Tourist Sites

Well I was in the beautiful city of Granada for a total of 2 mouths. I got to live in the wonderful sedate intriguing barrio of the Albaicin. Nearly all the houses are white, and you need to use a map for aleast a week to find your way around, but maybe its best to get lost down the narrow cobblestone streets to really get a feel for the place. I would often sit in San Nicholas and listen to impromtu flamaco guiter players or maybe over dinner there would be a group of gypses who would sing and play whilst you ate some of the best food at the cheapest prices.

Student housing was basic, the house consisted of 5 flats all of which could hold up to 3 to 5 people. So each week there was always a good crowd up on the terrace, drinking wine, having dinner, or studying spanish, with a mix of compas and flamaco dancing to wile away the evenings. The house had two main terraces, the roof terrace was small and had a table and two chairs, this is where i spent my mornings drinking PG Tips (found in a supermarket in the coast) and eating fresh bread with marmite whilst looking out over the sierra nevadas and the Alhambra Palace. I also spent many evenings up there too.

I went to various places to watch flamaco my faviote being the La Pena la Platería followed closely by the Upsetter, thou the seats are so uncomfortable . I also went to LA CHUMBERA twice the first time was amazing and after realalising that the singer drummer was not drunk but blind i really enjoyed the show. The view behind the singer was amazing, granada and the alhambra lit up at night. The second was not so good as we had the worst seats in the house. Though before we went in we got to watch a watch a wedding couple cut thier cake. I think some of my fav though proberly not the best choices was just seeing people playing on the streets and in the plazas.

I went gambling with my friends Gudryn, Jake and Chris and won 42 euros, seeing the alhambra at night was amazing, the colours that are only the ceiling are nicely lit up and can not really be seen during the day time. The school was in a fantastic location and the teachers were brillant. http://www.carmencuevas.com/en/index.php I would recomend this school to anyone.

Walking down to Plaza Largo to buy my friut and veg in the mornings before school, (school didnt start till 10am) or finding shortcuts to school and devoloping Albaicin legs, thighs & calves have never looked so good after walking up and down hills for 6 weeks. Going to the largest Fiera ive ever seen , and totally destroying Chris (ex army tank driver) on the bumper cars, I & gudrym laughed so hard in those five minutes. Watching people go on totally mental rides that i have never seen before. Playing cards & eating very greasy churrios (spelt in correctly im sure) at 4 in the morning.

Im sure there is more to tell, but for now that is all.

Nearing the end of my trip now, I have arrived in Servilla. And the what people say about are so true, the place is incredible. It makes it extra special to be here during easter week. Grabbed a taxi from the station becuase i could not for the life of me work out where my hostel was, And the first thing (person) i see out of the window is dressed in white with there faces covered over, and wearing a long pointy hat. I really thought id jumped into an alternate reality, and i was looking at a member of the KKK. The taxi driver assured me this was not the case, and that it was part of a festival held here over easter week.

The hostel is amazing, my room is on the top floor which is an open varanda with one room being shared by 4 of us. I look out over the roof tops and a church squire. First thing i did was go looking for a map then found myself outside the bull ring. So i went in for the tour, it was very interesting, they had a musuem located within it, looking at the last 2 centuries, and i learnt that bull fighting originally evolved from jousting. I then went and had lunch by the river, then came back to the hostel, where i met an Australian girl and we went out to watch the parade. It was quite emotional to see the respect, belief and passion that people held for the parade, The amount of people that turned out was incredible, it took Claire and I about 2 hrs just to walk a couple of streets. Lots of people in pointy hats, of various colours, a band, and some of the best floats ive ever seen. We think it took about 30 people to carry each float. The parade starts from each of the churches in the city, and makes it way towards the cathedral. After being in the cathedral they make there way back to their respective churches. The band music is very sombre and serious. Made me realise how commercial easter has become in the UK. The reason the people cover thier faces is they believe that god will recognise them and thier journey to heaven is assured. Got back to the hostel about midnight cooked pasta drank some wine and went to bed.

Today I went to see the alcazar, which is the palace where the princes and kings used to live. Oh boy, the beauty of the biuldings and the gardens blow me away. I spent a very happy three hours walking around, deciding what i would do with the place if i owned it. hahaha.

Its just started raining so i doubt im going to go out again to watch any more of the parade. Tomorrow i head for the beach, to wait out easter week.

Caught the train to Telodo, arriving at about 9pm, First experience of Spains high speed trains, very nice, they even give away free sweets bonus. When I arrived at the station, I met two Americans and we agreed to share a cab into town, as it was pouring with rain, we then spent the next hour trying to find accomadation, we had all forgotten it was easter week, now in the uk, all this normally means is that we have to remember to get easter eggs. In spain from Palm sunday through to Easter Monday it is a huge deal. We had arrived on the saturday night, before palm sunday, and just when it looked like we were going to have to go back into Madrid to find a room, I got on my phone, (Yes dad having a phone on me was handy) and started ringing round after about 20 mins and a very broken conversation in spanish, I found us one single and one double for the other two. The hotel ended up being out of the main town but right on the river, and the view out of my window in the morning made all the hassle worth it.

Spent the day looking around the town, its very nice, and they obviously must have a huge history in making swords becuase they were sold from nearly every shop. EL Greco the artist comes from Telodo, and I have to say after seeing his paintings, I think the main needed some orange and yellow in his life, the painting were so gloomy, but they did fit in with the church which was the most oppressive cathedral Ive ever seen, it was really dark, and the alter was completely over the top, you didnt just feel small becuase of the huge size, I felt like the bishop ??? was showing off his might at the same time. My lest faviote cathedral so far, and believe me i have seen so many now. Only spent about 20 mins in there.

Becuase it was Palm sunday, everything was shut so just spent time wandering the streets, and taking lots of pictures, we had a thunderstorm in the afternoon, so i went back to my hotel, had a shower and relaxed.

Arrived at the hostel, and checked in, just had a pizza near the train station, where everyone told me to be careful. To be honest, Rome felt like a walk in the park after Naples. Woke early the next morning and headed out to the city with Nick, New Zealand guy i had met the night before.

We decided to use the hop on hop off buses to get across the city, there was one waiting at the trian station, We headed for the Vatican. St Peters square is amazing but smaller then i thought it was going to be, As we walked into the square we realilised there was lots of people standing around with banners. All of a sudden, there was a voice coming out of a loud speaker, so we looked around and couldnt see who was talking, by now we were really confused. Then Nick noticed some guy standing at an open window, and we put 2 and 2 togather. Sunday 12 midday lots of nuns standing around could this be the pope, what convinced us was when everyone starting praying. Even then we discussed whether or not it was really the pope or not. After about half an hour the pope went back indoors, and we left for the second part of our trip. We ended going to the catacombs even though i had been told that they were not worth seeing. I really should listen sometimes. Then we headed back to the hostel.

The following day, i got up really early and Aldo (Honduran) guy i met at the hostel and I headed out for the vatican museum. We had to wait over an hour to get in. It felt weird watching all these people handing over there money, and we wondered how much the vatican makes from tourists each year, and why the churches still have to ask there local people for cash ! Sistine chapel was beautiful, we werent allowed to take any pictures unfortuantly. But I feel like im pleased to have seen it. You also get to walk through the papel appartments, and various museums. It all takes about 2 half hrs. I had lost aldo by this time, so left the vatican and went to St peters church, which is awsome, and leaves you feeling quite speechless and full of emotions. I then walked very slowly back to my hostel, just sticking my head into churches, window shopping, and took in the spanish steps, Ran into a newly wedded couple at the spanish steps and the bride throw her bouquet into the crowd. Everyone was cheering and clapping. Then went to the Triva fountain and Patheon and lots of other things. Got back to the hostel had dinner then went for a midnight stroll through the city with nick, tried to learn how best to use my camera at night.

Got home about 1am. I was completely exhusted.

The next day i was tired and my legs felt like they were gona fall off. After getting up very late I went to the Colosseum and Palatine hill. Spent a very happy day just wandering around. The sites are so massive, and close togather you get a really sense in rome of what it could have been like back in the day. Its weird to hear stories about Julius Ceaser etc and realise that you are standing in the spot where he was creamated.

I was really pleased to have seen Palatine Hill. After walking around I went back to the hostel and went to catch up on my blog then after a lovely local supper went to bed.

Morning all

Well I arrived safe and sound in Palermo last night, if not a little drunk, met two girls from manchester on the plane, and we all decided that due to the flight being bumpy we could settle our nerves with a few vodka and cokes. Arrived at my hotel in the dark so this morning woke up to the most amazing views of palermo. I can see across to the mountains and over to the harbour. Took pictures which i will post as soon as i can. Found this place for free internet for an hour. Not bad for someone that can speak no italian, im sitting in a beautiful old biulding, with marble staircases and painted ceilings. Im now off to explore the old town. Its warm, its sunny, and im feeling good.

Well its been a week since i posted, Spent a happy day walking around palermo, many of the places i wanted to see were shut infortunatly. But i was happy to look at things from the outside, found a german tour group and followed them for awhile so that i could get my bearings and didnt have to keep getting out my map. Walked till my legs felt like they were gona fall off and returned to my hotel late after enjoying a pizza, and slepted really well. The hotel room was no bigger then a store cupboard but the views were increadible.

Left the next day for Catina, which i didnt really like so moved on to Taormina, which was outstanding, its the rich and glitz resort for Sicily. Met some sweet old lady who offered me a room for the night, which i accepted, and she went and got oranges of her tree in her back garden for me to eat. Spent the evening walking around the town and enjoying the views of mount etna. Spent time in a local cafe and met Stuart and Debs from England and we had an interesting chat, she worked for a subsiduary of EMI so you can guess how long it took me to steer the conversation onto Mr R Williams. Haha. The room i rented was very damp so i went looking for a different room, met a italian called christomas,? who i think ended up trying to sell me his house so i moved on to enough hotel. The next day I spent the entire day hoping not to run into him and the sweet old lady. The biuldings, squares and friendliness of sicily and the sicilians has made me feel incredibly welcome and there has always been someone to help me when my Italian failed me.