During our trip to southern Spain we made three stops; first to Granada, then to Sevilla, and lastly to Cordoba. Unfortunately our stop in Cordoba was only for a few hours, but in that time I was able to make it to the Mezquita. The Mezquita is probably one of the most unique structures I will see during my studies in Spain. The rows of orange and white arches “de medio punto” clearly create a Moorish mosque feeling, however placed between and surrounding the arches are various catholic idols and paintings. Also, randomly placed in the middle of the mosque is a giant white and gold cathedral. In my art and architecture class, I learned that several emirs or Moorish kings helped to extend the Mezquita to its current size by continuously adding arches. We also learned that in the 1500's, Carlos V destroyed part of the mosque to construct this giant structure right in the middle. It is hard to put into words how randomly placed all of the catholic idols were. The architecture as well was so uniquely mismatched between the Moorish arches and the cathedral. It was a very interesting and almost weird site to see.

This is a picture of my first Flamenco show in a small restaurant called “ “ in Granada. From the beginning of our trip to Andalucia, I was determined to find a Flamenco show. This little restaurant is where I fell in love with Flamenco. When we arrived, I really didn't know what to expect. The performance area was created by the u-shape formation of the tables and was very small. At first, I couldn't fathom how the dancer would be able to perform in such a small space , but when the show began, the lack of space didn't matter anymore. The show began with only music created by only singing, clapping, and guitar. After the first song, she began to dance. Prior to the show I knew that Flamenco was a dance created by gypsy's, but I had no idea how passionate the dance actually is. As she danced, she would look around the room at each person and stare you down. Her impassioned glare would burn in your eyes. After the show, I was eager to find out more about the dance. I learned that Flamenco is thought to be evolved from many sources including Morocco, Greece, Egypt, Pakistan, and India. Later, Jewish and Arab elements were added to the music. I also found out that most Flamenco songs express pain and the voice of the singer always closely interacts with the improvised guitar.

Alhambra

This is just one of the hundreds of pictures I took of one of the most beautiful places I have ever been: The Alhambra in Granada. The whole palace is completely covered in intricate carvings. I learned in the Alhambra museum that the fort was first constructed for military reasons. In the thirteenth century, it became the residence of Moorish royalty. The Nasrid Palaces were the most impressive part of the Alhambra. There were rooms covered in crazy patterns on the ceiling and walls. Some rooms would open up into beautiful gardens with either a fountain or reflection pool. Others would lead into more rooms of intricate carvings. Many of the windows in each room had a stunning view of the city. The gardens outside of the palace were amazing as well. I cannot imagine what they would look like in full bloom. I loved the Generlife as well where the kings would retreat to relax. It was a pretty white house surrounded by gardens of shrubs, fountains, and rose bushes. It had an amazing view overlooking the city as well. I hope to return in the summer to see it in full bloom.

Old With New

One of the things that I have absolutely loved about Segovia so far is the mix between old and new throughout the city. In this picture of a side street, you can see on the left a building that might be in need of a little refurbishing. The building on the left looks much newer like it has recently been refurbished. Throughout the city, ancient churches are next door to rebuilt streets and buildings. In Humanities, we discussed the various images of the city, from the image of a human body to a machine. The one that I can most relate to the cities that I've seen so far is the idea of a Palimpsest. The city is like a parchment, constantly being re-written with the construction of new buildings and the reconstruction of old buildings. When walking down the street, you can always spot a place where new plaster on a building wall is cracking and revealing the old stone underneath. I love how this gives the city some much character. This city as a history going far beyond that of any city I can think of in the United States. Before coming here, I could never fathom a city having as deep a history as one like Segovia.

Pork Country

So because I was walking and taking pictures at the same time, this picture came out a little blurry, but I love how this sign reflects the glory of the pig in Spain. I feel like I have had almost every type of pork possible here: ribs, loin, and even the blood (sausage=horrible). Fortunately, I have not had the opportunity to savor any pig ears yet, but my Senora has promised me the opportunity to try very soon. When I came to Spain, I knew that pork was very popular here, but I had no idea that almost seven meals a week would include some pork product. My Senora actually has a smoked pork leg hanging in the kitchen. In America, this would be considered extremely weird and disgusting, but here it is as common as having a bowl of fruit in the kitchen. Another extremely strange tradition that I may avoid during my first trip here is suckling pig. A whole baby pig is cooked and brought out to the table, head and all. I'm sure it is very good, but I have to get over the fact that the pig is only a baby and I have to see it's head before I eat it first...

Coca Castle

This past weekend we went on our second excursion on La Ruta de Los Castillos. These pictures are of our first stop in Coca. This castle was by far my favorite on our trip. As you can see, it was so large that I couldn't get all of it in the same picture. We learned during the tour that it was built by Don Alonso sometime in the 1400's. Our tour guide discussed the Mudejar style of the castle as well. The castle walls clearly illustrate the Moorish influence with it's intricate designs and various patterned tiles. Recently, the castle was restored and made into a college for students studying Forestry. The tour led us through several different rooms and out to the roof of the castle. From the top there was a beautiful view of the city. In the castle, one room was called the Room of Secrets. You could whisper into the corner and someone else could hear the whisper on the other side of the room, as if they were standing right next to you.

There was another interesting room as well where prisoners would be kept. They were dropped in from a hole in the ceiling so that their legs would break to keep them from escaping. It was a very creepy room to be standing in.

Alcazar

Here is picture of the Castle in Segovia, Alcazar. Luckily, I was able to get this shot during one of the only sunny days that we have had here so far. I ran all over town to get pictures of everything with a blue sky. The photos of the castle just don't do it justice. It is almost unreal being next to something that most experience only in movies and fairy tales. I almost half expected to see a dragon pop up from behind one of the towers. The view surrounding the castle is amazingly beautiful as well. Everything is still pretty green for the middle of winter, which is pretty weird to me. There is a small path that circles the castle through the woods with a river running along side. I took a ton of pictures to try to capture how beautiful the sun was running through the trees and reflecting off the river. I wish I were in shape enough to run the path, but I doubt that will happen any time soon. I know that you can take a tour inside the castle, which hopefully I will be doing soon.

The Food

Chocolate con churros, a Spanish tradition that I can definitely get use to! I loved sitting around in a Cafe with friends, socializing and eating this AMAZING snack. It is pretty crazy how differently they eat here. Breakfast is only toast and some coffee. Lunch does not come around until between two and three in the afternoon, followed by dinner between ten and ten thirty at night. I do not know if I am ever going to be able to adjust myself to the eating schedule. While the eating hours are a little strange, I do LOVE the food. Everything is so fresh here. The pork is literaly cut from a pig leg haning out in the kitchen. The fruits, vegetables, and cheeses are so fresh as well. I wish I could eat this well back in the States, but unfortunatly, our food is packed with preservatives:( The idea of having a drink here is completly different as well. Having a beer or glass of wine at literally almost any time of the day is ok. The drinks are tiny compared to home as well, which is probably why I don't see very many beer bellies here.

The Aqueduct

Here is the aqueduct, one of the main tourist attractions of Segovia. It runs through the town, this picture being where it is highest. This is just one of the many pictures I have of the aqueduct. I just love the light dusting of snow on the aqueduct and the buildings next to it. The aqueduct use to run all the way to the mountains, but unfortunately does not make it quite that far anymore. We have learned about how its construction is such a mystery to modern architects. It was built by the Romans centuries and centuries ago without any mortar, and is still standing tall today. When you look at it up close, it is amazing to see how perfect each of the arcs are formed. In my culture class we learned that if we touch the aqueduct with both hands, we will return to Segovia in the future, so of course, I made sure to touch the aqueduct. I still can't grasp how this amazing structure, built by the Romans, is still standing.

The Cathedral

Here is the cathedral in Segovia. It definitely does not look as big in the picture as it is in person. I love how the snow dusts the top of the building in this picture. The school where I attend classes is right next door, so I get to view this beautiful sight every day! There are so many beautiful things to see in Segovia. I have never visited a place that has so much history and personality. The roads are all tiny and cobblestone. Many of the buildings have been renovated, but you can definitely still see how old they are in the large wooden doors or the old brick and stone under the cracked layers of plaster. I cannot imagine always living in a place like this. It is so beautiful that I would be afraid that I would take all of the beautiful architecture and landscape for granted. I will only be here for three months, but I hope in that short period of time that I do not start to take these sights for granted myself.