Spain the First Time Around

Chantelliver's Travels

Spain the First Time Around

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Spain the First Time Around

You see, I went to Spain one time before, from May 29th to July 5th in the summer of 2002. It was a mixture of excitement (Spain, wow!) and anxiety (for a whole month?) but that time went by like the length of a finger snap. I didn't really get a chance to immerse myself in the Spanish culture as much as I would have liked. I was left lacking, needing more. Hence, my endeavor to launch out again, this time for a whole semester.

Nevertheless, here is a nice mini-photo album chronicling some of my experiences the last time. This in no way captures the wonderment and excitement of the whole trip, but just gives a little taste.

There I was, at the Atlanta International Airport, Spain bound for the first time, ready to embark on a new adventure.

Toledo

Granada

Check out these beautiful landscapes!

Me, Krystal and Deshara in San Lorenzo del Escorial

Chillin' with two friends after seeing all of the royal families encased in marble and gold inlay. They even had a spot reserved for Juan Carlos and Sophia!

First stage of the "Corrida de Toros"

¡Olé!

Bullfights are a part of Spain's culture, but I would say the majority of Spaniards I talked to actually disliked them. I wanted to go because it's a part of the whole Spain experience, but it is not something that I would like to do again. In one bullfight, they kill, in all, 6 bulls. In the first part, these guys on horses stick lances into the bull. Then the "picadores" run out and stick things into the bull and run away (as quickly as possible.) The very last part is where the weakened bull is eventually done in by the "torero," more commonly known as a matador. It was quite bloody. However, I did eat bull's tail in Córdoba. I wonder if he was a bullfight victim-turned-tourist food.

Palacio Real

One of the first field trips we took was to the Royal Palace in Madrid. No, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia don't really live there, they just use it for formal ceremonies and the like. But it was impressive, nonetheless.

Castle in Segovia

We went all the way to the top of this castle. At the moment we reached the top, I suddenly transformed into the queen of the world!

Me in Granada

Here I am in a gitano village in Granada, on my way to a fantastic Flamenco show.

Gardens in Sevilla

Ah, surrounded by beauty in Sevilla! Seville, in addition to Granada and Córdoba, was a stop we made in a region of southern Spain called Andalucía. Gorgeous cannot begin to describe it.

Córdoba

Me and Krystal at La Casa Vieja

La Casa Vieja was a nice restaurant in Alcalá, our home away from home. Spanish food = yummy!

Click here to see more pictures and reflections on my first Spain experience.

What else can I say? Spain the first time around was magnificent. I went places I had never been to in my life. I met people that I will never forget. I learned so much in just a month's time. I just knew that if I had the chance to go back, that I would learn so much more, and hopefully achieve my goal of completely mastering the Spanish language.