Moving Forward...

Cordoba has nice green parks. And the Spanish sun.

The Mezquita is vast mosque (once 2nd in size in the world), built and expanded constantly under Islamic power, yet also feels restrained – still serving. Very beautiful. The mihrab, the endless arches and the cedar ceilings are all stunning. In the Renaissance, understandable at the time yet rather regrettable now, a cathedral was built in the middle (!) of the Mezquita. I was here early in the morning and had virtually the whole Mezquita to myself for half a hour – that was great.

Broken, yet happy to have arrived.

Granada is blessed with loads of history, young people, fantastic food and nightlife-till-morning. Spain at its best. I did a language course for 2 weeks and stayed with a great partying crowd at the student-residence. This was just perfect.

Absolutely mental people with whom it has been ‘kapotleuk’

‘Botallon fiesta’ means: BYOB and dump trash on the floor. No music, just serious drinking…

Laura@botallon

Sigh.

Alhambra beauty.

Visiting Alhambra with Kimmy.

Returning from the disco, you’re greeted by the weatherforecast.

April Fools Day : while friends were at the disco, we completely restored their room to the original setting and packed their clothes… we had to explain the joke to the headmaster the next day, though

Camborio discoteca: you can actually view the Alhambra from the dancefloor.

If I could only take it with me!

A chupeteria is quite a Spanish experience… a bar full of people slammin’ shots. You can just shout the number you’d like to have – shots are eur 1,-. Nothing is mixed with soda or juices, just shots of pure liquor. Everyone is tipsy… at best.

What a background for a city.

Only 1 hour from the heat in Granada – would you believe that?

I haven’t skiied in years… why???

It was great advice to pack my iPod. Thanks

A compromise between honesty and lies
To lead me past, their sly disguise
My moves are slow but soon they’ll know
Behind the scenes they grow their schemes
Hiding intentions, revealing only fractions
- Jose Gonzales

Plenty of time to reflect . The scents of flowers and green leaves in the gardens of Sevilla are refreshing and raise your spirits, and are if anything only intensified by the rain. This is an excellent city.

A photo constitutes merely an insult to the true beauty of the magnificent Alcazar. I read up on the building, yet was ill-prepared for its subtle brilliance. Location: heart of the city, next to the main square.

Arabic tilings strike a chord with me, with their repetitive geometrical shapes graced with many subtleties. There will be more to come .

Will not get you laid, will get you around town. Cycling makes me happy!

Nazarenos of one of many processions during Semana Santa (Holy week of Easter).

Dutch literature.

Sevilla’s Cathedral and Giralda is vast and impressive. The main altar, however, is just pornography. The gold, silver, saints, works of art all numb your eyes.

The pasos are carried around town by men for up to 12 hours…

You’re not the only one in Sevilla during Semana Santa.

Everything is nice about Salamanca: a rather international student-dominated town with a historical center bulking with bars, which can be easily be explored on foot. Still, it didn´t work for me. Have some trouble finding interesting people to talk to and the room next to mine is home to a dozen babies . The Cathedrales are magnificent, though.

Splendid stairs, yet impossible to really show it in one picture – these people loved what they were creating.

The new Cathedral, inside is the entry to the old Cathedral.

Botafumeiro: an amazing and odd tradition… yes, there have been accidents.


Follow Moon around the world.

A nice walk through the parks of Santiago.

Drinking ´canyas´ with German girls…

… and this is what you need the morning after, the unforgiving coffees of Spain.

A quiet middle-sized town in beautiful Asturias. The weather is rather agressive, which bears its own beauty. A nice place to rest and get over my annoying cold. Despite the winds, the temperature is rising to some 15 degrees Celsius though.

Fiesta de San Jozef – surely something to celebrate big-time. Catchas of kalimotxo keep the blood flowing, a mix of red wine and coca cola (don´t let the French hear about this)… By 6 am you´re drunk and hyper . Thanks for bringing me along Itstaso!

Oh yes, there was also Sidra. You need this as the party is outside.

Judith and Mark brought me to an erasmus-party, lots of Anglosaxon students in the mood for a party… nice.

Idoia is a teacher and therefor not allowed to wear tabacco-branded clothing. This doesn´t stop her from drinking San Miguel at 1.30 pm though.

And there appears to be something of a Guggenheim here.

Broken by the fiestas, I head to Gijon to recover.