Hanging out with Intercambios

I now have two intercambios. My newest one is Alberto. He is 24 and is studying social work. So far we have gone out for drinks and watched Troy in Spanish. He is really nice! I went over to Paz's house for lunch on Sunday. I got to meet her family. She lives with her parents and two younger brothers. Everyone was really warm and welcoming and her mom cooked traditional Spanish dishes, including ensalada rusa (Russian salad...weird right?). I had a fantastic time!

Día de Todos los Santos en el Cementerio de San Fernando

Yesterday, November 1st, was All Saints Day. It is a huge holiday in Spain. I went to the Cementerio de San Fernando to see all of the beautiful graves. Every year on this day, families come to remember their dead. They decorate the graves with beautiful flowers and spend the day celebrating their loved ones.

Museo de Bellas Artes

Yesterday I went to the Museo de Bellas Artes. The building is gorgeous and the paintings and scultures are breathtaking. My favorite piece of art was Gustavo Bacarisas' Sevilla En Fiestas (1915). The colors are so vibrant!

Gibraltar

Yesterday we went to Gibraltar, which is in Spain but is actually British territory. We walked along the main street and explored a cave. The best part about this trip was the wild monkeys, the only free-roaming primates in Europe besides humans:)

Ten Things

10 Things I Miss About The United States of America

1) My family

2) My sisters (Chi Omega and Sigma Alpha Iota)

3) My friends

4) Chamber Choir

5) Phi Mu Alpha

6) Hillsdale College

7) FOOD!

8) Everything happens on time and is organized.

9) It is not 100 degrees every second of every day.

10) There are four seasons.

God Bless the USA!

El Circo

On our day off this week, Día de la Hispanidad, also known as the day of St. Pilar, we went to the circus:) It was called El Gran Circo Alaska, and we really enjoyed ourselves. We saw tigers, including white tigers, camels, llamas, an elephant, acrobats, clowns, a musical show and...dancing gnomes?

Bolero and Rocío

Today was so much fun! We went horseback riding on the beach in Doñana National Park. It was a beautiful day and the sun sparkled on the water. I rode a brown horse with a black mane-his name was Bolero, which is a type of romantic music. He was a lovely horse.

Next we went to the beach for awhile. Our last stop was Rocío, a town where the Virgin was sighted and where only horses are allowed to be on the streets (no cars). I really want to go back there some day!