Grecia

Before I came to Spain this semester I had a pretty good idea of the places I wanted to visit. Many of which I am not going to make it to such as Prague, Munich, or Vienna. One place that I had not even considered traveling to was Greece. When people began to plan what to do for Semana Santa I decided to join a group bound for the ancient country because there was not really much of an alternative. It’s a good thing I did because Greece ended up being probably one of the funnest and most unique trips we’ll take all semester.

To begin the trip we flew in to Athens and arrived at our hostel around 1 am so we did just went to bed and the next day (Thursday) we went down to the port, had a gyro (a cheap, delicious, pita filled with chicken or pork, lettuce, tomatoes, a sauce which I can only say not spell, and French fries) and got on our ferry to Santorini. About 5 to 6 hours later we arrived to the island in the cover of darkness. On Friday, we walked around Fira, the town our hostel was located in and realized the beauty of the island we were on. That night we took a bus to the northern most point to watch the sunset and eat more gyros. That night we went to a club in Fira which had been recommended by several people. Let’s just say were some of the only people there who weren’t speaking broken English and the only one’s not speaking Greek.

On Saturday we rented ATV’s and rode around the whole island visiting 2 beaches which weren’t beaches and the Red beach. After the Red beach we rode down to the Southern most point to see the light house which wasn’t very impressive but the view was totally worth it.

The next day we changed hostels so that we could spend some time closer to the Black sand beach. There’s nothing of great importance to note from theses days except we caught rays during the day and ate at the same pizza place both nights….it was that good.

After 2 days on the Black sand beach we took a ferry to Mykonos. Apparently Mykonos is huge party island during the high season but because we were there in March we relatively had it to ourselves. That day we several of us took a 40 minute hike to the nearest market to purchase inexpensive food and beverages. This was a doozy of a walk because the entire time we were going up and down hills and once we got there we had to turn around a do it again. That night we went in to town for more gyros and to see the city and the following day we returned to Athens. Our flight the next day was in the afternoon so we were able to visit the Acropolis which was the definition of extraordinary.

We arrived back in Sevilla on Thursday at midnight. Although Greece wasn’t as adrenaline filled as possibly lethal Las Fallas, the pure essence of Greece more than complicated (and the Greek isles was a nice fringe benefit). I’m going to make a separate entry for the Semana Santa festivities in Sevilla because they are just too unique to be tagged on the end.

Thursday Night: Back in Sevilla

So we landed in Sevilla tonight at midnight just in time for the two big nights of Semana Santa (Holy Week). After 8 days in Greece and being in knees deep in one of the most famous religious festivals in Spain its going to take a day or two to properly collect my thoughts. Until then this song essentially is our Greek excursion.

VALENCIA!!!

Ok, so we went to Las Fallas this weekend in Valencia. For those who are not aware of what Las Fallas is, well to sum it up, it’s a festival of fire, fireworks, big statues, parades of fire, and big statues on fire.

When we stepped off the train on Thursday we found the entire citer center closed to all traffic and people everywhere. On top of the initial shock, there were literally fireworks everywhere. And by everywhere I mean that the entire time we were there people (kids and drunks included) were encouraged to light off as many and as big of fireworks as they could get their hands on. People were practically setting off explosive devices right underneath the police officers, who did think twice about it.

Thursday night we wandered the festival grounds which for all intensive purposes was the city of Valencia. We saw a bunch of the statues and the lights while we were waiting for the one o'clock firework show. Ever year each neighborhood of Valencia builds an intricate statue, which takes the entire year and more often than not costs over 80,000 euros to complete, for Las Fallas. On Friday night of the festival all the statues are burned to the ground in epic fashion.

I'm not sure what to say about the firework show other than completely and utterly awesome. Before it started we found ourselves in the middle a street packed with some of the 8 million people who attend Las Fallas on any given year. Where we were standing there was a band playing music right smack dab in the middle of the sea of people so we danced there for a while until the cannon shot went off signifying the beginning of the show. I can't do the show justice so I'll just say it topped anything I have witnessed in my time on Earth.

We spent the day on Friday at the Valencia Aquarium instead of going to the daytime firework show, which part of me still regrets missing but the aquarium was without a doubt a stellar experience. While there we went to a fantastic dolphin show and ate a mediocre hamburger. During lunch at the aquarium we could hear what sounded like hell opening up to the mortal world but instead was just the day firework display.

After the aquarium we had to make a quick turnaround to make it to the parade. None of us knew quite what to expect from the parade and once it began quickly understood that it was going to be something completely foreign to anything we had seen before. Try to imagine the street filled with devils and hellish floats all showering the crowd with fire. They had a rolling bonfire behind each float just so they always had a source of fire to light their combustibles. Needless to say everyone involved was left with their jaw on the ground.

The rest of the night we wandered around the area checking out everything until it got close to time to the burnings. Once we found one to watch, we got a good spot and waited. When it came time to burn, we were surrounded by an onslaught of fireworks and they burned that blanker down. Mid way through the burn they started pushing people back and lets just say the heat from the fire was too intense from where they ended up moving everyone to. I have to say the most impressive part of the burning was the fact that this series of events happened for every statue all of which were located in the nicest part of town. Totally mind-blowing.

The next day we woke up to an entirely different Valencia. There were almost no explosions in the streets and cars once again could drive where they were supposed to. For lunch we took a bus to the beach for paella. I only mention this because for anyone who think they will at some point be in Valencia and want paella on the beach, remember to make a reservation. In fact, if you want to eat anything other than Burger King, make a reservation. It may be because we were in town on a busy weekend but every restaurant we tried to go to only took reservations. Ultimately we were able to find a paella place that would seat us but only to a limited menu.....which still was awesome.

All in all, I am one hundred percent positive I will return to Las Fallas at some point. I would highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind loud noises and the always present threat of spontaneous combustion.

Today is Monday and on Wednesday we have Spring Break and are leaving for Greece. We will be there 8 days in all, most of which will be spent in Santorini and another island. So if I don't update my blog for a while, do not fear, I am in a happy place.

Scenic Worlds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH6Ed4V3tpo

One of my favorite songs from the past year but just found this video.

Also, if you look to your right, I just recently got the slideshow from Flickr to work. Just a random sample of my pictures so far but I'll try to change them after ever trip.

I must say, I LOVE EVERYONE (friends and family), even if your not following this blog.

Conversation in Montserrat

Riding down the verticle train track after the first trail.

Lessons in the Production of Alcohol

Nano: my International Marketing professor

Austin loving the choo choo

This wonderful weekend began way too early on Friday morning where I found my self crossing town with headache of the ages, most likely due to large consumption of sugary Mojito's the prior evening. The purpose of great trek to Nervion was to meet up with my class for a tour of the Cruzcampo/Heineken factory.

We ended up taking a very quiet bus ride about 30 minutes out of town. The tour itself only took about 45 minutes and the rest of the time (3-4 hours) was spent at the factory bar where they encouraged us to try all their products and tapas. It was like Wonka Land for grownups. Where else can you drink a Heineken literally 100 yards from where it was brewed? Needless to say every one on the trip was much better friends by the time we returned.

Yesterday, a few of us took a train to Jerez, the Sherry producing capital of the world. After we bopped around town and had lunch it became apparent that we needed a later train ride home because we had missed the earlier tour. So we enjoyed the hike back to the train station where we easily swapped our tickets for later ones, walked back to the Tio Pepe factory, the main Sherry company. The tour its self was an interesting experience. We took a little train around the factory and watched a delightful little movie about its history. When it came time for our samples, we had to drink quickly and run back to the train station to make it in time. We made it....with time to spare.

To cap off this weekend, last night instead of going out the the clubs like most people our age would do on a Saturday night, we went to Bingo night. They take it very seriously here. It was hands down the nicest establishment I have stepped foot in here. I had to call it quits after a couple games because they read the numbers very fast and two euros is a little expensive for a game I know I'm going to lose.

Barcelona?

Ok.....soooooo we went to Barcelona last weekend. It was a whirl wind of a good time to say the least. We didn't go to bed before 5:30 and didn't sleep past 10:30. We got there Thursday morning and spent the first day doing the Rick Steve's Walking tour to "orient" ourselves. That night we went to some clubs on the beach with our hostel. The next day we saw most the Gaudi buildings, the Sagrada Familia, and Parc Guell. I don't think I have ever walked soo much in my life. That night we saw Steve Aoki (a crazy bleeping DJ). It was complete and utter chaos. The next day we walked the city and visited the Picasso museum. That night we went to the FC Barcelona v Malaga game. Our seats were behind the goal on the side which Barcelona scored both their goals. On Sunday we made a day trip to Figueres to see the Salvador Dali museum...totally worth it. And on Monday we made a day trip to Montserrat. All in all, I would say we did Barcelona pretty darn well. We left no stone unturned.

My Favorite Pictures from Granada

On Saturday evening, or "afternoon" as the Spaniards call it, we went up to a spot called the mirador by Iglesia de San Nicolas. At the mirador you have an awesome view overlooking the city and the Alhambra with the Sierra Nevada in the background. Apparently people of all walks of light gather here every night to hang out and in the summer watch the sunset.

This is the view left to right, and please remember, cameras don't do anything justice in this country.

Between Granada and Barcelona

We got back from Granada yesterday at 8:30 ish and it was awesome. Granada still prides them selves on the tradition of free tapas with every beverage (once throughout Spain at the orders of the King. On Saturday we visited the Alhambra which was a very humbling experience. I made my biggest mistake of the semester so far by leaving my camera in the hostel that day so I don't have many pictures from this weekend. All in all, of the two trips we have taken (Granada and Cordoba), I would have to say Granada is the grander of the two. We don't have class this Thursday or Monday due to a holiday so we are leaving for Barcelona Thursday morning and returning Tuesday morning. We plan to take two day trips from Barce to the Salvidor Dali museum and one to Montserrat. We also are going to try and attend the Barcelona v Malaga game but thats is not for certain.

As for now, that is all. Stay thirsty my friends.

Its Still Raining

Well, before this week it had already been unusually rainy but this week put the icing on the cake. It has been cold and rainy since Sunday but at least spirits are high. Last weekend was Carnaval which was a fairly unique experience. We got there at 10:30 pm and our buses left at 6:00 am. Essentially it was the world's largest costume party and as far as we could tell laws do not exist for duration of the festival (as long as you weren't fighting, they don't like that). Tomorrow a couple of us are going to Granada for the weekend which should be totally awesome on every level.

Trying my best to stay dry and happy.
The second part is pretty easy though.

Answers to 3 questions I was asked:

1) I wake up, go to class, come home to a freshly prepared lunch a 2, lay around the house till 5 or 6 (Siesta/Homework), after that we wander the town stopping at several places to have a drink, then we come home to dinner at 9, go out from 11ish to undetermined, come home, sleep, wake up, rinse and repeat.

2) I am taking Spanish Conversation (9:00 MW), Intermediate Spanish (10:30 MW), International Marketing (12:00 MW), and Spanish Civilization and Culture (1:30TTr).

3) At the current moment I would not describe myself as excelling at Spanish but once I start meeting with the Intercambios I feel improvement is inevitable. Intercambios are Spanish students who sign up to practice their English with English speaking students and in return help us learn Spanish.

Almost Went To Ronda

We were going to take a day trip to Ronda last Saturday but due to a hiccup in the ticket office of the bus station our plans were put on hold. Instead we stayed in Sevilla and visited the Alcazar (The Royal Palace) and explored the gardens. While in the gardens we ran in to a pack of ducks and several peacocks whom desired the sandwiches we were eating.

This weekend we are going to Cadiz for Carnaval which is a festival on the streets where every dresses up in costumes. Its kinda like a spring version of Halloween.

We were told it only rains 9 to 15 days a year in Sevilla but we have already experience rain close to 9 days already. Despite the poor weather there no complaints. Pretty soon the tempurature is going to sky rocket so I'm enjoying not sweating all day while I can.

All Is Well Across the Pond

Well, I’ve been here a little over a week now and more has happened in that time than I could possible type out. I would have posted more but it has been quite a battle getting internet at our house. We just got back from Cordoba yesterday. We were there for two days and a night and it just so happened that there was a Renaissance/Medieval festival going on which was the bee’s knees. We also visited the mosque which the city is famous for (very beautiful). When the city was taken over by the Christians they were so impressed by the structure that they decided to build their church with in the mosque rather than tear it down. Good decision.

I think we are finally getting used to the Spanish hours. No one really goes out here until one or two so we are usually the first ones at the bars and by the time we are leaving, people are still just beginning to get there (four or five).

The food has been excellent but many of us are having withdrawals from spicy food, which Spaniards don’t seem to believe in. I highly doubt that I have ever eaten more bread in my life. It is literally eaten at every meal.

I’m going to try to post more in the near future. I think we are going to Granada this weekend and Cadiz the weekend after for Carnival. Should be quite a time.

Prep Work

Well I have begun my final preparations. More than likely I'm am overlooking a copious amount of details. As Thursday looms near I'm becoming painfully aware of my inept skills in the art of Spanish conversations. I have no doubt that the first few weeks living with my host family will be quite a humbling experience. Throughout this Spring I will be living with a lady who has four adult children who also have children. Fortunately Daniel, the other guy who I'm living with, is fluent in Spanish (he may very well be my greatest asset).

If anyone knows of anyone who will also be studying abroad in Spain or any where else in Europe this semester, leave a comment below.

Until next time, thanks and have a happy tomorrow.