reflections...

When we arrived in Granada I was taken back. The city had this entirely different energy to it then the last cites we have been going to. I was overwhelmed and for the first time I experienced a bit of culture shock. Culture shock for two reasons. One was because the buildings were so close to each other and there were so many people walking the streets. I have seen huge cites and have been among the crowd of city surfers, but because the buildings were so tightly together it felt more busy. The city was alive and my heart was being rebooted. The tranquility was being disturbed in my body. 

Second, I saw one of my friends from high school roaming the streets. I don’t know him anymore though I did awhile ago. But it was insane seeing him there. That feeling gave me culture shock because in my mind he wasn’t suppose to be there. I wasn’t suppose to see other Americans besides the group. 

A bunch of us went out to two bars that night. I’m not sure if liked the bars or not. It was too easy to get something to drink in my mind. Like I was tasting the forbidden fruit. I have had my experiences with alcohol and drinking it, is nothing terribly special in my mind. Just drinking it not at dinner or at party was different.

When we went to the Albaicin, Alhambra, and Palacios Nazaries I didn’t know what to expect. My body was drained until we entered the Palacios Nazaries. I cannot imagine how it would of been like if the time was set back 100s of years to the past and to walk around in it. I know as a “commoner” I most likely wouldn’t have gone in. But being a commoner and wondering what the mystery was inside would have been most intriguing. To dream of wonders that are literally so close to your house would have been extreme. 

When I saw the intricate details of the building inside I was certainly amazed. My eyes were wide and my camera on. I felt the walls and felt the etchings that most likely took years to build. I walked across the terra cotta bricks that were stepped on by numerous faiths, cultures, languages, motives, and thoughts. I was at awe that I was even in there. I wanted so bad to just sit in the middle of one of the glorious rooms and just fall in love with the art. It amazes me that people would learn this trade of constructing decor like this. Their life was to do that, create decor.

I obviously love art and anything that has to do with art. I absolutely love God’s art, though. The gardens were unfathomable. I have seen many great things in California that could to a certain degree compare to the gardens. But this was in Spain. The fragrance of the gardens swelled my nose and the water complementing the stone and the plants filled my eyes.  I was getting tired and it bothered me. When I am tired I cannot experience things to my full potential. Beautiful things need your full attention. 

Most of the group went up to a tower while Anne, Profe, and I stayed back in the shade. I was content to rest. Smell the smell of the constant cigarets and hear the languages being spoken.  I have been noticing the difference between Mexican Spanish and Spain Spanish. Spain puts this fluid and soft tones to Spanish. They massage the language in your ears. Mexican Spanish seems to have these voice fluctuations and shorter breaks between words. Its a lot faster and seems to be stripping away flowers from a rose bush and leaving just the bush to be left. I could do without hearing Mexican Spanish for awhile. 

When our day of walking was done, I was the most tired I have been for a long time. I showered and took a nap that seemed to last not enough. I slowly got ready and familiarized myself with the States via Facebook. It was hard to communicate with the outside world because so much has gone on that I couldn’t sum it up in one sitting. I also couldn’t express what I saw. My brain was massaged by the world of Spain and Spain left my brain numb in experience. 

Although, last night was a lot of fun once I was re-energized. We ate this meal that seemed to be endless. I enjoyed every bit of it. I was full to the brim. Which supplied me until 4 hours later... 

After dinner there was the Flamenco show. When we were waiting for the show to start, everyone was having a good time. Our group is getting along great and enjoying each other’s company. For the first time I felt like myself or felt like I could naturally be myself instead of forcing it. Where the show was felt like a different area then we have been in. After the show when we had a tour, the guide told us that they had everything they needed here. It was like their own town. I knew when she said that I could live there. Removed from the city but a 15 minute walk and you are there. 

We started to file into the small cave where the show was held. The room was hot and rather uncomfortable. Though, the intimate setting made the show better. The dancers were so intriguing to me. This was their life in Spain. To dance and make money. To show foreigners their talents.  To have an hour or so of your life to be watched with great applauds. Expressing their culture with ease and no fright, I wanted to be like them for a night. To captivate the virgin eye’s of the States.