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
