Olé!

Hi friends! I hope you are all doing well :)

Sometimes I have these moments when I am sitting somewhere and a wave of disbelief comes over me because I can’t believe where I am, who I’m with, or what I’m doing. Tonight was one of those nights. I was sitting next to my friend, Whitney, watching three beautiful Spanish ladies dressed in traditional Flamenco dresses dancing and rhythmically clicking their heels against the stage floor, when I turned to her and said, “Do you know that we are sitting in a Flamenco theatre in the middle of Seville, Spain right now, having the time of our lives?”

I can’t tell you how cool tonight was. :)

16 of us got together to watch a traditional Flamenco show downtown. I saw Flamenco in a little bar for free the second night I was here, but tonight was all-out professional. The ninety minute show had 9 dancers, two singers, and two guitar players. There were costume changes, stories told through song, and many “ole”’s! It was absolutely so much fun—very high energy! I can’t wait to upload pictures to show you all!

Here are a few other highlights of the trip to date…

*the nightlife*
This city comes alive at night! People just go sit outside and chat in little cafes over drinks or tapas (appetizers/small dinners). I rarely see alcohol abused, and it’s not a “dirty” nightlife, it’s just the culture. Tonight, at 12:30 after we got out of the Flamenco show, we strolled down the streets of “El Centro” feeling perfectly safe, and stopping to get ice cream at the little shops that were still open. I read in my culture book that Americans live to work but Spaniards work to live. I have found that to be true. :)

*the food*
Although it’s quite different than what is “normal,” I really like la comida (the food) here. Breakfast is coffee/tea and toast. Lunch is big, often a traditional Spanish dish deliciously prepared by Maria Jose. So far I really like the rice dishes, the meats, cucumber salad, the green beans (amazing!), and the different types of fish. While many core ingredients are things we have in the US, they are always prepared differently. Olive oil is used on everything. The fruit we have for dessert is absolutely wonderful. Maria Jose is usually gone in the evenings (she apparently has a very active social life :)) and leaves us a small dinner—soup, potato tortilla (more like an omelet), or leftovers. My roommate, Jess, REALLY likes the sandwiches we get every once and a while. Christie and I of course can’t get enough of the digestive cookies.

*el centro por la noche*
At night, El Centro is breathtaking. It is like a movie scene, and always inspires me to take many pictures. (Well, right now that means begging my friends to take many pictures and give them to me later.) The great Cathedral is there, all lit up. People just walk and hang out in the cobblestone streets and by the fountains. Last week, we watched two or three live concerts going on in the street. Again, I can’t wait to show you pictures.

*parque Maria Luis*
Another VERY beautiful part of Seville! It reminds me of the huge park in the middle of Bangkok, Thailand. It is refreshing to see a large green area in the middle of a busy city. Not only does it have beautiful plants, flowers, and trees, but there are also fountains, museums, and other buildings that are rich in history and culture. At night, there are many people (mostly males) who run on the trails bordering the park. Last night I observed an old man teaching and old lady how to ride a bike. Cute :)

*Cordoba*
This was a dreamy old town and fit my idealized notion of what Spain would be. Narrow, cobblestone streets separated white buildings (shops, apartments, restaurants) with flower pots and ivy lining the walls. When we toured it, we learned about the history of the three religions—Jews, Christians and Muslims, who once shared the little town peacefully. We were able to tour a large Cathedral that was once a Muslim mosque.

*la playa- Montalascañas*
Beach! Anyone who knows me knows how much I love the beach, so this one is self-explanatory. :)

*Flamenco*
Claro! I already explained this one to you, so I won’t again. :)

*Maria Jose*
Our adorable house mother. We really lucked out with her. :) She loves to feed us and pamper us in any other way she can think of. She is patient with our poor Spanish and always smiles at us and gives us little hugs, all the while jabbering in very fast Spanish. She has lots of energy and has made my stay quite comfortable. (Did I mention she turned on the air yesterday for the first time? :))

If you’ve made it this far into the entry, you’re a trooper. :) Thanks everyone for the comments! Little thoughts about many of you frequently pop into my head, so know that you are missed!

Hasta luego… :)