Friday, September 23, 2011

Just Another Week in Paradise

Another week has flown by and I have almost been here for a month.  I actually left Seattle one month ago today, and I will be returning in three months from today.  This past week has been very full of studying because my finals are coming up this next week.  I will be ending my intensive language program next week and the first section of my culture class.  After taking my finals, I have a six day vacation in which I am going to London and Dublin with some of my friends!
            This week, with our program, we went and explored another one of the neighborhoods in Granada, called the Sacremonte.  It is a neighborhood up in the hills of Granada, but the houses are built into the caves in the hillside.  Also, the roads are very narrow so the only way to reach the neighborhood is by walking.  It is interesting because it didn’t seem like it was a part of Granada.  Rather it seemed like a rural community without the influence of the city at all.  I will attach some photos below so you can see more of what I am talking about.
            This week we also went to a Flamenco show with our program.  Great idea; however, it was horrible.  It was technically called a Flamenco festival, which our director described to us after. Festivals consist of non-professionals that dance for a specific cause.  All of the profits from this specific show were going to an organization in Kenya, Africa.  I felt good because we were helping a positive cause however, the show was not what I was expecting. It started at 9:30 and while some of the dances and songs were good, once three hours had gone by and the end was not in sight, we all left.  Our directors stuck it out to the end and they said that it did not officially end until after 2 in the morning.  Aka 5 hours of singing and dancing without an intermission.  On the plus side, the theater we were at was beautiful and I have attached some photos.  
            This weekend, along with all of the studying I have to do, my group is going to visit the Alhambra.  It is the old Muslim Castle that sits above the city of Granada.  We are going on Saturday and I am very excited to see it as most locals say it is their favorite part about the city.  I am off to bed and I hope everyone is well!

By the way, here is my address:

Katie Chale
Emperatriz Eugenia 10-5 B
Granada 18002
Spain

If you feel the need to write a letter! I am always a willing recipient!

With the Alhambra in the background

La Sacremonte





The Theater where the Flamenco show was.


Plaza del Torros at night

El Botellon: The common Spanish pass time for the youth during the weekend

A discoteca

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