As much as I love traveling in Europe, I've also done some exploring in my "native" country, Spain. It's been wonderful to experience all of the different parts of such a diverse, multifaceted nation--and much easier because I (more or less) speak the language!
About two weeks ago my friends and I signed up for an evening to the coastal town of Cádiz in southern Spain, on the other side of the Atlantic. Cádiz is notorious for its "carnaval" celebrations that coincide with Mardi Gras. Before arriving in Spain I heard from a friend that carnaval in Cádiz is not something you want to miss, although, I can't say I would agree with them now. I signed up to take a bus leaving Sevilla at 8 pm and returning around 4 am, which for some mysterious reason seemed like a fabulous idea at the time. Upon arrival in Cádiz, I witnessed utter debauchery. The best way I know to describe it is to imagine the infamous Halloween on Franklin St. on steroids and filled with crazy Europeans, who were all undoubtedly three sheets to the wind. For the most part, I'm glad that I went and I definitely enjoyed myself for the first couple of hours or so, but by the time the bus embarked I was thrilled to get the hell out of there!
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| Alex and I in our "disfraces" or costumes. She's dressed as a baby and I'm posing as a pirate. Arghhh! |
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| Yes, that's a street light. Just a sample of the madness in Cádiz. |
For my next excursion in Spain I planned a day trip to another coastal town, Huelva. This small, industrial "pueblo" boasts an interesting museum, replicas of the ships in which Christopher Columbus voyaged to the Americas, and the monastery Santa Maria de la Rábida where Columbus planned his momentous excursion. Before leaving for Huelva it rained for weeks but we lucked out and had amazing weather for our little trip! The museum contained various ancient artifacts from the Phoenician and Roman civilizations, as well as several pieces of modern art. My favorite thing in Huelva was the monastery where I observed letters signed by Columbus himself and scrutinized the office where he dreamed of discovering a distant land. Nicole and I had a delightful lunch at a charming little café outside of the monastery and befriended our waiter and the owner of the restaurant. They brought us delicious strawberries for dessert and the owner gave me his email and phone number, insisting that we return to Huelva and give him a call. Everyone in Spain has been so kind and helpful and really seem to enjoy chatting with American students such as ourselves!
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| Posing with a Christopher Columbus monument in the "Plaza de Monjas" or Plaza of the Nuns. |
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| Replica of the Pinta. Can you imagine inhabiting this tiny ship out at sea and for months on end?! |
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| Nicole and I in the courtyard of the monastery. |
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| Office and conference room where Christopher met with the king and queen of Spain. |
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