Sevilla: ¡Que Calor!

Hola todos! Last time we posted we had one more day before leaving Granada to make our way to Sevilla through Cordoba, home of the famous La Mezquita. On our final day in Granada we finished taking the necessary photos and gathering the accompanying information to help make our final On Assignment group projects as polished as we know they all can be. These assignments are shaping up to be pretty exciting, and the topics the students have chosen are surprisingly varied and developed. We have one group that is focusing on "The Joy of Living" that the Spanish people demonstrate every day, another that is focusing on traditional Spanish cuisine, a third that is studying Spanish fashion through the lens of photography, a fourth group that is examining the Flamenco tradition, and still another group that is looking at graffiti in Granada and the place it has in constructing the city's identity. We are very excited to see what these projects will look like when they are complete, and to share them with all of you when they are finished.

After spending the morning and early afternoon hard at work, we hurriedly made our way to the dance studio Sevillanas, Estudios Artisticos Mariquilla, where dancer Lucia Garrido teaches Flamenco dance to both amateur and professional dancers. The students had a chance to practice their photography skills here as they attempted to capture the colors and motion that define a Flamenco session. It was a also a wonderful opportunity for other students to practice their Spanish skills by interviewing the instructor, Lucia Garrido.

We left Granada early the next day and made our way to Cordoba, home to La Mezquita, which was once the largest mosque in the Muslim world. Later in its history, after it was reconquered by Catholic Spain, a cathedral was built in the midst of the mosque. The resulting combination of Gothic arches and vaulted ceilings within the forest of double arched pillars is one of the architectural marvels of the medieval world, and provides a tremendous photo and learning opportunity for everyone who has the opportunity to visit.

The temperature is rising drastically the farther we descend from Granada, and we left the 100 degree weather of Cordoba to plunge into the 110 degree oven of Sevilla. Despite the heat, we are having a great time here observing the people and the culture that have become for many a symbol of all of Spain. We spent our first morning here exploring Sevilla's cathedral, which is the 3rd largest Christian cathedral in the world and the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, and which is also the site of Christopher Columbus' tomb. We also explored the Barrio de Santa Cruz (historic Jewish barrio) and enjoyed another helping of the excellent gelato found here in Spain, without which we would have all melted long ago!

On Saturday we took a day trip away from Sevilla (as well as the heat!) and up into the nearby Sierra de Grazalema mountain range, where we visited the ancient walled city of Ronda. The old part of Ronda is perched on the edge of a massive cliff and is accessed by a single bridge that rises up out of a narrow creek bed a thousand feet down. This setting made Ronda virtually impregnable in its time, and many of the people here still brag that Ronda was never conquered during the Reconquista. It has been inhabited since prehistoric times, and even though we weren't able to see the cave paintings nearby, it still made for an excellent day trip and proved an interesting place to explore. Highlights were the region's traditional gastronomic fare of partridge and beans, stag stew, and bull's tail as well as the Torture and Witchcraft Museum, which was definitely one of the strangest places our group has had the chance to visit. It was no Prado, but it was worth the time we spent there, for the laughs if nothing else.

We are having a wonderful time here in Sevilla, but the end of the trip is fast approaching and no one is ready to leave yet! Time has flown by and we have enjoyed every moment of our time here, but it also seems like an eternity ago when we all met as strangers in the JFK Airport. Gone is the uncertainty and nervousness that defined every new encounter, and in their place is a feeling of camaraderie and fondness for everyone in the group that normally takes months or even years to develop. Part of each of us is excited to return home to our friends and family, but the other part is equally sad to bid farewell to Spain and the friendships and experiences that have defined our time here.

Hasta pronto,
Davin and Britt and National Geographic Student Expeditions Spain

Madrid and Granada: un monton de cosas

Greetings once again from Spain! When last we checked in Spain had just finished winning the 2008 European Championships in soccer and the country was still delirious with the excitement of their first major soccer championship in 42 years. Since then we have done a "monton de cosas" as they say in Spain. We spent the first few days in Madrid tramping around the city, where we saw the Palacio Real, the works of Picasso, Miro, Dali, and the photographer Steichen at the Reina Sofia museum of modern art, the Parque del Buen Retiro, and the Spanish classics at the Museo del Prado. With its bustling nightlife and vibrant crowds Madrid proved to be the perfect place to introduce the students to the Spanish way of life.

We left the hustle and bustle (and traffic) of Madrid to head south to Andalucia and the city of Granada. Situated at the base of the Sierra Nevada, Granada has provided an extremely mild but still welcome respite from the heat which invariably envelopes the south of Spain in the summer; the views of the city with the highest peaks in the Iberian peninsula in the background are truly incredible.

On our first full day in Granada we visited La Alhambra, which was deservedly shortlisted for status as one of the 7 modern wonders of the world. We spent the day wandering among fountains and gardens which were once the envy of the Muslim world and which are a remnant of the last Muslim part of Spain to be conquered by the Christian monarchs Ferdinand and Isabela.

Later that day we met up with our National Geographic expert Tino Soriano, who is a world famous photojournalist and travel photographer. We spent the next few days working with him in On Assignment teams and learning photography tricks both in Granada and in the Sierra de las Alpujarras, home of the famous pueblos blancos. Tino is a wealth of information, enthusiasm, and knowledge, but more importantly he is also an incredibly kind and motivated teacher who was excited to share his art and worldview with the rest of us. We were all truly sad to see him leave on Sunday.

To help ease the melancholy mood of the group after Tino's departure we left on Monday for the Cabo de Gata, which forms most of the southeast coast of Spain along the Mediterranean. We made our way through some truly tremendous landscapes to a beach that has escaped the rampant development that has characterized so many other parts of the Spanish coastline. The area of the Cabo de Gata is the driest region in Europe, and it was here that Clint Eastwood and other Western stars became famous in the early Spaghetti Westerns of Sergio Leone and his Italian peers.

Tomorrow, Wednesday the 9th of July, is our final day in Granada, after which we leave for Sevilla by way of Cordoba and the famous Mezquita. The trip is progressing fantastically, the students are starting to make some noticeable progress on their final projects, and everyone is getting along very well and having a wonderful time. Beware, because some of them said they want to live here forever!

Hasta la proxima vez,
Davin and Britt

Group Photo with National Geographic Expert Tino Soriano

Meredith Browne's birthday dinner

¡Saludos from Madrid!

Greetings from all of us with National Geographic Student Expeditions here in Spain. We arrived in Madrid safe and sound on the evening of Saturday the 28th of June after more than 24 hours of traveling. We are happy to report that all luggage arrived safely and on time and that everyone was in surprisingly bright spirits.

After a quick shower and a short siesta, everyone was ready to get out and explore Madrid. Four hours later after a stop for both tapas and churros, we were ready to head home and get some rest for a big day ahead of us. Sunday was jam packed, with a morning stop at el Parque del Buen Retiro followed by a traditional large afternoon lunch. After that it was time to start preparing for Spain´s historic game against Germany in the championship game of the European soccer championships, which this soccer mad country last won 44 years ago. We all put on our red shirts, and many of the students painted red streaks in their hair and Spanish flags on their cheeks! Then it was time to make our way to the Plaza de Colon, where we joined close to 50,000 Spaniards to cheer for La Roja de Espana. After Spain won by a score of 1-0, the streets of Madrid were packed with cars waving Spanish flags and fans celebrating a long awaited victory. It was an experience that until this point has only come around once in a generation, and which none of us will soon forget.

We are having a great time and are looking forward to spending some time exploring the art museums for which Madrid is famous. Our trip has only just begun, but it has been an amazing beginning.

Hasta pronto,
Davin and Britt

The group has arrived

We've received word from the expedition leaders that the group has arrived in Madrid.

Meet the Expedition Leaders

2008 Spain Expedition Leaders: Davin Dearth and Britt Basel

Photography
Britt Basel. University of Colorado, B.A. A freelance and fine art photographer, Britt has traveled and photographed extensively around the world. As a teenager she went to Ecuador on a youth photography scholarship. She studied photography and art history at the Aegean Center for Fine Arts in Greece, and went on to study with the School for International Training in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Britt graduated with honors in Anthropology from the University of Colorado, where she focused on indigenous culture and Mesoamerican archaeology. She worked as a scuba instructor and translator in Costa Rica, conducted fieldwork with and photographed the Guaraní people of Paraguay, and led Putney Student Travel’s Global Awareness in Action program in El Salvador. Britt is currently working as the translator and still photographer for an upcoming documentary in El Salvador. She is the Director of International Programming for the Body Form Photo Workshop, and tends to split her time between the mountains of Colorado and the waters of the Caribbean. Britt is an avid snowboarder and sailor; she is a PADI-certified scuba instructor, an Emergency First Response Instructor, and a Wilderness First Responder. Some of her work is available for viewing on-line at www.brittbaselphoto.com. Britt is fluent in Spanish.

Spanish Language
Davin Dearth. University of Denver, B.A., University Honors, Spanish & English Literature. Gavin graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Denver, where he majored in Spanish and English Literature. He was a Martin Luther King Jr. Scholar, a member of the University of Denver Soccer team, and as a senior received highest departmental honors for his honor's thesis, Postmodern Spanish Cinema: The Films of Julio Medem. Davin spent his junior year in Salamanca, focusing on Spanish art and film. While in Spain he completed the four hundred fifty-mile Camino de Santiago on foot and participated in the running of the bulls in Pamplona. In addition to Spain his travels have taken him to Ireland, Mexico, the Czech Republic, France, Scotland, and Costa Rica. Davin led a Putney Student Travel language learning program in Spain and a Putney community service program in Costa Rica. He worked as a Spanish teacher in Fort Collins, Colorado, and is currently pursuing his Master's in Writing and Literature at the University of Wyoming. Davin’s interests include travel, skiing, soccer, climbing, fishing, and film. He is fluent in Spanish.

Welcome!

Welcome family and friends of National Geographic Student Expeditions participants!

We have created this blog in order to keep you updated on the progress of your child’s National Geographic Student Expedition this summer. We hope that occasional updates throughout the expedition will help keep you informed about the activities, projects and successes of the program.

The expedition leaders will post entries approximately once per week during the program. The leaders’ first priority is the students and the program. If updates are infrequent, it is likely due to the group’s very busy schedule and inconsistent internet access. Please know that any important issues that arise during the program will be discussed and resolved with leaders and parents by phone, not through the blog.

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Best wishes from us all at National Geographic Student Expeditions