20 October, 2010
World Statistics Day!
Not so much a traveling thing, but I do think it is important you all know that today October 20th, 2010 is the FIRST World Statistics Day. It is a day to recognize the value of statistics in our modern world and also to promote efforts in bringing effective statistics to impoverished countries in the world in order to aid in their development. Hope you all enjoy your day!
18 October, 2010
Jaén
Yesterday our program took us up to Jaén for the day. We walked around the city during the morning, went to a fair during the afternoon and then at night we went to a bullfight.
So at the bullfight we, 30 Americans, are sitting by ourselves in a section of the upper deck so we didn't get to soak up the crowd at all which was a bummer. At first everyone was getting into it even though the first bull was pretty disinterested in running around, though to be honest I doubt I would either. Then you know, they kill the bull so some people got a bit teary-eyed. Most people got back into it though so that was good. The next 2 matadors were more skilled and the bulls were more aggressive so those were probably be favorites. There were, or appeared to be, a couple close calls were the matadors had to hold the bulls head down so that the wouldn't be impaled. Anyway, it was just in general a very interesting cultural event, and since bullfights are a huge controversy here in Spain, I know feel more adequately informed.
Just a catch-up on other Granada going-ons. Our program went to a flamenco show awhile ago which was really cool. My friends and I went to a medieval festival that was amazing, I didn't have my camera so I'm going to steal theirs. We've been going salsa dancing. Classes are in full swing now so we're real focused on that during the week.
This weekend we're going to Cordoba for a day trip so I'm looking forward to that.
Ciao
13 October, 2010
Barcelona
Ok, so I actually went to Barça last weekend (Sep 30-Oct 3), but I have been very internet deprived until this point so here we go.
We finally got settled in to Barcelona around 5-6pm on the 30th and we were missing about half of our travelers who were arriving later that day and the next so we decided to just walk around Barcelona. We walked up La Rambla which is kind of the main tourist street and it was just about what you would expect. So we made our way to Parc Monjüic, which is basically I giant park that has a zoo, art museum, greenery and some well-placed outdoor escalators. We just hung out near the museum since it was kind of late already. There was a really good guitar player. Anyways here is the view of Barcelona:
The next day we did the Picasso art Museum which was really cool. We got to see Picasso's take on Velasquez' Las Meninas which was really cool. After that we did a bike tour through the city which was extremely fun. We went down by the beach, the Olympic Park, the bull ring, Sagrada Familia and then a couple of the parks in Barcelona. We stopped for a drink and some tapas along the way which were nowhere near as good as Granada's, plus we actually had to pay for the food. In Granada you grow accustomed to not having to do so.
So the next day I went to the houses designed by Antoni Gaudí. I would equate him to the Spanish version of Frank Lloyd Wright, but more modern despite being around at about the same time. Those were nice and all, but you had to pay to go in so I just went to Gaudí's park, Parc Guell. Parc Guell is really just amazing. In particular I loved the viaducts in the park, but really just look:
In the end Barcelona: fun city, $$ food, cool parks, and a definite sense of a city that has been overrun by tourism, but I did thoroughly enjoy my time there.
We finally got settled in to Barcelona around 5-6pm on the 30th and we were missing about half of our travelers who were arriving later that day and the next so we decided to just walk around Barcelona. We walked up La Rambla which is kind of the main tourist street and it was just about what you would expect. So we made our way to Parc Monjüic, which is basically I giant park that has a zoo, art museum, greenery and some well-placed outdoor escalators. We just hung out near the museum since it was kind of late already. There was a really good guitar player. Anyways here is the view of Barcelona:
The next day we did the Picasso art Museum which was really cool. We got to see Picasso's take on Velasquez' Las Meninas which was really cool. After that we did a bike tour through the city which was extremely fun. We went down by the beach, the Olympic Park, the bull ring, Sagrada Familia and then a couple of the parks in Barcelona. We stopped for a drink and some tapas along the way which were nowhere near as good as Granada's, plus we actually had to pay for the food. In Granada you grow accustomed to not having to do so.
So the next day I went to the houses designed by Antoni Gaudí. I would equate him to the Spanish version of Frank Lloyd Wright, but more modern despite being around at about the same time. Those were nice and all, but you had to pay to go in so I just went to Gaudí's park, Parc Guell. Parc Guell is really just amazing. In particular I loved the viaducts in the park, but really just look:
In the end Barcelona: fun city, $$ food, cool parks, and a definite sense of a city that has been overrun by tourism, but I did thoroughly enjoy my time there.
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