Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hola!
Ok. So I have a notepad on my computer desktop where I write down little things to remember to add into my blog! The list is getting pretty long so I thought it was time to dump all my little notes here! So, I apologize for the randomness in advance.
1. There are allllllways festivals going on in Granada. I am pretty sure they just make up holidays to celebrate. This whole last week was La Feria del Libro. It is a festival to remember a famous Spanish writer, Miguel de Cervantes, on the anniversary of his death. They set up book stands all along the streets and in every plaza, have music playing all the time, and they have a ton of different activities set up each day for people to go to. On the day it started, I went out with Loli, Lucia, and her daughters Maria and Ana to go look at all the books. There was a concert going on for kids and tons of street performers. Famous writers come to sign books and give presentations. Along with all the festivities comes alllll of Granada! The whole entire city has been out in the streets for the last week, strolling around Granada perusing the books! On the actual day of his death, the custom is for everyone to give a rose and a book to a friend. Loli bought Camille, Juan and I a book of poems from a famous writer from Seville! It was very nice of her!! The festival ended today, only to have more celebrations coming up next Friday and Sunday. Friday is Dia de Trabajo and Sunday is Dia de Las Cruces so everyone will be back out in the streets!! Also - Loli was in the newspaper one day. She was at an activity put on by the Feria del Libro and was photographed and quoted in the daily newspaper! She had fun showing that to us!!
2. There is no grass in Spain. Its weird and I don't like it.
3. You might recall from one of my first blogs about how we take navy showers here in Spain. Well, one day I was the only one in the house and thought why not take a nice real shower, with water running the whole time, like normal. (I know, that was cheeky of me, but it was only once…) However, as I stood there shampooing with the water running I couldn't help but dislike it very much!! I have become accustomed to taking navy showers that now, leaving the water on is verrrrry strange and almost uncomfortable. At least ill save money on my utilities bill next year!! ;)
4. Camille and I signed up for a Pilates class at La Casa de Porro, an organization that IES works with to sign us up for Tallers - or workshops - for all sorts of things, from art to exercise classes. So, this last Saturday, Camille and I looked up directions and headed to la Casa de Porro. Once we got there, we asked where the class was being held. The man looked at us like we were nutsos and took us around behind his desk. He showed us on the calendar that classes don't start till the following week and we had gotten our dates mixed up! Woops!! So, we decided to go explore part of Granada that neither of us had been to before! We went to Sacromonte (monte sacro - sacred mountain). This is an area on the hill in Granada, with a small town of houses all painted in white. There are all sorts of caves here where people used to live way back when! After hiking up to the top of the sacromonte (with beautiful views of the whole city and Alhambra) we went to the museum of the caves where they displayed what the caves used to hold in the olden days. It was a fun adventure to go and see more of Granada on a beautiful day (we have been having 80 degree weather!!).
5. Lucia has been getting more and more talkative lately! It is so weird for me because I have never had a little baby (or someone younger than me for that matter) around for this long of a time period! It is remarkable how much a baby changes in just a few months, even weeks!! She was only just learning to walk when we got here in January and now she is constantly running, grabbing us by the hand and dragging us up and down the hall way! She has learned where the keys to the patio are and will point to the drawer and yell "pito, pito." She also has found my shoe closet...bringing out every shoe possible and carrying them all throughout the house! It's a shoe hunt afterwards, trying to find shoes from the kitchen, living room and every bedroom possible! None the less, it has been really cool to see her grow up so much in such a short time! Every night before bed Loli brings her into our room if we are here to say goodnight. Now she has started blowing us kisses as she leaves the room!! It still is mine and Camille's favorite part of the day!
6. No matter how many times I see the Alhambra, it never looses its awe. When we hiked to the Sacromonte, there were spectacular views of the Alhambra. From every angle and during anytime of the day, it is just beautiful to look at! From the terrace at my school you can see the Torre de la Vela perfectly! Not only is it beautiful, but I have been learning all about the architecture, art and the culture that is held in the Alhambra; it really makes me appreciate it even more. I will definitely miss it when I return home!
7. I have an intercambio, a student from the Universidad de Granada, who I meet up with and practice my Spanish while she practices her English. The other night she took me to a musical directed by her friend. One of the Collegios (dorm like residences for college students from out of town) put on a Disney musical and it was wonderful!! They had every Disney song imaginable and wonderful, elaborate costumes. The singing and dancing wasn't that great, but it was lots of fun to hear all these familiar songs in Spanish. I have a video of "Bajo del Mar" that I will try and upload if anyone wants to see it!
8. This last Saturday we had an IES picnic at Las Mimbras, a recreation park about half an hour outside of Granada. Lots of IES kids went along with intercambios and host families. Our host brother and my intercambio came and we all had a great time! We played soccer, volleyball and "panuelo" - a game where we had to steal the Panuelo (Scarf) from the middle. It was a great day out and was fun to get away from the city and just hang out! Our bus broke down half way there, so we spent the time while waiting for a new bus saying riddles. Everyone was impressed with Juan when he solved many math riddles in less than ten seconds! It was quite impressive! We have been saying riddles ever since. We spent all lunch time working on one riddle in particular that Juan gave me and Camille. If anyone solves it…let me know, I could use the help! "A man walks into a bar and asks for a glass of water. The waiter pulls out a gun and the man says thank you and walks away. What happened?" Loli came up with some good ideas, but we haven't cracked it yet!!
9. This weekend was busy with lots of friends visiting from other places. My former coworker and friend from Seattle who is studying abroad in Cadiz, Spain, came to Granada for the weekend, so I got to go for tapas with her! It was great to see a face from home and only got me more excited to see everyone back at home! On Sunday morning after we woke up verrrry late, Loli called us "transnochedoras" which I'm pretty sure is either night owl or all night partiers. I hope she didn't mean it in a bad way…
10. FAMA IS OVER!!! My favorite Spanish tv show "Fama a Bailar" (a dance competition show) is ending tomorrow. The finale is tomorrow and I am not sure what we will do with out it!! It started when I got here in January and Juan and I watch it together every day after lunch. Maria and Javi - loli's oldest daughter and son-in-law - love this show too. Whenever they come to Granada we always discuss the latest elimination on Fama. When they come to Granada next time I am sure we will have a big chat about the winners and losers!
Alright, well that's all for now!! Time to go have dinner and watch our nightly movie. Every night there is a film on TV and if I can stay awake (which I usually can't) I will stay up with them and watch it!
Hope everyone is doing well!!
Oxox
Julia
- comments