It is hard to believe that we are almost done with our Andalusian program. On Friday, July 29 we left out hearts in Cádiz. Abbey Road participants say good bye to their host moms. Of course there were tears and many, many hugs, and our students gave flowers, chocolates and small tokens of appreciation to their host mom. By now these beautiful families who opened their homes to our students have become part of our students’ lives and international families. Homestay provides a unique experience to our students who forge long lasting relationships with their host families. After leaving Cadiz we spent a day in Córdoba. Córdoba is the site of the only Cathedral Mosque in the world, which was declared by the UNESCO a world heritage center. Cordoba's beauty derives from the 8th century architectural grandeur that could be seen in Constantinople, Damascus and Baghdad. In the 13th century, under Ferdinand III, the Saint, Cordoba's Great Mosque was turned into a cathedral and new structures were built to support the arches and massive towers of the church. On Saturday, July 30th we arrived at Seville, and visited the Cathedral de Santa María de la Sede. This cathedral is the largest cathedral in the world, with Nave width: 15 meters (49 ft), Width: 100 meters (330 ft), Length: 135 meters (443 ft), Spire height: 105 meters (344 ft). This Cathedral was also named a World Heritage site by the UNESCO, along with the Alcázar palace complex and the General Archive of the Indies.
Today our students braved the 104 ◦ Fahrenheit to visit the Alcázar, the royal palace, in which the royal family still spend their vacations. This palace was built by the Moorish rulers who occupied the peninsula beginning on the 8th century. It is considered to be one of the most outstanding examples of mudéjar art that exist today. Our students learned how the different kings and queens’ religions and taste are reflected in the architecture of the palace. They also visited the amazing gardens and interior patios that evoke millenarian love stories. Some of these gardens were built in as a labyrinth, where you can get lost in the beauty of tall trees and bushes, as some of our students did. Tomorrow, our students will go back to the USA, carrying much more than suitcases and souvenirs: beautiful memories of Spain, a ton of new vocabulary in Spanish, and a deeper knowledge of what it mean to be an inhabitant of this planet and stablishing human connections. Of course, I would be remiss if I don’t say that they also have a deeper understanding of the very important concept of the “siesta”. ¡HASTA PRONTO, ANDALUCÍA!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |