Sevilla, Barcelona, Cordoba
So I had like a Monday and Wednesday off from school the second week of December... cause Spain just likes to do that. It makes no sense to take two separated days off like that, but that as I have discovered first hand, is the basis for most Spanish logic (at least governmental logic, although the general public is giving the government a run for its non-existent bankrupt money). So anyways I took of the days in the middle and hopped a plane with four other Americans and hightailed it to Sevilla. We left at like 10:30 at night cause it was the cheapest flight (we we are all pooooor) so we didn't get to our hostel till like 2 a.m.
Just to be clear, when Russos go on vacation, we like to sleep in, take our time... hit the highlights. BUT my American counter parts were up at 9 the next day, ready to go. Yeah, it was painful! So I dragged myself out of bed (which was actually a nice bed... it was my first time staying in a hostel and I was definitely a fan). And holy moley (excuse the strong language) did my travel buddies mean business. In true Emily style I came having prepared nothing. I had not a map, not a print off... heck I didn't even google Sevilla (ps. Google just auto corrected me for not capitalizing it.... wow do I feel chastised) . Luckily two of the people I was with were prepared... like addresses of good restaurants prepared. (I on the other hand was concerned I didn't have enough clean underwear, hence being impressed with their foresight). Anyways we walked around the entire city in the first day alone! We toured the Cathedral, which was breath taking. We saw the bull fighting arena and we walked along the river that runs through the city. There were tons of people rowing on the river... (like actually rowing, not like in a lilly pond rowing but like, I eat only lean turkey and would drown if I fell overboard because Im so dense with muscle). Plus along the foot path there was tons of AWESOME graffiti. Like no just "Emily was here" or "Boobs" but like actually graffiti art, (which I am totally into).
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| Me by the river that goes through Sevilla |
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| Amazing Cathedral that was HUGE!!! |
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| View of Cathedral from up in the bell tower |
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| Breakfast with Mary |
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| Bells in giant Cathedral tower |
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| There are orange trees lining the streets of Sevilla but the oranges are really sour like lemons! |
Anyways we ate some delicious TAPAS! Like amazing name first child Patas Aioli (garlic potatoes) as to be constantly reminded of the delicious explosion of flavor I experienced. We also saw a Flamenco show and dang the dancer we saw was Fierce... she made Tyra Banks look like she is constantly drooling. It also made me realize Em have no percussive talents what so ever. They are clapping and making these beats that I can hardly follow. So cool, ice cold.....
So we rented a car to drive to Granada and Sevilla cause it was cheaper and faster than taking the bus. So when we went to go pick it up, we wasted an HOUR trying to find the pick up zone because the office said they were "behind" the office (the Spanish on the sign and the English translation didn't match up so we couldn't figure out where the heck we were suppose to go) . So we went on a wild goose chase around this giant store complex thing... we were going down into the garages and asking strangers and getting lots of strange looks. (something i'm generally use to) Finally we figured out the meant ACROSS not behind. So they were just across the street. Then when we get into Granada we were totally lost for a while and couldn't find our hotel. So Granada is hella old and the streets look like a drunk baby mapped them out. CRAZY HOT MESS trying to find our hostel and then trying to find a place to park...not to mention my friend riding shot gun has negative map reading skills (no offense but seriously... he was as helpful as a Miss USA in a missle crisis.)
We only had two nights there and the first one we go there so late we just went out for tapas, (at like midnight) and then went to bed. BUT the next day we got up early and went to the Arab Bath House. So apparently we went to the "fake" ones cause they were built recently and are actually like a spa BUT dang did they feel good. There are three pools and one is COLD (like Lake Michigan cold), one is warm, and one is hot. So you have an hour and half and you go soak in which ever pools you like. OMG is was so relaxing because we got there for the first appointment at 10 a.m. and it was just four of us and like three German tourists so we had the whole thing almost to our selves. I got a 15 min massage with it and wow, did that Spanish woman have magic hands. It was so nice to just totally relax, you know, go to your happy place... which for me happens to be backstage at a Spice Girls concert.
After we went to this awesome Arabic palace that sits at the top of city. It was mind blowing because all the art in the palace was classic Arabic geometric centered art. The entire place, top to bottom, had intricate geometric carvings that were so delicate I could not even process how long it must have took to design and complete something so massive. I thought about how much time it would take me to complete just one of the rooms and it made my heart hurt (in a good way). So if you don't like art just skip to the next paragraph cause im gonna do some art talking now.... So, what amazed me so much was the obvious difference between European art and Arabic art. I'm a lover of impressionism which is based on nature and needs to be looked at further away because up close it looks like blobs. The Arabic art was the EXACT OPPOSITE in that the beauty of the details of the carvings could only been seen up close. It was also very interesting to see how the carvings were very mathematical looking and abstract in their influence. I'm so used to seeing nature and human form inspired art that the very geometric art was like a whole new view on the possibilities of art.
Ok, sports fans, time to tune back in. Anyways the next day we decided to drive to Cordoba to check out an amazing church there. OF COURSE we got super lost trying to get out of the city and ended up wasting over an hour trying to get to the highway we needed. Part of the problem was that there was SO much construction that every time we thought we had a route figured out, we got to a dead end. We legit had to back up an ENTIRE block because there was construction that wasn't marked till we got to the dead end and then the street was too skinny to turn around in. I was very thankful I wasn't driving because as most of you know, no one should have given me a license. (To be honest the person that passed me on my driving test could probably be charged with neglect. )
So yeah we finally got to Cordoba and only had like 2 and a half hours in the city cause we had to get the car back to the rental place in Sevilla by 6 p.m. so we just went to the Church. I didn't think it was going to be anything interesting but it turns out this church is interesting because it used to be a Mosque that had been converted into a Church (and then back into a Mosque (and then back into a church)) over like a hundred years. It was amazing to see Arabic and Islamic architecture and art work right beside Catholic artwork. Literally on the same wall there would be traditional Islamic carvings and a Medevil painting of Jesus. It was like the crusades were being carried out in this very church in front of my eyes. MIND BLOWING, seriously. The struggle for control was palpable.
OK MORE TO COME...... Im still working on it!
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