Sorry, more from Cordoba and Zuheros!

Adorable house in Zuheros

Our entertainment on the bus ride back to Granada

Typical Spanish countryside...olive tree farms!

This one's really random, but I wanted to add it! This was a really nice Spanish girl we met at Botellon-Isabela

The tower of the mosque in Cordoba

The cute little mountain town of Zuheros

A sweet cross in Zuheros

Barbara, Katie, Camille, and Erica in Zuheros after a lovely cheese and bread lunch!

The castle in Zuheros...

Amigas en Espana and the World Cup!

The World Cup Women's Ski run!

My roomies in the Sierra Nevadas!

The biggest Swedish fan and the one of the best skiiers in the world!

The US was in 2nd after the first round!

Roomies at the World Cup!

The Swedish girls we went with (Johanna and Rebecka) and the Swedish skiier!

Me and the French girls at Dolce Vita-A very American oriented bar!

The Alhambra visit!!!

Granada-view from the Alhambra!

We're in the park by my house!

Huelgas in the CLM-Our professors are on strike!

Megan and Amanda are here to visit! Que guay!

Granada 10-The frequented Discoteca

Megs is here, and we're going to the Alhambra!

Amanda, Katie, Brit (my Norwegian roomie), Signe (Brit's Norwegian friend), and Megs! Out for tapas!

The Women´s World Cup in the Sierra Nevada!

So I´m surprised you didn´t know that the world cup for women´s slalom was today in the Sierra Nevada Mountains! Cuz I didn´t know til yesterday...and I got to go to the race today! It was so fun! I hadn´t been to the mountains yet, it´s only a half hour bus ride from here! Brit, my Norwegian roommate invited us to go, so we got up at 6:30am and headed out, all bundled up! We got there about 8:30am and had problems trying to hike up to the actual location of the race without having to pay for lift tickets, but we finally made it! It was cold when we got there, but the sun was shining hot after a short while, and a sweater and vest were a perfect combo! So we were there with a bunch of Swedes, who were hardcore about their team. One of the girls that raced grew up with one of the girls we were with! So cool! So we took pics with some of the skiiers and everything! We might have even been on tv! There were two USA skiiers, who were in 2nd (Resi) and 12th (Julia) place after the first round. We were really excited to see Resi in the second round, we were practically the only ones cheering on the US! But she biffed it on one of the turns....so sad, she probably would have placed really well! Julia got 15th in the end. It was a great day, I was in the snow and the sun was out! However, it really made me miss skiing, it´s been a while, and I wanted to be on the slopes so bad! I was exhausted when we got home at 6ish and took a good nap! The altitude and the hiking wiped me out! There will be pictures of the last 2 entries real soon! Hope all the snow back in the states is treating you well! I really miss snow...

Megan in Spain!

So I have this super great friend named Megan Craven who is studying French in Nante, France. And she came to Granada to visit on Wednesday!!! I was so excited in class I could barely sit through it, and I practically ran to the hostel when I got out of class! She stayed just down the street from me on Camino de Ronda (my street!) We started out the visit with a trip up the the mirador (overlook) of the city and the Alhambra. It was a good night for it, with a pretty sunset. That night we went out for tapas with our Norwegian roomie and one of her friends, but the place we went was somewhere we had never been, and it was kind of a disappointment. Then one Thursday I took the girls to see my school and the ISA office where I spend a lot of time! Then we trekked up to the Alhambra, which was unsuccessful because there was a long line for tickets. So we hiked back down and shopped a bit. We got churros and chocolate one day, can´t remember which! On Thursday night we went out, starting with amazing tortelini (sp?) tapas, moving on to a couple other bars with some girls from ISA, and then we ended the night dancing our hearts out at Granada 10! It was a really fun night, and Megan and Amanda got to talk to Joey, a French girl who is studying at the CLM as well! That was fun to see them converse! After the disco we got schwarma, a good 6am snack! On Friday we got up and hiked back up to the Alhambra, waited in a short line, and then had some lunch and started our tour after a bird pooped on my coat! It was fun to be a tour guide, although I don´t really know that much about the Alhambra, the Spanish tour I had was not all comprehended! But at least it´s pretty, and I got to go up to a tower I had never been to, so that was cool, a beautiful sunny view of the city! We spent some time in the internet cafe that night so Megs could skype my wonderful friend, her amazing bf, Zach! And I got to talk to Lindsey and Cora at the same time! Friday night we met up with a boy that Katie knows who is studying in Sevilla and was in Granada for the night, and 3 of his pals. We took them to the same tapas place, but were too late to get tapas:( And then I took Megs and Amanda back to their hostel so they could get a few hours of sleep before their long journey at 6am on Saturday! Then Katie and I took the boys to Botellón...I think they enjoyed it! A very funfilled few days! I loved being able to show Megan what my life is like in Granada! I think it made me realize how much I really like it here too...when you have someone who´s never been here and you show them all the best things the city has to offer...so fun! If anyone else is debating whether or not to come to Granada, just ask Megan about how good of tour guide I am! Haha, and remember how good of a memory I have! I love ya Megs!

Pictures of things...Granada, Cordoba, and Zuhero

There are more pictures to add, but I have run out of time!!! Just keep checkin' for more!

The park!!! Best playground toy ever!

Brianna, Katie, Katie, Cassie, and Me at the fountain in Cordoba

Another great playground toy!

The Medina, outside of Cordoba

In a tree by the Medina

Churros con Chocolate! (Brandon, Cassie, Brianna, Brian, Felix, John)

My Norwegian roomie, Brit, and our cat, Bambi

A group of us in front of the Alcazar in Cordoba

The Mezquita, The Mosque in Cordoba

Abbey and Katie in the Alhambra

El Espejo (The mirror) -Alhambra

Beautiful decorated columns in the Alhambra!

Abbey and Me and Granada in the background!

Cassie and Me in the walkway of the Alhambra

Córdoba and Zuheros! Weekend excursion!

Espera para los fotos, por favor! (Wait for the pictures, please!)

So this last weekend I went to Córdoba, a big city where the Mezquita (Mosque) is. This mosque is ginormous, with over 800 columns in it!!! It was taken over by Catholics and therefore also contains un catedral (a cathedral) within it. We also saw a synagoga (synagogue) there, a tiny room that was very old! The Alcázar was the other building we toured...a fortress of sorts with beautiful gardens!

That night we had free time, so it began with a nap and then we were off to find entertainment. We ate at my first Spanish Chinese joint and it was delicious! We got a ton of food, like a four course meal for 5 people...good stuff and good sangria to accompany it! We then walked passed the clubs, as they were way too high class for us! So we decided to play at the park, which was the highlight of my night! There were sweet playground toys, that we were much to big for, but it was great to act like a kid again (or like always?!). After walking around the city and going into one bar, we decided it was best to head back to our fancy hotel to get some rest!

The second day we went to this sweet place, the Medina Alhazar (I think?!). It was a huge fallen/burried fortress. Our tour there was way too long, but it was a beautiful view, up in the mountains and sunny! Then we went to a little town called Zuheros that was secluded and up in the mountains as well. This town had about four streets and four restaurants! I ate some delicious Zuhero cheese and then we wandered the deserted streets taking pics!

Our bus ride home to Granada, about 2 hours worth, consisted of a sing-a-long, with a girl from our group, Jess leading it up! The whole bus was singing a huge variety of tunes, from oldies, to country, to hip hop! So fun!!!

So it´s getting warmer here, but I hear it´s still pretty cold in my homeland! I hope everyone is staying warm and drinking cocoa!!! I hate to say I miss the cold...I haven´t had to get too bundled up here, I miss that! Well, take care everyone, keep me updated!!!

I will post pics sometime soon...

Life...

So I was going to post pictures of my city and the Alhambra. However, after waiting forever and not have any results, I decided to hold off until another time. I'm sorry to disappoint...instead I will tell you about other interesting things....

It was Valentine's Day yesterday, as you all know. And yes, they celebrate this holiday of LOVE in Spain too. It's not quite as commercialized as it is in the states, but nonetheless it's a cheesy holiday that is way too romantic for my liking. There were couples everywhere on the streets yesterday smooching, carrying loads of flowers or hideous red heart balloons. So, in light of this sickening holiday, some girls from my program, one guy, and I indulged in some of the best pizza I've ever had. We then ordered tiramisu (sp?) for our Valentine's day dessert.

I went to the Alhambra last weekend. Check it out online if you want! That was awesome...it's a big fortress type thing at the top of a hill in Granada. It is huge, meaning our 3 hour tour barely scratched the surface, and being that it was entirely in Spanish, I didn't catch what everything was about. The architecture was amazing! And the view of the city was beautiful! Beautiful patios, rooms, and gardens.

As for the nightlife in Spain...I finally made it out until 8am! Friday night I went to botellon, (drinking in the streets) and then to a discoteca, where I danced the night away and spoke a lot of Spanish! We were at the club until it was about closing down, and got back to our house at 8am. So I'm glad I get to say I did it once, but I don't know if I'll do it again. I wasted the whole day sleeping...

Anyway...not much else is new here...just classes and stuff...

Sorry this was the lamest blog ever. I appologize.

A day in Granada!

So, I got this great idea from a super fantastic girl, whose name I will mention here: Megan Craven-to write a blog that outlines a typical day abroad in Granada, Spain. If you have not delved into the life a French girl, click Megan Craven on my links below each entry! Love ya Megs!

Ok...here goes! I have class Monday through Thursday for about 4 hours each day. I wake up at about 7:20am, have a quick breakfast which consists of toast with strawberry jam, coffee with milk and sugar, and a wonderful lemon muffin-type thing! I walk to class-about 20 minutes. Then I visit our study abroad office to check mail and write boring blogs much like this one. Go back to class and return home for the big meal of the day-la comida, or almuerzo. Lunch is at 3pm here and always leaves me more stuffed than a person should ever be! Every day I eat bread and cheese and have an orange or mandarine for desert! My host mom is a good cook and I´m pretty sure there is always some item that is doused (sp?) in, or cooked in the olive oil that my host dad makes on the farm/in the factory! Lunch is the family meal here in Spain, so all the stores and businesses close from 2-5 for lunch! After lunch we take a much needed siesta/nap. In the early evening I usually head out on the streets to shop, check mail, or run some other errand! Dinner is at 9pm...which means there is usually a snack in between, a delightful pastry or some Cheetoh´s Bichitos! Dinner is much more lonely, as Katie and I eat by ourselves in the kitchen rather than at the dining room table! After dinner we either go out for tapas, go to the internet cafe, or do hw and go to bed!

So...life isn´t always so exciting here, but even just walking to class in this beautiful city gives me joy every day! There is always something new to discover, whether it be a cheap store or crepe cafe!!! Being in a different country makes you realize what you are blessed with back home, even while some things seem so much more friendly and fariytale-like here!

Finally some pic-the beach in Spain and the vacation!

Sorry, these are way out of order! And keep in mind these are my picks out of about 1,000 pics...so hope they kinda sum up my travels thus far!!!








The Spire in Dublin!

















Howth!















The lighthouse in Howth-the most adorable Irish fishing village!



















Katie and St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin!













The pubcrawl crew!












The lookout at the Guinness Factory-and a free pint!













The London Tower














My first Fish and Chips in Dublin!





















Wine Wednesday in the flat in Nottingham!











England phone booth!














Beautiful destroyed Castle!












The Kenilworth Castle-I went climbing again!














Big Ben! A rather dark pic-sorry!
















The London Eye-as seen from our city double decker bus tour!













Abbey Road in London-The Beatles-We took the pic from the wrong direction! We knew it didn't look right?!













Handstands on the beach!!!













The beautiful view in Nerja!












On a bridge thing in the Sea! I went climbing!













Beautiful Balcon de Europa on the Mediterrane
an Sea!