El Fin

It was the trip I had been waiting for my whole life. A bit dramatic?  Maybe, but its better than “the dawn of time.”  Ever since I even heard of the concept of study abroad I knew that Spain was going to be my destination.  1) I could practice my Spanish by means of immersion. 2) It is in Europe… and I had never been to Europe.  Done and done.  And, after so much eager anticipation, just like that, the three and a half weeks were over in the blink of an eye.  Looking back, it was a whirlwind of people, places, and language.  It is as if each day runs into the other, lacking a finite beginning and end.  I have to look at the journey as a whole, then focus on individual experiences in isolation in order to wrap my head around it.  I can’t believe all I have seen in such a short amount of time.  Of course, I would have loved to stay longer.  However, I was glad to be coming home.  I was starting to miss things like air conditioning.  And the food.  Oh, and my family. 

In addition to Madrid, I also visited Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Córdoba, and El Escorial.  We were busy!  Let’s recap a bit: I have been to a packed stadium soccer game and witnessed history as Real Madrid won their 32^nd Championship victory.  I dined in the world’s oldest restaurant. (Er… at least attempted to.)  I ascended the tower of a castle. I perused the Royal Palace. I observed timeless pieces in the Museo del Prado.  I saw the resting place of Spanish royalty.   I watched a flamenco espactáculo done to Carmen.  I even took a Flamenco class! Travis and I (the dancing rock stars/sinverguenzas) gave the famous dance our own attempt.  In my brain, I did fabulous.  I brought the dancing to the discotecas, something unlike anything in Athens.  The best was our last night all together there at a place called Moon Dance.  Which, for the life of me, I could never get right.  (Moonlight/ Moonshine/ Moonbeam…?)  I saw Madrid from above in a cable car overlooking the city.  I scoured the racks of some of the cutest stores I have ever seen. I got to see Zac Efron speak Spanish.  Might not have been in person, and it might not have really been his voice.  Minor details.  I met students from all over Europe.  I was humbled by ornate cathedrals.  I was serenaded by a tuna in the plaza of Spain’s “college town.” I saw beauty all around me.  It was in the form of the amazing architecture, the hilltop views, the delightful parks, even the charming little alleyways.   This is all just to name a few…

If I had to say what I miss most, it would be strolling through the park or chilling in front of a café.  This may not sound very exciting, but it was these simple, easygoing moments, in which I had no commitments or places to go, I could talk and relax and just enjoy the easygoing lifestyle that is Spain.   I made some great friends, and it was enjoying their company that made it all the better.  The experience simply would not be the same without their humor and inside jokes, which for some reason were just not as funny to anyone else.  I look forward to many more adventures with them upon returning to Athens.  One person I certainly miss is my “madre” (my Spanish caregiver)  She treated us so wonderfully, and I am thankful I have a place to stay when I go back.  (That’s right not if.)    For me, I know this was just the beginning.  Sin duda, era una experiencia inolvidable.  Without a doubt, it was an unforgettable experience.  I look at leaving not as an “adios” but more of an “hasta luego.”

Here, There, Everywhere

We took an excursion to Córdoba, in the southern province of Andalucia.  We had the whole day basically to explore.  The main feature was the Mesquita.   This was a hybrid of a mosque and cathedral in design.  You first step in to the courtyard full of perfectly lined green trees.  In the center lies a little fountain and water feature.  Legend says if you drink from the fountain you will find your true love.  Well, I imagine you might find your true love to be a doctor, as he treats you from the bacterial disease you are sure to contract from drinking this water.  I am obviously a hopeless romantic.

 Of all of the cathedrals we have seen on the trip, this one had to be my favorite.  It was completely different architecturally from anything I had seen.  The  rounded arches were distinctly Arab in design.  It was very interesting to see the contrast in architecture being definitive of a mosque, but including stained glass windows.  Column after column supported rows of these red striped stone arches.  In the center, it opens up into a strikingly beautiful center of worship, as standard in most cathedrals.  It was a central hub of light and brightness with the painted murals, dome top, and sun-reflecting gold designs. 

After the Mesquita we ventured around.   Further along the cobblestone street, was a black gated area with an imposing tall statue. Stepping into the gates and walking around the structure, we had a beautiful view across a large bridge.  I enjoyed how the style of the city was a delightfully ironic mix of Arabic and Medieval design.  We casually strolled along the bridge, looking out over the river. Off in the distance, were the dilapidated remains of stone towers, now overgrown with winding ivy.  At the end of the long bridge was a castle-like stone building, which we mistook to be the fortress of Alcazar.  Upon getting there, we realized that that would be all the way back on the other side.  But from this point, we were able to get a lovely city view, with the bell tower and dome-like tower of the cathedral/mosque marking the highest points.  When we finally did find Alcazar, we found that it was not free for students, as we had previously thought. We looked at the ancient stone wall and figured that if you have seen one medieval fortress you have seen them all, right?  That money could be put to better use on some much needed helado in the 95 degree weather. 

Outside of the city, we waited for our train in a little park, which proved to be one of the more interesting people watching experiences in my life.  Why?  One crazy family.  All of the children were running around sans pants and underwear.  Oh don’t worry.  They still had their shirts on.  Better, right?  They were bathing in this public fountain.  I’m not sure what it was about the fountains in this place, but they have to know this is not the best water for drinking/bathing/frolicking.  Now you might be thinking that’s not that bad.  Kids will be kids, right?  Wrong.  One peed.  Right there.  Peed.  So... that is not “normal” or “okay.”  The thing was, this seemed to phase no one but the group of melting Americans in the park.  There was no hiding our staring.  What they consider acceptable, I consider ultimate verguenza.  Too bad that had to be our parting view of such a beautiful city.

The other trip we took that week was to Escorial.  How do you get there, you ask?  Oh, why you just take a leisurely stroll up this hill that goes up in a 90-degree angle and you will be there in half an hour.  At least it was a workout. When we finally reached the top, we had arrived at the Monasterio, a former palace-turned-monastery.  Upon going in, I was underwhelmed.  It was about as exciting as one would expect a monastery to be.  Walking through was a series of interesting transitions:  from a dungeon, then a museum, and then a catacomb.  Allow me to explain. 

At the base level, it was nothing but cold stone.  I was fearful this was going to be the whole thing until we moved up to the next floors.  There, the walls were covered in variously sized and shaped framed pictures, both religious art and portraits of royalty.  In looking, I honestly could not believe it had been a palace.  It just lacked the ornate detail of the palaces we had previously seen.  (Obviously I was becoming a castle snob.)  It was after many winding staircases that we made our way to why the Monasterio is so famous.  It is the resting place of Spanish royalty.  The Pantheon is a circular room within the monastery, and all along the walls are the caskets of kings and queens.  Though chilling, I have to admit it was interesting and eerily beautiful.  Hoping things might perk up a bit we went down the next corridor, only to find tomb after tomb after tomb.  There was an area for princes, princesses, children, and the family of the king.  Needless to say I was not expecting this.  Angel statues guarded over the marble sepulchers.  Some looked so real I was convinced one was going to punch me in the face.  (Flashback to the legend in Toledo.) 

After emerging from the land of the dead we made our way to the cathedral in the palace, rivaling in size to the other cathedrals we have seen.  It is hard to put into perspective the sheer magnitude of this palace to include all of these features, and we had not even seen half of it.  Not to mention all of the secret passageways.   Okay, I do not actually know that to be fact, but it just seemed like the kind of place that would be filled with mysterious little hideaways.  Maybe I have just seen too many movies.  And after we had looked at the Monasterio, it was all down hill from there…