Prepare for picture overload- Los Alcazares: so beautiful.

In Sevilla we went to Los Alcazares.  It was the most beautiful, inspiring place of all.  The whole time I had imaginative stories of Arab princesses in my mind.  I absolutely loved it.  And I took way too many pictures.  So bear with me.

I'm continually impressed by the details of arabic arquitecture.  They surround themselves with such beautiful things.  It was easy to understand why their culture is so advanced.

I sat here or an hour or so, just taking everything in.  So beautiful.

This flower blew into the fountain and danced on top of the water.  Natural beauty.

All in all, I think I have loved this place most because it was so uplifting and inspiring to be there.  So beautiful.  I also loved that we didn't have a guide, because it allowed me to go at my own pace, sit and enjoy the beauty of my surroundings.  So next time you're in Sevilla, be sure to visit Los Alcazares!

Que maravilla es Sevilla!

Sevilla is a beautiful city in Andalucía.  It is definitely hot (they call it the frying pan and say that you really can fry an egg on the sidewalk).  The thing I loved most about Sevilla was feeling like I was in a movie as I ate dinner next to the ancient cathedral.  Well, that's what I liked second best.  What I really liked best of all was El Alcazar, but I'm saving that for the next post.

The above pictures were all taken at La Plaza de España.  It was incredible, the pictures don't do it justice.  So incredible, in fact, that part of Star Wars was filmed there.

In the cathedral of Sevilla Christopher Columbus is buried with his family.  This is his tomb.  He left for the Americas from Sevilla and lived there for a good portion of his life.

Flamenco dancing.  So cool.

Córdoba the city

I fell in love with Córdoba.  And I bought a beautiful ring to remember it by.  Here are some pictures of this city.

La Mezquita de Córdoba

After the windmill adventure, we found ourselves in Córdoba.  This city!  There were lots of beautiful things to be seen.  But this post will focus on the mosque/cathedral.

After the Christians reconquered the Iberian Penninsula from the Muslims, all of the mosques were either destroyed or turned into cathedrals.  The mosque in Córdoba is no different- as tragic as that is. They built a cathedral inside the mosque. So what once was a mosque is now a cathedral.  It is definitely a clash of the two religions.

All the columns were taken from old Roman buildings here in Spain.

The Cathedral part.

Interesting to see Catholic images in a building that is structurally and architecturally Muslim.

So much to share!

Since the cool things that I am seeing and experiencing are too much to post in one, I've decided to make an effort to do small posts every day in order to get caught up.  Starting with:  Quijote's windmills.

I am lucky enough to live in the city where Miguel de Cervantes was born and lived.  He wrote Don Quijote and is a major part of Spanish history.  Last week on our way to Andalucía we stopped at the windmills.  If I remember correctly, Quijote (who has dried up his brain reading books about knights) thinks that he is a knight and that these windmills are knights (maybe giants?) that he has to fight with. 

 Oh, and of course they are right by a castle.

This is my "I'm a crazy person that thinks I'm a knight" face.

And!  Shout out to my mom who told me the story of Don Quijote and has watched the movie with me.  The other kids in my group don't know anything about it.  You're the best!

Last night's dinner: a tribute to my mother

Before all 7 of you decide that this has nothing to do with my study abroad and only has to do with my mom, don't stop reading!  It DOES have to do with a story from my study abroad.  One that helped me realize the love of a mother that my mother has taught me.

 This week we went down to Andalucía- Sevilla, Granada, y Córdoba.  It is hot hot in the south of Spain and its easy to get heat stroke.  That was the unfortunate fate of one of my group members.  He got it in Córdoba, and was having to deal with it while we were in Sevilla.  That morining we got on the bus with a tour guide and drove around the city to see the sights.  Michael (the student with heat stroke) sat next to me on the bus.  As we were driving around the tour guide started explaining to us the different sights and trees and interesting facts about Sevilla.  Suddenly, with no warning, Michael started throwing up.  Right next to me.  I have to give him credit for his aim, he didn't get very much on me.  But as he continued to throw up and others on the bus settled into their states of shock- I was right next to him, rubbing his back as he vomited into a plastic bag that someone had handed him.  As he finished he turned to me and said, "Thank you for not freaking out." Everything got cleaned up and the days adventures continued.

What does this have to do with my mother?  EVERYTHING! I have always wondered how I would react in such a situation. Now I know!  I. Was. Awesome.  In that moment, I felt that I had proved myself (in a very small degree) as a future mother.  I was pleased at my ability to think outside of the throw-up on my legs and instead of the sick person by my side.  And I know that is something I learned from my mom.

My mom.  She is one of the most charitable people I know.  I am so impressed by her desire to help all those around her.  I have seen her influence many lives for good, not just including myself and my siblings.  I have seen her as a member missionary.  I have seen her remain calm in moments of turbulence.  I have watched her teach her children and grandchildren.  She knows how to entertain.  She knows how to make people laugh.  But most importantly, she knows how to love.  And that is the trait that I most emulate in her.  She is one classy lady!

 My mom and I- The early years.

Us today.  The love continues.

Week One: Finding time to blog is proving harder than I thought

Let me give you a quick rundown of what I've done in the last week:

 Tuesday morning in Spain, Tani and I met our host family (surprisingly, they are members), unpacked our bags, and set out on an adventure to help us stay awake a few more hours.  Of course we took care of first things first: napoletanas! Forgive our tired eyes and grungy appearance. It was 16 or so hours of traveling!

 

 Wednesday we went into Madrid to learn how to use the trains and metro.  We stopped for some churros and chocolate.  One of my favorite Spanish treats!

 Thursday is when the real adventures started.  TOLEDO!

Looking over the city.

One thing that has fascinated me about this trip so far has been the ceilings.  There is so much beauty to be seen just by looking up.

In the cathedral of Toledo.

Another ceiling.

I thought this was so interesting.  There have been times when Toledo has had Jews, Christians, and Muslims all living there in peace.  But the streets are marked so you know what section of town you are in.  I snagged this sweet pic in honor of my heritage.

 Skinny streets in Toledo.  Quintessential Spain.

Friday we made our next stop at El Escorial.  A palace/monastery/university.  Unfortunately we couldn't take pictures of the inside.  But the whole place was beautiful.

 

I love these purple trees.

 Another thing I can't help but notice has been these plants that grow out of the bricks or rocks.  I love the nature vs. civilazation contrast.  It seems as if nature is winning the fight.

After visiting El Escorial, we saw this castle.  A real castle!

 The story is so interesting.  There was a war, and when the new king gained power he invented titles and gave them to people who supported him and fought with him in the war so he could have his own nobles that would be faithful to him.  This castle belongs to a family that had no power or money. But because they switched sides at the very end of the war, they were given this land and money to build and titles as noblemen.

 More rocks and flowers....

 Saturday we went to a Real Madrid game!

 Real Madrid beat Real Valladolid 4 goals to 3.

Sunday was a special day for me.  It was so good to be back in church in Spain.  In the afternoon we went into the Madrid to see the temple.  It is so beautiful.

 Monday's I don't have class so Tani and I went to the market here in Alcalá de Henares.  They are so fun and crazy.

I love this picture because this woman is so Spanish.  Dressed to the 9's with her cart for the things she buys.  It was so good to be dowsed in this culture again!

Sorry for the picture overload.  But since I have a staggering 2 followers, I'm sure the both of you won't be too bothered.