Ronda: Ronda is one of the so-called “pueblos blancos” (“white villages”) in Andalucía. The name originates from the white paint used to coat houses in an effort to preserve moderate indoor temperatures during the summer months. Ronda is specifically famous for its Plaza de Toros, Arab bathhouse, and gorgeous valley that separates the old city from the modern one. Note: “modern” should be taken rather lightly—it’s most likely older than the United States! Ronda's Plaza de Toros is one of the oldest and most important ones in the world, though it now hosts only two bullfights a year. While this building was impressive, the most defining feature of my day was probably the wind. Wearing a dress was possibly the worst decision of all time!
Haley and I at the Plaza de Toros:
Adriana and I posing in front of the "old" bridge:
Brittany and me--this is why it is called a "pueblo blanco":
Having coffee with Celeste (our director), Megan (a Haverford grad teaching English in Sevilla), Adriana, and Haley:
Córdoba: This city is a huge tourist attraction in Spain, mostly because it houses an incredible Mezquita-Catedral (Mosque-Cathedral) but also because of its Jewish neighborhood. We spent only a short time in Córdoba and, to be honest, we didn’t get to see as much of the Mezquita-Catedral as I would have liked—our tour guide quickly ushered us out in an attempt to take us through the famed Jewish neighborhood. At this point, you’re likely wondering what I mean by a Mosque-Cathedral. Like many religious buildings in Spain, this one started out as an incredibly large and important Mosque but was quickly dubbed a “Cathedral” when Christians retook the city during the Reconquista. As such, it is now mostly a Cathedral within a Mosque, though a Christian tower covers what used to be the Mosque’s minaret. The coolest part of the Mezquita-Catedral is the number of columns there are--they go on for forever.
The top of the Christian tower overlooking the central patio filled with orange trees:
Me inside the Mezquita-Catedral:
Adriana and me at the entrance to the city (photo cred: Alexander Jennes):
(Yes, I have saved the best for last.)
Lagos, Portugal: I got up bright and early to head to Portugal Friday morning—oh the benefits of long weekends every weekend! To be honest, I almost chose not to go, but I am SO HAPPY I caved and went. Here’s why:
1. The Lagos coastline is what you think of when you dream of gorgeous beaches with cliffs, perfect water, and beautiful sunsets.
2. I got up early both mornings we were there—the first to walk along the cliffs and the second to see the sunrise over said cliffs.
3. I had a delicious tapa on Saturday night (Mediterranean bruschetta with goat cheese!) and my first burger in 7 weeks at least!
4. The hostel we stayed at (Gold Coast) was more than incredible. I met so many people with so much to share—it really changed my perspective on traveling and made me think hard about what I want both now and in the future.
5. The waves were ridiculous--I got 100% pummeled trying to get past the breaking point and then back in!
Some of the cliffs:
The sunset:
Post-Getting-Pummeled-by-Waves:
My bruschetta:
One final scenic picture:
A final story and your Spanish Word of the Day: We are now a full three weeks into classes, so you’d assume everything is pretty set, right? Wrong. I heard through the grapevine at the end of week 2 that my normal university class would be changing rooms. The professor did not make an announcement, I did not receive an email, but I heard we’d be meeting in room VII starting the following Thursday. I thought, “Great! I actually know where that is!” So I showed up at room VII on Thursday. The door was closed and no one was waiting outside. I figured that meant the class didn’t move after all, so I went up to the normal room. About half the class (and the professor) was missing. Hmmm…enter Adriana via telephone: “We’re in room VII—the door’s open, just walk in!” I informed the rest of the similarly confused students in our former classroom that we’d be meeting in room VII and proceeded to return to the place I had just come from. The door wasn’t open, but at this point we were late, so I opened it anyways. It was not my class. As it turns out, there are TWO ROOM VII’s! They are, conveniently, a few doors apart and on opposite sides of the hall. My class, which is offered through the School of History and Geography, now meets in room VII of the School of Law, which is not even supposed to be housed in the same building! Thus, your Spanish word of the day: aula = classroom.
un abrazo,
elizabeth
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