three days in pictures and words

What a weekend!

Friday: Instead of having class, the school took a day trip to Cordoba. Every day we find ourselves still enchanted by Sevilla, but we were really pumped about exploring another Spanish city for a day. Cordoba was impressive; its monuments give away immediately that the city held great significance in the past. In the 11th century it was one of the most important capitals in all of Europe. Our group took a tour of the incredible world-famous La Mezquita: a cathedral inside a mosque. The inside was so beautiful; it was built and modified over a period of nine centuries, so you can see a mix of different architectural styles:

Afterwards Jenna, Zach, and I got really lost (very easy to get distracted when you’re in the back of a group of 40 and surrounded by the most charming white-walled, narrow-streeted city with all kinds of surprises around every corner…it’s just human instinct to want to wander off…) when we were supposed to be touring an old Jewish home.

The last part of the day consisted of free time, and the three of us wandered around Arab-esque gift shops (oh my gosh I wanted to buy EVERYTHING) and took a break from the sun halfway through to sit down with a cerveza and frappelattes:) Captured some fun photos on the way back to the bus:

Saturday was spent sleeping in and taking a roadtrip with our dear host couple Sandra and Juan Lu. They drove us to Aracena, a small pueblo boasting La Gruta de Maravillas, the most breathtaking cave mine eyes have ever beheld…and I have experienced quite a few caves…, and the ruins of an old castle on the top of a hill. We walked all the way to the top in the hot sun, on a rocky road created by Chinese people a very long time ago...Ended the day just sitting at the top, the four of us, overlooking the whole valley. Is a memory I don’t think Zach and I will forget any time soon.

Sunday night was the weekend’s finale, a Ballet Flamenco show starring the beautiful and fast footed Sara Baras, an internationally known flamenco dancer. Sara and her dancers, men and women both, took our breaths away with every scene in a performance called La Pepa (the Pit). It was simply incredible: the commotion of vibrant, flying colors of the dancers’ skirts and a dozen pairs of tap shoes beating the floor in time to the Spanish-guitar, clapping hands, the highest notes of the violin, and a man’s singing voice, flawless, sweet, and guttural. Made me want to get up and dance in our balcony seats! My Grandma LaBenz would have joined me for sure on that one! :)

We couldn’t take photos (but I snapped some anyway at the end), but even then my own photo or recording wouldn’t have done it justice. Couldn't find a good one of her show on YouTube, but here's an excellent flamenco film trailer that pretty much sums up what we experienced Sunday night, and I'm pretty sure Sara Baras is the one in the red dress! : 

...ahh, in love with Spain. If you ever get the chance to travel here, don't leave without seeing an authentic Flamenco show! 

Sending more besitos y abrazos your way,

Kristen&Zach