Córdoba, Granada, y Sierra Nevada

Mié Mar 17 (9:15)
This past weekend we had our excursion to Códoba and Granada with ISA. We left early Friday morning and spent the morning/afternoon in Córdoba. Córdoba was just a cute, historic, picturesque city. We saw la Mesquita and walked through the small streets, strolling and looking at some shops. Then we left for Granada and arrived that evening. Oh my goodness, Córdoba was nice, but to me it doesn’t compare with Granada. I… fell in love. Again. I mean, I love Sevilla, I really do, but… I decided if Sevilla ever blew up or something I’d want to go to Granada to finish the semester. Haha. Or—this is less violent—if I ever come back to Spain, I’d want to stay in Granada.

Let me tell you why Granada is so perfect for me. It’s smaller than Sevilla, but this is a good thing, because I’m not (and never have been) a big city girl. It’s nestled right next to mountains. MOUNTAINS. I lovvve mountains, always have. It’s just a gorgeous city. Another unique thing about Granada: You walk into a bar, almost any bar, order a drink, and they give you a free tapa! It’s fantastic! I don’t know how they stay in business giving away all that free food, but I’m not gonna complain. And, it gets better; Megan (who studied in Granada two summers ago and so knows the ropes) told us about this amazing ice cream place. I went there Friday night, and that was it. They got me. I was there Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Friday night we went to a flamenco show. This past week was like the week of flamenco. I went to an elite show one night, to la Cabonería flamenco bar a couple days later, and then we had this. Flamenco really is amazing. It’s such an artform. There’s guitar, and clapping/stomping, and singing, and of course the dancing. It’s just something you have to experience.

Saturday we had a tour of the Alhambra, a really spectacular palace with amazing gardens. Simply beautiful. One of the most important monuments in Spain.

The ISA bus left that afternoon, but some people including myself decided to stay behind. We got a hostel for the night and had the chance to explore Granada some more. Then on Sunday—OMG!!!—we went to the Sierra Nevada ski resort!!! That was so fantastic! I got to snowboard. In Spain. Hahahahaha. And it was gorgeous sunny weather. Nothing compares to mountain skiing. It was… amazing.