Granada

Once again, I voyaged to southern Spain for the weekend. Unlike past trips, this one was sponsored by Notre Dame and almost our entire program came along. We stayed in a fairly posh hotel and ate square meals on a regular basis- already a step up from most of my travels. Just kidding, Mum.

Highlights Reel:
- Touring the luminous Mosque-turned-Cathedral in Córdoba. A welcome change from the Gothic or Baroque styles of most Spanish cathedrals (read: lofty, ornate, gorgeous, un-friendly) the Córdoba Cathedral features rows of warm white pillars and low, Moorish-style arches. I loved this gentler Arabic influence.
- Re-visiting the Alhambra Palace and Generalife Gardens for the first time in 10 years. They were lovelier than I remembered, despite the gray weather. There´s a reason for the local saying, ¨If you die without seeing La Alhambra, you have not lived.¨ I believe Katie Shircliff claimed the Alhambra for her wedding reception, thus members of our program have now covered every royal residence in Spain...
- Scoring delicious, free tapas with drinks (one of my favorite Andalucia tradions) and people-watching the loud Spanish fútbol fans in the bars.
- Attending an intimate flamenco show (my 3rd- have I mentioned that I LOVE flamenco?) in gypsy caves in the old Arab district of Granada.
- Reading Ernest Hemingway´s exquisite memoir ¨A Moveable Feast¨ as we drove through the mountains and olive trees of southern Spain.
- Spending quality time with the vibrant, funny, wonderful people who are with me here in Spain and at Notre Dame.

It was an excellent weekend.