Cada Semana, Algo Diferente

Busy As A Bee
(and I have a few things to say about bees later)

Contrary to what you might think, my infrequent posting recently is not due to laziness or apathy. I've actually been relatively busy -- my first few nights of real school work, weekend excursions to both Barcelona and Extremadura, and last but certainly not least, Semana Santa (Holy Week).

La Sagrada Familia

The first weekend March marked our second API-led exursion: Barcelona. This is an incredible city. They speak their own language (Catalan - spoken by only 4 million people), yet their Spanish is easier to understand than the Spanish in Andalucia. Every street corner and building facade reflects the Gaudi, modern-art influence. And, of course, the nightlife is incredible. Our last night there, we first went to a bar that serves 13 liter drinks with 2 foot straws and finally finished our night at this beautiful outdoor club on the mountain overlooking the city. Good times.


"and the Hoo's down in Hoo-ville"


some of the girls sitting by the harbor



Semana Santa aka Holy Week

As one of Spain's (and especially Sevilla's) most famous cultural images (as well as Flamenco and Bullfighting), Semana Santa represents a very important week for Catholic Spaniards. To the unknowing American, one might mistake the holy processions as marching regiments of a certain "Klan". Beneath the pointy hoods however men, women, and children march in silence to the melancholy music of a band. They carry candles and collectively surround the beautiful, massive floats of Mary and Jesus. Some are held by over 100 men in unison marching beneath.

That being said, these processions can become a nuisance after 5 days -- especially when your parents visit you in Sevilla and happen to stay in a hotel literally on one of the main procession arteries! Despite the navigating difficulties, it was great to see them and get a little taste of home. Four and a half months abroad can be subconsciously tiring at times. I got to eat out every night, enjoy some fine wine, and watch a fantastic, sevilliana Flamenco show.

Check it out: Tablao El Arena


Los Torros

To complete the aforementioned triumvirate of Andalusian culture, we were treated to a bullfight in Sevilla's Plaza de Torros. Few things combine grace, brutality, sport and tradition in such complete and unusual way. Pictures and videos cannot do it all justice.

EXTREME-a-dura

Know it? Heard of it? Neither had I, but what a find! This is a province or "comunidad autonoma" northwest of Andalucia known for it's traditional pueblos, outdoors-man activities and beautiful scenery. Just having come back from this third and final API-led excursion, I feel satisfied on all three fronts. We first toured the old Roman city of Merida before spending our first night in Trujillo. Rome-buffs would love the ruins of this town -- with its well-preserved walls and beautiful theater.

cody and pat in the theater

The next day, we hiked a serious 10 miles through the mountains of Extremadura. I'm not talking about a stroll along a pleasant path. I'm talking about a serious high over rocky, up-and-down terrain. After about 3 miles, there was a fight between a bee (who presumably liked my yellow t-shirt) and my forehead. It stung like your typical bee sting for the rest of the hike -- which culminated with a vicious sunburn, a good workout, and a solid 5 hours of fun.

update on the bee sting as of Monday afternoon: my forehead swelled to the point where one of my eyes was half shot and i enjoyed a buffet of Spanish allergy drugs (including a fun shot in the ass)

Our hiking destination was Guadalupe: a 2,500 person town centered around a beautiful monastery. We actually got to stay in part of the monestary (which has since been converted into a hotel) -- very cool.

monastery courtyard

Well, I'm off to Mallorca (a Spanish Balearic island) until Thursday, where I will come back and get lost in La Feria de Sevilla.

Until then, hasta luego.

Oh, and a video as always. This is when a herd of goats without any leader in eyesight interrupted our hike. Pretty cool.

Is the Glass Half Full...or Half Empty?

PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO SEE

I can hardly believe it, but my semester is already half-way over. I guess I can look at my time here optimistically -- remembering how many great experiences I've already had. It is much easier, however, to begin feeling anxious and pessimistic. There is so much left to see and do, and simply not enough time. I now understand why people come here and just never go back.


And here's a random siesta-time picture of my room.


SPANISH VACATIONS = WONDERFULLY EXCESSIVE

This week, we had our first time off from school. "Puente" is a Andalusian holiday, and we didn't have school Weds, Thurs, and Friday. Later this month, we get a full week for "Semana Santa" (Holy Week), followed by another full week in April for "Feria." Finally, we have another puente in early May.

Knowing this ahead of time, we booked our first eurotrip excursion to Rome (Tuesday to Sunday). It was amazing to be back in Italy -- surrounded by the familiar language, food, and culture. Although it was rainy and overcast every day, it was both unusual and interesting to be in Rome without the summer mob. Graham, Cody and myself crashed at my friend Hannah's apartment. Both she and our other friend, Sean Black, are studying at John Cabot University in Rome.



Although I didn't really see anything new, I enjoyed vacationing in Italy with good friends. However, we did go to the Vatican at night. Beautiful.
















Oh, and on a completely random note: I ran into 3 different kids from my high school on separate occasions -- Brian Rodin, Arthur Sherry and Scott Baldesare. They all spotted me and we had our "small world" moments.


HOME SWEET HOME

Even more interesting than our trip to Italy was the fact that we considered being back in Sevilla like being back home. We missed our Mama, our house, our friends, our language, and most importantly -- our city. Sevilla is a home away from home for us now.

When we arrived in Madrid from Rome, we made our way over to the major train station via a few Metro lines. We all figured we could grab one of the many easy-and-efficient AVE trains back to Sevilla. Little did we know, this Sunday was a HUGE travel day to Andalucia. Every single train to every single city in Andalucia was sold out -- and the buses weren't looking much better. Graham and I were even more upset because our friend Kyle was in Sevilla for the night -- and it now looked like we might not make it home.

Being the cool and crafty guys that we are -- haha -- we realized that I was 21 and could theoretically rent a car. We grabbed the cheapest car available: the ever-so-spacious VW Polo.

Other than figuring our way out of Madrid, the drive was fun, easy, and scenic. In the end, our predicament turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Who wouldn't love a road trip in Spain?

Onwards and Outwards

TO GRANADA

API took us on an excursion to Granada last weekend. Pretty cool. It's at the foot of these mountains, which are covered in snow -- yet we enjoyed 60-70 degree weather on the ground while we were there. So nice. You can definitley notice the strong arabic/muslim influence more so than in other cities in Spain. I guess that makes sense since it was the last city to fall during the reconquista.

Before we got there though, we stopped in the mountains along the way. This place was a massive field of stones, often cut in strange and unusual ways. Imagine a huge, naturally-formed Spanish Stonehenge.

Duncan seen scaling some of the rocks here.


















Here's another shot of the valley and of myself, Duncan and Cody sitting on top of a big one.

LA NOCHE

Once we got to Granada, we had free time. First, I had tapas and a few beers with some of the guys (tapas are free with drinks in Granada -- amazing). Just before dinner, myself and a few others went to our appointment at an arab bath, or hammam. Check this place out: http://www.aljibesanmiguel.es/. Absolutely incredible.

Later that night, API took us to a very special flamenco spot. We all were served a drink of our choice in what seemed like a cave or cavern. The room was at most 100 feet long and no wider than 10. Little did I know, I sat "center stage." The singer and the guitar played at one end while the dancer performed less than two feet in front of me. Look at these pictures and one of the many videos I took.





Being this close to the dancers -- their dresses brushing up against my leg and their fingers literally inches from my face -- has made me appreciate Flamenco on a whole new level.






And the video:



I'll have to get back to you on the Alhambra visit. It's 4 am!

Everyday Sevilla

"WE DON'T NEED NO EDUCATION"

Hopefully I can consistently update this blog weekly for you all. This past week has be very eventful to say the least. Classes have started and are fully underway. Add/drop ended on Friday -- so my current lineup includes:
:History of Flamenco
:International Marketing
:History of Spain
:International Business

Pictures from Universidad de Pablo de Olavide.

I absolutely love my business teacher, aka "Nano." He's smart, edgy, hilarious and a big fan of bars in sevilla. He has already steered us away from the tourist bars and turns us onto great new bars and clubs and hotspots for partying throughout the city. I can't understand anything my flamenco teacher says for now -- oh well. My history teacher is fantastic. All in all, I'm pleased.






EVERYDAY SEVILLA

Everyday life here is amazing. I am absolutely positive this will be the hardest thing to leave behind when I come home. Institutionalized napping (the siesta)? Walking everywhere under clear skies and bright sun? Staying out until 5 in the morning on the weekends? Having a drink by the river at a cafe -- enjoying the view on a Sunday afternoon? "Sevillians," as I like to call them, know how to live life.



Above left: dragin' a fag
Center: me and mama
Right: cafe by the river



Coke should pay me for this. Down by the river. Sunset.
















DEBAUCHERY BEGINS

While there is plenty of down time, classes, napping and chillin', there is a nearly equal amount of wild partying and dancing until the wee hours. Thursday night was my 21st birthday. Needless to say, it was pretty intense and I don't need to elaborate. Use your imagination.

After recovering from my birthday all day Friday, we headed for Cadiz for Carnaval. Although our hotel fell through, it turns out we really didn't need one. Imagine Halloween on steroids. Thousands and thousands and thousands of people are dressed up and drinking in the streets. When you ask a police officer where you can go to the bathroom, rum bottle in hand, he laughs and points to the tree next to him: "aqui." You have to hold hands with your friends when you walk or else you'll be lost in the mob. We partied in the streets all night and took the first train back to Sevilla at 5.15 in the morning. What a wild time.






























Some of us were pirates. I slowly seemed to change to a pimp. Don't ask. That's all for now.

My First Post

Well it's been almost two weeks since I got to Spain. Needless to say, we've all been having a good time -- probably too good of a time. I started this blog to give you a glimpse into my life while I'm over here via pictures and video. Enjoy.

I might as well start at the beginning...

BIENVENIDOS A MADRID

Here is Graham and Cody -- my partners in crime -- in our hotel room in Madrid. Nice hotel too. Amazing central location on the Plaza del Sol.

This is the view from our patio. Nice huh?

Hotel Moderno

Here's a picture from the Plaza de Espana just after we ate at El Botin -- the oldest restuarant in the world.

Madrid is nice. That's about all I have to say about it. I had a good time -- but the best is yet to come. Let's get on to the good stuff...

THE JOURNEY SOUTHWARDS

After a few days orientation in Madrid, we all left for Sevilla -- some 70 total students in all.

That Thursday morning, we stopped in Toledo -- as you can see here. We saw the sights, had a quick lunch, and then continued via two tour buses for the next 7 hours. Not very fun.

SEVILLA AT LAST!

Sevilla is, of course, as beautiful and charming as ever. We arrived late Thursday night, broke into our residencia/host family groups, and were met by our surrogate mothers and fathers.

Our "Mama Rosa" is the best. She houses 10 guys and 4 girls, including myself, from the program. I could not have asked for a better set up. With her husband Norberto, Rosa cooks all 14 of us a delicious almuerzo (lunch) and cena (dinner) every day. We are like one large family, and Mama is the greatest.

This is a bad picture I know -- but it's all I have for now. Britta is giving her a house-warming present.

RES-LIFE

As for the residencia, I live with Graham. There are 2 people to a room -- most of which are suprisingly big. Essentially, there are 2 apartments. One houses the four girls and two of the guys. It is also where Rosa and company live. The tiny kitchen that feeds us all and the two dining room tables are also in that aparment. Up one flight of stairs is the other apartment. Luckily, I live in the upper one with 7 other guys. The layout is nearly identical, as we have our own tiny kitchen as well. There's TV and internet and windows in every room. It is the ideal spanish "frathouse" -- our affectionate name for our apartment. Too bad there's only one bathtub shower and one toilet for all eight of us. But hey -- the pros far outweigh the cons and I'm loving it.

We all go out as a group together. Luckily, we all seem to get along well and we've quickly become the biggest cohesive unit within the larger API group.

I think that's all I can muster for now -- but there will be more to come in the future. For now, enjoy a few pictures of Sevilla and a little video from the top of the Giralda bell tower in the catedral.

HOW TO LIVE THE GOOD LIFE: MOVE TO SEVILLA

And the pictures:

This first one is of the residencia crew at Plaza de Espana.

<<<<<<<

And here's Britta and I on our bike tour of Sevilla. Very fun. >>>>>>

Graham and Duncan following a pipe up the side of the Giralda. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

This is what they saw. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The main drag. ^^^^

One of the many bridges over the
Guadalquivir.>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Such a pretty riverfront....