And so it has begun.\u00a0 After a somewhat rough start (losing my luggage, missing my bus from Madrid to Granada, etc.) I\u2019m feeling settled and comfortable here.<\/p>\n
In the United States, I am what I like to call a \u00a8relaxed vegetarian\u00a8. I prefer not to eat meat, but if it eating it means avoiding awkwardness, I\u2019ll do it.\u00a0 I figured that while I\u00b4m in Spain, I will at least try everything.\u00a0 Two days ago, Elvira, my host mom served something that made me feel as though I was on Fear Factor: Shell fish.\u00a0 But not just shell fish, ENTIRE shell fish, with faces, eyes, antennas, legs, tails, everything.\u00a0 I was more nervous when I saw those things on a platter (awaiting ingestion) than I was when my flight was seven hours late, or when my luggage didn\u00b4t turn up, or when I had no where to stay in Madrid.\u00a0 If I have accomplished anything on this trip so far, it is my ability to suspend all logic and eat six of those disgusting shell fish with the little black eyes.<\/p>\n
I want to try and describe the unique architecture in Granada, because that will really give you a sense of the city and its character.\u00a0 The architecture is one my favorite parts of the city, with buildings crowding the narrow streets that were not made for the cars that drive down them.\u00a0 Of course while many of the buildings are old (and very wise), there are new buildings that have been constructed with affection for the old style.\u00a0 The architecture of Granada reminds me in a way of one big family, with grand parents, great-grandparents, children, etc.\u00a0 The \u201cold folks\u201d, are comprised of buildings such as the Church of Isabel and Ferdinand, and the maze-like streets and buildings of the Albayz\u00edn district.\u00a0 The newer buildings have been built with a respect for the style of the \u201cold folks\u201d while still maintaining a sense of modernity.\u00a0 I don\u2019t find a stark difference between the young generation of buildings and the old; Granada has a beautiful but subtle contrast between history and modernity.<\/p>\n
Granada is a city rich in character. One of my professors of Spanish told us that Granada is known for its \u201cmal character\u201d.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t really noticed that, but apparently that is the reputation. It\u2019s understandable, however because Granada has overcome painful periods such as the Reconquista and the Inquisition.\u00a0 While there is a brutal past (all the Jews and Muslims were kicked out), the architectural influence of its victims is still very present.\u00a0 The Alhambra overlooks the entire city, and is one of the most powerful sites I\u2019ve seen, with the river Darro (as in \u201cdar oro\u201d or \u201cgive gold\u201d) running past the hill on which it is built.\u00a0 The Alhambra, constructed by the exiled Muslims is ironically (and deservedly) one of Spain\u2019s most beautiful and revered historical sites.<\/p>\n
Anyway, I thought I\u2019d give you a little taste of the city and what it looks like.\u00a0 Hopefully for those of you who haven\u2019t been here you can imagine it a little better now.\u00a0 I am lucky enough to have a twenty minute walk to class everyday, where I get to go through two beautiful plazas (the city is covered in plazas, many of which have fountains) and make my way down the narrow streets. Right now I\u2019m taking four hours of Spanish everyday, rightly named the \u201cIntensivo\u201d before classes start up in February.<\/p>\n
Tonight, I am going out to a \u201cdiscoteca\u201d with some friends, and I hope to finally meet some locals!<\/p>\n
Hasta luego,<\/p>\n
Mikayla<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
And so it has begun.\u00a0 After a somewhat rough start (losing my luggage, missing my bus from Madrid to Granada, etc.) I\u2019m feeling settled and comfortable here. In the United States, I am what I like to call a \u00a8relaxed … Continue reading