Reunidas Turns 40

My study abroad program had its 40th anniversary this week. We had an official ceremony on Tuesday, and man, was it weird. It was so old-fashion traditional Spain. First of all, it was in the old University building in downtown Madrid and I don’t know what I was expecting but it sure wasn’t the grand ornate hall with gold leaf and intricate painted ceilings. It was more of an opera hall than any university room I had ever seen. Then to begin the ceremony a man dressed in black robes, with a three foot feather coming out of his hat and carrying a giant scepter led the directors of the facultades, (schools) dressed in what appeared to be shinny blue ponchos and white bow ties, up to the head table. Every time someone got to up to give a speech they had to be lead to the giant podium stand by the man in the scepter and then led back to their seats. At the end of the speeches he pounded his scepter on the ground and then came in the university brass band, followed by the woodwinds, and then a small symphony. The music was great but the whole ordeal was just so strange to me. Luckily it was followed by free food and wine, so not all bad.
Then the following night was all got treated to free tapas and drinks again at a nice restaurant. We had croqetas, tortilla Espanola, calamari, and octopus.

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.

Toledo

This past weekend two of my girlfriends, Emma and Taryn, and I went to Toledo for the day. Toledo is an ancient city just about an hour outside of Madrid. It was the capital of Spain during the rein of the Muslim kings until 1085 when it was conquered by the Catholics. The design and architecture of the city are still greatly influenced by it's Muslim history.
I think my favorite part of the day was simply walking though the steep cobble stone streets and getting out of the city. I like Madrid but a city of five and a half million people becomes overwhelming sometimes. We also went to the gothic cathedral, built between the XIII and XV century. There was a display of the crown jewels as well as a collection of Greco’s paintings in the cathedral museums. Greco lived in Toledo for most of his adult life. Unfortunately the Alcazar, Toledo’s fort and palace, was closed due to reconstruction. Luckily it is such and easy day trip that I will be able to return to the city when it reopens.
Toledo is also famose for it´s steel work and all the gift shops are packed with intersting knifes of all different sizes. I´m thinking souvenir for my good older brother.

My new Hair!!!

I passed a peluqeria (salon) on my way home from class yesterday and decided to chop my hair off. I told her give me the Victoria Beckhem. She cut about 7 inches off of the back. I love it! My hair feels so light an healthy.

Reina Sofia and Class

This past Sunday I went to el museo de la Reina Sofia, Madrid’s modern art museum. They have a great collection of the most famous modern Spanish artists like Miró, Dalí, and Picasso, the star of their collection being "la Guernica". The Guernica, for those who don’t know, is Picasso’s masterpiece, representing a small city that was totally destroyed by Hitler’s army at the beginning of the Spanish Civil war. Basically, Hitler needed to test his knew planes and train his new pilots and Franco let him bomb a small city in northern Spain to show off his powerful friends and discourage the republic. Not only were heavy bombs dropped on the city but the civilians were also machine gunned down as they were running away down the streets and in the fields. Picasso’s painting is filled with the horror and pain of the two hour massacre. And no mater how many books I have read that sing it’s praises or how many professors tell you it is gorgeous seeing it for the first time in person is an unforgettable experience. It takes your breath away. I stood in front of Guernica for 15 minutes with tears in my eyes. It is really a must-see for anyone visiting Madrid.

My classes started on Tuesday and are all going well. Some of my classes are will all American students and a professor from the University Compultense Madrid but others are just like a regular lecture hall in Madison, except everyone is Spanish. I am taking a history of America class (the Spanish part of America, not USA), two literature classes, linguistics, and yoga :).