Granada

Que pasa?... whats up? Well I hope you're all still doing well as I'm sure you are now preparing for the more bitter part of the Minnesota climate. This week has been a good week and I've realized that time is starting to fly by a little faster than I would like it to. School has been good accept one class in which is mind numbing to say the least. Well what can you do? ... all of the other ones are good anyway. We've been meeting a lot more people this week and it's been a lot of fun getting to know "Sevillanos". My spanish is getting a little better each day I get to talk and spend more time with the locals. I think I could come back to España and stay for a few years when I graduate but who knows, thats so far away! Oh thats right... I'm supposed to graduate in May. Well anyway, this weekend we're going to Granada, one of the more beautiful cities Andalucia has to offer. I'm excited for the trip and can't wait to stay in a Hotel with food paid for instead of a hostel without food. We leave tomorrow morning at about 9:45 and return sometime on Sunday. Tonight I'm going to try and get all of my homework done, or at least most of it before I leave tomorrow and hopefully get some rest as well. I've heard a little bit about whats going on in the U.S. with Palin and Mc..... donalds? I mean McCain sorry. I read the news that Powell is going to back Obama and is crossing party lines to do so after having known McCain for 25 years... all I have to say is "WOW". If that isn't a testament to the current status of the United States and it's international and national obligations I don't know what else could be. No no no... I'm not going to get into a political discussion on my blog but what I am going to say of the matter is this and I think it is a positive thing at that. By Powell taking such a strong position and obviously having put a lot of thought into it before taking such a stance... I think it shows that in a time of RED vs BLUE we're finally starting to realize it's important to look both directions before crossing the street. People are neither completely republican nor completely democrat and it's time we as a nation started realizing this and so when I read what Powell did in the news I was happy. Not because McCain didn't receive his support but because finally someone had the tenacity to overtly express recognition and respect for their opposing party. When I get back I'll let you know how Granada was and I'll try and stick to just writing about the sites I see : ) You have to understand that I haven't been able to talk about politics a lot since I've been here so well sometimes I have to vent. Hope you all have a great weekend, love you all and tell anyone I haven't spoke to lately that I'm doing well.

Hasta luego,

Brian

And finally we begin to migrate into the spanish social life

Hi guys I hope you're all doing very well, I'm doing great here. This weekend I'm spending my time in Sevilla (my host city). I thought about traveling outside of the country again but I'm here to learn spanish and to adapt and welcome another culture. In order to learn spanish and really understand the setting I'm living in I should spend more time here I've decided. Lately my roomate, other friend, and I have been trying hard to get to know spaniards our own age and to stop hanging out with the other members of our group all together. Yesterday I got to talk with my new language partner and we're going to meet twice next week to chat and enjoy the city. The school helps us meet spaniards and learn spanish by setting us up with people our own age to hang out with and we take it upon ourselves to call them or email them... they're called intercambios (interchange). Last night we went out with Phil's (my roomate) intercambio for a couple hours and it was a lot of fun. Her name is Sescillia. I'm not entirely sure if I spelt that right but what does I'll correct that later. We bother realized how much spending time with actual spaniards makes a difference. Last night we went out to a part of the city that we have been to before during the day but never at night, needless to say the place was packed with spaniards our age and was a great atmosphere. Sescillia was a very nice and we had a good time. I'll defintely go out with her and Phil again. After we got done spending time with her we went out to another bar where we met more spaniards and even played foosball with them... It was a blast. It's been hard getting to know locals here so far so now that we're finally getting to know some of them everything is starting to feel right. I hope you guys have a good weekend and I'll update you again in about a week or so. This weekend we're thinking about going out for a Flamenco show, bullfight, and probably an international fair tonight. Hasta luego.

Un fuerte abrazo,

Brian

Four Planes, 9 buses, 2 taxis, 1 train, 3 tube rides, 3 Countries!

Hey guys, this weekend I went to London for a few hours and Cork, Ireland for the weekend. The trip was an amazing experience, one that I'll remember for a very long time. I left for Stansted airport in London on Thursday evening and arrived to be greeted by my beautiful girlfriend. I was able to meet some of the students from her program before sleeping on the floor with them while waiting for the plane to leave at 6 in the morning. The trip from London to Cork was a short one hour flight. Our landing in Cork was a little a nerving as came through the clouds, the fog, and the rain and set down immediately after a tree line (a little rough). Oh well I'll take a rough landing for an amazing experience. We arrived in Cork around 8 in the morning and went to eat before checking into the hostel. The hostel lacked what is said to be luxury but oh well who needs luxury when you're a poor student trying to make a dollar squeeze into a euro. On Friday we went to see the famous Blarney castle where each one of us separetely kissed the stone, which in return gave us the gift of eloquence. The castle, the history behind the castle and the stone as well as the surrounding scenary were all very beautiful, something only understood through standing in the middle of all of it. After going to the castle we ate lunch at a small diner in Blarney. The meal was pretty good until I ate something I had no intention of eating. We'll leave that for later but the meal was good all around and afterward we returned to Cork before taking a nap and heading out to a traditional Irish bar. The bar was a lot of fun, we didn't get too crazy with the 4 euro beers but I had two before we returned a little early to get some rest before the morning. I have to say Guiness out of the tap in Ireland could be better than finding a lake in the desert. Anyway before I fall into thinking about Irish beer again, lets continue the voyage. The next day we woke up nice and early to head out to Killarney National Park, my favorite part of the trip (besides seeing Ash again). Killarney was a two hour bus ride from Cork and was worth it. When we arrived in Killarney we went out to the park for a nice long walk around its beautiful lands. While we were there we were able to see streams, lakes, mountains, a waterfall, and an amazingly green setting. Hearing the natives speak was like being in a story tail, each and every word they spoke felt like I was being told to finsih some sort of life quest. After a beauftiful walk around the park Ash and I decided we were both Minnesotan and crazy enough to jump into the icey lake and go for a swim before we left. Hey we're only in Ireland once for the first time, and why not do something as rediculous as swim in a 45 degree lake. Well we did it, and I don't think I would take it back either. After the swim we continued back to the taxi which took us back to the city. In Killarney we ate at a traditional Irish pub and watched football (soccer) on tv and were quick to begin talking with the Irish couples next to us about why thiey were cheering for khazakstan. Lol yeah... well hey their opponent was an English team so I guess Khazakstan makes more sense than cheering for the English lol sorry Ash. That night we didn't do much more, I went out for another Guiness before we got some sleep for our 5 O' clock alarm clock in the morning. Ash and I left early on Sunday for the airport where we continued our trip into the big city (London). Sorry guys I think I'm going to have to tell you about London in another post, my fingers are tired and I don't have all night. Hope you're all doing well and I'll talk to you again soon.

To the end of the world! Que rica es la vida de Portugal...

This weekend I went on a trip via bus to Lagos, Portugal and Sagres, Portugal. The trip to Lagos was about 6 or 7 hours long and worth every annoying person I had to listen to on the bus. When we arrived in Lagos we immediately wanted to get something to eat and check into the hostel. We stayed at the Youth Hostel of Lagos for 11 euros a night which included clean linens as well as a modest breakfast in the morning. Immediately i fell in love with the city as well as the culture in Lagos. The city is a smaller city with a large tourist attraction because of it's amazing location, diverse culture, shopping, fishing, and golfing! During the first few hours in Lagos we ate and walked around the cities edge, enjoying the amazing beaches and everlasting views from atop cliff's edges. During the night we went to a couple different bars within the city where I spoke with a couple locals, a lady from Serbia, Australians, and a bartender from the United States. The diversity of the European crowd never seizes to amaze me. The next morning we went to the bus station and took a bus to Sagres (an hour away) for 3'40 euros! Que borato! ... how cheap =P. Sagres which is known as being the "End of the world" for its location as the furthest city south west in Europe was one of the most amazing sites I've seen in my life. The ocean seemed infinite. We passed the time in Sagres walking along the beach and walking along the cliffs talking taking in the breathe taking view. We had lunch right off the ocean at a nice little cafe/bar built into the rocky and sandy shoreline. The view was nothing short of magnificient and was something I believe each person should entertain at some point during their live's. The people of Portugal were very simpathetic and educated. Most of the people I had met, spoke very well in english... something our country doesn't always consider. When I left Lagos for Sevilla I was a little sad to be leaving such an amazing country and I will definitely plan on returning algun dia (someday). Well its about time to eat, and I hope you're all enjoying the fall. Hasta luego...

Bri