perpetualperspectives

[perpetualperspectives]

A few photos from my trip last week to Madrid.  Although I was pretty sick for the entire trip, the main attractions I did get the chance to see were absolutely marvelous. I can’t say that I’ve seen as or enjoyed as much artwork in one city since the last time I was in NYC (about 3-4 years ago).  I was in the city for 3 days and my friend and I hit the 3 biggest museums, spending hours in each of them, each day: The Prado (the most important art museum in Spain), the Thyssen-Bornemisza, and the Reina Sofía.  My favorite museum was the Thyssen Bornemisza, mostly because of the artwork, but also probably because I spent the most time there too. There were 2 beautiful exhibitions that had opened the day before we arrived in Madrid, and I decided to go to both of them. The first was an Impressionist and Open-Air exhibition, and the second a Hyperrealism exhibition. Both were fascinating.  Within the Impressionist exhibition, I had the chance to see Van Gogh, Monet, Gauguin, Cezanne, and many more beautiful artists’ work. Each of the rooms were divided into different “genres” of nature, for example: rocks and stones, sky and clouds, rivers and streams, trees, mountains, etc. Additionally, every room was filled with a mix of the different artists’ perspectives on each type of nature. If I could have taken pictures, I would have…security was vigilant that day. Also, the Thyssen’s permanent collection was wonderful! My favorite floor was the ground floor filled with more modern artists like Kandinsky, Dalí, Lichtenstein, and more. I definitely recommend this museum to anyone who’s in Madrid. My next favorite museum was the Reina Sofía, which to my disappointment wasn’t filled with as much Dalí as usual that day because there was an exhibition of his work in Paris, for which they needed his work. Nonetheless, I was still able to see loads and loads of Picasso’s paintings, and his famous, Guernica. It was the first time I had the chance to see so much Picasso in one place, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!  While Prado the first museum I went into, I don’t really have too much to say about it. It was a gorgeous museum and while I was happy to see Velázquez’s Las Meninas, that time period of art work doesn’t speak to me as strongly as contemporary artwork does, so I fear that I didn’t appreciate it as much as I did the other two museums. Other than running from one museum to the next, Sam and I spent the rest of our time in Madrid being shown around by a Spanish friend who happened to be in Madrid the same weekend as us. Our friend, Gonzalo, took us to one of the most well known streets in Madrid, Gran Vía, and also to this beautiful plaza (Plaza Mayor) to nibble on some bocadillos calamares (calamari sandwiches). The name speaks for itself: fresh bread sliced in half with fried calamares sandwiched between the two slices. It may sound weird, but it was one of the most delicious things I’ve had since coming to Spain. Simple, yet effective. Wish I could say more exciting things happened in Madrid, but running around in the cold…with a cold… sort of prevented me from doing more than just visiting museums.  A wonderful weekend despite it all. Enjoy the photos!

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A video I took at a Sevilla soccer match in early March. I was lucky enough to be filming when a goal was scored. Unfortunately it was a rainy day so the stadium wasn't filled, but we still had fun none the less! :)

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These are my "overview" shots that I've taken during my time in Sevilla (on the three or so days that it didn't happen to be raining :P) I count my blessings every day that I have the opportunity to live in such a gorgeous ciudad. There is so much history here, but you don't even need that context to appreciate what you see. Just wanted to share some of what inspires me every day to be a motivated individual, to continue learning Spanish to the best of my ability, to open myself to new cultures, to appreciate the beauty in this world, and to live life to the fullest.

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Some photos from my trip to the province of Huelva. My best friend, Kyle, came to visit for a whole week and the first trip I took him on was horseback riding with some of my girlfriends in a small beach town called Matalascanas. We spent 2 hours riding horses, and then went for some of the best pescado frito (fried fish) I've ever had.  It was pretty chilly the day we decided to go, but still worth every moment. I enjoyed dipping my toes into the other side of the Atlantic Ocean :)

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Some of the music I was chattin' about in my last blog post!

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The next day my group went a tour of the oldest barrio (neighborhood) in Granada.  Andalusia and most of Southern Spain is known for its mix of cultures. First Romans, then Muslims and finally Christians, all had major effects on the history, art, architecture, and music of Spain.  In this particular barrio many of the streets dated back to the 12-13th centuries. Calles estrechas (literally meaning tight/narrow streets) are typical of the Islamic architecture and city planning, and could be found in this neighborhood mixed with the large public squares that were built when the Christians finally took over the area.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every so often when I'm traveling, or even just walking in my own city, it hits me: I am in Spain.  This realization came to me when I was at the top of a hill, in front of a church that was centuries old, breathing crisp mountain air, and looking out onto the city of granada, the snow-capped mountains, and the grand Alhambra. As if the view wasn't breathtaking enough, there was a street band performing typical Spanish music. Locals clapping, women dancing, and people enjoying life as Spaniards usually do, truly enhanced the view and helped me appreciate, even more, all that was in front me! Another tourist tip: Convents in Spain that house cloistered nuns make THE BEST muffins. No additives... just pure, unadulterated magdalenas. In one of the above pictures you can see where one of the guides is opening the rotating window to ask for a bag of 12 muffins (3-4 euro usually) as well as other tasty desserts. So definitely don't leave a trip to a convent out of your plans if you ever come to Spain. It's well worth it.

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First set of pictures from my trip to Granada.  I went for two days with my study abroad program, and spent the first day touring the Alhambra for three hours. There was a lot of history involved, not much of which I can remember because I was too busy wandering away from the tour group so I could oggle at the artistry of it all.  But for those who want to know more: click this

After the Alhambra, my friends and I decided to visit as many tapa bars as we could could in Granada. You may ask, what makes their tapas different from the ones in Sevilla? They are free. (And free is always better, right?) Tourist tip: Granada is one of the Spanish cities in which you get a free tapa with every drink you buy. Granted, you don’t get a choice of what kind of dish, but WHO CARES?! If you’re not a picky eater, it’s a fun surprise.

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FIRST RULE OF THE INTERNET: It's not a real (or good) blog without some cute animal photos! My computer may have been rained on, but at least I got to play with this little pup while waiting for service at the only store that could fix Macs in Sevilla (talk about supply and demand).

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Hiatus

Lo siento mucho! ...for not posting anything for about month.  Sevilla is not a city that is known for its rain. I was told by multiple people and guidebooks before leaving, that it is "one of the sunniest cities in Spain" and that about 300 days out of the year I wouldn't need an umbrella. Unfortunately, they were all wrong (at least in regards to the weather this year)! I happen to be here during one of the worst winters/springs in years. My host family and teachers keep repeating how they've never seen so much rain in their lives.  Funnily enough the people here treat rain kind of like snow, and when the rain first began, the streets completely emptied. As time went by, the rain didn't really let up and then I got to see how the Spaniards truly handled it... their answer: fabulous umbrellas. Maybe it's just because I'm not from a rainy part of the States, but I have honestly never seen such big, sturdy, diverse, or colorful umbrellas in my life (I definitely should consider taking photos of these umbrellas for a future blogpost). For the past month, I definitely didn't fit in with my cheap tan-colored umbrella from the dollar store, nor did it hold up in the torrential downpours that have plagued this area of Spain. It is currently inside out in a garbage can somewhere, and has been replaced with a much sturdier, transparent, mushroom-looking umbrella that also is tall enough to double as a walking stick. I finally stopped getting weird side-glances for my poor Dollar General umbrella. So why all this talk about rain?  The answer: These downpours are actually what caused my hiatus. While there has been a lot of rain, it also comes and goes very quickly. There will be sun and not a cloud in the sky, and twenty minutes later it'll be pouring. Unfortunately my computer and I were caught in one of these infamous downpours and kaput! there goes my Mac, which in turn means there goes uploading photos, writing blogs, etc. So again, apologies for a lack of updates! I am about to go crazy with some individual blog posts, and try to catch everyone else up to speed with where I've been in the past 30-some days. Prepare yourselves to be bombarded by loads of pictures.

Note to self: The rain in Spain does not fall mainly on the plain.

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A Jovial Jaunt This weekend a few friends and I decided to visit the Plaza de España, located in el parque de Maria Luisa. We left after lunch on a whim with no prior information, no history on the place, and no guide to tell us what we were about it see.  Some of the girls had seen pictures of the plaza and really wanted to visit, but truthfully I was just along for the ride and had absolutely no idea what I was about to stumble upon. There is no entry fee, no nothing. I just walked in through a park, wondered what all the fuss was about, and then turned the corner to see the most beautiful plaza I have ever laid eyes on. The lighting was perfect during the time of day in which we arrived and reflected of the water and surrounding buildings to give everything a sunny glow. Boats filled with enamored couples, husbands and wives, grandparents, and even a man and his dog, floated down the canal. Horses and carriages, tandem bikes, and secret alcoves throughout the plaza, made this the perfect place for all couples, young and old alike. side note: The displays of affection in Spain are quite different from those I'm used to. On the bridges, balconies, near the fountain and walkways, pairs embrace one another and kiss like no one in the world is watching. I guess it's kind of romantic...for them? Who knows. Like I said, the day was gorgeous: sunny and a little over 60 degrees. The Plaza did not seem nearly as busy at it should be for such a wonderful Saturday afternoon/early evening, but I didn't mind the lack of a crowd. Maybe sights like this get old for the people that live in Sevilla, but I really cannot imagine how that's possible. I am still trying to get over the fact that this place was about a 20-30 minute walk away from my apartment, and only a 5 minute walk from the university I attend! Needless to say, I will be eating lunch here on days I have class nearby. Some history, for all you buffs out there: The plaza is one of the main constructions and symbols of the Ibero-American Exposition World's Fair that took place in Sevilla in 1929. Designed by a Sevillian architect, Anibal Gonzalez, the half-elliptic shape represents the embrace of Spain and its ancient colonies, and its orientation to face the río that runs through Sevilla (Gualdalquivir River) as a representation of the path to America. It's surround by a large canal that is crossed by four bridges that represent the four ancient kingdoms of Spain (Castile, Leon, Aragon, and Navarra). Personal Fave: My favorite part of the Plaza was located on either side of the half-elliptical shape: 48 tiled benches, each representing a Spanish province. All of the tiles were unique and embraced the differences of every region. Like a ceramic encyclopedia, they were ordered alphabetically and each had a name, coat of arms, map, and historical facts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Every day I am amazed at all that I get to see. I feel like I express the idea of wonder and awe a lot... but it's worth repeating how fantastic all of the sights, sounds, and experiences are, in Sevilla. Oh how thankful I am every day for the brillance that is Andlusian culture, people, and architecture!  Buenas noches, todo el mundo. (Goodnight everybody!)

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Here's a little eye candy for everyone to enjoy. Some favorite photos from my first two weeks in Spain.  I am constantly in awe of how beautiful Sevilla is. Every day I see something new, something breathtaking, something historical. Each of these pictures is not just a sight that I've visited, they are things that I see every day as I walk around, go to class, and spend time with my friends. I am so lucky and perpetually in thanks for my surroundings and opportunities each day.  I don't think this will ever get old.

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The sun, above the mountain's head, A freshening lustre mellow Through all the long green fields has spread, His first sweet evening yellow. Books! 'tis a dull and endless strife: Come, hear the woodland linnet, How sweet his music! on my life, There's more of wisdom in it. And hark! how blithe the throstle sings! He, too, is no mean preacher: Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature be your teacher.

- William Wordsworth, an excerpt from The Tables Turned: An Evening Scene on the Same Subject.

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Some of my favorite photos from the hike my friends and I went last week near Huelva, Andalusia. About 1.5 hours away from Sevilla, are clusters of pueblos (small towns) tucked away in mountains near Sierra de Aracena. It was nice after the first week of classes to leave the city and stress behind and take an 8-mile "walk" in the mountains. Sevilla is a beautiful city, but greenery is not one of its strong suits. I rarely even see grass on a daily basis, so this was a treat.  I don't know if I could really claim this was truly a hike, it felt like I was walking through peoples "backyards", at times. Rolling farms, olive groves, cork trees, sheep herds. Some of the path was just woods, and other parts had fenced off areas with sheep, horses, dogs, or pigs on either sie. The towns we stopped in were populated by maybe 200-300 people, and were beautiful, quaint, and far from the sounds and hustle&bustle of the city. We ate our packed lunches in the town square, enjoyed conversations with one another, and watched little kids play fútbol in a nearby plaza. Some of our group members even joined in the game. I gave the ball a kick or two, but was too distracted trying to help a girlfriend  avoid some remarks (in English) that the older children thought would be appropriate to say to an attractive American girl. A precocious pre-teen struggled to remember the phrase, but finally stumbled over the words, "show me your titties", while my friend explained in Spanish that what he said was very maleducado (ill-mannered), to which he had no response. Funny how far reaching American phrases are, even in a hardly populated village such as this one. :P

Overall, it was a pleasant day. Didn't learn much about the history of where I was, just took a long hike, enjoyed conversation with my amigas, and had time to myself to appreciate nature and my current place in the world.

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A glimpse of a little square near the study abroad center, in el centro.

This is what my friday looked like after my friends and I finished our final exams for our two-week intensive grammar course. Things I was thankful for that day: friends, wine, the sun (finally!).

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Don't have enough time for a real post today, so all you get is garbage...literally. Spain has taught me that the little people matter too. Los basureros (garbagemen) are on strike, and the dumpsters on my street are starting to become a little too full.  I guess now we know who really holds all the power...

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Mercado de Triana: Lookin' fresh to death.

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Las observaciónes

Of course, it would be my procrastinating nature (not writing my Spanish paper due tomorrow) that would lead me to writing a quick post on my blog. I've been brainstorming topics that I would like to explore and discuss during my time in Spain: food, family, friends, cultural differences, homesickness...typical realizations from anyone studying abroad. But at the moment I do not have the time nor the patience to write a well thought out/organized post.

Therefore, this shall be my post of FIRST IMPRESSIONS. Things that I noticed, loved, hated, and had my eyes opened to, during the first few days in Spain. the people: I had no idea what to expect when I first set foot in Madrid airport, and then the Seville airport, and then a Sevillano taxi, and then a hotel by myself, and finally the home I would be living in for the next 5 or so months. And despite not knowing what to expect, or really where I was at all, it was the people in this country that made my traveling here, seamless. Welcoming, friendly, and well-informed about their city, they tell me stories even when I don't ask, laugh at my broken Spanish, and never give up in trying to get their point across (even if it involved an intricate game of charades) when giving me directions.  the streets: They are narrow. Cars are parked bumper to bumper on either side. And if you're not used to walking on them, they'll give you a back ache. Cracked. Cobblestone. Brick. Uneven. Winding. Old. These are the most interesting and wonderful streets that I have had the pleasure of strolling down/running on when I'm late to class. ---I try to take into account that the bus will always be late when driving into El Centro (the center of the city) because more often than not, as the bus begins it's turn from the outer barrios (neighborhoods) to the center, the streets get smaller, the turns get sharper, and the cars on the end of either side of the street are parked so far into the lane that as the bus turns it almost hits their bumpers. Leave it to the Spanish. The bus driver sits on his horn, bystanders barely notice, and after a couple minutes someone will meander out of their apartment, or a café, move their car, and we'll be on our way once again:  No pasa nada.    side note: No pasa nada, literally translates to "nothing passes", but since living here, I have probably had every Spaniard say this phrase to me at least once and have deduced its actual meaning: 'everything's alright', 'don't worry about it', 'it's cool'. And to someone as flustered as myself, this phrase only means one thing to me now: comfort.

time: is a completely different concept here. I've had practice of course with IST (Indian Standard Time, showing up an hour late for everything), but the Spanish sense of time still takes some getting used to. The quote, "time is of the essence," I doubt translates very well in Spain. There is always time to do what you need to AND what you want to do. No one is in a rush, everyone has time to stop and chat, and if you need service from anyone in any situation, plan for it to take an extra 30 minutes (or better yet, don't plan at all). ---I went to buy my Spanish cell phone from a store in my neighborhood, and it took me FOUR tries to find a time when it was open. Granted, the whole neighborhood takes a siesta (a pretty official nap) from around 2:30-4:30, but that doesn't mean that the owners of businesses will open their stores right on the dot of 5pm. Each time I stopped by the same cell phone store (all at different hours of the day, might I add), there was a sign in the window that translated to, "We're closed until we're open." No specific range of hours, just "until they open". Helpful. When I did finally get my cell phone, it took me over two hours to complete the whole process because even though all I had to do was fill out one paper, the man behind the counter decided to explain to me why each part of Spain is different, and follow up that information with hilarious impressions of people from different cities: Apparently, people from Córdoba speak Spanish like there is something in their mouth, people from Valencia stretch their lips out too much when they talk, and if I want to sound like a real sevillana, I need to lisp my c's and z's, and start dropping the S's off the ends of my words... And with that, I need to hit the sack. Until next time: "Gra-thee-ah por leer ¡Adio!"