Granada= tan bonita!, ahora voy al camino de santiago!!

So...I haven't gotten the chance to write for a while because my computer was broken again...the cord stopped working and then the internet switch wasn't turned on so I haven't been using the computer for about two weeks or so at my homestay. Anyways, now it's working so I am able to update in the blog! A TON has happened since I last wrote, however, so now I need to catch up a lot. So basically...the weather has been strange in Alicante, always changing. But two weekends ago it was beautiful outside and I went windsurfing/kayaking/surfing in San Juan!!!! It was so fun!!! I went by myself and ended up meeting two really nice German girls and hungout with them. The view from San Juan is incredible, you can see the mountains that we can see in Alicante only they are SOOO much closer...the beach is nice too, it's really big and really clean. Thank god they gave us wetsuits, I was so worried they weren't going to! They took a bunch of pictures of us but I haven't gotten any of them yet (they had a water proof camera!!). Sea kayaking was my favorite by far...when you caught a wave it was so intense because the wave would push you so far up shore...you went so fast! It was still my favorite even though I fell off the last time I tried it and the kayak hit me in the ear (right on my piercing...OUCH). It hurt a ton but we were done anyways so we all just put our gear away after being in the water for around three hours...I was EXHAUSTED!! Windsurfing was extremely hard, I actually never really got to windsurf because it was too difficult to get the sail up and balance on the board! Regardless, it was a really fun time and I'm so glad that I went- it only costed 20 euros too! It was so worth it.

So after that day I actually went out to the barrio, then skipped my first class during last week because I stayed out until 5 o'clock on a Wednesday...but it was okay because we were going to Granada the next day with school and I haven't missed any classes yet and don't plan on it because I scheduled all my trips around class (we have 2 unexcused absences per class). So I've definitely been living it up, that's for sure.

Granada was spectacular- there is no other way to describe it. The Alhambra, the Moorish palace, was INCREDIBLE...I will put up a ton of pictures of it. The Alhambra also has Christian infulences as it was taken by the Christians after the conquest over the Moors...actually, Washington Irving lived in the Alhambra for a little while. Napolean's troops also destroyed parts of the Alhambra but they have since then been renovated. The Alhambra was by far the most beautiful building I have ever seen in my entire life. The entire palace smelled amazing, the gardens were incredible...flowers of a myriad of colors-red, yellow, pink, white, etc. While in Granada I bought some coasters from the gift shop that they had in the Alhambra...they are for our apartment, girls! They are made of little pieces of wood that are in an intricate design and covered in lacquer after they're put together in one design...they're BEAUTIFUL. I also bought a million other gifts for people in Granada. However, I also got my first masage!!! Jess and I really wanted them so we found a place that had them for 1 hour for 33 euros...it was so relaxing. At the end I really couldn't handle it anymore because it started tickling soo much, hahah. At night we went to a discoteca which was a great time, got in trouble at the hotel because some people were being too loud (what else is new, haha) and stayed out until around 6 AM. We also went and saw a flamenco show at a "tabalo" in a cave in Granada...it was so exciting, I loved it. Flamenco, I didn't realize until recently, it extremely improvised...the dancers follow the rhythm of the guitar and their own feelings. The shoes of the Flamenco dancer are like another instrument, it is so fun to watch. You can't help but smile at the dancers, their passion is infectious. "The unmistkable rhythm of flamenco is created by the guitar. Just as important, however, is the beat created by hand-clapping and by the dancer's feet in high-heeled shoes..." I absolutely love flamenco singing and am going to buy a CD by Camaron de la Isla before I leave (the most famous contemporaryh cantaores- flamenco singer). I tried flamenco with Aranxta but failed miserably, it was fun but the dancing isn't for me really- maybe I'll try the singing instead :) Or even better, the guitar!

This week I studied a lot for my exams and prepared for the Camino de Santiago...I leave TOMORROW at 8 AM!! I am SO EXCITED! I'm going to bring my bota that I bought in Granada..I bought some vino tinto from La Rioja that I'm going to fill it with. I leave for Rome the 18th with Fama but I will make sure to write in the blog when I get back on the 16th from the Camino. I will have TONSSSS of pictures!!!!!!!!!! QUE EMOCIONATE!

Last night I went to the procession of Semana Santa (holy week) in Alicante..they have processions every day for the week that are hours long and consist of a snail's pace walking, KKK looking costumes (but in different colors- red, yellow, green, purple, white..., etc...however, the KKK is actually aganist Catholics because they were associated with immigration and the KKK is xenophobic, so the costumes have no real connection to each other at all- just a coincidence, although it's a creepy one at that), candles, insence, little kids in KKK costumes, cruxifices, and ENORMOUS figurines that around 30 people carry on their shoulders...a crying Virgin Mary, Jesus on the cross, etc. It was sooo interesting, I loved it. I want to go to one tonight again because tonight is supposedly the biggest night but I am sooo tired and have to wake up early tomorrow for the bus at 8 for Galicia. We'll see...

Will update soon! Hasta luego!

oh PS- I found out that I got rehired for my job with the Female Condom study in Hartford!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy!!! It's going to be a paid internship and hopefully I'll be able to continue practicing my Spanish with the job! I will probably be living with Alex in Woodhaven for the summer- it's going to be such a fun time, can't wait to get back home and hang out with everyone! Miss and love you all dearly!!