Segovia

I am a bizarre sleeper. My roommate reports to me each morning whether I laughed or kicked or spoke spanglish the night before as I dreamt. Today I woke up happy to be living in the 21st century. In Spain before the 2nd century women in Segovia, Spain literally trekked miles so that they and their families could stay hydrated and be cleaned by the nearest fresh water lining the Guadarrama moutains. Yesterday I stood beneath the oldest, most incredible piece of architecture I have ever seen. Granite stones masterfully molded into arches floating 900 ft above me. I first feared that I would be crushed by the ancient design, secured solely by architectural genius. Then, they drew me in. I stood directly beneath the keystone or center stone that fastens every perfectly sized stone together. Without cement, caulk or Elmer’s glue the Roman’s engineered an aqueduct that provided water to the town of Segovia since 2nd century. It worked as the sole water supplier for the town of Segovia until the 1960’s. Glaring up through these man-made rocky rainbows I saw daylight seeping through every crevice between each stone and its neighbor. The aqueduct and monuments like it make me truly appreciate Europe for its age and beauty. Unlike the United States, which is youthful, modern and progressive, Spain and Europe in general is ancient and brimming with culture and diversity. There is so much to see and even more to learn. Bring it on Europa!

"life is a beach I'm just playing in the sand"

It is not as if I particularly needed a vacation. I’ve been to Amsterdam, Valencia, Granada, Cordoba and most recently, Sevilla. I have experienced really no lapse from fun since I arrived in Spain in early January. That being said, my irish complexion is in no position to deny an island’s heaping dose of Vitamin D. So, along with 10 friends I ventured south towards Africa, where I graced Gran Canaria’s many nude beaches with my fully suited self. There, most people spoke English so we had no problem navigating or communicating. My trip to the Canary Islands was most definitely the most laid back of those I’ve taken so far. I was neither sleep deprived nor anxious because on an island there is no tour bus to catch or landmark to miss. Like a true islander I sipped frothy, fruity cocktails and soothed my midday fatigue with a siesta in the sand. I have taken full advantage of every tour guide, museum leaflet and cathedral brochure passed my way. It is therefore nice to swap my walking shoes with flip flops to bask in serenity and sunshine available in the Canary Islands.

Andalucía

In Granada I pondered sky diving, dread locking my hair and staying in the south of Spain forever. That is until I ventured west to Sevilla where row boats became taxis and no restaurant dared to stray far from the water front. Granadians are happy and inventive and unique. The mountainous town is dotted by hippies and sparkles from the impeccable jewelry that they wear and share with tourists. In Granada people are not burdened by beggars. Instead, I became infatuated with the musical, bubble blowing and clown-like drifters. I have never been more inclined to donate my lunch funds, as I was in Granada, to a unicycle riding, flower weaving gypsy, named Andy.

In Spain they say there are 9 months of winter and 3 months of hell. I am told the temperature in the South of Spain is unbearable during summer, from June through August. Yet, in my opinion, where the sun shines hotter the gelato comes cheaper and I think Andalucía is the most incredible place I have ventured thus far. Besides the historical knowledge I learned from Maria Jose’s tour in Sevilla, I gained a deeper appreciation for culture and the general zest for pleasure shared by all Spaniards. Poor people in the south of Spain wanted my camaraderie as much as they yearned for my lunch money. Shelby and I trekked to the peak of Granada to buy hand crafted jewelry and share tapas overlooking the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Our two hour trip extended to an entire afternoon spent amongst musical hippies, their friendly families and other appreciative tourists. We sat, sun kissed and completely saturated by the social climate in the height of the city. To me Andalucía represents all that I will learn outside of my classrooms in Alcala. I will forever cherish the south of Spain where I learned as much about myself as I did that area, in this incredible country that I’ve been blessed to call my home away from home for over 4 months.