Spain Study Abroad

With just under three weeks until my departure to Spain, I have been doing a lot of reminiscing about my first trip back in January 2010.  As most of you know, I studied abroad in Granada, Spain during the spring semester of my junior year.  I went with a group of UNH students and had an amazing time.  Here is a little overview of the places I went and the things that I saw.

 Our first few weeks were spent getting to know the city and starting our intensive Spanish grammar classes with our UNH professor.  Everything was brand new to us and we explored every corner of the city possible.  Each time we walked down a street, we discovered something we hadn't seen before, or we would find a new way to get back to our piso (or, apartment).  Our first few weeks were pretty dreary and rainy, but that did not stop us from enjoying the sites of the city of Granada, our home away from home.





We were enchanted by the detailed sidewalks, the beautiful water fountains, the whitewashed buildings in the albaicín, the buildings that were built hundreds of years ago, the abuelos taking a paseo through the plaza, the street vendors selling roasted chestnuts or balloons for children, the graffiti on the buildings, and the endless pastelerías, cafés, panaderías...  No details went unnoticed.

 I stayed in a home-stay during my time in Spain.  My roommates included one other girl from UNH and two girls from a different study abroad program.  The four of us got along great spending hours sitting around the table having lunch and cracking jokes with each other and our señora.  We made so many great memories just sitting in the apartment and learning new things from each other.  We had a great relationship with our señora who was our host mother.  She came over and cooked us delicious paella, lasagna, crepes, fried vegetables, new and exotic fruits, lots of shrimp with their heads still attached, jamón, tortilla española and many other dishes.  We appreciated everything she did for us and had the best time laughing and enjoying our time with her.

Plaza del sol- Madrid

I was fortunate enough to do a lot of traveling around the country with the UNH group and a on my own.  Some of my stops included Madrid, Segovia, El Escorial, Toledo, Cadíz, Sevilla, Córdoba, Ronda, Torremolinos, Gandía, Valencia, Barcelona, Santander, El Rocio and Mérida.  I was able to see so many things in these cities like museums, castles, roman ruins, beautiful cathedrals, crystal clear beaches, a bullfight and many, many other things.

Alcazár in Segovia

We were able to do a good amount of sight seeing and experience many cultural events in our own city.  We went to a flamenco show, fútbol game, the theatre, the Alhambra, the arab baths, an El Barrio concert and an El Sueño de Morfeo concert, the cathedral and countless parks and plazas.  There were always things to do and we took full advantage.

Flamenco show in the sacromonte of Granada

I had such an amazing experience and I would not have changed a thing.  It was so easy to fall in love with the country of Spain and especially the city of Granada.  I am so grateful that I have this opportunity to go back to see some of the same cities and explore many new ones.