GRAcias por NADA

Despite what the title says, I actually rather enjoyed my time here in Granada. Granted, I wish that I´ve could´ve done more but that´s what return trips are for (but not this time). Anyway here´s the breakdown of the last two days:

June 29
Went to the Parque de las Ciencias. As it turned it was mainly for little kids. And as it further turned out, I was too hot and tired after walking thirty minutes (it felt like thirty) in the sun to get there to really care. And I´m glad I decided to stay. There was a small exhibit on Einstein and apparently both of us agree to the concept of a world government.

However (to go on a side note.) I think that the evolution of a world government will not result in different countries in reliquishing a great deal of their sovereignty and the recognition of an international body but through militray conquest by a military alliance where the members share a common ideology (ie NATO) . Face it, no one country has the power to conquer the world whereas those with strong economies and advanced militaries would be able to subdue the others. (Yes, I do have this more or less planned out on how this will happen but only if certain conditions are met. In other words, never.)

Back to the parque. There were several other exhibits all which were interactive. It was similar to the National Geographic museum. Almost. After that I cooked my goose back in bed for several hours before I went to check out the cathedral nearby. I had expected it to be another Gothic cathedral so I left my camera and my cell. Big Mistake. As it turned, the cathedral was built in the Baroque style. IE Gothic on steroids and LSD. I´d go into excrutiating detail but other people have to use the computer. Just think grand, gold, bright blue, and a clean white. I didn´t do much after that, just saw the EuroCup championship and supported Spain. Apparently Germany didn´t play as well as I´d hoped. The Spaniards played better than I expected. I went out for abit to take pictures of people going crazy and went to bed to get ready for Alhambra. (Next post.)

Granada

June 28 1:00 AM-5:00 AM


I caught the group bus that left at 1:00 in the morning which took me to the airport where I then took a taxi to the train station and managed to save 1 euro. Whooptie-fracking-do. Anyway, the station Puerta de Atocha in Madrid is beautiful or at least the lobby anyway. There's this giant park that leads to a cafe restaurant that I'll try to take pictures of when I make my return. Nothing much happened really, I just had a little trouble trying to find the departure gates which ended up being between the ground floor and the upper floor. In other words, a floor I never thought existed.

Granda
Boiling. Mother fracking boiling. The euro I saved ended up being used to buy a highly detailed map of the city. I expect it to be destroyed within the vacation period. I couldn't do much but walk around the city trying not to die from hat exhaustion. Fortunately, some of the cathedrals and churches have fountains outside of them running cold, holy water for hot, sinful head full of not-so-clean thoughts of my hostel mates. I am in fact the only male in the entire room. Statistically, I can't screw this up. But then again, you all know me very well and, like the Democrats, I'll end up snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (not a prediction of the general election).
Anyway, I manage to get a few shots of the city before I retreated to my hostel which is rather nice. I wish the bed was a bit higher but oh well, I was wishing for the bottom bunk and I got it. So about my bunk mates, 3 are from the United States studying Spanish (yes, mom. I can already read your mind from across the ocean.). 2 are Argentinian architects who have been in Spain for a bit. 1 is a Chilean whose attitude is starting to grate on me a little bit (the Peruvian in me I suppose?). 1 is another American who I haven't talked to yet. And there is one more person whom I haven't yet met. You really do meet interesting people in hostels. Although, I recommend getting a hotel if where you're going is 100 degrees Fahrenheit. I'm planning to go out tonight and walk around a little to try and take pictures or at least take in the sights. Chances are you won't see the pictures as I'd like you to see them until a long while. Oh and I plan on buying Moorish designed souvenirs!!

It Bleeds, It Leads

So I smashed my finger in the ISA door today. Fortunately I did not break it. Unfortunately, it peeled off a bit of skin and did something to my fingernail. I am pretty sure that is exactly what you wanted to hear from me. This will just make my Granada trip just that more interesting to go to. Anyway, Spain vs. Russia tonight. Go Spain.

Granada

Yeah, planning is all done. I may actually upload pictures of the Al Hambra and go broke. Sigh. I should've chosen to learn Spanish in Granada. Oh well. Future advice when Granada is a choice, ALWAYS choose Granada. That's right. Granada.

PossibleTravel Plans

Okay, apparently I really love traveling and there's so much that I want to see that I haven't had time to. So here's a rough schedule of where I'd like to go (I'm not making any plans but if anyone is interested feel free to tell me and I'll try something.

Summer 2008
Chicago for my birthday maybe?

Fall 2008
Nowhere.

Winter 2008
I was thinking back to Europe for two weeks. Starting in Barcelona, Spain to Amsterdam to Southern Spain and maybe Morocco. This would take place over winter break and only if I can find people that are interested in coming with me. I will not go to an Arabic country alone. However, if the dollar loses any more value than no.

Spring 2008
Supposedly, I'm traveling to Egypt over Spring Break if plans work out.

Late Spring/Early Summer
After final exams is my preferred date for the Peru trip with the master smith if he still wants to. If other people want in, it's okay. I just have change accommodation plans which won't be that much of a bother.

Fotos

Due to the insane amount of photos that I've taken in less than a month, I'll be uploading them sporadically and at odd, unannounced times. All I can promise you is that all photos and video will be up and tagged and captioned appropriately before my birthday.

Smoke'em Out and Fry'em

So, I smoked my first and probably not my last Cuban today. Mind you it was a cheap one since this only my second time smoking a cigar. First, if you don't count graduation. Here's the story: Bought some matches, cheap cigar cutter, and a Monte Cristo Numero 4. I tried to light in the park but it was windy and kept putting out the match. So I retreated to the Cafe y Te where they allow smoking. Now this offered shelter from the crosswind but where I had chosen to sit made it difficult to smoke. Apparently the ventilation gust or air conditioning or whatever current blew the smoke out and passed me at an angle where it would blow the smoke back into my face. Now, smoking cigars is different from smoking cigarettes, you do not inhale the smoke. You draw the smoke into your mouth and taste the smoke. The reason is that cigar smoke is heavier than cigarette smoke and inhaling it would be like inhaling smog. Anyway, It was a little difficult at first but I eventually remembered that at some point I actually had to draw in smoke (It took me 9 matches this time.) to keep it alight. I decided to keep the band as a small keepsake. And for those of you who are worried that I'll turn into a chain cigar smoker. Don't worry. I'll probably end up doing this only five more times this trip. And only rarely in the US if I can afford it within my budget. Yum. I can feel the cancer cells multiplying in body right now. :)

In other news
I wish these damn Spaniards would quit staring at me. Yes, I tend act out of the norm and a little crazy but rarely enough to warrant you boring a hole in the side of my head. Jesus. I've sorted out my Granada transportation problem. I'm leaving in the morning instead of the evening so I can take the group bus at 2:00 AM and I can spend more time frying in Granada (100 Faren!!!!). I plan on spending the 30th reading Don Quijote in Spanish in Al Hambra all day before I leave the next morning. I'll try and put up the second part of Toledo and then the highlights of Salamanca and then Granada during the first weekend of July. See you then.

Travel Plans Headache

Nice, Spanish ingenuity fucking me over . I have Granada all planned out more or less. The problem is that getting to Granada is starting to be a pain. I can't seem to either order the bus tickets that I need to get to Madrid or change the train tickets to an earlier time so I can take the group bus and not have to wait half a day for the train. I guess I can always sight see Madrid while I'm silently cursing the incompetence of Spanish businesses when it come to the web. Although, their vending machines are top notch with freezing units.

Toledo Part 2

Woke up. Had a good breakfast. Went on a brief tour of Toledo.

Brief Info
We were put up in another 4 Star hotel with armor in the hallways and really expensive gift shops to the sides.

Tour
We broke up into two groups and guided by a woman. We saw several old apartment building riddled with wha the guide said were bullet holes from the Spanish Civil War. As it turns out we had arrived at the end of a local festival where people decorated their patios with Christ friendly images (See facebook.) We also passed a nunnery that makes marzipan (a famous desert in Spain. Essentially breaded pastries covered in almond paste.) year round. The most spectacular sight was the Gothic/Romanic/NeoGothic cathedral. For you art buffs this means a very pretty building which you can see on facebook. She also took us to an old synagogue converted mosque converted synagogue converted mosque converted church. The story behind this is that after the Spanish conquest the Jews and Muslims were given the option to convert or leave (take a guess which one they chose). As a result, there are no residential Jews or Muslims in Toledo at all.
What we saw weren't all cathedrals or works of art. We got see a church. Thankfully, it was interesting enough to warrant my attention. The church was an example of how Muslim architecture and Christian architecture mixed to create something interesting. The cloister had pinnacles that were of Muslim origin. Now Muslim decoration primarily consisted of geometric shapes and writings of the Koran and stars. As well know, trying to represent God or Muhammad in any drawing warrants you getting blown up by a car bomb or murdered. However, the reason is that you are pretending to be God by drawing images of man. (I'm sure you're smart enough to connect the dots if you see any.) And we all know what Christian art looks like.
Next, we went to see a painting of "El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz" by El Greco (The Greek). In Spain, he was a famous Renaissance painter known for using surreal methods such as cold colors, elongated human figures (people say he may have had vision problems.) and was originally from Greece but spent most of his life in Spain (people argue that El Greco was actually Spanish due to having spent most of his life in Spain. However, according to that logic, Picasso is French.)
For the final stop, we saw a white stone. But not just any white stone, the white stone marked the spot where King Ferdinad's horse kneeled in front of a mosque. And not just any old mosque, but a mosque where the King found a beautiful Christian thing after he followed the light (see? good things happen when you follow the light.) into what was an underground (hence, illegal) church that the curator (who was probably killed) went to every morning. There was a hole in the building that let light into the basement at just the right angle that reflected light off of a silver Jesus. The mosque was left standing unlike the others which were either converted or destroyed.
After words, I went to the Infantry Museum to see the Swords exhibit. The actual museum was closed for renovation. Apparently, Toledo is the location for Spain's infantry training ground or a school like West Point. Went to dinner at a bar where the food was crappy. Which is a precursor to the judgment of the guy who chose it. And I finally got my cell phone to work when I got the unlock code for my cell phone. Packed, went to bed and got up early the next day to watch Case Closed before we left for Salamanca. But that's another story. Also, it was cold the entire time we were there.

Okey Dokey

I've decided to postpone dance lessons till July. Since next week is exam, this week is crunch week, and lessons are already half way through for the month and paying 40 Euros (60 USD) for 3 lessons seems ridiculous (x2 is 120). I've decided to go with Latin Dances and Flamenco. Wish me luck next month.

Guess I'm a Fugitive Now

Note the part about it being illegal for American to consume Cuban products in other countries:

http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2004-10/a-2004-10-06-40-US.cfm?CFID=665253&CFTOKEN=39075057

http://www.ustreas.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/programs/cuba/cuba.shtml

Dance Lessons Update:
I still plan on doing it either starting in July or this week. Haven't quite decided yet. I'll be doing Latin Dances and I haven't decided yet on Flamenco but who knows?

Why is the all rum gone?

So, I found out that I can't bring Cuban rum and Cuban cigars into the US to share with all of you. This angers me greatly because 1) This means I have to consume a bottle of Cuban rum that I intended to give as a Father's Day present over several months (not too difficult), this also means that I don't have an excuse to buy a cigar storage case and buy an excessive amount of Cuban cigars. Oh well, so much for watching Battlestar Galactica on the back porch while smoking a Montecristo, drinking a rum and coke while wearing a white linen jacket and a Montecristi (oh well, maybe Obama will be different and end it).

Anyway, the art festival ended yesterday with a bang (literally, the video will be uploaded later.) I put some more pictures on facebook (I still have more) and I'm still trying to learn Spanish. Last week the program gave us a tour of the new and old cathedrals (old=romanic, new=gothic/early baroque) and it weas interest. The battery is almost gone so I'll put it all in a future post when I get the time and energy to give a detailed explanation.

Veni, Vidi, Veci

I'M GOING TO ROME!!!!!!!!!!!

Touching Toledo

March 26
Had breakfast. Left for El Palacio Real. Ie The Royal Palace. See pictures. Really interesting. Especially the tombs. Apparently, in the royal tombs there's space only for the grandfather and grandmother of the current king. This is something you're going to have to ask me about in person because I'm trying to finish these backed up posts as fast as possible in as much detail as possible. Anyway, we saw various rooms and how beautifully they were adorned and they showed the room with enough silver and gold objects that would make Chris Woolley go bald with envy at how well they've been crafted. Later, we had lunch and went to the Sophia Art museum which would've been better if we were allowed to wonder around on our own and meet up later instead of being shepherded the entire time. Saw some Dali works and Picasso's infamous painting of the bombing of the village which escapes me now. Went to Toledo. Checked into the hotel. Went over academic stuff and had dinner. Went to bed.

Spanish Television
Spanish television has to be one of the funniest things I have ever seen. For example, I saw a show about murders solved by the Guardia Civil. During one of the reenactments, they played Duel of the Fates in the background. I laughed. Hard. So hard that I felt better about my cell phone (they call them mobiles here, the heathens). As far as I could tell the guy was a member of ETA who assassinated or tried to assassinate a captain of the Guardia Civil. He then went on a killing spree as he tried to flee the authorities and after killing three people in cold blood and trying to kill two more, the guy just gives up. I'll never understand Spaniards. On the plus side, the sitcoms here are funnier (I'll explain in the next post.). Also, they show different anime show here and I can understand what they say (plus I can find them on netflix in English which is good for me.)

Patron Saint of Salamanca

Anyway, I have the day off of classes today and I figure that I would catch on blogs and such. But first, what I saw today before I stopped in the cafe.

I was walking towards the Cafe y Te (place where I go to when the school buildings and ISA office are closed for wifi) and in the Plaza Mayor I heard a band playing and saw police officers surrounding a group of costumed people and well dressed men and women with medallions around their neck. Obviously, I went over and started taking pictures (I left my camera in my room. These are all cell pics.) Pictures which will be up on facebook sometime this weekend. As it turns out, today is the celebration of the patron saint of Salamanca.
I'm assuming that the men and women with the medallions were either important government officials or part of the descendants of the patron family of Salamanca (more on this later.) The procession had a band at the front followed by costumed men and women in what I believe to be traditional garb followed by and honor guard with swords followed by the gov officials/descendants, all of which were surrounded by police and private bodyguards (one shoved me to the side as I was trying to take a picture.).
The usual photographers and cameramen were taking pictures and shooting film and the the procession would stop while the men and women posed. They were all heading towards the New Cathedral for service which would explain why Salamanca is virtually empty. Everyone is either at church or somewhere else in Spain.

Good News

I know how to make Sangrea. And what could be a very funny youtube video.

Bad News

No bullfight this Thursday unfortunately. Guess I'll be taking pictures of tourists and locals getting gored in Pamplona, Spain this July.

Santander and Salamanca Surprise

I didn't do anything but lie on the beach. Also, I've been hacking and blowing my nose for the past couple of days. The weather in Salamanca is increasingly bipolar and it's driving me and my sinuses nuts.
One of these days, I'll finish the Madrid, Toledo, and beginning Salamanca blogs this weekend when I have time.
I'll try to to get fotos of a bullfight.

MAdness?!! THIS IS MADRID!!!

March 25
Missed breakfast which was rumored to be good. We headed out towards El Escorial(sp?) which I constantly refer to as La Parrilla in my photo captions. The story behind this is that a saint was martyred via grill and a monastery was built in the form of a grill by Carlos II (Charles V of the HRE) in order to suck up to the Catholic constituency. (Ferdinand the Catholic left a daughter who was rumored to be crazy and the last thing anybody wants is a crazy queen) Anyway, we toured the monastery and you can see the various pictures on facebook. I also bought a few postcards because we aren't allowed to take pictures. (Note: You will never be allowed to take pictures inside any national monument or any national museum. Thus this will be the first and last time I say this.)

Later, we visited El Valle de los Cayidos (The Valley of the Fallen). The monument was constructed after the Spanish Civil War by P.O.W.s and people who wished to be reintegrated into Spanish society as punishment. If you've seen the pictures, you'll realize that this was anything but easy.
The monument rests on the highest point near Madrid with a cross that reaches the clouds. Oh and Franco is buried inside. I did a little solo Jazz on his grave while the guard's and guide's backs were turned. :)

Marching to Madrid

May 24
I woke up early today to finish up packing and left for the airport. I had nice conversation with the taxi driver who said the problem with the United States is that there wasn't enough history for an incredibly awkward thirty minutes as I tried to stay awake and pretend to pay attention at the same time. Then the bastard overcharges me by 15 euros. Screw him. Anyway, the flight wasn't too bad even though it was delayed by half an hour and the stewardesses looked like they belonged in The Wedding Singer but I didn't care I was tired. When the plane landed at the airport, I began to see where I had to go. According to the instructions, I had to take a cab to the hotel and pay around 35 euros. I took the metro, cost me 2 euros and I made it on time without being overcharged plus I got a free cookie too. Nothing beats a free cookie.

Met the roommate, seems like a nice guy. Went over some aspects of the program. Was still cell phone less. One of only four guys. Also the only single guy/person in the entire group out of everyone.

To be continued

Barcelona

I didn't do much. All I did was buy my prepaid Vodafone card (See Nightmare on a Cellular Level) and walk around while taking picture of the outside of monuments.

Fotos and Such

I'm sure that you all are dying to have me continue my adventures in these heathen lands but limited free internet access as well as other things are keeping me from writing. On the other hand, I'll be uploading photos almost daily now as time allows. I should have Salamanca up by the start of next week.

On the front, I took my placement exam and to my surprise, I actually placed superior. This means that as long as I don't fail this course and the next, I will have completed my foreign language requirement over the summer. Or in other words, I get to graduate on time!!! I've talked to the ISA directors and they've hooked me up with a lessons schedule at a place that the program has an agreement with. Lessons are in the evening which works for me.

Other news, I head to the beach this weekend. Guys, get ready for some nice photos of nude beaches. Ladies, I'm sorry you had to read that.

Dancing Dilema

If you're reading this, I have a question. Should I take the chance to learn a new dance while I'm abroad? and, if so, which one? Answer the poll with your opinion.

Lazy Sundays

From the front:

Nothing new has happened so far. I just finished the Orientation courses on Friday and as it turns out I should be in intermediates but that won't happen until I've had the placement exam which is tomorrow. I plan on studying a little bit of the material that they've given us already. As it turns out, a majority of the students understand Spanish to some extent while only a hand full can really actually speak with a small accent. Also, two forms of Spanish exist in Spain. Castellian Spanish which says the "ce" as a "th" as opposed to Sevillian which pronounces "ce" as "se". Or to be frank, Castellian Spanish sounds fruity and gay compared to Sevillian Spanish (no one ever quote me on this).

The exam itself shouldn't take more than an hour long max. There's a multiple choice and a written section that needs to be finished within thirty minutes followed by oral section with the professors. I'm not too worried though. I've decided that it's easier to realize that there things just out of your control such as the academic expectations of professors and other people.

Salamanca itself is pretty different from Williamsburg. Where Williamsburg caters to the old, retired and dying as well as tourists, Salamanca caters to the tourists and students (there are at least 2 bars to every church. And there are a lot of churches here.) Also, Slamanca is a city that best resembles Charlottesville. I decided to go to some of the museums which were nice and cheap. There's an Art Nouveau and Art Deco museum that was and where I bought a few things. The automobile museum was interesting to visit but I won't go again. I'll put up pictures when I get the energy and the will. Hopefully, I won't be too poor when I get back to the States.

Fashion tip from Europe:
Apparently, hats are coming back. Not necessarily with a vengeance but they are coming back. I've seen more than a few Frank Sinatra hats running around on the heads of young men such as myself as well as a few floating around in displays of stores such as H&M and Zara. Granted, none of them are as good as a pure fur felt or a finely woven Montecristi or Cuenca but still better than nothing. Speaking of which, look up panamabob.com and use the coupon code: JUNE to get 18% off an already discounted hat. Random, I know but if you want to stay ahead of the fashion curve get the best or at least better than what's commercially available.