weekend happenings

as i'm sitting in my little dorm room with scattered dirty laundry and over 10 to-do lists littering my desk, my attempt to get some homework out of the way has officially been put on hold to reflect on an incredible weekend in my new place of residence. most importantly, gelato was consumed every day and i have officially decided (upon various tastings) that Los Italianos has both the best quality and prices in all of granada...my addiction continues.
since it had been scorching hot in my part of the Iberian peninsula (pushing 100), saturday during the day was fairly uneventful. but, as the sun went down and temperature followed suit, i emerged from the air conditioned residencia to partake in what is sure to be one of the most fantastic spanish evenings thus far. the evening started off right with two delicious local tapas restaurants.
***here is an important time to interject and explain the 'tapas' concept, for those who have been missing out. a tapa is a small plate of food that is served (for free) when you order a drink. these small plates can consist of eggs and potatoes, fried meat with potato chips, mixed vegetables with sauce, and basically tons of meat dishes. this tradition only really remains in granada, so if you want to get on this magic you must come visit!!!
continuing on...after filling up on tapas and tintos, we met up with some spanish students who took us to a cool, cozy salsa dancing bar. i whipped out those salsa moves i learned from ucsb and did my best...i may need a refresher course or two. it was a blast--epic time dancing with friends and getting some lessons from the more experienced salsa guys. after salsa dancing for a couple hours, it was time to move on to more dancing at a little discoteca near our dorm. the california girls broke it down on the dance floor. it is moments such as these that remind me that making a fool out of myself while busting out dance moves and laughing with good company are two simple things that make life a little richer. anywho, it was a night to remember.

the following sunday was full of outdoor adventure. since granada is conveniently located at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountains, our little EAP group took a bus to the base of the lower range to do some beautiful hiking in a semi-bizarre terrain: super rocky, few pines, interesting rock formations... in short, it was gorgeous and a great work out. there's something about the outdoors that helps to put everything in perspective.

alrighty, i feel like there is so much to write and so little time. plus, i don't want to bore you guys just yet. more to come soon!

one week of semi-reality

thursday marked the completion of my first week of ILP (intensive language program, courtesy of the university of california). schooling consists of 5 classes taught by spanish professors from 9:00am to 2:00pm, monday through thursday. how to explain this new bit of life? first of all, i dare say that grammar is my favorite class. was that statement really just made? yes mom, grammar class kicks major bootie. while all the teachers are fantastic stereotypical spanish men, my grammar teacher is by far the best with his constant comedy acts, billowing chest hair, tapa/tinto belly, and zest for his language. finally, some spanish grammar is clicking!
there are other classes, however, (cough, literature and oral comprehension) which still remain more difficult and harder to understand. since these crazy southern spaniards to do not pronounce the letters 's' or 'd' the majority of the time and tend to transform 5 word phrases into 3 syllable inaudible sounds, communication can have its difficulties. what's the beef with 's' and 'd', spain? you're killing me!
the ecstasy of summer and summer traveling made me forget those pesky details of school, such as homework, studying, and mental exhaustion of constant spanish (and sometimes pure frustration). and where do i immediately go when this bit of reality hits? coffee shop!! hence, the study session at Cafe Lisboa.

more business taken care of this week: i found a gym! first of all, gyms here are nothing like those in america with their AC, 24 hour facilities, free water, or people who sweat. no, no, no, the spanish gyms are a different breed. the best part about it is that i found a fun group of california girls to take spinning classes with. and i'm in love. spinning is incredible--great workout and the most hilarious instructor i've ever seen. we get our butts kicked while listening to Cotton Eye Joe, Kanye West throw backs, and other past american hits while dancing like michael jackson. seriously, i wish i could film a class. i'll work on it.

alright, i need to get my rear in gear and head out into the world. i just must note, that i am in a hardcore kind of love with this city. most of the time i'm in awe that i'm here. i'll leave the juicy details of this romance for next blog.

here's a pic with some california girls celebrating the completion of the first week of classes with some drinks and yummy tapas in a little plaza near our residencia. the evening was full of laughter, attempting to speak exclusively in spanish, and strolling the city with the rest of the granada folk.

california kids take over granada

i made it to the dorms last friday along with the other 60-something university of california students. since 2:30pm that day, it has been a whirlwind of granada exploring, two-a-day gelato runs, ridiculous spanish evenings, and laughing till it hurts with hilarious new friends. i feel like it may be easier to capture this week in bullet points, so here it goes:
- the picture above is my fav plaza. it's called bib-rambla and has several restaurants, a churreria (light-ish tube shaped donuts deliciously made and then dipped in chocolate. can you say heaven?), funkilish fountain, and prime people watching with fairly comfortable benches.
- i've now learned the spaniards are all about descansas (rests). for example, we start class at 9:00am, go for an hour or so, have an hour break, maybe go back for another couple hours, then it's siesta time. siesta time = 2:00-5:30pm nap where all stores, most restaurants, and basically the whole city shut their doors to do some hardcore sleeping, resting, and visiting with friends and family. once it's time to enter the outside world again, there's a couple hours of exploration before everything shuts down (if it opened back up) and then it's time for tapas.
- spain is all about carbs, meat, fried anything, and pastries. how they stay so skinny is beyond me.
- a young person's social weekend calendar consists of meeting up with friends at 12:00pm, hanging in a plaza till 3:00am, then heading to a discoteca (shortly after the doors open), dancing like there's no tomorrow, then walking home at 7:30am. i have now particpated in one true college student Spanish evening--it was lots of fun, but lets just say i need to work up my stamina
- gelato can quickly become a serious addiction. i now look at everything in term of gelatos. my mind: "should i get a hairdryer? i dunno...that's like 18 gelatos. my hair can survive without it."
- these uc kids are fantastic. ironically, i have mainly been hanging with santa barbara folk. sometimes, i guess you have to come to spain to meet people in your own school.
- people do NOT run on the streets during the day. ya, a group of us figured this out when there were locals pointing, laughing, honking horns, and yelling inaudible things in spanish as we trotted down the cobblestones. i guess the responses could also have been due to the fact we almost died of heat exhaustion, and practically swam in a fountain. hmm.

i think i've blabbed on enough for today. so here's some visual entertainment.


here are two of those crazy sb kids in a tetería aka a moroccan tea shop. basically, my new hang out spot--sipping tea with epic/semi- eerie music, candles, delish tea, cave atmosphere, crepes, and funny friends.


here is a group of us getting some coffee and some tapas to begin the evening at 10:30pm. i'm still getting a handle on the spanish time schedule

a sneak peak

this past week in Granada was well spent eating, exploring, and relaxing---in addition to being remarkably successful on many fronts. first of all, Dave and i probably walked the majority of the little alleyways in granada, getting lost and in return, making epic discoveries. for example: potential running area by the river, top gelato shops, soccer (futbol) obsessed irish pubs, MEXICAN FOOD RESTAURANT (this may be my saving grace), peaceful courtyards, and billions of tapas bars.
we also were able to start my student visa process with the spanish police department--always an interesting experience. possibly most exciting is that I FOUND AN APARTMENT. as a prime example of the funny ways life works, i met my new landlord through i young woman who helps run the place Dave and i are currently staying in. i went into her office to ask about how this whole renting thing works --> she called Guillermo who happened to have a couple rooms available. needless to say the place was a hit--safe neighborhood, 5 rooms (currently just two other rooms are rented by a French gal and another european chica), only a 5 minute walk from the burrito place (a girl has to have her priorities haha), close to downtown, has a little balcony, and is clean! plus, my rent is ridiculously cheaper than santa barbara...kind of funny.
while i won't move into the apartment for at least 3 weeks i was able to take a couple of pics to give all a little sneak preview :)

this is my place from the street. i live on the second floor and am the balcony farthest to the right

here is Katrina--my first visitor to Granada! what a wonderful visit it was!!! i was so happy to be able to hang with her and show off my new home town. this is my alleyway to the front door.

here is my bedroom. the other half of the room not shown has a desk, closet, and a few chairs

kitchen

living room with funky furniture

now, i am getting ready to go meet up with the other 66 students from the UC program and move into the dorms. again, this is a beautiful old facility. here i will start my intensive language course, sign up for classes, and get partnered up with a Spanish student attending the university to help with the transition and random questions.
i better get going and finish packing, but i will write more soon as the next phase of my adventure begins :)

back in España and exploring my new home

time has already passed by way too quickly--i think that is going to be a common experience throughout the year. after we left the sleepy beach town of Salema in Portugal, we set our sights on Sevilla, Spain. although the city claimed the title of hottest spot in the country, we were able to enjoy and explore this unique southern city comfortably. here we ate tapas like the locals at 10:30pm, checked out Alcazar (a Moorish style palace ironically built by the Christians), saw a Flamenco dancing performance (and fell in love with Flamenco guitar), and got lost in the tiny streets of the old section.
after two nights in Sevilla we were Granada bound and anxious to see my new home. my first impression is a good one: gelato shops line each corner, people are friendly and patient with my choppy spanish, the city is small, but vibrant with a definite urban feel, and the Alhambra is gorgeous. as of now, the city is mostly full of tourists (and the Spaniards are off on vacation at the beaches) so i have yet to get a true feel for Granada life. i must admit that i'm a tad bit apprehensive and get overwhelmed when thinking about a year here, but overall the feeling is a positive one and i'm doing my best to look at parts of the adventure instead of the whole picture.
here are some pics concluding our trip. mom is now back in davis and i'm already missing her immensely. what did people do before skype?

sevilla: view from the top of the cathedral

sevilla: morrish design inside Alcazar

sevilla: mom displaying the super skinny streets, called kissing streets. these little cobbled alleyways are woven throughout the old section and make getting lost easy, but enjoyable

sevilla: flamenco dancing finale

granada: view over the old section of the city

granada: shopping area with canvas covered streets to protect shoppers from the heat...pretty ingenious

granada: a typical street in the old section: cobbled, shops and restaurants lining the sides with lots of people strolling

granada: the family in the alhambra palace

granada: alhambra palace interior

granada: alhambra palace from "Mirador S. Nicolas," my new spot to watch the sunset

relaxing on the southern coast

we are now in Salema, Portugal and the wondrous elements of the ocean have worked their magical ways once again. with the sound of the waves and extra soft sand caked on our feet, any remanence of travel weary exhaustion has been washed away. despite the fact that it is the height of the tourist season, this place somehow still feels quaint and genuine. from 10:00am to 9:00pm the beach is full of sun lovers and little kids playing in the sand. every shape, size, and age can be found on the beach in the tiniest suit they can find--such freedom!
tomorrow it is back to Spain and getting closer to Granada.
included are some pics of Évora, another fun spot :)

évora: ancient roman ruins

évora: the city was built around an aqueduct. over time people built there homes right into the side!

évora: this is a typical street--cobblestones, white walls, and yellow trim believed to keep evil spirits out.

évora: at the top of the 12th cent. church

salema: the beach and beach-goers

salema: lovely parents enjoying their morning coffee on the deck with a view

salema: despite the increase in tourism and all that comes with it, some things never change. an older portuguese man and his compatriots look through their nets to unveil the catch of day while the seagulls hope for a treat.

**last thoughts on Portugal--i absolutely love the taste i've had of this fascinating country. i wish i could articulate the uniqueness of this place better, but there's an authenticity and older feel that is pretty captivating. the great food, lively people, and complex culture have me intrigued...i'll be back here someday :)

hello from Portugal!

we arrived in this new and unique country about a week ago and I’m still trying to grasp what makes this place so different from the other cities and cultures I have experienced. first of all, I am truly enjoying Portuguese culture, people, vast history, and food—lots of good carbs in all forms and delicious meat  the best way for me to describe the city of Lisbon, the nation’s capital, is as an old, less westernized/Americanized European city. the city is literally all black and white cobblestones in different designs with tall buildings covered in bright tiles. laundry still hangs from lines on every floor—including at ground level, and the city’s diverse population clearly embodies their history of exploration and occupation in various nations. the monuments and people also reflect their recent civil war and change to a democracy in 1974 after years under a dictator. my initial misinterpretation of Lisbon as rough and less friendly has since been more accurately replaced with a better understanding and appreciation for a different type of beauty and rich culture.
now, we are relaxing in a walled city outside of the capital called Évora. once again, the town is full of history from ancient Roman ruins to 12th century churches. pictures to come :)
another interesting thing about Portugal is that there are so few Americans traveling here! so far, we have probably met/heard less than 10 Americans—it’s kinda neat 

Lisbon...main walking street with cobblestones and Tejo River ahead

Lisbon

Lisbon...the city is full of yellow street cars like this one. the idea actually came from San Francisco's cablecars...California makes its contribution :)

Sintra...tilework on castle out of a fairytale novel

Sintra (15 miles north of Lisbon)...the fairytale castle aka the Pena Palace and escape for royals

Sintra...back of castle with view of the Moorish Castle ruins

Sintra...the Moorish castle. We were able to clim on top of these ancient walls and look up at the castle above. Just doing our thing and castle hopping for the day haha

Lisbon...nieghborhood called Belem. this is the Tower of Belem, which was built to protect Lisbon's harbor and was the departing and arrival spot of the great voyagers.