Cordoba

We went to Cordoba, Spain this past weekend with our study abroad program. It is a city in Andalusia (Southern Spain) that is known for it’s beautiful and obvious representation of both the Muslim reign, until the 13th century, and its Catholic history. Its famous Mezquita, was the worship center for the Muslims since the 9th century. It is a huge hall of hundreds of columns and double arches- that they picked up from the Roman ruins left in Spain. Then in the middle of this grand room the Catholics decided to build a gothic cathedral. They knocked out the central columns and ceiling and built their house of worship right inside that of the Muslims. The cross of cultures was so amazing to see- giant Muslim style arches with the Catholic saints painted on them.
Honestly though, I wonder why the Catholics bothered to save the Mezquita at all. They weren’t exactly known for their tolerance of other religions. Why wouldn’t they have destroyed it completely and built their cathedral where it was?
After the Mezquita we went to the house/castle of Fernando and Isabel and we got to stand in the room where Christopher Columbus presented his plan to go to the East by sailing West to the King and Queen. The gardens around the house were just fabulouse!
That night, my girls and I went to a Moroccan style tea-house and got to watch a free belly dancing show while sipping on sweet mint tea.
The next day we traveled a bit outside of the city to Madinat Al-zahra, an ancient Arab city that unfortunately today is mostly in ruins because of civil wars among Muslim tribes. It was still very impressive and so much fun to imagine how life would have been there a thousand years ago. It makes me excited to see the Alambra in Granada, which is a similar city to the one be saw, but completely intact.

Fresh Mozzarella

My Italian roommate, Gabriella, had her twin brother visit from Naples, the Italian city famous for its mozzarella. Gabriella would go on and on about the mozzarella from Napoli- "pero no entiendes tia, es en mejor, en serio, el mejor!" (the best, the best.) Well, her brother hadn't been here for more then 10 minutes when they called us to the kitchen to try the fresh mozz. It was amazing. I am not kidding you! I never new it could taste so sweet and milky. We ate it with a little fresh bread and tomato, awe man. No wonder Gabriella never eats the mozzarella from Spain. After growing up with that heavenly cheese nothing else will compare.
Gabriella has invited us, Taryn (my other American roommate) and I, to her house in April. I think we are all going and I cannot wait for more of that delicious cheese and some Italian pasta.

Cadiz

My roommate, Taryn, and I went to Cadiz for a wonderful get-away weekend. The weather was absolutely perfect, 75 and sunny. We rented bikes for a few hours the first day and rode around for a few hours. One side of the peninsula of Cadiz is a massive commercial port, not very pretty to look at, but very impressive. Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe on written record, founded by the Phoenicians, then the Greeks, then Romans ect. It was most famous in the 18th century because every product that came to Spain from America had to come through Cadiz. The other side of the peninsula consisted of miles of beautiful sandy beaches. We watched the sunset over the water that first night, so peaceful!

The hostel that we stayed at was the best! We met so many amazing people from all around the world that all had such interesting stories. I met a man from Sweden that told me what my last name means (Nord=north, holm= little island). We also met musicians from Australia who were promoting their band this year in Berlin. A Canadian who films documentaries for the Food and Life networks (got his e-mail ;) And 3 Israeli brothers, really interesting to hear their point of view on political issues. We went out to a African style hooka bar all together and later watched a live band proforme. It was a great weekend and nice to get away from the husstle and busstle of Madrid.