Salobreña

You know when you just have one of those days that you put away in your memory to revisit again on a rainy day, because it was just that perfect? Well Salobreña is going to be that for me. While it may not have been the most beautiful beach I have ever been to in the world (unfair to compare to the Caribbean), it really was everything together that made it so relaxing. It was a beautiful day, good company, good food, barely anybody was there, and just such a nice escape from class. The unfortunate part of studying abroad is I actually have to go to class... you kinda forget that part when you're daydreaming about traveling in your head. So everyday I have intensive Spanish from 9 to 1, and frankly, its killing me. Let's just say mi profesora may not be the most life-changing teacher I've ever had. But on one fine Thursday after class, my friends Jessie, Sarah, and I (completely spontaneously, yes I am proud of myself) bought tickets for 5 euros to Salobreña. In less than an hour, we were standing on a pebble beach, looking at the Mediterranean ocean. Pure bliss. So we proceeded to do what everybody does at the beach: nothing. The water was freezing, the sand was rough, but it didn't matter. It was just so nice. We decided to climb up on the promontory on the side to take some pictures, and wow what a view. A perfect setting for an impromptu photo shoot! We finished up the day by having dinner on the beach as the sun was setting, and drove home on the bus salty, tan, and happy.

Sacromonte

Hola a todos!

I'm back! It was really difficult to get internet here, I had to go to internet cafes, order a coke, and get glared at the entire time by the waitresses. So I went without for the last two weeks, which was fine by me because I was too busy really to notice. But I realized I missed skyping, and writing emails, and I have to start filling out forms for next semester in Cadiz, so Manuela drove me to Carrefour today (the Spanish Walmart) and I got this little wifi plug in thingy. Yes, so technical am I. But it works! And for only a euro a day! Oh joy! So now I can skype, etc.!

So one of the unfortunate things of not being able to keep up with my blog for the last couple weeks is that it all starts to (happily) run together. A lot has happened so it's just gonna peter out slowly. I'll write about more later. I wish I had been able to describe everything while it was still fresh, but I'll do my best to remember...

About 2 and a half weeks ago we went for a "short" tour of the Sacromonte neighborhood. Oh. My. Lord. I say that for two reasons: one, it was stunningly beautiful. Two, that was NOT a short tour. That was a five hour long tour. In August. In the south of Spain. I distinctly remember almost falling down a mountain and not caring because at least I wouldn't be hot anymore. Sacromonte is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, neighborhoods in Granada. You might recognize it because it's famous for its cave houses and flamenco shows. But it's also not really safe. We went as a group in the middle of the day, but they recommended to us if we came at night to go in a big group (with guys) and take a taxi. While we were walking through the winding roads, a gitana (gypsy lady) came out and invited us to take a look inside a flamenco dancing cave. Mari, our sweet, gentle, trusting API guide, naturally accepted, while us hardened, skeptical Americans stared warily at the woman. I'm trying not to be too mean here, but she looked like she belonged on Jerry Springer (no joke, I think she was wearing a shower curtain cut into a skirt). But we all followed Mari in, oohed and aahed, took pictures, and then attempted to walk out. But instead we were instantly accosted by angry gypsy lady. "No pudeis salir sin pagarme dinero! DAME DINERO!". We all ran past her and ran for our lives. Hence my present hesitation in visiting Sacromonte alone again. But that experience doesn't take away from how beautiful it is.
Just before we were verbally assaulted...

More later! Besos!

Mi primera semana en Granada!

Hola a todos de Granada!

Granada is everything I thought it would be and more! I arrived last Monday, so it will have been almost a week tomorrow. When we first arrived to Granada by bus, my first impression was it was a lot busier and bigger than I though it would be. But after beeing here for a week, I can see where my confusion came from. Granada tiene muchas caras. Granada has many faces. On one hand, it is a bustling Metropolis and a tourist attraction.

But then you turn the corner, and it becomes a quaint, quiet, traditional Andalucian town.

One shopping street carries the quintessential Spanish stores, such as Mango, Zara, Bershka, etc., and then suddenly you enter barrio de Albaicin, and it's like you took a turn into Morocco.

Of course, I'm loving it. You can never get bored in Granada. And even though I've only been here one week, I'm already starting to feel like a Granadina. I know my place around pretty well, although not all the barrios (I won't walk around the Albaicin and Sacromonte by myself), I have a small breakfast, a very large lunch at 2:30, and a small dinner at 9:30, and I take a siesta at 4. It's so easy to become adjusted to this way of life. While at first the ebb and flow of the people was very confusing for me, I've started to understand everything. At home, 5 pm would be prime shopping time. Here, it is dead. And not only is it dead, it's closed. It looks like mass evacuation occurred. So when is prime shopping time here? 8 pm, or after dinner around 10. Antoher thing to get used to: how LONG the night is. No wonder they need siestas! In the US, we start getting ready around 10, and go out at 11, and thats when the night starts. HA! Here, 10 is dinner, which turns into drinks, then you bar hop, and then you finally head to a club (or here discotheque) after 1 AT LEAST. If you go before then, although you may get in free, you'll be the only one there. Although it is a good strategy if you're low on cash! Then you usually stay out till 6 am, although I'm still having trouble with that one.

In terms of my host mom, I adore her. Her name is Manuela Langa Cuenca, and she has a grown daughter named Mariana. They are both super nice, and it gives me a great chance to speak Spanish, because they don't speak a word of English. Her food is DELCIOUS, and I'm proud to say I eat everything, and like everything. She was so excited to see I was not a typical American. The first couple days she went easy, and made pasta, etc. And then somehow we started talking about food, and I told her I loved pate, and she got super excited. Now she goes crazy, and its so good. One thing that was easy adjusting to: aceite de oliva... con todo! Another easy thing: fruit. For breakfast lunch and dinner. And it is delicious! Pears, strawberries, pomegranates, melon, watermelon, grapes, chirimoyas, etc. And I never really like it before, but now I can eat bowls of red peppers!

I've made amazing friends here, and I feel like I've been here for weeks already. Because Spain's way of life is so social, I find myself always out of the house, eating with friends, or walking with friends. You're always around people. And always walking. I'm lucky, my house is only a ten minute walk from the center of Granda, but I walk on average 3 hours a day. Yesterday, probably more. The Spanish obviously have it all figured out. You can eat whatever you want, and it can be good, rich food. And you don't need to exercise, you just call up your friends after a siesta, and walk around for an hour. It's easy, and it doesn't even feel like work!

I miss you all! Hasta Luego!