visual goodies from spain :)

La Giralda...

La Giralda at night...so romantic! This was the view from the rooftop pool at the Hotel Doña Maria, where we had our welcome cocktail. Tapas were incredible!

 Flamenco dancer at the Museo del Flamenco in Sevilla....it so much harder than it looks!!! Amazing performance!!

Spices in Granda...wish there were places like this in Miami.

La Catedral and Giralda....right next to class. This definitely beats the view of the parking lot at BBC.

Garden at the Real Alcazar....clearly just for royalty.

Plaza de Toros de La Maestranza. This place was incredible!!! It was my grandfather's dream to see this place....he never made it, but giving him this picture and seeing his smile melted my heart. <3

Plaza de España. Absolutely breathtaking!! I can't believe it wasnt included in ur program!! FUN FACT: A scene from the movie Star Wars was filmed here!!

  
Italica. TIP: BRING LOTS OF WATER!!! It was so hot.

Another shot at the Real Alcazar.

withdrawals...

I'm having serious Seville withdrawals at the moment. I am currently in Cartagena, Colombia, a city that closely resembles the lifestyle, architecture and beauty of Sevilla. I miss the tapas, the wine, the amazing people I shared this incredible experience with, the boys from Discover Seville, Hotel Abril, Sergeant Pepper, the walking, the ice cream, chupitos, among other things, but I specially miss my heart. I left it in Seville....I can wait to go back and maybe never, ever leave again.

Spain After Franco and the Role of the Monarchy

Francisco Franco ruled Spain from the year 1939 until his death in November 1975 as “Caudillo by the Grace of God”. He was the chief of state and head of government, which was the ultimate source of authority. During his thirty-six years as dictator, Franco’s dictatorial regime remained unchanged in its most basic principles: the concentration of power in the hands of Franco and the absence of a constitution and of freedom of democratic parties and rights. 

After Franco’s death, Spain began its gradual, and very slow transition into democracy with the proclamation of Juan Carlos I as King of Spain on November 22^, 1975. During his speech, he openly expressed his position in favor of the establishment of democracy in Spain in order to overcome the division of its people as a result of the Civil War. As prince of Spain, Juan Carlos I, aware of the crumbling state of the regime, and knowing that in order to consolidate the monarchy of Spain there needed to be a social and political consensus, had already established some very important relationships with influential politicians. Consequently, Juan Carlos I faced having to deal with the democratic opposition, which led to the replacement of Arias Navarro by Adolfo Suarez, who took over as Prime Minister in July 1976. 

The Constitution was drafted by a commission composed of seven members of the main groups represented in the House. After some amendments and a vote by members of Congress and the Senate, the Constitution was adopted on December 6, 1978. The result of the long constitutional debate was conditioned by the limits set by the Political Reform Act, and positions taken on some issues by certain sectors of the military and the Church. Nationalists, who included Convergencia i Unio (Catalonia) and Partido Nacionalista Vasco (Basque Country) also participated in the drafting of the Constitution. The consensus reached was focused on respect for the economic market, state planning board, and national unity within a state divided into autonomous regions.

It is clear that the Constitution of 1978 represented the formal restoration of democracy in Spain, and because of the wide support of Parliament and the people of Spain, there was a huge change in the political history of the last two centuries.

The stability of Spanish democracy has also benefited from unconditional support of the Crown. In the restoration of the monarchy in Spain, King Juan Carlos I has shown intelligence and wisdom, to the point of placing the reputation of the monarchy in the highest level of the modern history of Spain. Several factors including the royal family’s open and fairly simple lifestyle, and their support to numerous humanitarian and moral causes have thus placed the Royal Crown above politcal and ideological confrontations and therefore become the final guarantee that Spain will maintain its current democratic values and institutions. 

Lagos, Portugal...LOVE!!

We spent an amazing weekend in Lagos!!! We were definitely a bit hesitant about going in the first place because a lot of us wanted to go to Morocco or somewhere else like Barcelona or Ibiza but I think the moment the guys from Discover Sevilla walked into our classroom we decided it was best to just go with it and join them in Lagos. What a great idea...we ate great food, we surfed-- or at least TRIED to surf, and we chilled....no homework, no walking, no cathedrals...just the beach and great times with amazing friends.

The view from out hotel was amazing. There was a beach with gigantic rocks like the one I'm standing on above. The sand was a beautiful, almost golden color and very rough. We all gave our feet a much-deserved facial...or foot-cial.

The water was absolutely freezing. So much so, that we had to wear wetsuits while trying to learn to surf, but our surf lesson was so much fun and totally worth freezing our butts off!!!

The best part of the trip was by far the sunset they took us to see. This place was thought to be the end of the world back in the day. It is absolutely breathtaking. The colors and the sheer grandeur of the cliffs is spectacular. I think I got the some of the best photos of my entire trip here in Portugal....enjoy!

Beautiful sunset...

 With Christie...

 and Caressa....

 and Christy....

Don't be fooled by my happy face...I was miserable on the way back up...

Finally tan!

This is where we learned to surf....back off South Beach...you don't stand a chance....

 

Visit to the Prado Museum

The Prado Museum is a must-see for art lovers and connoisseurs in the city of Madrid. Being an art enthusiast really makes the experience much more enjoyable. It involves a lot of walking, stopping, staring and really taking in the art.

While I enjoyed most of the art, we took a deeper look at Andalusian painters and the following three were my favorites:

 

“Las Meninas”   

Diego Velázquez, born in Sevilla in 1599, was probably one of the most incredible painters of his time.          

This painting, also known as “The Family of Philip IV” was truly breathtaking in person. This piece is actually one of the paintings that I studied all throughout school in art appreciation classes and seeing it in real life was quite a treat. When you see it up close you can really take in all the details and it’s really interesting to see the different techniques used by the artist. The main focus of this painting is the little girl in the light colored dress, who is the Infanta Margarita. She is being attended to by two meninas; Maria Agustina Sarmiento de Soto Mayor, who is kneeling and Isabel de Velasco who is curtsying. 

The way this scene was captured seems almost without warning because several figures in the piece don’t seem to be posing or are shown looking away or interacting with one another. To the bottom right of the painting there is a dwarf whose face is seemingly blurred out and small child nudging the dog with his foot. These characters faces are both blurred and lack detail in their faces.

The man holding the brush and palette is Diego Velazquez himself looking outward past the easel and I’m assuming there is a huge mirror in front of this entire scene. In the background one can also see a man standing by the doorway; he is Don Jose Nieto Velazquez and he is not rendered with much detail. Closer to the foreground is a woman who is the princesses’ chaperone and she is standing next to a man who is also blurred and not really identifiable. 

 _______________________________________________________________

“Agnus Dei” 

Francisco de Zurbaran was born in Fuente de Cantos in 1598 and was known mainly for his religious pieces.

While this painting is probably one of the least intricate, it’s the one I liked the most. Its simplicity is what caught my eye. The subject is the absolute main focus of the piece and there is nothing else to distract you from it because the black background gives no reference to space. I love the detail of the sheep’s wool and how realistic the animal looks. This painting conveys a feeling of peace despite the fact that the sheep is tied up and probably dead. “Agnus Dei” means Lamb of God so this piece obviously has a religious meaning.

 ______________________________________________________________

“Cristo Muerto Sostenido Por Un Angel”

Alonso Cano was born in Granda in 1601 and was without a doubt one of the most well rounded artists of his time, showing tremendous skill in painting, designing, sculpting and architecture.

There’s something about this painting that really caught my attention. I really like the contrast of the skin of Christ— white and pale— and the angel that is holding him. Even though the light is almost in completely frontal angle, the angel seems to be in the shadows where the darkers hues make him look warmer and “alive” compared to the cold, lifeless body of Jesus. The warm colors of the sunset and the clouds in the background add another touch of warmth and tranquility. Other details that almost go unnoticed are the three nails and the golden bowl to clean the wounds, which I feel really make this a powerful piece that exudes a sense of sorrow and pain.

 

Advocacy Journalism

Advocacy journalism is a term used to describe the use of journalism techniques to “advocate” for a specific point of view. It deliberately promotes a particular social or political cause with the use of legitimate facts, unlike propaganda. As opposed to objective journalists, advocacy journalists are completely open about their opinions and do not present the material to the readers in an objective fashion. “Arguably, advocacy journalists serve the public interest in a similar way to muckrakers or whistle-blowers." 

In Western Europe, advocacy journalism is the norm, and while in the United States objective journalism is what is expected of reporters, it is safe to say that no piece of written political material is ever entirely neutral in nature. Take CNN and FOX for example, these are news outlets that claim to be objective, but it is clear that each of these lean towards a certain political party. 

Although advocacy journalism comes into conflict with objective journalism, which is a key focus in American journalism,  objectivity is certainly found in Western European media also.  Some examples of advocacy journalism in Western Europe include the Italian newspaper called Il Manifesto, which openly recognizes that it is a “communist newspaper philosophically but does not associate with any party and operates as a workers' cooperative”.

Spain has guaranteed freedom of the press for a relatively short time and many news sources have yet to isolate themselves from the influence of the government. As I mentioned above, it is almost impossible to present news in a completely neutral way without some kind of bias. The current situation in Spain with The protests and riots taking place in important cities of Spain regarding the government and it effects among the people have given advocacy journalists much to write about.

Educational television programs and public news are funded by the state in the majority of Western European countries. Disputes over the independence of public broadcasting are frequent and it is inevitable that all public broadcasting systems are subject to some kind of political influence. So much so, that in some countries the political party with the most influence over the people can directly control what is being broadcasted to the extent of broadcasting material that is directly beneficial to that particular party at crucial moments.

**References:

http://www.markfoster.net/sociosphere/aj.html

"Advocacy Journalism : The International Encyclopedia of Communication : International Encyclopedia of Communication Online." International Encyclopedia of Communication Online: Home. Web. 29 June 2010. http://www.communicationencyclopedia.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405131995_chunk_g97814051319956_ss29-1.  

a mild case of homesickness....

So far we've seen Andalucia in all of it's splendor. I visited the Alhambra Palace in Granada, which absolutely took my breath away. I was taken aback by the lush gardens which covered almost every inch of this place. Flowers of all colors and sizes in bloom all over me really made me feel like I was in a fairy tale...mostly because I wondered how on earth these gardens are kept when I cant even keep a orchid alive in my apartment. The palaces in this place are gorgeous. They are gigantic and the detail in every little stone is mesmerizing.

Today we saw the Mezquita in Cordoba. I can genuinely say I am at a loss for words. Indescribable in every sense. There is so much history in this place it gives me the chills. I was really impressed with the beautiful architecture and the attention to detail of this mosque, which is now a cathedral.

We are already back in Sevilla, and although I had an amazing time in Granada and Cordoba, I can honestly say I'm so glad to be back. I missed my bed and my bathroom. It seems as though showering in this country is rather optional. Showers are miniscule and almost impossible to bathe in. I feel "at home" in Seville even though I have already been bitten by the homesick bug. I miss my family and my own bed. 

I do have to say this before I explode: the service here is pretty awful. I've never felt like such an inconvenience. Heaven forbid you order an additional basket of bread for the table because that seems to be a crime here and for a country where olive oil runs like raging rivers, they seem to be pretty stingy about it.

Regardless, it has been an amazing trip so far and I can't wait to see Italica tomorrow. I'll post some pictures up soon. Until then....


Cheers from Seville !

sevillian senses

I sit here in the plaza and cannot ignore the putrid smell of horse manure and wet dirt. The air is cool on my skin but the stench of sewer invades my nostrils and makes me feel uncomfortably hot. A fly lands on my knee and I stare at it as I try and come up with words to describe the myriad of things going on around me.

I look around and see a group of young tourist seemingly interested in the endless flow of historical facts being uttered by the guide whose face conveys a feeling of pure monotony.

The fly is still on my knee. There are flies everywhere. I hear the subtle drops of rain hitting my umbrella and I can't help but wonder why on earth I'm sitting in the rain. I smell a burning cigarette to my left and I turn to see a brightly clothed Arab woman sitting alone on a bench beside me drinking a Starbucks latte. She seems pensive and dismal and ten million thing run through my mind. I wonder why she's here alone? Then sound of the bell tolling reminds me of the time. For a split second the whole plaza stops and there is a moment of silence. Aware of the tight sightseeing schedules, crowds of tourist rush to get the last photographs of their surroundings. The orange trees abundant with fruit rustle lightly in the cool summer breeze and the cathedral stands magnificently in the overcast sky while the oohs and ahhs of wandering tourist fill the air.

I sit here in the Plaza del Triunfo taking in all the sights. Its not very nice out. The horse carriages are covered and the horses look miserable as they always do and the owners are all congregated around one area smoking cigarettes, hoping for a client to take for a ride. This fly really won't leave me alone.

I make my way back to the ornate entrance of the building and get lost in a crowd of words I can't understand and the continuous clicking of curious camera lenses taking pictures of every little detail of this magical place.

I don't think I've ever walked so much in my life...to the point where the skin on my feet is peeling off....LOVELY. But I'm not going to complain because unlike the other students who are staying in the Naranjo, I get to walk by Las Setas every morning...it doesn't get much cooler than this.

Being able to share this incredible city with really cool people has been an awesome experience. The sights are breathtaking and the food is on another level. 

I've had the privilege of seeing the Catedral de Sevilla up close and personal and there are just no words to explain the grandeur of this architectural masterpiece. The Giralda is really beautiful and the view from the top is very much worth the 34 stories you have to climb to get up there.

Today, we visted the University of Sevilla's School of Communications, which happens to be the best in Spain. We had the pleasure of meeting three professors who spoke to us mainly about the presence of Spain in the United States and also gave us some information about research projects they are involved with. The school was extremely well equipped with the latest technologies in communications. 

What an amazing place Sevilla is! Everything so far has been more than expected. I came with he notion this would be a city where everyone went to bed early and all there was to do was visit famous landmarks. I have been here three days and have been completely taken aback by the beauty of its architecture, the warmth of its people (especially the men, who seem to have an extreme adoration towards foreign women), and most of all by the food! I will definitely be coming back home a little heavier.

 

Cheers from Sevilla <3

Ethnic History of Andalucía and Flamenco

Andalucía is the southernmost region of continental Europe. It extends from the south of the Iberian Peninsula between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and it is separated from Africa by the 14 kilometers of the Strait of Gibraltar. The region covers 87,595 square kilometers and has a population of around seven and a half million inhabitants. Andalucía is one of Spain’s seventeen Autonomous Communities, and is divided internally into eight provinces with their respective capitals: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga and Seville.

A land of marked contrasts, Andalucía features an exceptionally wide variety of landscapes, from long beaches and rocky bays to agricultural land, desert, woods and Alpine mountains. The river Guadalquivir provides a great place for cultivating land in the center of the region between the gentle mountain range of the Sierra Morena to the north and the steep profile of the Sierra Bética to the south. Rising up in the middle of these mountains is the Sierra Nevada.

From the Neolithic period on, Andalucía was at the forefront of progress in agriculture, livestock keeping and mining, all of which attracted Greek and Phoenician settlers. This civilizing influence gave the rise to the Kingdom of Tartesos, a remote territory in which the columns of Hercules marked out the borders of the known world. This was followed by the development of Iberian culture in the interior of the region, as well as the presence of the Carthaginian civilization and the period of Roman rule, which left a permanent influence. Under the Romans, this region became the province of Bética, the location for flourishing cities such as Córdoba, the capital of the province, and Itálica, birthplace of the emperors Trajan and Hadrian.

After the brief period of Visigoth rule, the Muslim presence would mark out Andalucía’s destiny for almost 800 years to come. Until the 10^th century, Cordoba, the capital of Al-Andalus (the Muslim region of the Spanish peninsula) and court of the Ommeyad Caliphs stood out as the great city in the West. Seville, Almería, Málaga , Jaén and other cities acquired walls, fortresses, mosques, schools, baths, palaces, markets and entire quarters where people of different races and religions lived together.

Andalucía enjoyed one of its most splendid periods, as a great cultural beacon between the East and Europe. The advance of the Christian reconquest confined the Muslims to the present limits of the region and the rapid reconquest of Córdoba, Seville and the Guadalquivir valley by Ferdinand III in the mid-13^th century pushed the Moors towards the eastern realms of the kingdom of Granada.

1492 is a key date in the history of Andalucía. The year began with the conquest of Granada by the Catholic kings. In the summer, Christopher Columbus set sail from the Andalusian port of Palos in Huelva en route to America. This was also the year when the Jews were expelled, to be followed in the 17^th century by the Moors, depriving the region of two of its most active communities.

Flamenco

Flamenco is the music, song and dance of Andalucía, particularly of the gypsy community. It is associated especially with the provinces of Seville and Cádiz. The rough wailing voice of the singer is often unaccompanied except by rhythmic clapping, but to this is often added the rapid strumming of a guitar. Songs are never less than full on passionate and express a range of emotions, mainly sadness and torment. Sometimes the singer and guitarist provide the soundtrack for the dancer who is usually female. In true flamenco style, neither the song nor the dances follow a prescribed script. They are never done exactly the same way twice and performers continue for as long as their emotions dictate and stamina allows.

Flamenco began in the 18^th century in Andalucía, where gypsies sang songs of oppression, lamentation, and bitter romances. It could be described as a kind of blues that by the 19^th century began to catch on among all the other people of Andalucía. Gypsies used to call each other “flamencos”, which is an insulting term dating back to the days when Charles V’s Flemish (flamenco) courtiers bled Spain dry. In the Middle Ages, the gypsies arrived in Andalucía from India and they brought with them new tunes and euphoric rhythms which eventually combined with the “cante jondo”, or deep song, and the Moors’ heartstring guitar created what we know as flamenco. By the late 19^th century, flamenco was being performed in the back rooms of cafes in both Sevilla and Malaga.

a little appetizer before the trip....

Seville

I begin my journey abroad in one of the most incredible countries in the world. Rich in history, culture, architecture and let’s not forget the delectable cuisine, Spain is definitely a country worth visiting at least once in your life.

Located in the southwest part of the Iberian Peninsula is Seville, the capital of Andalusia and one of the most beautiful cities in all of Spain. It is the fourth largest city in Spain with a population of a little over 700,00 people and it is considered the artistic, cultural, financial, economic and social center of southern Spain.

Seville’s Mediterranean climate, which includes mild winters, hot summers and slight rain throughout the whole year, make this city’s climate almost perfect in every season.

The renowned cuisine of Seville focuses on the simplicity of its recipes. The bold flavors from a myriad of condiments make all meals something to look forward to. Tapas are one of the many attractive features of Seville's cuisine as a result of the region being the origin of this appetizer tradition. Tapas are miniature dishes which people tend to eat at all times usually at bars, accompanied by some great tasting wine or sangria as well as jerez, or sherry. Within the province of Sevilla you can find the small city of Jerez, responsible for supplying the entire world with genuine sherry.

Seville is a city where you will be very much enveloped by Andalusian culture, where tauromachy, or bullfighting, and flamenco are a way of life. It is a city where you are encouraged to “take it easy” and enjoy every aspect of its mesmerizing culture, from the tapas, to the breathtaking architecture.

Seville is especially famous for its monumental and artistic heritage of great beauty and historical importance. There are very few cities in the world that continue to flaunt the incredible combinations of architectural styles.

Some of the major sites and most symbolic for Seville in the world include the Catedral de Sevilla and Giralda Tower, the Alcazar, and the Casa de Pilatos.

Catedral de Sevilla and Giralda Tower

The Catedral de Sevilla is the most important church in the Andalusian metropolis. Also known as the Catedral de Santa Maria de La Sede, it is the largest cathedral in Spain and the third largest in the world. Like many major churches in Spain, this Gothic-style architecture was built on the site of an old mosque in the early 15th century. It is also the location of Christopher Columbus’ tomb.

The Giralda Tower is the minaret, or bell tower, of the old mosque on which the cathedral was built on. It’s Moorish-looking style has been preserved and is significantly different from the gothic style of the cathedral. This architectural masterpiece dates from the 12th century and is considered one of the most significant remnants of Seville's Moorish legacy. It was once the tallest tower in the world and today, after three additions made ​​after the conquest, we see the final tower, 97.5 meters high, topped with a bronze weathervane.

Real Alcazar

A mixture of Islamic and European traditions, this combination is best represented in the magnificence of the Real Alcázar, a palace still in use by members of the Spanish royal family and considered the oldest inhabited palace in Europe. There have been numerous transformations of power between the Christians and the Muslims. The Christian roots of Seville date back to the 1^st century and Christian dominion continued until the Moorish conquest in the year 712 AD. After this, Islam was the dominant force. The Moorish Almohaden chose Seville as their main residence and with it hand down a great heritage, evidence of their extraordinary culture. The Real Alcazar is ornate and majestic and has breathtaking gardens where tourist can have picnics and spend the day. 

Casa de Pilatos

The Casa de Pilatos is the most magnificent palace that can be visited in Sevilla, after the Real Alcazar. It is interesting not only for its architecture, which combines styles of Mudejar and Renaissance in its courtyards, fountains, and salons, but also displays Roman antiquities from the ruins of Italica, and paintings and furniture from different periods of time. According to tradition, this palace is a reproduction of Pilate's house in Jerusalem. Today it is the residence of the Dukes of Medinaceli.

Seville is an alluring city that will certainly capture your senses, where your eyes will be mesmerized with a cityscape extremely rich in history and art, your taste buds will be engulfed in exquisite fare and exceptional drinks and your mind will wonder why you didn’t come sooner.