It's the hardest to describe and quite frankly I'm terrified that even the description won't be enough for you to really understand Euro Pride.
It's like walking into a giant party. As you walk the streets of Chueca you are greeted by the shrieking voices of people. You don't know any of these people but they all have smiles on their faces and you can only smile back.
Two-million people graced the streets for the biggest gay pride event, in Madrid. Of course I had to see and experience the event for myself so me and three people from our tour including our very own guide settled out to what would be the most exciting event of our whole trip.
Arm in arm with Erica and Gerardo we tried to keep with Gary as he took us through a maze of people. It was crowded, at some points we could not even walk and it took some football playing to fight through the crazy crowd. All around you can hear music and people yelling hysterically. Then we finally stopped in Gran Via where the party was supposed to be happening. There was a parade going on and the wide four lane street including sidewalks was packed to the brim. The only thing getting through the street easily was the eighteen-wheeler holding people on it. The floats were not your average floats, they were trucks with railing and loud music. Some people on the floats were naked or wearing close to nothing. But none of that mattered, they were having a good time dancing and getting the people down below hyped up. It was an amazing sight seeing so many people jumping and dancing with Sangria or beer cans in their hands. The first thing that came to mind was Fiesta San Antonio but then I knew that this event was bigger and louder and in better control.
After dancing around and meeting new people we decided to retreat back to Chueca were there was performances taking place. Now this was a beautiful sight to see as well. The buildings surrounding you in this square were brightly decorated with the colors of the rainbow and people were singing from their balcony's. Full grown men were dressed like beautiful women and the whole crowd was going crazy for them to perform. Finally after waiting a couple minutes they started singing a song that I didn't know and everyone else did. Everyone's beers and hands went up in the air and they began singing at the top of their lungs just like we sing the National anthem at the Super Bowl. As you stand in the crowd and look around you have no time to think only gaze in astonishment at how the crowd reacts. So being that you don't want to be different you fall into this trans and do what everyone else is doing. You feel just as happy as they do and even though you don't know the song, after the third time you hear the chorus your singing it to.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Chapter 3 Medieval Spain
The Visigoths were people that ruled Spain for more than three centuries and oddly in Toledo the remains of them are not present at all.
The Visigoths had the largest and strongest kingdom in Western Europe. This invasion marked Spain's first attempt to becoming a unified nation. The Visigoths brought large scale herding, the horseshoe arch and some Germanic words that later entered the Spanish and English languages. Their greatest impact was settling in Roman Toletum ( Toledo) where for the first time the advanced coastal region looked to the interior for power.
The Goths and the Romans lived together when the Goths took over in 476. The Goths used Roman coins and lived in Roman cities because there were not any Goth ones. The Goths although they were abundant and ruled they still were very intimidated by the last rulers. A major difference of the two people was religion. The Goths practiced Christianity while the Romans practiced " Roman religion" later known as Catholic.
In 675, the Moors would come and try their hand at conquering the land but in the end fail. But later after successfully taking over the Moors would rewrite Spanish history and make Spain different again. They were Berber or Arab people which refers to all Muslims. The Moors brought new religion and culture. After Tariq took over he took some Goths and cut them in pieces so that they could be boiled in cauldrons. Ironically Tariq spent the rest of his winter in Toledo, the old Visigoth capital.
The Moors took over Spain easily, the Visigoths were weak and the Romans didn't like their Germanic rulers. The Moors would soon that conquering was not easy, they became entangled in Arab rivals. It was Pelayo who led some Asturians and surviving Goths to the first Christain victory. A new dynasty then came when Abd-er-Rahman came into power. Al- andalus became very wealthy with it's farms and commerce and culture. The Great Mosque became the Moors notable accomplishments as it was their legacy. Another thing that was important during this time was the fact that there was three distinct religions that separated everyone. You were either Jew, Muslim, or Christian and this in turn made the social ladder to position a way of thinking.
The Visigoths had the largest and strongest kingdom in Western Europe. This invasion marked Spain's first attempt to becoming a unified nation. The Visigoths brought large scale herding, the horseshoe arch and some Germanic words that later entered the Spanish and English languages. Their greatest impact was settling in Roman Toletum ( Toledo) where for the first time the advanced coastal region looked to the interior for power.
The Goths and the Romans lived together when the Goths took over in 476. The Goths used Roman coins and lived in Roman cities because there were not any Goth ones. The Goths although they were abundant and ruled they still were very intimidated by the last rulers. A major difference of the two people was religion. The Goths practiced Christianity while the Romans practiced " Roman religion" later known as Catholic.
In 675, the Moors would come and try their hand at conquering the land but in the end fail. But later after successfully taking over the Moors would rewrite Spanish history and make Spain different again. They were Berber or Arab people which refers to all Muslims. The Moors brought new religion and culture. After Tariq took over he took some Goths and cut them in pieces so that they could be boiled in cauldrons. Ironically Tariq spent the rest of his winter in Toledo, the old Visigoth capital.
The Moors took over Spain easily, the Visigoths were weak and the Romans didn't like their Germanic rulers. The Moors would soon that conquering was not easy, they became entangled in Arab rivals. It was Pelayo who led some Asturians and surviving Goths to the first Christain victory. A new dynasty then came when Abd-er-Rahman came into power. Al- andalus became very wealthy with it's farms and commerce and culture. The Great Mosque became the Moors notable accomplishments as it was their legacy. Another thing that was important during this time was the fact that there was three distinct religions that separated everyone. You were either Jew, Muslim, or Christian and this in turn made the social ladder to position a way of thinking.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
7/4/07 San Antonio
It was a relief to see my family and friends waiting for me at the airport. I was so excited to be home but sad that the trip had come to it's final end.
I'll never forget Spain and now as I show pictures and talk about all the wonderful places we visited it makes me kind of sad to know that I don't know when I will be going back. But one thing is for sure, I have to go back.
This trip made me realize a lot of things about myself and also the culture and the very different world I never new till now. A major thing I learned about myself when we were traveling around Spain is that I wasn't responsible. You know being at home is different and I thought that I was pretty good at managing time and being able to keep up with work, but as the first days went by I could see that I was awful at being on time. Then I hardly ever wanted to do the readings. I mean it was my first time in Spain and all that I wanted to do was do my own thing and not worry about school work. But I changed my mind set immediately when I was warned of the consequences of not being on time and not reading and doing the work.
Usually on the bus we had our class sessions and Mariana and Denise were always in good spirits talking about what we were supposed to read and how our learning's would help us with blog writing and knowing where we were and how it would give us a little insight of the places we would see. That helped us tremendously throughout the whole trip, I felt like I was always one step ahead of the Alaskan group because we were always given so much information ahead of time. If you did not read the readings then it was like you were always behind and didn't know what was going on and lucky for me I found out early on that the work was beneficial and not something to blow off. As for being on time, I really want to make sure that I am ahead of the game then behind everyone and being looked at. This trip taught me the importance of time, and how much that it not only affects you and makes you look bad but it hurts everyone on the trip.
Since were in the year 2007 I always thought the world was up to beat with all the new technology and new advances that have broken through. But being in Spain changed my mind dramatically. There are so many things that are different there that they have and don't have. I wonder what it would be like if Spain underwent an American intervention project. Where we stepped in and built larger roads and increased American food places and made everything less expensive. In the North for example like Bilbao and Pamplona it seems as if they are old ancient towns that refuse to develop. They are beautiful small cities, but they just don't look advanced. No huge tall buildings of economic importance, or sub divisions of housing. I wondered where the town lives at times. It's just a different culture all together and these places looked so homely and secure but small and out of reach with the world at the same time.
Spain is different and it will always be that way. I loved the towns we visited and the journey all over Spain I must say was a wonderful adventure that never really ends. I can't describe to you what it's like because you have to really experience it for your self to understand and see a culture that is amazing and full of tradition. This experience will never be forgotten and I hope that everyone in their lifetime gets the chance to see and experience all that I had the chance to.
I'll never forget Spain and now as I show pictures and talk about all the wonderful places we visited it makes me kind of sad to know that I don't know when I will be going back. But one thing is for sure, I have to go back.
This trip made me realize a lot of things about myself and also the culture and the very different world I never new till now. A major thing I learned about myself when we were traveling around Spain is that I wasn't responsible. You know being at home is different and I thought that I was pretty good at managing time and being able to keep up with work, but as the first days went by I could see that I was awful at being on time. Then I hardly ever wanted to do the readings. I mean it was my first time in Spain and all that I wanted to do was do my own thing and not worry about school work. But I changed my mind set immediately when I was warned of the consequences of not being on time and not reading and doing the work.
Usually on the bus we had our class sessions and Mariana and Denise were always in good spirits talking about what we were supposed to read and how our learning's would help us with blog writing and knowing where we were and how it would give us a little insight of the places we would see. That helped us tremendously throughout the whole trip, I felt like I was always one step ahead of the Alaskan group because we were always given so much information ahead of time. If you did not read the readings then it was like you were always behind and didn't know what was going on and lucky for me I found out early on that the work was beneficial and not something to blow off. As for being on time, I really want to make sure that I am ahead of the game then behind everyone and being looked at. This trip taught me the importance of time, and how much that it not only affects you and makes you look bad but it hurts everyone on the trip.
Since were in the year 2007 I always thought the world was up to beat with all the new technology and new advances that have broken through. But being in Spain changed my mind dramatically. There are so many things that are different there that they have and don't have. I wonder what it would be like if Spain underwent an American intervention project. Where we stepped in and built larger roads and increased American food places and made everything less expensive. In the North for example like Bilbao and Pamplona it seems as if they are old ancient towns that refuse to develop. They are beautiful small cities, but they just don't look advanced. No huge tall buildings of economic importance, or sub divisions of housing. I wondered where the town lives at times. It's just a different culture all together and these places looked so homely and secure but small and out of reach with the world at the same time.
Spain is different and it will always be that way. I loved the towns we visited and the journey all over Spain I must say was a wonderful adventure that never really ends. I can't describe to you what it's like because you have to really experience it for your self to understand and see a culture that is amazing and full of tradition. This experience will never be forgotten and I hope that everyone in their lifetime gets the chance to see and experience all that I had the chance to.
Monday, June 25, 2007
6/25/07 Madrid
Missing blog entry for Thursday June 19
Madrid, Madrid were finally back in the hot spot. I must say that traveling around Spain was the greatest experience ever. We saw so many things and experienced all the different city life that each town had to offer. Now were really on vacation and I think that everyone has been waiting to get back here since the first day we left.
In Valencia, for lunch a group of about eight of us wanted to eat somewhere close and reasonable at cost and so we picked a place called Cafe& Tea. This was small but nice place and as we walked in the waitress sitting at the bar looked at us with a stern look. The waitress looked tired and her hair had not been done at all, it had a scattered and dirty look to it. Her apron was black and she wore a black t-shirt that had stains from the days work. She might have been on a break and therefore got annoyed with us coming in because as soon as we sat down she immediately looked the other way.
For about five minutes we sat and waited for her to come by, but we new right away that maybe she was giving us the cold shoulder. Finally she came over and by then we were kinda restless with the heat and the service. Anyways she came over and asked what we wanted to drink and of course after looking at the menu for five minutes all of our minds were in a different place trying to imagine what something new might taste like. I said I wanted a Coke and after that half the group followed and she just walked away without a word and not a smile on her face. Now that I think of it I think we came in during the siesta time and that's probably why she looked bothered.
When she came back with our drinks she wanted to take down our order, and this is where she got really annoyed. In Spain not everything on the menu is in English and so many of us began asking what some of the words meant and exactly what came with the plates. After all our questions she began tapping her pin and making these funny faces. It's funny thinking back on it because I don't think that she knew that anybody was watching her. Well I was and good thing that here in Spain you don't get paid tips and if that was the case we wouldn't have given her anything.
In the end we all hated out food except Dave, but we did all drink our Coke's. We had a little taste of heaven drinking our Coke's and I think that's why we just didn't care about the waiter anymore.
Madrid, Madrid were finally back in the hot spot. I must say that traveling around Spain was the greatest experience ever. We saw so many things and experienced all the different city life that each town had to offer. Now were really on vacation and I think that everyone has been waiting to get back here since the first day we left.
In Valencia, for lunch a group of about eight of us wanted to eat somewhere close and reasonable at cost and so we picked a place called Cafe& Tea. This was small but nice place and as we walked in the waitress sitting at the bar looked at us with a stern look. The waitress looked tired and her hair had not been done at all, it had a scattered and dirty look to it. Her apron was black and she wore a black t-shirt that had stains from the days work. She might have been on a break and therefore got annoyed with us coming in because as soon as we sat down she immediately looked the other way.
For about five minutes we sat and waited for her to come by, but we new right away that maybe she was giving us the cold shoulder. Finally she came over and by then we were kinda restless with the heat and the service. Anyways she came over and asked what we wanted to drink and of course after looking at the menu for five minutes all of our minds were in a different place trying to imagine what something new might taste like. I said I wanted a Coke and after that half the group followed and she just walked away without a word and not a smile on her face. Now that I think of it I think we came in during the siesta time and that's probably why she looked bothered.
When she came back with our drinks she wanted to take down our order, and this is where she got really annoyed. In Spain not everything on the menu is in English and so many of us began asking what some of the words meant and exactly what came with the plates. After all our questions she began tapping her pin and making these funny faces. It's funny thinking back on it because I don't think that she knew that anybody was watching her. Well I was and good thing that here in Spain you don't get paid tips and if that was the case we wouldn't have given her anything.
In the end we all hated out food except Dave, but we did all drink our Coke's. We had a little taste of heaven drinking our Coke's and I think that's why we just didn't care about the waiter anymore.
Friday, June 22, 2007
6/22/07 Torremolinos
Bathing suits and short shorts is the perfect gear here in Costa del Sol. People flock to this city to lay out in the sand all day, either topless or covered. Kids play a game that I couldn't figure out that involves patting a ball back and forth while their parents sip drinks and read.
It's very peaceful here. All you hear is kids laughing and the waves crashing. You feel as if all the worries in the world are gone. You have endless time to think about nothing really, and you're happy that today is a beautiful sunny day.
As you lay out in the sun, you can hear the waves running up the dark stained sand and you wonder if the water feels just right. Later, as your perspiration starts to accumulate all over your body, you decide that maybe you just don't care whether the water is right or not. You just want to go in. So you run into the sparkling clear blue water and then immediately run out! Your feet are so numb and your whole body feels like it's in shock. That's how cold the water is, but after walking back to your spot on the sand, your body starts to feel cool and the breeze helps to bring your body heat back to normal. You're not shivering anymore and the water running down your back feels like that nice cold shower you will have after you leave for the day.
Laying down again on the hot sand you feel at ease and comfortable. What a place this is and you think about how you could spend your entire life living like this. Relaxing all day motionless and without worry.
It's very peaceful here. All you hear is kids laughing and the waves crashing. You feel as if all the worries in the world are gone. You have endless time to think about nothing really, and you're happy that today is a beautiful sunny day.
As you lay out in the sun, you can hear the waves running up the dark stained sand and you wonder if the water feels just right. Later, as your perspiration starts to accumulate all over your body, you decide that maybe you just don't care whether the water is right or not. You just want to go in. So you run into the sparkling clear blue water and then immediately run out! Your feet are so numb and your whole body feels like it's in shock. That's how cold the water is, but after walking back to your spot on the sand, your body starts to feel cool and the breeze helps to bring your body heat back to normal. You're not shivering anymore and the water running down your back feels like that nice cold shower you will have after you leave for the day.
Laying down again on the hot sand you feel at ease and comfortable. What a place this is and you think about how you could spend your entire life living like this. Relaxing all day motionless and without worry.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
6/21/07 Costa del Sol
Finally, the beautiful beach of Costa Del Sol, this place is like a resort town with its many hotels and bars and restaurants on both sides of the street. We arrived here after a 2 hour drive from Granada. In Granada, we had the chance to tour the Alhambra which is an old peaceful garden with many palaces that surround it. This place was a great place to see and the artwork inside and out of the palaces was magnificent to look at. The writings on the walls were all Arabic and you could tell that the words told a story or had a special meaning. In class we are backtracking to chapters 4&5 and we just started discussing the Moros and the Christianos fight over Spain.
In the beginning the Moors controlled two-thirds of the peninsula and the most powerful of these places were Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba and Almeria. A ruler from Sevilla by the name Motadid, used human skulls for flowerpots around his palace. As for his amusement he kept the heads of rivals in leather cases. The Moorish-Christian had a depiction of an early wild West because it attracted all kinds of adventurous people. This would then cause the Reconquest (La Reconquista) which is the most distinctive factor of medieval Spanish history.
Fernando I of Castilla had been the leading figure in the reconquest with his capturing of Valencia then Portugal. Later after his death a new man who became one of the most exalted figures in Spanish history known as El Cid Campeador. El Cid made his fame by a great epic poem in Spanish history. Later he became known as a national hero, because it had been said that he could subdue lions at a glance. He eventually became exhiled by Alfonso VI who had been a military figure that pentrated Andalucia then later capturing Toledo in his first crucial capture of the Reconquest.
In the beginning the Moors controlled two-thirds of the peninsula and the most powerful of these places were Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba and Almeria. A ruler from Sevilla by the name Motadid, used human skulls for flowerpots around his palace. As for his amusement he kept the heads of rivals in leather cases. The Moorish-Christian had a depiction of an early wild West because it attracted all kinds of adventurous people. This would then cause the Reconquest (La Reconquista) which is the most distinctive factor of medieval Spanish history.
Fernando I of Castilla had been the leading figure in the reconquest with his capturing of Valencia then Portugal. Later after his death a new man who became one of the most exalted figures in Spanish history known as El Cid Campeador. El Cid made his fame by a great epic poem in Spanish history. Later he became known as a national hero, because it had been said that he could subdue lions at a glance. He eventually became exhiled by Alfonso VI who had been a military figure that pentrated Andalucia then later capturing Toledo in his first crucial capture of the Reconquest.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
6/20/07 Granada
Today we are in Granada. this place so far has a small town feel to it. We arrived around four in the afternoon and right away me and my roommate decided we were going to the pool. Yesterday was our last day in Valencia and I had the chance to see the Holy Grail. I couldn't believe that I was actually less than 10 feet away from it. I'm not that religious, but I must say that being in the room and seeing it gave me such a good feeling. I mean as you walk into the room you are in awe with the sight of the Holy Grail Today's blog is about Antonio Gaudi, one of the most influential artist in the 20th century.
Antonio Gaudi made himself the hottest break through artist of the 20th century who had a very unique style of work. One example of his astounding works is the beautiful Parque Guell, which has the most astonishing colorful mosaic tiles that sweep the concrete benches to sit on. Around you are tall arches that have a dusty but elegant look to them. This place is peaceful with the wild flowers growing all around you. Some of the small houses that surround the area look like small gingerbread houses. They are colorful and have tall castle-like arches with unique designs.
His work also include the very beautiful Sagrada Familia church that looks more Gothic with its very high arches and dark stained walls. This church also is still in the process of being finished it has a separate part that is very modern with its round edges. What I noticed about this particular church is that it looks like Gaudi was having a fun time with all the designs he made up. It’s something that you can only see in his work because he was just a talented artist. He really made his work stand out, and that’s what separates himself from other artist from then and until now.
Antonio Gaudi made himself the hottest break through artist of the 20th century who had a very unique style of work. One example of his astounding works is the beautiful Parque Guell, which has the most astonishing colorful mosaic tiles that sweep the concrete benches to sit on. Around you are tall arches that have a dusty but elegant look to them. This place is peaceful with the wild flowers growing all around you. Some of the small houses that surround the area look like small gingerbread houses. They are colorful and have tall castle-like arches with unique designs.
His work also include the very beautiful Sagrada Familia church that looks more Gothic with its very high arches and dark stained walls. This church also is still in the process of being finished it has a separate part that is very modern with its round edges. What I noticed about this particular church is that it looks like Gaudi was having a fun time with all the designs he made up. It’s something that you can only see in his work because he was just a talented artist. He really made his work stand out, and that’s what separates himself from other artist from then and until now.
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