Balloons!

Yesterday, after spending all morning researching hostels and places to stay in Edinburgh and London, I decided I needed some fresh air, so I walked around with Doug looking at all the little souvenir shops trying to find some more gifts to bring home.  We ended up walking up the road that leads to La Alhambra, which is lined with shops trying to lure in tourists that are heading up to the monument.  I honestly could spend hours in these shops, I think it may be an addiction.  I know that they basically all have the same things, but I just love looking all of the handmade tapestries, painted tiles and pretty scarves.  

We ended up making our way back around to where my building is and sat in front of the fountain for a little bit.  Out of no where a group of teenagers, all holding blue balloons, walked up and where taking pictures around the fountain.  Then they went around the other side of the fountain and let their balloons go all at once.  Luckily, Doug had his camera so we tried to get some photos, but unfortunately they didn't turn the fountain lights on until most of the balloons had already floated away, so the one picture is kind of dark.  It was really exciting to see to all the blue balloons floating away over a crowd of amused teenagers and old couples alike (I've noticed that the old couples like to sit down and pass the time together in front of this fountain, it's so cute!).  

Plus here's a photo of the some of the shops we visited.  The white gate in the background in the entrance to the very steep walkway that leads up to La Alhambra.

 

Granada sunset

Yesterday Doug and I had a pretty low-key day in Granada just walking around and enjoying the nice weather.  I can't believe that this is my second-to-last weekend in Granada!  Time has been flying by and I know that it is only going to go by faster this next month with all of our trips planned.  Anyways though, after walking around for a little while, Doug and I ended up alongside the river in Granada where a lot of people go for walks and runs.  Unfortunately the river is more like a trickle at some parts than an actually flowing river, though in the picture I posted it doesn't look all that bad with the sunset reflecting off of it.  

Also, Doug and I tried a new tapas bar this past Thursday that one of Doug's teachers recommended to him.  The tapas were delicious and had tons of flavor.  The first tapa was one half of a baked potato with shredded carrots and beets (I think) topped with a yummy cheesy sauce.  The second tapa was a little bit more traditional Spanish; it was a little hamburger made with ham (of course!) instead of beef that came with a little side of fries with a spicy red sauce on them.  They both were pretty good and it was fun trying out a new little place.

On another note...I am getting sooo excited for Paris this upcoming weekend and for Doug's birthday!  I can't wait to try the food and see the city, especially since it will be fashion week while we are there!  And tomorrow I'm off to my first Spanish  fútbol game, so it should be entertaining to watch the intense reactions of the fans that I've heard so much about!

Hope you all are having a great weekend, love you!

Salsa

Sadly, my salsa lessons came to an end last Thursday, but luckily one of my friends took her camera to our last lesson and got some photos of us dancing plus some of our cheery little Cuban instructor, Miguel.  Overall, salsa lessons were really fun and although I may not be an amazing salsa dancer, at least I know how to keep the beat now (more or less)! 

He's so little!

(I don't know why whenever I think someone is taking a candid picture of me I decide to open my mouth like that!)

Granada lately...

It's been so cold here in Granada this past week, which has really been getting me excited for Christmas!  The cold weather has made me a little bit lazy though, I just want to stay inside all day and watch movies!  Luckily though I don't really have a TV to watch movies on here, so it has forced me to study for my midterms and get a head start on some of my final projects, since I'll be traveling a lot around the time that they are due.  

This weekend I just hung out around Granada, so I unfortunately don't have any exciting pictures to post.  But on Saturday I did go the the mercadillo del Zaidín, which is about a 15 minute walk from the city center and is basically a little street market.  Apparently it is where all the gypsies go, but I don't really have a good eye for distinguishing gypsies so I didn't notice anything too out of the ordinary.  It was definitely interesting though because as you walk through the booths the venders are constantly shouting out things little "tres euros, todo por tres euros" and "todo de marca, todo de marca" (everything is namebrand).  After awhile it got a little bit old though, but I managed to get a pretty cute winter coat for pretty cheap, which I will definitely be needing for my UK trip at the end of December!  

Here are just some random pictures of Granada that I haven't posted yet.  Hope you all are enjoying your Tuesday, I miss you all!

The entrance to my building!

The train tracks, which are pretty far from my house.  I took this pictures a couple months ago when API took us to go see a bull fight but then Doug, Halee and I ended up leaving early.

I just love how Granada is decorated everywhere with pomegranates!  (In case I haven't mentioned this before, granada in Spanish is pomegranate). 

Capileira

Here are some pictures of Capileira: 

Aren't those colors amazing? 

The view of the town towards the end of the hike.

La Alpujarra

Sorry for taking so long to post the pictures from my hike this past Saturday.  As you probably already know, we went to La Alpujarra, in the Sierra Nevadas, to go hiking and explore the town.  We ended up going to the town of Capileira, in la Alpujarra, which was about a three hour windy bus ride up the mountains.  Luckily the weather was pretty nice this weekend, so the air was just starting to feel crisp and fall-like but actually wasn't that cold.  All the towns that were scattered throughout the Sierras stood out so beautifully against the mountainside with their white buildings and bright flowers in the windowsills.  It was especially delightful since all the trees turning from green to bright orange and yellow.  I just love fall!  

 

Once we got to Capileira, we set out for our hike, which was much easier said than done since none of the trails were marked that well.  I think that we wandered from the trail at least a few times but (luckily) we found our way back to Capileira thanks to some other hikers from Sevilla.  We also ran into a goat herder and his two dogs, which was really amazing because we could hear the bells from the goats' collars resonating throughout the mountainside.  I can't wait till there is snow in the mountains so I can go back!

The beginning of the hike.

I miss my dogs...

Horses!

The trail back to Capileira.

Flamenco and La Alhmabra

This past Wednesday, Doug and I got tickets to go into the Alhambra at night, which everybody here has been recommending us to do since the views of the city lit up at night are spectacular from the Alhambra.  So, Wednesday night we went out to get some tapas and then afterwards made our way up to the Alhambra.  It definitely was as wonderful as everyone had described.  It was so quiet and still, which is a big difference from visiting during the day when it is packed with tourists.  However, we had a mix up finding the ticket office and almost didn't get our tickets in time to enter the palaces.  Finally though (after running, literally, all around the Alhambra) we got our tickets and made our way into the palace...with only five minutes to spare!  Once inside though it was so amazing to walk around the moonlit rooms and hallways which were so serene.  We tried taking pictures, but they didn't turn out that well since flash is prohibited, so the pictures are kind of dark and hard to see.

Then on Thursday night, I went to a Flamenco show with API out in Sacromonte (up where all the gypsies apparently live!).  They put the show on in this little cave with pots and pans hanging on the ceilings to reflect the light.  The show was so cool because there was about six different dancers that would each come out and do there own thing, and then sometimes two or three would come out and do a routine together.  Then at the end of the cave, the "band" and other dancers were sitting playing music, clapping and singing.  It was really amazing because most of the dancers, except for one girl, were probably at least in their late 40's, and the best one was probably at least 60.  I couldn't believe how well she could still dance!  It all seemed so spontaneous, although I doubt most of it was.  The funny thing though was that there was one male flamenco dancer that kept looking at Doug and smiling.  Then at one point he just came up and starting dancing right in front of him!  Of course by now Doug couldn't stop laughing, so the dancer kept looking at him more and more and smiling at Doug while he was dancing.  Finally I had to put my hand on Doug's leg to show the guy to back off because it was getting a little bit ridiculous!  

Also, this Saturday a group of us went up to La Alpujarra to hike.  Unfortunately we could only end up doing a one day trip, but it was still amazing.  I haven't uploaded the pictures yet, but once I do I'll be sure to post some.  I hope you all had a great Halloween!