Andalucia

Thursday, the 13th

This morning we woke up at 6:30 to be at the bus stop at 7. We would get to the hotel at 2:30 making it about a 7 and a half hour bus ride. With small seats. And tall people (me). Resulting in crooked necks and attitudes (me. and everyone). BUT we got there! Even with our crazy ass bus driver playing his tailgating while texting game. This game is fun if you pretend you're on a roller coaster because people don't die on roller coasters. Usually.

After eating our lunch that our mom made us (aka bocadillo de jamon the size of a baguette. Literally, she gave us each a baguette) we continued on with the trip. However, because NewMom wasn't there to chastise us with those kind, judging eyes we deduced that we did not, in fact, have to finish our baguette sandwiches! So, naturally, I did. And then I got a food coma. It just felt right.

At 4:30 we went to visit the beautiful Capilla Real in Granada. It's a huge cathedral with stained glass and lots of semi-attractive Jesus' hanging on the walls (I know, I'm going straight to hell. This has already been confirmed with multiple members in our group). We got to go underground and see where the King and Queen were buried. It's always a treat to walk into a small, tight space where you almost always hit your head because you were blessed with big-people-genes to see where the bones of where the king and queen lay. I couldn't have felt queesier and more intrigued. I've been having a problem lately where every ancient, historic place we go I have to touch something I shouldn't. Luckily, the coffins were too far to touch but the sculptures were not so lucky. I knowwww. I'm going to hell. Might as well make it worth while.

Then, at 7:15, we went to see a Flamenco show while eating dinner. I've never been so horrified and amused in my life. These women (and men who could easily be confused as women) were so serious when they danced that it reminded me of when I would get in trouble for throwing blocks at Karlyn in elementary school except my teachers usually weren't dancing. sometimes yes, but I think that was Mr. Meagan and I'm pretty sure he was a drinker. We ate until we couldn't eat anymore and then we ate some more (surprised?) Afterwards, we took a tour of the Jewish community in Granada where our tour guide spoke english and was convinced that we were going to get lost which "frankly, is not his fault, so pay attention." It was probably the most entertaining tour we've had. Im guessing because it wasn't given by Jesus whose tours would make you want to sit through a church sermon instead that was in Chinese and you had to stand the whole time. On flaming coals.

Friday, the 14th

Friday, we visited la Alhambra. It's this huge palace/ fortress that could take 4 hours to tour it. We used all 4 hours. Jesus gave the tour. And no, I was not able to find a Chinese church with burning coals instead of seats so I had to suck it up and go on the tour. I attempted to escape a few times but because this occurs a lot and because they're not as stupid as they seem they have positioned the other professor, Tkac, in the very back of the group so if anyone looks like they're going to run he will be able to stop them. I've been asked multiple times "why are you always the last in the group?" I think he's stopped believing my courtious, "oh, merely because I am quite tall and I shan't disrupt the view of the others" because, well, I'm not courteous. And he has already caught me trying to escape about 16 times. At first it was funny to him. Now I think he wishes he was allowed to use threats and maybe a weapon to convince me and others that running away is so second grade and aren't we all on 16 different prescriptions of adderall that we should be able to listen to Jesus talk for 4 hours straight? You'd think so, but some things are just too hard to cure with legal cocaine. The Alhambra was probably my favorite place because it was so beautiful and I was easily distracted by the light, colors, and different structures. Even not being able to escape wasn't so painful because I could stare at a flower for 20 minutes and tune everyone out.

Four hours later we hopped on the bus and made our way to Cordoba.

We visited the Mosque which was beautifully built with round structures and coloring that made it look like you were standing under huge candy canes. Soooo cool!! It was huge and once you walked father to the center you learned that, oh howdy, there's a church in the middle of this mosque! The christians were nice enough to not destroy the entiiiire mosque just the middle. They did this to show the strength that they had and that they were also kind hearted souls and when they were not destroying villages and cultures in the name of god, they were destroying the center of mosques but keeping the outside. Good ol' Catholics. Always putting themselves second. After they put themselves first.

Afterwards, we went to a restaurant called Rafaela where they tried to kill us by putting a pound of salt in each of our dishes of rice. It wasn't the best Italian I had but it was a nice break from eating everything on your plate and giving back a half-full dish. Take that, NewMom!

Saturday, the 15th

On Saturday, we made our way onto Sevilla.

First, we went to the Royales Alcazales de Sevilla which was a Royal Palace that was originally a Moorish fort. They kepy much of the same architecture which was very beautiful and thoughtfully designed. This was my second favorite tour because it was short and we got free time to explore. There was a labarinto (maze) that you could walk through. The joke was on me and Kelsey because being the tallest in our little group we could see over the semi-tall hedges and still couldn't find the exit. After a few bouts of claustrophobia, we broke through one of the sides into freedom. Freeeedoooommmm! We walked around some more and played with Peacocks. Real, live, peacocks the size of your fat cat. They were so beautiful and intimidating that I was tempted to grab one and run away with it. Doesn't make much sense but I think I was pretty exaughsted at this point in the trip.

We then went to another Cathedral. 'Nuff said.

After that we had dinner in the hotel. I ate about 16 things of bread and was thankful that I wasn't hit by the flu that was going around and making everyone throw up (no, it wasn't alcohol poisoning to the surprise of our professors. We aren't THAT predictable).

Sunday, the 16th

Sunday was our last day on this wonderfully exaughsting trip through Southern Spain. Did I mention it was in the high 80's low 90's the entire time? Just perfect temperature.

On this day we went to Merida and visited the Roman ruins of the ampitheatres (where they send the lions out to eat the slaves or prisoners) and the theatre (where they would put on plays where the actors dressed as slaves would pretend to get eaten by lions). We learned that these were a very important part of the culture because if the people weren't entertained they would get rauwdy and then the government would have to kill them. Obviously. What other solution is there? So naturally, they would put on plays and shows of people pretending to get killed or really getting killed because this was the Jersey Shore of the Roman times.