several of us went out one night for late bite to eat, determined to sample the local fare (a few of us were unclear on what, exactly, "Portuguese cuisine" entails). After walking for a few blocks and considering a several different menus, we wound up in some hole-in-the-wall restaurant that was empty except for a large, rowdy group tucked into the back corner. A cook up front was hard at work flipping tender strips of meat and vegetables on a flattop grill, and the aroma that wafted from his station was overwhelmingly enticing. We were sold! After the owner/maître d' greeted us with a warm <i>bom dia</i>, we asked if he had menus available in Spanish. "<i>Sim, sim!</i> Of course!" he told us as he ushered our group to a table. "What would you like to drink?" After a short wait and returning with our drink order, the man </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">begins to deal us our menus</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, saying as he does so, "You don't speak Portuguese? No? Well, you speak Spanish," he continues, "...same thing!"</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, having already ordered our drinks and being seduced by the amazing smells coming from the cook's area, we probably would have ordered from that menu had it been written in Braille. But, kudos to that crafty bastard who swindled us with his wit and humor! He joked with us for the rest of the meal, which I can say without hesitation, was divine. If you're in the mood for </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Portuguese: Order <i>frango</i>! This barbecue-chicken dish will practically melt in your mouth.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/409677_3567499512806_1432485470_3257625_518884999_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/409677_3567499512806_1432485470_3257625_518884999_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Other memorable moments of our trip include an ascent into the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;"><i>Serra da Sintra, </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;">around 45 minutes from Lisbon</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;">. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;">Nestled in the clouds (yes, it rained upon arrival), Sintra is famous for the s</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;">pectacular palaces and parks that decorate its mountainous landscape; the most notable among them being </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;">the 600-year old</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;"> summer residence of the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;">Portuguese royal family and aristocracy. We toured </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; line-height: normal;">the <i>Pálacio Nacional da Pena</i>, and <i>Castelo dos Mouros </i>for several muggy hours, taking full advantage of the great photo opportunities:</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cPQ3_nRgIDD0BubBSw8GLzFAb7OfKK4Km8FfRwGUqvssR9ubN_csdjyQ2epCmScO1cYw1zURhq7W_FmjZO_vw09cnuehyV83aWnIoK1qjXymdEqhzM1WUDTwfesyy-_ZKBMuurdfKpD_/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-04-01+at+11.47.46+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cPQ3_nRgIDD0BubBSw8GLzFAb7OfKK4Km8FfRwGUqvssR9ubN_csdjyQ2epCmScO1cYw1zURhq7W_FmjZO_vw09cnuehyV83aWnIoK1qjXymdEqhzM1WUDTwfesyy-_ZKBMuurdfKpD_/s640/Screen+shot+2012-04-01+at+11.47.46+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/523361_3626953076095_1342103706_3515740_1226172675_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/523361_3626953076095_1342103706_3515740_1226172675_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">Several things for you to note:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">1. The hazy gray-blue of the sky. Very reminiscent of WA.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">2. There's no one leaping into frame at the last possible second; this is because everyone in Portugal, who's from Portugal, takes great precaution to avoid other people at all costs. Unless it's to lure you into their restaurant.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">3. It's... so... GREEN.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">We also went to some other very photographic places. Such as the <i>Castelo de São Jorge:</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzoUccjB0WfMUPymiLSOxWEFFSR3k1CTzxgbMYWwK7zGCy0w7AwrDaw7OssEUrVAua0BFVFU6cV6VEOOel8n83wcEVh8DKBsDJDraHQMvk6ruzlqMV4Qg3FBdkGSXsYcx0T0TOB1mt8H4/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-04-02+at+12.14.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtzoUccjB0WfMUPymiLSOxWEFFSR3k1CTzxgbMYWwK7zGCy0w7AwrDaw7OssEUrVAua0BFVFU6cV6VEOOel8n83wcEVh8DKBsDJDraHQMvk6ruzlqMV4Qg3FBdkGSXsYcx0T0TOB1mt8H4/s640/Screen+shot+2012-04-02+at+12.14.32+AM.png" width="484" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><i>Cabo da Roca </i>(the westernmost extent of mainland Portugal and continental Europe):</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KGgeCBLwNij0Crtahx8NMgXNDH7dZULQ-9Tb9OVsU0UOWw37iuUDu0EEndjo_tJjweShrsY2dJ_uEFBK29ajictqDALE0SbPS5XoknW5nEXDrwtmjcrfFhKNV3AQXDVhmemyHxYBcncx/s1600/546654_3626970836539_1342103706_3515781_941974576_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2KGgeCBLwNij0Crtahx8NMgXNDH7dZULQ-9Tb9OVsU0UOWw37iuUDu0EEndjo_tJjweShrsY2dJ_uEFBK29ajictqDALE0SbPS5XoknW5nEXDrwtmjcrfFhKNV3AQXDVhmemyHxYBcncx/s640/546654_3626970836539_1342103706_3515781_941974576_n.jpg" width="491" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">And <i>Boca do Inferno</i>; Hell's Mouth:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392538_2932257186162_1252980139_32193763_1271150555_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/392538_2932257186162_1252980139_32193763_1271150555_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">All in all: Portugal is... OK. Yes, I got some great dynamic photos, (should I ever desire to enter a photography competition, I'll be ready) but I'm still left with the feeling that I didn't get much more than that out of our trip.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">...Not counting the souvenirs, of course. There's a-a-always the souvenirs.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3c3c3c; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Foot Note</span></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>**</b>Although I am entirely in agreement with this analogy, I can't take complete credit for coming up with the idea to reference (now and forever) Portugal as "Spain's Canada." A group of us mutually decided on the nickname while chatting about the trip </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">with our</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 20px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 20px;"><i>gaditano </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 20px;">crew </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">over a few beers. Now having been to Portugal, it's funny to realize how absolutely perfect a moniker it is. (:</span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-48307891508117936542012-03-21T08:06:00.003-07:002012-03-21T08:12:32.613-07:00Barca, Part 2 of 2<div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(</i>JODER<i>. I definitely haven't meant to leave my blog for so long, but I got caught up in studying for an overly complicated linguistics exam as well as writing a lengthy essay, in a mad rush before we left for a four-day trip to Portugal last Thursday. Alas! I'm back, I'm caught up on school work, and my goal is to update </i>The Dawg's Abroad<i> with the rest of my Barca/Lisboa/Cádiz </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>adventures and get my loyal readers caught up---all four of you, that is.)</i></span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Arc de Triomf</b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425717_10151336620355693_889860692_23076153_1326431618_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425717_10151336620355693_889860692_23076153_1326431618_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">In an overly large group, we crossed several streets unknowingly because the paved thoroughfare approaching this landmark is totally unremarkable. As an example, the guys and I snapped the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">above</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> photo (while we were waiting for the 15+ dawdlers) and I bet at first glance, you didn't even notice the Arch in the background! Its image is obscured by the dusty, hazy Barcelona afternoon air and its wow-factor, its "oomph", is diminished by the plain pathway that leads up to it. But now that I point it out, can you see it? I, spy...</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420895_2802482901886_1252980139_32139014_622656893_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/420895_2802482901886_1252980139_32139014_622656893_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Going under the Arch of Triumph (</span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Arc de Triomf</i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> in Catalan) is an odd experience, by stark comparison. It is silly to feel a certain thrill just by walking under a bunch of bricks but there must be some kind of intuition that senses history when approaching a monument, that makes us pretend we are a Roman soldier entering the city while fellow citizens wear laurel wreaths on their heads and make the victory sign with their fingers. Well, you know what I mean: You might remain indifferent while approaching a majestic structure like this, because of the plain-Jane surroundings, but it's easier to get carried away when faced with these monuments, while the pale, ghostly faces of our ancestors stare down at you from the </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">friezes</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">.</span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Beach</b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/427026_3478054633727_1342103706_3449500_1997903474_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/427026_3478054633727_1342103706_3449500_1997903474_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In all honesty, there's not a whole lot to say about our afternoon at the beach. We got separated from the guys, saw a glimpse of the water from afar and thought, "Well, why not?" The other girls and I kicked off our shoes and dug our feet into the sand, walked a few kilometers from one end to the other, and fought the wind when it blew hair into our mouths, the whole time gazing longly at that sparkling blue water and wishing, dammit, that it was warm enough to take a swim!</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Picasso Exhibit</b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Friday, the majority of our group jetted to Dublin and left Jason, Jeremy and I to our own devices. I wouldn't say that the rest of our trip was so enjoyable solely for the fact that we didn't have to stop every 30 feet and wait for everyone to catch up, but it helped. The first place that we went: The Picasso Exhibit!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/427162_2804677636753_1252980139_32139967_64113090_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/427162_2804677636753_1252980139_32139967_64113090_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">"Don't take pictures," they tell me, as I'm approaching the penultimate room of the exhibit. Oops.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/423630_2804667356496_1252980139_32139957_1770332098_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/423630_2804667356496_1252980139_32139957_1770332098_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Marina con casas en primer término</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1896</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424488_2804669436548_1252980139_32139959_566620306_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424488_2804669436548_1252980139_32139959_566620306_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Playa de la Barceloneta</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1896</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I particularly like this series that Picasso painted during his earlier time in Barcelona, and I thought my American mama would too. The colors in particular are so earthy and warm that it's obvious to see how his Mediterranean inspiration is reflected in the work. I'd like to do my own renditions of these someday; another excuse as to why I broke the "no photography" rule.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/419214_2805210370071_1252980139_32140275_1155960859_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/419214_2805210370071_1252980139_32140275_1155960859_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Portrait of Benedetta Bianco</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1905</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Jason, Jeremy, and I of course saw some of Picasso's more well-known works of art </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">since the exhibit is pretty comprehensive, and includes a substantial amount of paintings and sculptures in one artistic style after another. The Blue Period, the Rose Period, Expressionism, Cubism... Picasso seemed to continue his work in a series of experiments that really never ends. Although, I have to say, I personally prefer paintings such as the ones above, to even the most famous of paintings, like <i>Las Meninas. </i>Here, for example, is good comparison of Picasso's earlier work, which I prefer, to <i>Las Meninas</i>, which he painted several decades later when he was already all "cool" and "artsy":</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/65841_2804670836583_1252980139_32139960_1495209049_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/65841_2804670836583_1252980139_32139960_1495209049_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Mujer con mantilla</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">1917</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422074_2804672276619_1252980139_32139962_1679505865_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/422074_2804672276619_1252980139_32139962_1679505865_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The detail, in particular, is what makes paintings like this so beautiful to me. From close up or far away, it's easy to appreciate Picasso's ability as an artist (and envy him for it, of course).</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425522_2804673676654_1252980139_32139965_534904072_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425522_2804673676654_1252980139_32139965_534904072_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i>Las Meninas</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">1957</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">...and then there's this. It is famous, yes, but the image of the "dog" in the foreground actually made me laugh. That's all I'll say.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>La Rambla & </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>El Mercat</b></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">La Rambla! I'm in love. I actually made a point to walk along la Rambla two days in a row (and not just for the free samples of <i>turrón</i>). This fantastic boulevard stretches for 1200 meters, and is scattered with street venders who sell everything from the typical touristy crap to pet birds and tropical fish, house plants, posters and calendars, crêpes, gelato, gelato-covered crêpes. YUM. Of course, if you can't find something worth buying along la Rambla (ahem, doubtful)...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424920_2804684916935_2136625634_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424920_2804684916935_2136625634_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">...You can take a detour through </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>El Mercat de La Boquería</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">. No more than five steps beyond the entrance archway did we stop and stare, mouths agape, appetites suddenly rampant. Everywhere we looked was yet another stall overflowing with brightly colored produce, both local and exotic, piled high and tantalizing. I was tormented by some especially fat blueberries, and Jeremy bought something that's almost like a star fruit, but after we forgot its real name, the best (and most creative) way we could describe it was a squishy, tumor-like lychee-thing that was inexplicably white and surprisingly succulent.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i><br />
</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/65049_2804683076889_1252980139_32139968_1737214462_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/65049_2804683076889_1252980139_32139968_1737214462_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">But that's not all! We progressed very, very slowly into El Mercat, not wanting to miss anything. At each and every turn there was some other amazing thing to gawk at and of course agonize over whether or not (or how much) to buy.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424858_2804697277244_1252980139_32139983_1126779809_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424858_2804697277244_1252980139_32139983_1126779809_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/419353_2804690197067_1252980139_32139973_1218557676_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/419353_2804690197067_1252980139_32139973_1218557676_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/432159_2804692837133_1252980139_32139979_452677005_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/432159_2804692837133_1252980139_32139979_452677005_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421306_2804693997162_1252980139_32139980_1305468354_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421306_2804693997162_1252980139_32139980_1305468354_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Pike Place, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The chocolates were especially hard to pass by, of course. The fact that they were ridiculously overpriced helped a lot. I did get to taste a small, decadent, piece when an especially friendly vendor gave me a free sample ("A bon-bon for a bon-bon?" he said) and I was in heaven.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Further into the depths of El Mercat we found fish, meat, vegetables, breads, pastries, frozen items, artisan products, wine, cheese, olives, spices, chilies, and more. Understandably, by the time we finally reached the back wall we just couldn't take the temptation anymore and had to pause </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">for lunch. 5€ bought an incredible, substantial amount of warm, delicious falafel tucked into fresh pita on a bed of a romaine, tomato, and carrot salad and hearty paella. It's likely one of my favorite meals I've had since coming abroad.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/421688_2804686596977_1252980139_32139971_1235398846_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/421688_2804686596977_1252980139_32139971_1235398846_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">For dessert we enjoyed ine-cold, fresh, natural fruit juice. They had every flavor (every color of the rainbow, actually)! The more simple juices included blueberry, strawberry, blackberry, etc. Then for the more adventurous, they offered mixes with coconut, guava, kiwi, chocolate, and more. It was the perfect, sweet, and refreshing ending to our time at El Mercat, where I will always, always desire to return.<br />
<br />
From one piece of graffiti I saw (translated):</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #000033; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><i>All markets deserve a special walk and story, it is a part of Barcelona's adventure.</i></span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-14910743391250635862012-03-05T12:31:00.002-08:002012-03-05T12:56:29.021-08:00"BARCELONA!! Y U NO SPEAK SPANISH??" (Part 1 of 2)<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here, I have composed for you a list of the things that I had upon returning from five days and four nights in Barcelona:</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">$12 USD in my checking account</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">three or four extra pounds (just in time for beach weather, yay...)</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a cold and a cough</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a very special souvenir for my American mama that nearly got seized by airport security (it's a surprise!)</span></li>
</ul><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, most importantly:</span></div></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">the most significant, enjoyable, and lasting memories that I've made on this trip thus far</span></li>
</ul><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Truthfully, it's been a struggle to even begin this blog about Barcelona, because I feel as though my words won't do it justice. I can't adequately describe everything that I was fortunate enough to see and experience (and eat), or how quickly infatuated I've become with "Barca," as it's affectionately called. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I can tell you is that if you have an open mind, two feet, and a pair of comfy shoes, Spain's second city will almost certainly enchant you as well! Here are the highlights:</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Taking the Metro</b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone who knows me can vouch for the fact that I have absolutely no innate sense of direction. I get disoriented walking in the front door and exiting out the back. For this reason, my initial reaction to the elaborate, 11-line and over 150-station subway system was pure terror. The first time we navigated the subterranean labyrinth I had flashbacks of myself in the first grade, when I got off at the wrong bus stop and cried the entire fifteen-minute walk home. However, Barcelona's metro connects to just about every place my group and I visited during our stay, and with the T10 pass we managed to get around easily with ten rides for just €8,25. Plus, at every turn and station platform there are color-coded route maps that show transfer locations, line numbers, and end stops, so with a little luck </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and through the incredible power of reading, I made it out alive. ...Although </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did get stuck in a metro gate with Nolan for several humiliating minutes.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/432219_3477983911959_1342103706_3449317_1692842531_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/432219_3477983911959_1342103706_3449317_1692842531_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Gaudi's Sagrada Familia</b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426747_3477984511974_1342103706_3449319_614606879_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426747_3477984511974_1342103706_3449319_614606879_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You have to wake up early to get in line to see architect Antoni Gaudi's remarkable, unfinished cathedral, but once you're inside it's completely worth it. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;">His unique and unusual architecture can actually be found all over the city but the impressive Sagrada Familia is certainly one of the most notable. The ground breaking of this impressive Roman Catholic church took place in 1882 and after taking the reins in 1883, Gaudi labored on its construction for 43 years until his death. Now, construction workers busy themselves behind the barricades as tourists snap shots of the finished pieces, which are an eclectic combination of Gaudi's design and Gaudi-inspired design.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429577_2804603674904_1252980139_32139905_189893989_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429577_2804603674904_1252980139_32139905_189893989_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404952_3477996952285_1342103706_3449332_177147171_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/404952_3477996952285_1342103706_3449332_177147171_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/430764_3477999032337_1342103706_3449337_1959445663_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/430764_3477999032337_1342103706_3449337_1959445663_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417335_2804593234643_1252980139_32139899_809537805_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417335_2804593234643_1252980139_32139899_809537805_n.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/424874_2804588194517_1252980139_32139896_855552355_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/424874_2804588194517_1252980139_32139896_855552355_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424130_3478003672453_1342103706_3449355_473996916_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424130_3478003672453_1342103706_3449355_473996916_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/431239_3478005832507_1342103706_3449360_1079828170_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/431239_3478005832507_1342103706_3449360_1079828170_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although La Sagrada Familia was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI just recently in 2010, and themes throughout the decoration include words and images from the liturgy, as a Catholic I'm going to say: I just don't get it. Especially in stark comparison with the incredible and ancient <i>Catedral de Sevilla</i>, La Sagrada Familia to me seems less of a church and more of a fun house. That's not to say the architectural and design work isn't impressive, but I think the sheer novelty of Gaudi's concept is the most interesting. It is </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">certainly like </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nothing I have ever, ever seen before.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 16px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Parc de la Ciutadella</b></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I mentioned to be sure to bring a pair of comfy shoes to Barca, I meant it! Even though the metro is fantastic, there is just too much to see above ground. One example is the Parc de la Ciutadella, a gorgeous city center that we passed through on our self-guided tour. Here, father's pushed toddlers in strollers around a shady grotto, mom's puffed on cigarettes and walked their dogs. A gang of young boys kicked up dirt playing a rough game of <i>fútbol, </i>while nearby younger kids swarmed around a Gazebo laughing and shouting in fun, as kids do. We took a moment to stop and rest our feet, enjoying the sun and admiring the view...</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424081_3478071514149_1342103706_3449542_1964547317_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424081_3478071514149_1342103706_3449542_1964547317_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...before climbing to the top to see the park from above.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424993_3478072514174_1342103706_3449547_1259660610_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/424993_3478072514174_1342103706_3449547_1259660610_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then it was on to the next!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(To be continued in Part 2...)</i></span></div></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;"></span>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-6706119377823882842012-02-28T03:53:00.005-08:002012-02-28T14:19:18.600-08:00Carnavales de Cádiz 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/409481_10151307160955463_894960462_23236717_2026920475_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/409481_10151307160955463_894960462_23236717_2026920475_n.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'd like to preface this blog entry by saying: Nothing can prepare you for <i>Carnival</i>. It's not something anyone outside of Andalucía could easily understand unless you have already experienced it, and I feel that Americans in particular have so few public festivals apart from Mardi Gras that it's hard for someone (like me) from the States to wrap their mind around all that this annual, 10-day celebration entails. In the same league as Rio de Janeiro, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and, of course, Notting Hill, the Cádiz Carnival is one of the world’s best, and it’s also the biggest and most extravagant anywhere in mainland Spain. Add in the fact that Cádiz was the first town in Spain to be granted its own Constitution and coincidentally celebrates its bicentenary this year, and you've got a raucous, riotous, satirical, colourful and exotic party the likes of which this American has never seen, dreamt of, or could even begin to expect.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...not for lack of trying, however. In the day or two prior to Carnival I experienced multiple waves of concern wash over me as my teachers at UCA, our incredible director Rita, and my host <i>familia </i>expressed two core principles regarding the event: "<i>For the love of God be careful</i>, but if you need anything at all, no matter what time of night or day, don't hesitate to call. I mean it. <i>Anything</i>," (not foreboding at all, right?) and, "Watch out for all the piss and shit in the streets. It happens." Hypothetically, if you had nine people tell you these things ad nauseum, wouldn't you be moderately concerned, too? Where is my Carnival informational pamphlet? Why doesn't Rick Steves write about these things?!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Friday</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although Carnival is advertised as having officially started on Friday the 17th, my fellow Dawgs and I had heard through the grapevine that the following night was "the best," and Sunday "even better." However, from what I saw on Friday night this unofficial itinerary didn't deter the locals nor the Washingtonians from getting the party started right away. As is Spanish custom, no one really planned on much happening before 10 or 11 PM. By then, the excitement in the air was so thick I could have drizzled it over pancakes. We eagerly congregated in the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Plaza de Fragela</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, otherwise and appropriately referred to as the Plaza Teatro for the <i>Gran Teatro Falla</i> that dominates the square. This is apparently a popular place for day 1 of Carnival to take place, because until dawn the judges of a very large and important music competition<b>**</b> deliberate on the outcome, while the locals diligently wait, mingle, and drink outside until sunrise to hear their verdict.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I, however, did not make it until sunrise. The temperature rapidly plummeted and although I was bundled up in boots, two sweatshirts, a scarf, gloves, and my heavy winter coat, my hands turned a nasty shade of blue and I'm pretty sure I was on the brink of frostbite. Ultimately, it was the cold that drove me home at around 1 AM, but admittedly I wouldn't have lasted much longer than that had it been a balmy summer night. For one, at 10 PM the ridiculous costumes that everyone adorns were interesting and clever. I spotted everything from a herd of cows, to smurfs, tin soldiers, wizards, comic book characters, cops, Nazis, and Waldo from the popular kids' eye-spy book series. Even Gaddafi and Obama attended the festivities! A few hours later, however, the crowd had tripled in size and a large group of men dressed as condoms (with the invitation, "<i>¿Te quieres probar?</i>" or, "Would you like to try?" stamped across their chests) was getting a bit too rowdy for me. For my first impression of Carnival, I was just too overwhelmed to fully enjoy myself, but the rest of Carnival stretched promisingly ahead. Maybe that's why they make it last ten days?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Saturday</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430216_10151307154305463_894960462_23236700_181535591_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430216_10151307154305463_894960462_23236700_181535591_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I went home Friday night feeling a little in over my head, I really, really enjoyed myself with all that Carnival had to offer Saturday night! My friends and I dressed up in our <i>disfraces</i> as well; a peacock, a candy cane, Cleopatra, a Cheshire cat, a chef, and Jason and myself in awesome (his was a little creepy...) Venetian masks! The evening started with another huge mob scene-- this time in Plaza de San Antonio, where a huge stage had been erected.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BOOM!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See that cannon in the photo above? The stage crew had managed to get several atop the buildings on either side of the plaza, so when the lights dropped and the spot light shone...</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/408858_10151307153480463_894960462_23236697_189596991_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/408858_10151307153480463_894960462_23236697_189596991_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...it was as though the French were actually attacking! Cannon fire and gunshots rang out overhead, while an MC on stage prefaced the Siege of Cádiz of 1812 over the sound system. The rest of the show was equally exciting, complete with great light effects, full choirs, and a cast of actors depicting the birth of Cádiz's constitution. Most importantly, all of it was imbued with a very empowering sense of <i>gaditano</i> pride, and while I'm obviously not a native it was fun to join in the anthems that I knew and celebrate being a part of this incredible city.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the show, the rest of the night was a blur of excitement, crowds, and cheap wine. Street vendors lined the streets offering cheap <i>bocadillos </i>for hungry party-goers and everywhere people crowded around in indistinguishable groups talking, laughing, and making friends with whomever (inevitably) bumped into you or asked you for a spare <i>cigarillo.</i> Thanks mostly to these crowds, it was IMPOSSIBLE to mobilize, but also in part due to the condition of the streets. Remember those warnings I had received? Easily the least glamorous part of Carnival was everyone's blatant disregard when it came time to use the <i>baño</i>. Girls squatted in doorways, while men peed on everything from cars to trashcans all in spite of the fact that the city had taken measures to place temporary bathrooms and port-a-potties in every plaza. I cannot get much more graphic than tossing the words "puddles" and "sewage" out there. Ugh.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Sunday</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday was another wonderful day, not solely for the fact that I was finally able to Skype my family, but also because I was able to Skype my family right before seeing an amazing fireworks show on the beach, as well as an amazing nighttime parade that words cannot describe. Fourth of July, eat your heart out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/397171_10150577055196229_660891228_8978356_672852362_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/397171_10150577055196229_660891228_8978356_672852362_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430999_10150577055821229_660891228_8978364_311033452_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/430999_10150577055821229_660891228_8978364_311033452_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/420970_305695692828380_100001638544338_836939_235761525_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/420970_305695692828380_100001638544338_836939_235761525_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425966_305695732828376_100001638544338_836940_1762587894_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/425966_305695732828376_100001638544338_836940_1762587894_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The overall quality and creativity of these floats was ASTOUNDING. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I didn't think to get photos of </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">some of my favorites until it was too late, or else they came out too blurry. Regardless, I wish you could have seen the life-size Asian elephant, the HUGE mechanical man, the giant lumbering dragon, and an amazing float of showgirls dressed like Napoleon atop a French naval ship. Waves, dolphins, tridents, and huge heads representing the gods of the wind and sea adorned them. Even the people who accompanied the floats on foot were dressed to the nines in incredible and elaborate costumes; a spectacle all their own!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Al fin</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I had my reservations in the beginning, Carnival has proven to be an amazing experience! Now I understand why no one can ever really <i>prepare</i> you for its festivities (although I wished someone had warned me to bring muck boots...). As it turns out, my favorite parts of Carnival didn't include staying up until all hours of the evening drinking just for the sake of drinking, but instead were focused on the actual reasons behind the celebration. I would be overjoyed if the US or even just our nation's capital could put together some of these extravagant displays of patriotism and shows for our own Independence day! At least I'll always have the memory of celebrating my <i>gaditano </i>pride in the biggest, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">raucous way possible.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Foot Note</span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>**</b>The Falla's Contest is a music festival held in the <i>Gran Teatro Falla</i> before Carnival and, to a cer</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tain extent, is a relatively serious competition as the show is televised across Spain. Competition is keen, and contestants spend months in preparation (we got a preview of some of the acts back in January during </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>Erizada </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>Ostionada). </i>The most popular type of group is the <i>chirigotas</i>, choirs normally of ten unison or close-harmony singers that dress alike in ridiculous costumes and for the rest of Carnival clog up the streets with the crowds of people who stop to watch and listen. Some are accompanied by <i>bombo, caja</i> (anything to be used as a percussion instrument), and guitar. My host <i>madre</i> explained that their repertoire is exclusively satirical, but you have to speak really, really good <i>gaditano</i> to appreciate the nuances (dammit).</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421811_2804550793582_1252980139_32139838_287148881_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421811_2804550793582_1252980139_32139838_287148881_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-37951803032827889192012-02-12T03:13:00.000-08:002012-02-17T11:16:02.266-08:00Going Abroad While Being Abroad<div style="text-align: justify;">Andalucia’s historic and cultured capital, sultry Seville, is the soul of southern Spain. Moorish legacy and Catholic ceremony rule the city: once you’ve explored the enormous cathedral, climbed the Giralda and admired the Alcazar, feel welcome to unwind in the sun at the Plaza de España, and wander leisurely amongst the re-imagined 17th-century <i>casitas</i> that stand over the winding labyrinthine streets of the old quarter. Post-siesta, dine on gazpacho with prawns and filo-dough wrapped <i>cola del torro</i> at one of the city’s tapas restaurants before catching a fiery, foot-stamping flamenco performance (and try to accomplish it all in just two days!).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Although I've recently passed the one-month mark since my arrival to Spain, I still consider myself a complete and utter novice when it comes to traveling abroad. However, we do have a few pro's here with us; my friend Nolan has previously been abroad with the León program, and Taylor has had some incredible adventures back-packing through Europe with her older sister. For our two-day stay in Sevilla, they both did an incredible job of taking the reigns and I can't tell you how wonderful it is to have two private tour guides with you!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">First, we explored the Real Alcázar de Sevilla.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/424279_3350080474453_1342103706_3392051_650836162_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/424279_3350080474453_1342103706_3392051_650836162_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Royal Alcazar of Seville is the oldest active royal residence in Europe and I can vouch for my tourist-phamplet's claims that the structure's exceptional architecture is that of unmatched beauty. It was commissioned in the early 10th century by the Muslim kings that ruled the city, then rebuilt and enriched with new palaces since its recapture by the Christians. From the Alcazar's historical description alone, you can anticipate the kind of breath-taking beauty that we were privilege to enjoy. Both inside...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/428673_3350091074718_1342103706_3392070_1252316871_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/428673_3350091074718_1342103706_3392070_1252316871_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/archivos/galeria/1196151882_grande%25Salon_Gotico.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/archivos/galeria/1196151882_grande%25Salon_Gotico.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/archivos/galeria/1196151427_grande%25Doncellas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/archivos/galeria/1196151427_grande%25Doncellas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/416996_3350106035092_1342103706_3392096_683581955_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/416996_3350106035092_1342103706_3392096_683581955_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/archivos/galeria/1203423044_grande%25poetas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.patronato-alcazarsevilla.es/archivos/galeria/1203423044_grande%25poetas.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">...and out. The gardens here have understandably been recognized as one of the largest and most beautiful in Europe, and feature nearly two hundred difference species. Imagine 50,000 exceptional square meters featuring an expansive mixture of architecture and nature under the permanent presence of the murmur of water. While we explored the palace and its gardens for nearly two hours, I still feel as though I could have spent the entire afternoon there and still not see everything. Although of everything we managed to get to in the time we were there, my favorite part wasn't, in truth, the incredible gardens. Although impressive in their size and beauty, there was a frigid Iberian wind blowing through all of Sevilla during our entire stay. The gardens, more or less unprotected, were insufferably cold and unfortunately diminished by random scaffolding left there by re-furbishers. Instead, my favorite part was wandering into a large, otherwise un-notable room off of one of the palace's many patios. There, incredible tapestries soared from the floor upwards to vaulted ceilings and were composed of staggering detail. Their historic, religious, and artistic value literally left my mouth agape. Although I considered trying to capture a few photos, in my heart I knew my little digital camera wouldn't do them justice. Here is an image I pulled from Google, just to give you an idea:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqlKFKC3pJNMSzPXUFnbAUEVYL1W6Z2KrOJ5RRATSKhWKydpd0ngSzJt9STmL-IkMdaLYoLiCEgn706r8mmpjI7SUeUkMMCG5gb-9IORvtnUgXP2BSro38sgISNCd3yzlu2phFyLk5qXI/s400/%23333-Seville,+Alcazares,.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqlKFKC3pJNMSzPXUFnbAUEVYL1W6Z2KrOJ5RRATSKhWKydpd0ngSzJt9STmL-IkMdaLYoLiCEgn706r8mmpjI7SUeUkMMCG5gb-9IORvtnUgXP2BSro38sgISNCd3yzlu2phFyLk5qXI/s400/%23333-Seville,+Alcazares,.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While I may have been able to remain there for a few hours more, when I witnessed a few members from a French tour group stretch their greasy hands across the velvet rope and start tugging at one of the incredible tapestries, I knew it was time to go. How do you say, "Didn't your mom ever teach you to keep your hands to yourself," in French?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Plaza de España was a great stop before lunch! To one side is a fantastic park in what's apparently called a 'Moorish paradisical style' with a half mile of: tiled fountains, pavilions, walls, ponds, benches, and exhedras; lush plantings of palms, orange trees, Mediterranean pines, and stylized flower beds; and with vine hidden bowers. Unfortunately, like the gardens at the Alcazar, the park was rendered much less impressive by random construction tape, broken ground, and (inexplicably) several tons of melting ice (your guess is as good as mine!). The Plaza, however, did not disappoint. The complex of the Plaza itself is a huge half-circle with buildings continually running around the edge, accessible over the moat (complete with hirable gondoliers) by numerous beautiful bridges. In the centre is a large fountain which is almost IMPOSSIBLE to photograph without random smatterings of people running through the frame. Such is life. By the walls of the Plaza are many tiled alcoves, each representing a different province of Spain, where people laze about in the sun and people-watch.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407869_2693061006407_1252980139_32101252_720915253_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407869_2693061006407_1252980139_32101252_720915253_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407182_3350135395826_1342103706_3392151_1219988502_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407182_3350135395826_1342103706_3392151_1219988502_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/403723_2485253262464_1586610055_31741507_589767323_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/403723_2485253262464_1586610055_31741507_589767323_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><strike>To Be Continued... <i>(excuse another interruption! In about twenty minutes a few of us are going to attend a free Flamenco show, accompanied by free </i>cerveza<i> and </i>bocadillos<i>! I'll be sure to write about the Cathedral, and Giralda later this afternoon.)</i></strike></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><strike><i><br />
</i></strike></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The Cathedral of Sevilla is not only breathtaking, but awe inspiring. You can't miss it. The cathedral dominates the old town center, sitting on the site of a mosque dating from the 12th century. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Outside, the sunshine, oranges, fountains and fresh air mingle with the chatter of horses’ hooves on the stony streets. However, the closer you get to the threshold, the more ominously the structure towers over you; foreboding. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Not only is the cathedral the largest in Spain, it is the third largest in the world. Its 80 chapels reportedly held 500 daily masses at one time. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bestourism.com/img/items/big/1200/Cathedral-of-Sevilla_Overview_4428.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="http://www.bestourism.com/img/items/big/1200/Cathedral-of-Sevilla_Overview_4428.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Inside, shut away from the fresh air and sunshine, I had an unexpected emotional reaction. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">When it came to first impressions, the inside of Seville’s sprawling cathedral left me cold. I saw gloom and scaffolding, dust and darkness, while the dreams and shadows of the Spanish Inquisition lurked behind locked gates and doors. </span>The eleven of us quickly split off into small groups, or else wandered freely by ourselves to take in the impressive architecture, astounding laborious statues, divine alter pieces, and other works of art.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://juliegilley.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55005a36888330154325845b2970c-200wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://juliegilley.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55005a36888330154325845b2970c-200wi" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">One of the most famous sites inside the cathedral is the gold altar piece, Retablo Mayor. It took 44 years to complete the 36 gilded relief panels that depict scenes from the Old Testament and the lives of saints, a culmination that claims the title of largest alter piece in the world.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://static.atlasobscura.netdna-cdn.com/images/place/tomb-of-christopher-columbus.14833.large_slideshow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://static.atlasobscura.netdna-cdn.com/images/place/tomb-of-christopher-columbus.14833.large_slideshow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Another spectacular find in the cathedral is the Tomb of Christopher Columbus. It is believed that the bones of the famous explorer are in the raised casket. According to my handy-dandy informational brochure, DNA testing is currently underway to find out if they really are. The suspense is killing me!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408118_3350150756210_1342103706_3392181_1504767664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/408118_3350150756210_1342103706_3392181_1504767664_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It would be a photographer's dream come true to be able to capture some of the incredible sites encompassed under the soaring vaulted ceilings of the cathedral. Most of us had issues with low-quality resolution, ineffective flashes, or otherwise inconsiderate French/Canadian/French-Candian tourists who seemed determine to leap into the frame a millisecond before the shutter clicked (do you know the term "photo-bombing"?) as we tried to document everything. I swear, it would be easy to waste a lifetime there following these simple (and unavoidable) steps:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">1. See something incredible</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">2. Take a moment to react and reflect</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">3. Decide to take a picture</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">4. Attempt to take said picture</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">5. Wait a moment until people move out of the way</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 about three times</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">7. Give up or get lucky</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">8. Move approximately two feet away from where you were</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">9. Repeat steps 1 through 8</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://juliegilley.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55005a3688833014e8878db81970d-200wi" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://juliegilley.typepad.com/.a/6a00e55005a3688833014e8878db81970d-200wi" width="299" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Outside is the famous La Giralda, the cathedral's bell tower. Originally built at the end of the 12th century as the minaret of the mosque, it stands as one of three remaining minarets in the world (the others are in Marrakesh and Rabat, Morocco). During the building of the cathedral, the Giralda was preserved, although Christian symbols were added to the top. Inside the tower, a 34-story ramp (wide enough for a person to ride a horse to the top) will take visitors (like meee) to the top of the tower for SPECTACULAR views of Seville.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426110_2693052486194_1252980139_32101229_80474380_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426110_2693052486194_1252980139_32101229_80474380_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/430312_2693051206162_127773549_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/430312_2693051206162_127773549_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I took a few laps and promptly elected the best side.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429840_2693052126185_1252980139_32101228_707919021_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/429840_2693052126185_1252980139_32101228_707919021_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; clear: both; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not only can you see some more of the cathedral's structure and Sevilla's compact layout, but that arena in the center is another historical landmark that we, unfortunately, didn't have time to see. While some of the other Dawgs are looking forward to the opportunity to see a live <i>Corriente del Torro</i> here, I would have been just as happy to visit one of the impressive arenas where the bull fights are held! Considering all the incredible things that we were privy to see, and those that we were unable to, I might just have to find some friends to accompany back to Sevilla for a day trip (they DO, after all, have a Starbucks there).</span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-29701356205639036532012-01-28T02:39:00.000-08:002012-01-30T06:53:44.806-08:00Day Time and the Nightlife<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a short time here experiencing both the city's daily routine and Cádiz's incredible nightlife, I can testify to how unique the lifestyle is here. Side from its artifacts birthright spots and to the many of its beautiful gardens, the nightlife is among the best if your endgame is to <i>tapear, fiestar, o simplemente pasar por la calle</i> (essentially, "Eat, drink, and be merry."). Virtually every corner in the city has bar-cafes (literally, one and the same), nightclubs, and tapas bars where respective patrons regularly hang out until 4 AM or soon after.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although, before the sun sets, there is a very regular routine that occurs. The slow, leisurely pace of each day is entirely foreign compared to the aggressive and determined lifestyle back home in Seattle. For example, after my first two days abroad, my host family abandoned their attempts to get up and eat breakfast with me around 8. Soon after my arrival they had returned to their accustomed 10 AM wake-up, so I essentially don't see my host family until I return home from classes at 1.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unless you manage a bar-cafe or a <i>pandería</i>, the day doesn't really begin until after breakfast which is more often than not nothing more than a single <i>vasito de café</i>. My host mom then spends an hour or two in the kitchen, bustling around in her bathrobe (if you're a woman in Cádiz, you wear a bathrobe if you're at home regardless of what time it is) preparing both lunch and dinner. Typically, people spend the time in between breakfast and lunch out in the streets mingling, sharing more coffee with friends, or running short errands to the <i>supermercado</i>.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although redundant, it's truthful to say that unless you manage a bar-cafe, you promptly close shop at 1 or 2. At this time each day over the past few weeks I have observed, in a curious wonder, the special Spanish custom that is <i>Siesta</i>. In Spanish, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<i>siesta</i>" is the word for “nap.” But <i>Siesta</i>, as I have decided through in my own interpretations, is the equivalent of a city-wide nap. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kid you not. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From roughly 2-5 PM, every single day of the week, entire cities in Spain (Cádiz, of course, included) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shut. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Down.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Oh, I’m sorry? Do you need to buy something?”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Yes. Actually, I really need to get a--”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Whoaaaa there. My dear, dear, young American-foreigner… You see, that’s actually going to be an issue because, well, it’s time for <i>Siesta</i>.“</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<i>Siesta</i>?”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Yes, which means I’m getting ready to leave and that you need to leave… Now. Don’t fret though, we’ll be reopening... in THREE HOURS."</span></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is real life.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><strike>To Be Continued... (Excuse the interruption, but I'm on the way to a tour of the Monumento de Torre!)</strike></i></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Accordingly, after a loud lunch with the entire<i> familia</i> at 2 or 3, people take the time during the afternoon <i>siesta</i> to nap at home in front of the TV or spend time relaxing with friends. The rest of the day is pretty much a throw-away, since shop owners return in the evening for a mere two hours, more or less, to round out the work day. Even if a store or restaurant is open after 7, it's a crap shoot whether or not its owner is on the premises, since it's pretty common for the employees to abandon the storefront on a whim, meander across the plaza and smoke a cigarette with whomever happens to still be manning their post. At that, please note: Everyone and their <i>madre</i> smokes in Spain! The air is regularly clouded with a cigarette haze and people make a habit of smoking in their private homes. Even though it's illegal here to smoke inside businesses, there's nothing wrong with standing on, near, or a half-step across the threshold while you toke on your <i>cigarillo</i>. If you plan on visiting, bring your eye drops and a respirator!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the sun sets and people return to their homes, there's a lot of down time until dinner at 9, 10, or 11 at night. Nothing makes me feel more like an outsider than when my stomach is growling at 7 at the two-year-old is still running around the house at 10:30 while dinner is being prepared. Although lunch is typically heavy and hearty--<i>tortillas españolas</i> made from diced potatoes or green beans and egg; any assortment of fried foods like ham-filled <i>croquetas</i>, french fries, or whole fish (head, scales, and fins still in tact); seafood or meat paella--dinner is instead a small ham sandwich, a light salad, or garbanzo bean or lentil and vegetable soup.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The custom of sleeping all afternoon makes more sense when the night gets under way. Young people and older couples alike flock to the bars for even more socializing. Because it's still winter, the cold winds continue to blow in from the Atlantic across the <i>Bahía de Cádiz</i>, but nightclubbers (local and those coming from the ever-present cruise ships alike) can find shelter here in the <i>Casco Viejo. </i>This part of Cádiz is older than its newer, sprawling addition. Its northernmost quadrant, the neighborhood radiating outward from the <i>Plaza de San Francisco, </i>is a labyrinth of impossibly narrow streets where cubbyhole tapas bars get the party started with cheap, locally-brewed Cruzcampo beer, tiny <i>chupitos</i> of liquor, or <i>tinto, vino</i>, and--for the youths--a mixed drink of wine and Coca Cola. After that, around when the clubs open at 4 AM, everyone heads to <i>La Punta</i> where everyone dances to loud, poppy Spanish songs or outdated American Top-40 hits until 6 or 7 in the morning. There's a rumor that some of these places have an arbitrarily imposed cover charge of 5€, but it apparently tends to be waived if you're attractive and female, or male and friendly with the doorkeepers.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photos to be added soon of my experiences so far during the day and night, as well as photos of Cádiz from on top of the city in the <i>Torre Tavira!</i></span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-38739797657575519632012-01-16T14:15:00.000-08:002012-01-30T06:55:14.783-08:00sábado, domingo, lunes...<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone I've met, and everything I've experienced here so far in Cådiz is absolutely and wonderfully dashing my expectations to bits. Little more than 56 hours ago I had so many doubts and concerns about my ability to acclimate to a new time zone let alone an entirely different culture, but the rhythm of the life of <i>los Gaditanos</i> has proven to have a pretty captivating beat.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As previously mentioned, <i>la ciudad</i> has been busy this weekend with several exciting pre-Carnival events, which not only granted the other Dawgs and I a tiny glimpse at what is to come during Carnival (February 16th-26th), but also the opportunity to introduce ourselves to the city and to <i>los ciudadanos</i>. As an Ugly American, I fully expected to be ignored--or worse, targeted--by the locals but in reality I've experienced quite the opposite. First, imagine <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8XeOXK595b_NLFvgdJHxNMbep-NnRQs-zdLeNoZD7GJ1NsPt6cySjKbXWLEPoTSe0h2gm3ugHgXtmOGyWGi7pDzb-fJihS19GNpF-M01dLs04Lawu4uXKVge8dC-9XF0FN2DmsKK9x9YG/s400/CADIZ0347.jpg" target="_blank">this plaza</a> spilling over with hundreds of people between the ages of 15 to 80, with a stage constructed at one end and music flooding the square. Then, image that on all sides, people are eager to hand you free <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><i>pestiños</i> (honey-dipped fritters), Anise</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">, and<i> </i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>manzanilla</i> (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">dry sherry), and as much as you can hold at a time! You'd have to literally try--and try hard--to feel unwelcome when everyone is so eager to include you in the celebration.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">On Sunday afternoon the fiesta continued with </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>Erizada </i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i>Ostionada</i>, appropriately named for the free treats handed out on that day. Equally free, but certainly less popular with me than the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>pestiños</i> from the night before. Yes, beer (FREE beer) goes great with sea food, but I am not, nor ever will I be, an "oyster person." And, for the gringos back home, an <i>erizo</i> is a sea urchin. Tasty...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first day of our two-week long orientation/intensive review began early this morning at the University of Cádiz<i> </i>(UCA) and my one-month long hiatus from classes has finally come to an end. We won't officially begin our language, literature, history, and what-have-you classes until later this month, but it's been a nice introduction so far. My temporary professor, Paco, has a great sense of humor and our minute, nine-person group has already established a pretty strong bond. I look forward to continue practicing and reviewing Spanish over the next couple days; discussion-based exercises are my favorite because it's less about mindless repetition and more about legitimately considering how to adequately express your ideas (<i>a veces más difícil de lo que parece...)</i>. However, the weather has proven to be more reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest than is desirable. I know I've always complained about the fact that UW has a tendency to jack up the heat when the thermometer drops below, like, 72°, but you will not find an HVAC system here no matter how hard you try. My poor suede boots are still thoroughly soaked and the highs were in the low-fifties today. At least if I lose a toe or two I have free, localized health coverage through UCA. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, <i>gracias a Dios</i> for pleasant surprises! My parents would be quick to tell you how easily I bring myself to hysterics worrying about things that never come to be, and now I'm aware that this is probably another one of those situations. I'll tell you that up until the last second of the train ride from Jerez I was imaging a huge, foreign city full of muggers (thanks, Mom), crazy Gypsies (again...), mumbly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Gaditanos</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and nowhere to call home.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But, you know what they say about assumptions...</span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0Cadiz, Spain36.5296879 -6.292656899999997236.4789859 -6.3385683999999971 36.5803899 -6.2467453999999973tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-54868494363068936542012-01-14T11:39:00.000-08:002012-01-14T11:39:59.859-08:00"Wait, what time is it?"<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel like I've lost a day somewhere between sleeping on the flight, changing time zones, taking the train, napping <i>a mi casa</i>... Yikes! It's all very disorienting, but at least now that I've arrived in Cádiz, I can finally begin adjusting to life abroad.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Of course, this is easier said than done! With my internal body clock stuck nine hours behind, meals and rest are awkward, uncomfortable things. When I calculate what time it is in Seattle as compared to here, I realize that I'm eating lunch at 5 AM and taking a <i>siesta</i> when I'm sure my friends back home are just getting the party started.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With all this in mind, my host mamá is wonderfully accommodating. "<i>Sé que no come la carne roja, sí?" </i>She also must have excellent cardiovascular health, considering the woman practically flew up the three flights of VERY narrow stairs to her home with my 50-pound luggage and myself in tow. Marie has been wonderful in helping me get settled in here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Again, I'll have to get some photos up at a later time, but for now, a quick description of my new home will have to suffice: As previously mentioned, we are located on the third floor, above a man who lives with two dogs, one cat, and what sounds like a million birds. Like my own parakeet at home, they seem to settle down after sunset but at any other time during the day our entire floor is flooded with incessant chirping and squawking. It's pretty funny! The entire span of the Guzmán residence is like one long hallway, with windows facing the northeast and the <i>salas</i>, bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen along the opposite wall. Everything is burnt orange, rich yellow, terracotta, or <i>azul</i>, which brings me some minor sense of comfort knowing both my host mother and my real mom have similar tastes (miss you, mommy!).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While our orientation at the University doesn't begin until Monday morning, there is enough to keep me, Jason, and the other Dawgs busy until then! Tonight at the <i>Plaza de San Francisco </i>we <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">will be celebrating</span><i> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Pastiñada</i> as part of the events leading up to Carnival. I've heard that there's free food, free drinks, and we will get the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">first chance to listen to some of the groups that will be participating in the carnival competition in February. Jason's host </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">mamá also made very certain that we were aware that there will be plenty of <i>cerveza gratis</i> tomorrow during the rest of the pre-carnival events (more o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">n <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Erizada</i> and <i>Ostionada</i> later, I'm sure).</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">I miss you, America!</span></span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0Calle de Cervantes, 20, 11004 Cadiz, Spain36.5337852 -6.299000599999999436.533780199999995 -6.2990075999999995 36.5337902 -6.2989935999999993tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7135619848571580549.post-6908172336126027302012-01-13T10:28:00.000-08:002012-01-13T10:32:52.811-08:00We've Landed!<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well, we (Jason and I) made it to Spain in one piece. I can't say much about the 10 hour flight due to the fact that approximately 20 minutes in to the in-flight viewing of <i>The Hangover II</i>, both of us promptly passed out and didn't awaken until the wheels touched the tarmac in London. What I CAN say about it: THANK GOD. I hate flying, especially when you're in a cabin that is kept at a stifling 900 million degrees (Fahrenheit or Celsius; either way I'm grateful I was unconscious for the duration).</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our scheduled one-and-a-half hour layover in London turned out to be a 10 minute layover in London-- long enough for me to find a very much desired Diet Coke vending machine and curse the stupid thing to hell for only accepting Euros (which I hadn't yet acquired). God, dammit.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're here now in Madrid for the night at an adorable hotel called the Hotel Mediodia. It's literally 360 feet from the train station where, tomorrow, we'll depart for Cádiz! But, I'm getting ahead of myself. We arrived at the hotel by taxi at around 5 o' clock, and of course the first and only thing I had in mind after a day's worth of travel is a long, hot shower. Jason, too, took a moment to wash away all the grit, grime, and sweat a traveller seems to inevitably accumulate, and then promptly fell asleep.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After he wakes, I'm hoping that we'll have an hour or two later this evening to grab a meal and a drink somewhere nearby. There are so many cute shops, restaurants, and cafes all around the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Plaza de Atocha (full name: <i>Plaza del Emperador Carlos V</i>, what a mouth full!), where the Atocha railway station is located. It's too bad we didn't schedule a day or two of site seeing here in Madrid, since we have a very, very early train departure tomorrow morning and won't have the opportunity to go exploring.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">One more thing before I wake "Sleeping Beauty" and go find some <i>comida</i>;<i> </i>an interesting realization I had during the taxi ride from the airport: Oddly enough, I feel more comfortable and at ease here in <i>España </i>than I do when my friends and I visit Canada. I'll definitely have to muse on it a bit more as to why that is!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Until the next update, and until I can get some photos up, here's a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_del_Emperador_Carlos_V">link</a> to a Wiki article about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaza_del_Emperador_Carlos_V">Plaza</a>. The subject of the photo featured in the article can be seen from our fifth-floor hotel room! See? Doesn't it make you want to go exploring?</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Also, if you look just below this posting where it says "Location: Madrid, Spain" you can click the link, zoom in on Google Maps, and check out the street view of where we are. It's practically like you're looking out my hotel window with me. (:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">Lots of love from your <i>Raquelita favorita</i>.</span></span></div>Rachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04493742278746133213noreply@blogger.com0Madrid, Spain40.408558879617487 -3.692349711114502540.242835379617489 -3.8778472111145024 40.574282379617486 -3.5068522111145026