Cordoba y Granada

Our group trip to Cordoba and Granada was a really great way for me to spend my last weekend in Spain before going back to the states. It was a distraction, something new and different, and allowed me to experience two highly influential cities in Andalucia.

Here are some highlights:

• La mezquita (the mosque) de Cordoba was amazing. It was built to be a mosque ages ago, when Cordoba (along with a huge portion of the Iberian peninsula) was primarily controlled by Muslims. Later, when Christians reclaimed the city, they converted the mosque into a cathedral, even incorporating the minaret into the cathedral's bell tower. While I've heard that it is still used by Muslims and Christians as a place of worship, I don't think that's actually true (sadly).
• La juderia (the Jewish quarter of Cordoba) was a cute, old area of the city, home to one of Spain's three (that's not a typo...only three) synagogues. It was a tiny, modest synagogue with a lot of history. I joined in on another group's walking tour...always the best.
• On Saturday, a group of friends and I set out on a walk to get a feel for Granada, and ended up on a hike to the viewpoint of the Alhambra. Gorgeous. It's at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range and looks out over the entire city. Yay for random adventures that lead to even better and more random adventures.
• FLAMENCO show y TAPAS. Yep. It was my first flamenco show and was so much fun. The best was when a 7-year-old girl came up on stage and began to dance. Trying to get there was also fun. It's in the part of the city that Rick Steves describes as "dangerous". There are supposedly caves where people wait for potentially-stupid tourists to rob. Sounds sketchy, but we had absolutely no problems.
• A hotel (not a hostel) and continental breakfast. Enough said.
• A tour around the Alhambra on Sunday morning. It is possibly even more beautiful on the inside than it was from the outside.

We got back Sunday evening and I prepared for my two-day school week before heading HOME.

Cutest Nene Ever

This is Manuel, who would technically be my host nephew. He's 21 months old and absolutely adorable. My host mother watches him on the weekdays, so we've become great buddies. He calls me "nena" because he can't pronounce "Allison" ("nena" meaning "girl"). I love communicating with Manuel. It's refreshing to speak in three-word sentences every once in awhile. His favorite words are "agua" (water) and "colega" (buddy). He has become attached to my teddy bear ("guau guau") and is fascinated by my computer and itunes playlist.

I think my host mother is secretly happy that I love kids and says that she's impressed by my babysitting skills. She's relieved when I get home from classes and has even told me that she'd sometimes prefer cooking and doing housework. Having Manuel, while fun, is also a ton of work. As I mentioned before, he loves water and will wander into the bathroom to play in the toilet, fill the bidet, etc. But I don't mind keeping him preoccupied. It makes my day a little happier.

Weather Update

It is now the end of October and I still can't believe the weather here. The forecast for the week is 80s. Eighties, people. You might not believe me, but this picture was taken just over a week ago. Incredible.

Naranjales y Olivares y Catedrales: Sevilla!

Sevilla is an absolutely stunning city that I plan on spending much more time exploring during the upcoming months. It's a fairly easy 1.5-hour bus ride away from Cadiz and it is well worth the trip. I know Sevilla is high on Mama's list of places to see, so I'll share a bit about the trip.

Sevilla Fun Facts:

• It's famous for its orange trees or "naranjales", which line the streets of Sevilla and supposedly produce an amazing aroma during the winter months.
• The Guadalquivir River runs through the city, which made Sevilla an important part of commerce in the early days.
• Its cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in all of Europe and it would be an understatement to call it impressive.
• Sevilla is the capital of Andalucia (the southernmost region of Spain).
• It is part of the area of Spain known as the "frying pan". This makes sense, I suppose, seeing as it was over 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle of October.
• Its Semana Santa celebrations (Easter) are apparently amazing.
• The architecture of the city was greatly influenced by Muslims who controlled the southern half of the Iberian peninsula centuries ago.
• For more information on Sevilla, click here.
  

My Papa

It's been a rough week in Cadiz, due mainly to my Papa's passing and the great Atlantic that separates me from home and family. I have been thinking of them all constantly and am at peace knowing that Papa is in a better place now, while I would give anything to have him back home watching CAL games, playing dice, and drinking coffee with hazelnut coffee-mate (one of the commonalities between Papa and me, and one that will make me think of him every single morning).

My Papa was, and will continue to be, in spirit, an amazing man. He tops the list of the most ethical and dedicated people I have ever met. Papa had a humble yet strong presence about him and was well-respected by every person who had the great fortune of knowing him.

When faced with the decision of whether to make a last-minute trip home to say "goodbye", I chose to stay in Spain. I have always had a good relationship with my Papa and there was nothing more that needed to be said. I loved him, and will always love him, and he knows that.

So in my mind, Papa will always be one with a quiet and omnipresent zest for life, one who modeled the most deeply desired and respected character traits, one who always loved his home and his growing family and life, one who was sincerely interested in the pursuits of his children and grandchildren, and one who showed me (by example) that strength comes from within.

I'll remember Papa's endless stories from his childhood with John and our family's pride the day he was inducted into the CAL Hall of Fame. I'll remember the amazing week we spent in Hawaii and how he teased me for "feeding the fish" and my nose piercing. I'll remember days at the Lair, celebrating tradition, and times at the Biltmore, celebrating family and our deep and remarkable love.

Thank you for everything, Papa. May your strength live on in all of us as we strive to make you proud.

My Brain On Overload

Want a peek into my brain over the past few weeks? Here are a few of the thoughts that I’ve had:

• Gaditanos are some of the most optimistic people I’ve ever met.
• I would truly love to drop-kick my laptop out my 9-story window (and related: of course my sketchy stolen wifi must stop working completely this week).
• Churches are actually gorgeous and very peaceful if you take the time to actually go in and sit down.
• I’ve never felt more disorganized in my life. I hate the semester system.
• I wonder how many handfuls of candy corn and Reese’s peanut butter cups and dark chocolate squares and peppermint patties I can fit in my stomach before midnight.
• This nine-hour time difference really, really sucks.
• I love my family more than anything in the world.
  

Belated Photos

My Room!

My room here is adorable and somewhat resembles a child's nursery. The pillowcase I brought from home is a perfect match to the gold/pale blue/royal blue theme we have going on. My little stuffed bear adorns my cute little bed. And I think my laundry hamper is maybe the funniest one I've ever seen. It's a duck! I've made good use out of the shelving space, and have put up letters and souvenirs and movies and good books to make it seem more like home. I have purposely excluded photos of my desk; it's a mess, just like i'm used to!