Lets see, well first, Granada. I went to Granada a few weekends ago with the center, and I think I would have liked it more if I had more time to explore the actual city. It was very hot, and we did A LOT of walking –walking slash/climbing mind you since Granada is in the mountains. I liked Alhambra, and this is going to sound silly, but I like alcazar more. I think Alhambra was just too big. I think alcazar is more tranquil. Also, I kinda re-fell in love with alcazar on this past Sunday when I went with my family. Plus, I do live in Sevilla (contrary to the fact that my link on the Ripon website says I’m studying in Alicante…). So maybe I’m a little biased.
After our guided Alhambra tour, we had some free time before dinner, so I went with Meaghan to the Arab markets. (look up name on Granada sheet). I absolutely love Moroccan influenced things. (Plus, all the stuff is cheap but it looks like it costs a fortune). I bought a beautiful blue shirt with Arabic style designs to wear with leggings, and Meghan bought some jewelry boxes for her friends. A bunch of the shops sold dog beds that looked like they were fit for a king, and I know Barkley would have loved it….but I don’t think I could fit that in my suitcase….
Then we returned to the hotel for dinner. I wish we could have eaten on our own instead of at the hotel. I mean first of all, they STUFFED us there. They brought out lasagna, and we ate it all thinking it was the main course, and then they brought out chicken. And then dessert. I mean we may be American, but there is a limit to the amount of food we can eat in one sitting…Plus, I´m sure, since Granada was the last Moorish city to fall, there are a lot of really good Moroccan or Arabic restaurants. Oh well, ill just have to come back!
Anyway, so then, a few days after I came back from Granada, Steve came to visit me. The first night, I was still sick from Granada, so we stayed in and watched a movie, but the next day, after Steve had his first home-cooked Spanish meal (courtesy of Nieves) we went shopping and explored the town. Then at night we went to go see Gran Camino at the theater that plays movies in English (with Spanish subtitles). The movie itself was fantastic - def in my top 15…I highly recommend it – but as Steve said, it was nice to go to a movie theater without jacked up prices. Our tickets were 3 euros each (so a little over 4 u.s. dollars) and he bought beer and candy for less than 5 euros. (Maybe im just blonde, but do they offer beer at American movie theaters?)
Anyway, then afterwards we went to this Irish bar/pub/restaurant in Trianna for dinner. I had been craving a hamburger like there was no tomorrow, and so I had my first one since I left the us. I really liked the place – we had a really cute waiter from Buenos Aires who talked with us a bit and took our picture and they played American music – but not current American music like all the stores play. It was more stuff from like 8th grade – you know those select songs that just make you kinda relax and appreciate life. They played eagle eye cherry’s one hit wonder, and pre-promiscuous Nelly furtado’s I’m like a bird…things like that. I dunno, I was just very happy.
The next day I’m pretty sure was the day we went to the Arab bathes. We got lost on the way there – due to an incompetent, cruel-intentioned taxi driver, but after asking like 30 people how to get there and going in circles, two nice men walked us all the way there. I’ve had that happen to me quite a few times – people taking the time to go out of their way to walk you to what you are trying to find. Its nice. This aspect reminds me a bit of Wisconsin – how every body is always looking out for each other – but im pretty sure that’s the only comparable thing. (The cheese and beer here is WAY better…sorry guys).
Anyway, so the banos arabes were nice. The building was an old Arabic building, and they had a lounge and restaurant as well. Inside the baths, there was a tea room, where, when you wanted a break from one type of bath, or while waiting for a massage, you could sit and relax and grab a cup of tea. Me and steve tried most of the baths, but I think there were a few we didn’t try. We went in the the hot bath, the normal bath, the super super super hot bath, and the salt bath. When we were in the salt bath the lady came and told us our time was up. So then we changed out of our swimsuits and heading home to relax some more for a bit before heading to dinner.
Dinner that night was AMAZING. Steve took me to the Rio Grande – one of Sevilla’s most expensive restaurants. It’s right on the water and there was a rose on the table and the view was just gorgeous. Its def a place to take a girl if your trying to win her over. It just creates this happy mood – comparable only to my prom night, after the dance, when we all took the limo to the signature room at the John Hancock building and ate dessert overlooking the lit up city. But anyway, I babble…
The next day, the main highlight was the soccer game. I think that was Steve’s favorite part, maybe mine too. It was just such an experience. People get so worked up – its nothing like a basketball came or a basketball game in the US. There’s singing, and people are all wearing the color, and when Sevilla scores – the fans FREAK OUT. The man in front of me kept hugging his neighbor or anyone within his area each time Sevilla scored. (See picture). And when the ref made a bad call – the Sevillanas all broke into a swearing chant – all at the same time. Fue incredible…..However, I think my favorite part was when we were leaving, everybody was in a mad rush, so steve decided to follow suit and be like “the game is over, now we have to bolt out of here” even thought we really didn’t have to be anywhere. I dunno, I have an odd sense of humor.
Steve and I at el partido de futobl (soccer game)
The man in front of us who hugged everybody whenever Sevilla scored....
There is obviously more to the time he was here, but I have soo much stuff to update this blog about, I need to move on to the next thing. Um, hmm, well I guess the next major highlight was my trip to the Cruzcampo factory. Cruzcampo is a Spanish beer made by the same company as Heineken, Guinness, Fosters, and a bunch of others. The tour itself was pretty cool (especially in the refrigerated areas….) but I think everybody’s favorite part was the end. We all went to this bar in a building a few minutes away from the main factory area, and they basically gave us as much beer as we wanted. We could try any of the types they sold and they kept bringing out chips and peanuts for us to much on. I don’t usually really like beer; I mean, I drink it, and I would never turn down a good game of beer pong, but I never really particularly liked the taste. But through trying about 15 types in one sitting, I found a few pretty good ones. The Amstel was really good and so was the Shandy’s. But, I’m assuming the reason why I liked the Shandys’ so much is it was probably more lemonade than beer (would we call that a beer cooler then?) and it would probably take 3 of them to equal the alcohol content in a real beer. But it was good. The bartender let me take back a few extra bottles…
Kelly and Meagan with their free beers courtesy of Cruzcampo....
My family arrived in Sevilla while I was at the Cruzcampo factory. They were exhausted from traveling so they napped for a bit, and they my dad and brother met up with me at my apartment. Nieves was still in Barcelona with her sister so I couldn’t introduce them to each other. We sat at a table outside a restaurant across from the cathedral and had some sangria while we waited for the kitchen to open. (I sound like an alcoholic…first having 18 types of beer before noon, then splitting a jug of sangria with my father only a few hours later). But when we finished our sangria, we decided to have our tapas somewhere else.
On Sunday, Hugo met up with us so that my parents could meet him and also so he could show them Alcazar. I had already seen it, but I realized when we went inside that there was a lot of the place I didn’t see. I definitely didn’t see a labyrinth the first time. And though Hugo said its easy to get out of, I don’t think I really want to try. Getting lost in an old Moorish maze of shrubs is not on my to do list. But I think Kevin liked it. I think he would have even tried to figure it out if it weren’t for all of us refusing to try it.
My favorite thing we did was having lunch outside in the courtyard at Hotel Alfonso XII. Having a drink there was on my to-do list, but when we went there on Saturday and saw how beautiful the hotel was, we decided to come back the next day and have lunch outside. The hotel reminds me of the hotel in some novel where a girl, who was either famous or the daughter of somebody famous, lives there in the hotel, and she has all sorts of adventures…ahhh I can’t figure out what it is. But it reminds me of it because it’s a GORGEOUS place but also has this feeling of hominess to it. Inside, bordering the perimeter of the courtyard, there are elegant couches and arm chairs and guests (and non-guests) can sit there and order a drink or a cup of coffee and read the newspaper. Oustide in the courtyard, there is a fountain and tables set for lunch. It’s very pretty, and the food was of course, top of the line. The service however, wasn’t any better there than anywhere else in Spain….i guess that’s just the culture here. But at least its making me a more patient person. That guy at Cingular will be baffled at the change in my tolerance level when I return…
I have a million things to do before I leave for Madrid and then Paris tomorrow so I have to rap this up…..But I want to say that I also went to my first Flamenco show with my parents Monday night. I was supposed to go with Meghan at the cultural center the Thursday before they got here, but they stopped selling tickets earlier that day. But my family and I went to El Arenal a flamenco bar and restaurant kinda near the bullring. Apart from drinking my sangria way to fast, I really enjoyed the show. All the dancers perform with such force and emotion. Though, it makes me jealous to know that the Spaniards understand the songs completely and can follow the “story” that the singers are singing. I just want to be completely bilingual already!!!!!
Okay well, I mean, once again, obviously there was more to my parents visit, and im really glad they came out to see me, but I really need to finish packing and such. Im soooooooooooooo excited for Paris. I watched a travel dvd (in Spanish) about it and it just looks so beautiful. And both Elina and Steve, two people who know me, said Paris is a city I will fall in love with. I’m taking the train there out of Madrid on Saturday, after meeting up with my family Friday and spending Saturday afternoon with them. There’s only one thing I wish….i wish ash could go with me. I mean, im sure Blair takes Serena with her when she goes to stay at her dad’s house in Cannes. But I mean, im sure one day, well take that trip together, there’s plenty of time. After all, Carolyns grandmother (who’s here visiting) told me this morning she’s traveled lots of places with her best friend - instead of her husband. There is just nothing like a best friend…..and def nobody like mine.
Well, wish me a Bon Voyage!!!!!!
- Kirsten
No comments:
Post a Comment