There & Back again -A Girl's Tale of Spain

On November 17th we took a school trip to Merida, Spain. It was more or less for historical education reasons but it wasn’t too bad. It was a little boring but we only spent the day there and it didn’t take more than an hour to drive to Merida.

Merida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura (which is the AC that Caceres is located in) and it is a UNESCO world heritage site as well.

It was founded in the year 25BC and became one of the most important cities in the Roman Empire. Merida has more roman monuments than any other city in Spain.

Here are some interesting facts about Merida:

The Puente Romano(Roman Bridge), is a bridge over the Guadiana River that is still used by pedestrians, and the longest of all existing Roman bridges.
The remains of the Circus Maximus (1st century BC), one of the best preserved Roman circus buildings are located here.
The Amphitheater of Merida, which was founded in 25 B.C.; is one of the biggest archaeological sites in Spain. It was used for gladiator purposes where men would fight beasts or beasts would fight beasts.

The two holes in the walls by the entry in this picture were where the dead bodies of men and beasts were taken and thrown to be taken care of later.

The two box shaped holes in the wall on either side of the entryway were the areas where the animals were kept and released from.
The Roman Theater of Mérida was constructed in the years 16 and 15 BC. where a summer festival of Classical theater is presented, usually with versions of Greco-Roman classics or modern plays set in ancient times.

A view from the stage to the audience area.

These are the more interesting things that we went to see and I am glad that we went but I don’t think I would choose to go again. Merida is a very small Spanish town and although it has some good history it is one of those things where I have seen it now and I’d rather not go back to it.

Although we did have some fun messing around on the ruins a little bit here and there. (not in a destructive way so no worries) lol

Extra large of Rebecca and I

Rebecca and I after having climbed up to the top of the entry way (the side where they had the dead body area)

I really dont have anything else to talk about with Merida but don't you worry! Ive got a ton of things to write about from Barcelona! :)

Until Next time!!!

p.s.
Have I mentioned that I get to go home for a month during winter break?? I am soo excited!! can't wait to see my kittys!!!!! :)

Al-Alhambra in Granada

Me with the city of Granada in the background a little

The weekend of November 4^th, 5^th and 6^th I went with my classmates on a school trip to Granada and Cordoba. We left very early in the morning on Friday (it was 7:30 in the morning) and then the bus ride lasted for 8 hours I believe. I can’t really remember how long it was for sure. I do remember that it was very long however and that no matter how much I wanted too I could not sleep at all and was so tired the first day that all I wanted to do was go to the hotel and just get in my bed and sleep.

We went to the Al Alhambra when we first arrived in Granada and it was raining. There were at least 5 vendors standing outside our bus selling umbrellas. It was a little annoying and reminded me of when my family and I went to Costa Rica and all the people just flooded to “help” us. Then after they help us they expect to get paid for it!

Al-Alhambra mirror pool thing like that famous place in india..(Cant remember the name...)

Fountain of Lions that is being restored. (This was technically not allowed to be taken but my roommate snapped a pic before they told her lol)

A garden area at the Al-Alhambra

This was in the garden by the Summer house it was gorgeous!

A Granada in Granada!! (aka Pomegranate)

Hannah and I in front of the Al-Alhambra

Most of our group with the Spanish girls who came with us on the trip. Matt is missing.

This is our professor of art history. He went with us and He really really really enjoyed talking about everything. Everytime we went somewhere he had people who followed us around to listen to him talk about the area. lol

Rebecca and i in the middle of a courtyard type area. that was a perfect circle btw.

My Favorite type of flower. Care to guess what it is? ;) it was sooo pretty here!

Even though it was chilly and rainy outside I did enjoy the Al Alhambra and I really wish that I had been able to be there when it was dry and warm out because there were flower gardens everywhere and roses everywhere and I love roses. I honestly think that I would like to get married there someday if it was possible. It is a very large area and was built a long time ago and I am surprised at times at how magnificent the buildings and architecture both are from the renaissance or earlier or a bit later. I can’t even begin to imagine how people like the Egyptians actually built the pyramids and how long it took. History holds a lot of amazing things that is for sure.

A small view of the inside of the Cathedral we went to in Granada

A picture Kelsey snapped of me in an archway on the way to the Summer House part of the Al-Alhambra

Me in front of the Al-Alhambra by meself.

The beautiful organ in the cathedral in Granada

A view of the fountains in front of the Summer house. it was so pretty! I really wish it had been sunny because it would have been 10 times more beautiful!

Summer House from a Distance

Just another view of the Summer House and its fountains.

We got to see the main palace at the Al Alhambra and also the summer house. The summer house was gorgeous and I really would love to live there! It was very airy and open to let the warm air in the summer in. They had an amphitheater type area and a most beautiful garden as well. Afterwards we went to our hotel and got settled in and then we went to dinner around 9:30 that night. The dinner was amazing and I enjoyed every minute of it. Then the next day (Saturday) we went to a very old church and got to see a bit of it and then we walked through the city up the streets until we got to a very popular spot where tourists liked to take pictures and we got a group picture and the background was so beautiful! And it was around the perfect time of day!

It was constructed during the mid-14th century by the Moorish rulers of the Emirate of Granada in al-Andalus. The Alhambra is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A kitty came over to say hello while we were waiting for our bus to come pick us up and take us to our hotel for the night after the tour of the Al-Alhambra

Bread and Chocolate... Two things I cannot refuse.

We went to the Madinat al-Zahra as well which is a ruins site of where a city used to stand once upson a time. it was a powerful city and was built perfectly but only stood for about 80years. it was interesting. Look it up if you want to know more!

Waiting around to keep moving on in the tour because we were tired!

These are Berries... Fuzzyish/Pokeyish... Reminded me of a peach but also had super tiny seeds inside. not my things but if i had to eat them to survive could totally do it.

This is a toilet at the Madinat.

Just a sight of the Ruins

The Oven.

Kayla, Rebecca and I posing for a quick picture in front of the ruins!

beautiful picture taken by my roommate! I must say i look quite gorgeous!

me sitting on ruins. it was great. haha

Stairway to Heaven? :P

We also went to Cordoba and I had a great time there and although it was not quite as beautiful as Granada (in my opinion) it still had some amazing things to it. Such as the Mezquita-Catedral, which is a World Heritage Site and the cathedral of the Diocese of Córdoba. Although a very beautiful building it was very large and reminded me of a maze.

Angel Raphael on the Bridge by the Mosque of Cordoba

Doorway into the Mosque

Inside the Mosque.. Tons of pillars everywhere!

One of the walls at the mosque. there really wasnt a front of the Mosque.. it was kinda all over the place.

Us place games and stuff the second nigh after we had arrived in Cordoba

Me in the Mosque in front of a pretty Stain glass window!

The Mosque of Cordoba!

The Organ in the Mosque! It was huge and a little creepy! You cant see them in this picture but there are faces on the pipes where the air slit is towards the base. it was interesting.

This pillar was built in the year one. It is 2011 years old... It was around when Jesus was around.. It is very old and still standing... They used to be used as mile markers back in the day. It is in front of the Mosque.

A Tomb in the floor of the Mosque..

Ok! well that conclude Granada and Cordoba! I hope you guys enjoyed the pictured because I know very few of you have actually read the whole thing! lol but I would probably just look at pictures too for the most part depending on the content lol. Well I leave you here and with a few more pretty garden pictures!!! :) (Some of these someone just added on facebook as I was finishing my blog and im too lazy to put them where they belong so just enjoy!)