Spanish Super Bowl

Evidently, you don’t have to be from the United States to experience a Super Bowl type atmosphere.  With two of the top teams in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid, facing off on Wednesday, it seemed that there were at least a hundred people crowded around every public television in the city.  Stores closed early, the streets were dead silent, and school professors picked up tabs just to lure us to the game.  If I experienced just a taste of the passion that the Spaniards display for their teams on Wednesday, I cannot wait for games to come. 

While experiencing a hyped soccer game is quite the experience, my class’s trip to the Albaicín this weekend was unforgettable.  As we trudged along the narrow streets of the Medieval Moorish community, I was struck by the reality that I was living in a city that was occupied by the Moors in the 11^th century, over one thousand years ago!  Although the Albaicín has changed since the Moorish occupation — the mosques have been transformed into Catholic churches — much of the small town tradition remains.  An open air market flourishes in the main city plaza and a short ten minute walk from the main road yields a quiet atmosphere away from bustling cars.  Sure, those who live in the Albaicín have to walk twenty minutes up mountain roads to drop off groceries, but they are living in a historical community that overlooks all of Granada and the Sierra Nevadas.  Modern day accommodations aside, I would love to live in the Albaicín and wake up every morning to the most beautiful view imaginable.

                Other excursions in the past week include a visit to the Arab bathrooms, one of only two left in the city, Sacramonte, another historical community that is carved out of the caves, and a hike up the mountainside towards La Alhambra, Granada’s jewel destination.  With every walk through the streets of Granada, I am reminded of how lucky I am to be in Spain.  One week of classes remain before a five-day break, and I am hitting the books before taking a trip to the Canary Islands next week.  Needless to say, I will have experiences to share.