siguiendosalamanca: Exámenes y viajes…

So I’ve been learning the hard way that taking a trip the weekend before two tests isn’t the smartest idea….and I did it twice. My first trip to Granada preceded my test in El mundo árabe en el mundo hispánico on Muslim Art and Architecture (you’d think Granada would be able to help me study for this test, but all I really did was fountain watch all weekend) and my test of Cultura Española. I kind of studied…a little. Thankfully, I did pretty well on both of these exams. Last weekend was my trip to Cordoba, Granada, and Sevilla with my group; right before my two grammar tests (one in French and one in Spanish). I’ll have those results next week…

Aside from pretending to worry about the upcoming tests my weekend in Andalusia was amazing. In Cordoba we had some free time to walk around before visiting the Mezquita (Mosque) and Cathedral, so two other girls and I took a walk around the city’s winding streets and found the Archeology Museum and decided to take a look. We got in for free :) It was a small museum relating the history of Cordoba from ancient times up to the Christian conquest of Al Andalus. Like everything in Andalusia, it would have been nice to see before I took that test, but I can appreciate it just as much, especially having the background information from that class. Visiting the Mezquita was nice, although I wish my camera took better pictures. I didn’t find there to be anything special about the Cathedral other than it was built in a Mezquita. I’m pretty sure that Mezquita has an example of every time of arc I learned about in class, so it was cool finding them and pointing them out. Also, the Mezquita today is significantly larger than the original because of numerous additions by various Caliphs. If you know a little bit about the history you can easily find where one area ends and the other begins.

Alminar

A mix of Arab and Christian design

Almazor's addition of blue marble and 4 different types of arcs

Orange trees and the Mezquita/Catedral

Granada was a visit to the Alhambra, oh and the Cathedral and Royal tombs; but more importantly the Alhambra….which was incredible. Sure, today it’s just some tourist attraction where you can’t go everywhere or take flash photography, and it’s pretty, but smaller than you expected; but then you stop and think, people lived here. Then you start to imagine palace life in the Alhambra without all the crowds or distractions of modern technology and think how amazing it must have been to take a walk through all of those gardens every day of your life. There’s something enchanting about that place and you don’t blame the Arabs for thinking it was paradise, because maybe it is…Enough of my sentimental side, the Alhambra was pretty cool, not only because of its charm and its gardens, but because I got to see everything I learned about in class first hand.

Patio de los Arrayanes

Cúpula de Mocárabes

La Alcazaba

That big thing in the middle is the Cathedral

Jardines del Generalife

El pasamanos de agua

Puerta de Justicia

On to Sevilla…We didn’t learn much about Sevilla in class, but once you’ve learned the basics of Arab art and architecture it’s pretty easy to apply to everything else. Along with climbing all over the ruins of Peru and Mexico, I can add to my list climbing the Giralda of Sevilla to my list, which is essentially a huge tower with a great view. Thank God there wasn’t stairs; the guy who used to go to the top of the tower every day to call people to pray did it on horseback so they decided ramps would be a better idea. I agree. The Cathedral was pretty; it used a lot more marble than the others I’ve seen in Spain. However, I’d have to say the most amazing thing about Sevilla was spending time with Liz Boss; who is having a wonderful time there enjoying walks along the river and in all of the beautiful and fragrant gardens. Liz took me in a huge circle around the city, seeing some of its important sites, such as Plaza de España and El Torre de Oro, as well as some of its less known areas, such as the winding back streets that lead us to a whole in the wall Flamenco show. I don’t regret not studying in Sevilla, because I love Salamanca, but I would like to spend more time there someday.