Granada 2008
Granada 2008
First stop, the hotel!
Albaycin
On our way up the hill, we saw walled gardens and quaint streets.
The Alhambra
(San Nicholas look-out)
Waiting for the sun to set
it's picture time!
Group photo
Which camera do we look at?
Alhambra lit up
A good reason to have gone up the hill.
Arabic dinner
Salads, couscous, dessert, and of course, mint tea!
Walk through the city
Quick stop to see Queen Isabel and Columbus, negociating our future discovery!
Corral de carbon
A 14th c. hostel and trading post.
The old silk market
Addison is ready to buy whatever his lil' girls hearts' desire!
Royal Chapel
We entered to see the burial sight of the Catholic Kings.
Gardens of the Alhambra
Ocassional rain didn't spoil our stroll, though the water fall seems threatening
Flowers among flowers
(Mary Catherine: don't loose that ticket too!)
This archway was made
for even the tallest of students!
Guide and guided
Addison, you definitely need to buy red shoes!
Fountains....
....and smiles
Generalife (summer palace)
Now this is the place to be!
Visiting the fortress (Alcazaba)
Students enter through the zigzag entrance
We made it to the top!
(Torre de la Vela)
View of the fortress
and traces of soldiers' quarters.
Albaycin and Sacromonte
as seen from the top.
Nazari Palaces
(Patio dorado)
Palacio de Comares
Patio de los leones
Sala de los Secretos
Who would think the firewood bin would be the perfect place to whisper secrets!
Charles V Palace
Among the students, we have a stray! Where's "Aldo"?
Walking to the arab baths...
We took our cold shower on the way!
Mentorettes-May 2008 pin-up!
(the Spanish mentores coincide in red bikinis)
Argggg....
Why is the only well lit pool the cold water one???? Quick, take the picture!
Cartuja Monastery courtyard
The interior surprised us by the inicial austerness and then,exaggerated baroque
San Cristobal look out
Views of the Albaycin and 11th c. city walls
Walking through Albaycin
we found this incredible balcony!
On our way to Sacromonte
and the cave-houses
Most learned about cave-homes
but Addison prefered to study the bugs in the area!
Chris ready to dig
a new home in the mountain
What did Ani do????
We never expected this from our guide, Fernando!
Other victims of his wrath...
found look-alikes amongst the living!
Ayyyy... we are so tired!
This has been a great week end (nights included!)
We ended the way we began...
with a view of the Alhambra.
Galicia 2008
Excursion to Galicia 2008
A Coruna... see the date?
Train ride
Supposedly, the train compartments only hold 4 people!
Plaza Maria Pita
The heart of the city on an early Saturday morning.
Santa Maria del Campo
We visited romanesque churches, gardens and plazas in the old quarters.
Torre de Hercules
The oldest working lighthouse dating back to Roman times.
Flower children of the 21st C.
Base of the lighthouse
Roman ruins and foundations are visible here.
It's a long climb up!
Incredible views
of the city and its beaches from the top of the lighthouse.
Monte San Pedro labyrinth
Dare we go in?
Elephant in the center
We made it to the middle to see the shaped hedge!
How do we get out?
Free time on the beach
Perfect for our siesta!
This water is freeeezing!
Beware of the seaweed monster!
Plaza del Humor
The "grey" brothers!
The Pink Panther strikes again!
A Coruna fishing port
Last views of the glass city.
Onward to the mountains.
Eco-lodgings
We stayed in a a rural setting
with its own "horreo"
(typical Galician grain silos)
A little ping pong, anyone?
(game room)
Ken wants to be even TALLER!
Caitlin jumps the "river"
Queimada
A brew to ward off evil spirits
Excursion to Galicia 2008
(Erin, Natasha and Caitlin in traditional clothing)
Jamming Galician style!
We learned about traditional Galician music.
Munieiras and jotas
Tradicional dances
Hop right, left, toe, heel...
Boy did we ever learn to dance!
...and dance!
Padron
Rosalia de Castro's home
Typical kitchen
from the XIX century
Galician monkeys
Sunday is market day!
Charlotte buying cheese
These cowboys
aren't exactly rootin' tootin'
Santiago de Compostela
Constrasts
Fairgrounds, gardens and comical figures.
Plaza de Cervantes
We walked through different quaint streets and plazas of the old stone quarters.
Pilgrim's approach to the
Cathedral and its Sacred door that is only open on Holy years.
Plaza de los Vivos (Quintana)
Maria, our guide, explains the origin of the pilgrimage.
Puerta de Platerias
We enter through the oldest door of the cathedral.
We end the visit with the
Portico de la Gloria and the main facade of the Catheral(Plaza del Obradoiro)
Seafood dinner
We couldn't pass up the opportunity!
Slurping down oysters
Santiago skyline
ends our small pilgrimage to Galicia.
Toledo 2008
Fieldtrip to Toledo
April 5, 2008
Impressive view of Toledo
from the other side of the river.
Students posing for mom...
Alfonso VI's gateway
Our visit walking through the old quarters began at this famous door.
Fernando, our guide,
explained mudejar art style at the church of Santiago del Arrabal.
Puerta del Sol
Famous gateway that predates Madrid's plaza with the same name by centuries!
Cristo de la Luz
Mosque and later church, was built in 999.
Smile!
Overlooking the Puerta del Sol
in the mosque's courtyard.
Plaza de Zocodover
We took a break to buy marzapan.
Narrow streets of Toledo
Afterwards, we headed for the cathedral.
Toledo cathedral
Head of the Spanish Catholic church, it is a real treasure inside.
Getting ready for lunch break
In the background, city hall, constructed under the direction of El Greco's son.
Knights in shining...
T-shirts! (Next to church with the famous Greco painting: Burial Conde Orgaz)
Through the jewish quarter
we talked about the 15th century keys that still opened doors.
El Transito Sinagogue
We visited the sinagogue and the sephardic museum.
San Juan de los Reyes Church
This cloister belonged to the monastery built in the Catholic Kings's time.
Walking around the courtyard
we looked for funny sculptures.
There's one!
Anna and Sheena
competing with the beautiful cloister ceiling. Nooo competition....Guapas!
Regrouping to return home...
at a ledge with views to the river.
Walking back to the bus
we crossed a gothic bridge
back to XXI century Madrid!
Extremadura 2008
Trip to Extremadura
First stop, Merida and it's Roman ruins (Diane Temple)
Roman theater
The Tulane and Georgetown "spectators" listen to the guide's explanations.
Impressive stage settings
Hey there...off the sets!
Amphitheater
Rain won't keep these young ladies from seeing the gladiators!
Ooopps...
we mean the ferocious beasts!
Roman bridge
Javi "whips" students
to get the crowd moving.
Roman mansion
This house still has its mosaic floors.
Roman art museum
Building designed by Moneo, it houses an important collection of Roman art.
Changing heads
Guide explains how some sculptures could change heads to represent new senators.
Milagros aqueduct
Also built in Roman times, it alternates granite and brick. Now home to storks.
Caceres in the rain
Mix and match...umbrellas or amusement park water cloaks!
"I wanna get married!"
It only takes a quick caress of Saint Peter of Alcantara's toes!
Caceres seen from above
With the rain, the medieval quarters shone even brighter.
Out of the rain
To share a group dinner together. Cheers!
Extremanian food sampling
included torta del casar cheese and grilled iberian meats.
Trujillo
Home town to conquistador Pizarro and to many other more humble adventurers.
Group picture
while we wait for the guide's microphone to work (which it really never did)
Entering one of Trujillo's doors
The walled city has buildings dating back to X -XV centuries.
Charming streets
and stone mansions.
Arabic water deposit
Built in the Xc, this deposit could fill completely with collected rain water.
Alcazaba
At the very top, we visited the fortress.
Walk along the walls
to catch some views.
Mike is a bit scared of heights!
Sean, the infiltrator,
blends right in with the Tulane students
The town of Trujillo
at our feet.
Departing the fortress
we head off to eat lunch
Basking in the sun
everyone enjoys a siesta time fanta can soccer game.
Leaving Extremadura
we say goodbye to the many storks that populate this region.
Segovia 2008
Segovia 2008
Our first trip this Spring was to Segovia.
Veracruz Church
A 13th century romanesque church, home to knights.
Descending from the chapel
where knights held vigil over their arms.
San Millan
One of the many romanesque churches in Segovia
San Justo
boasts the best romanesque paintings in it's interior.
The Roman Aqueduct
Built in the 1st century AC, can still function (though is no longer used)
Walking up for a better view.
The devil's hand
Holly enacts the well known legend!
Casa de Picos
Alessandra with two Spanish mentors.
Plaza Medina del Campo
Juan Bravo, the wool industry and a favorite hang out for locals.
Cathedral
After visiting the sinagogue, we came to this cathedral, known as the "dame"
Cathedral's 15th c courtyard
During our free time, most went in the cathedral to admire it's beauty.
Food finally!
We enjoyed a typical Segovian meal with white bean stew and...
...Suckling pig!
Dessert wasn't bad either: Ponche Segoviano and desperately needed coffee!
Fashion:
Clearly not Segovianos, the white hat is in!
And what about these red coats?
Alcazar
One of Disney's inspirations. And now one of ours!
Ready to enter the Alcazar
Knights in shining armor
View from the Alcazar
The Knights' church from the morning visit is clearly visible from here.
A long climb to the tower
paid off with the beautiful sights.
Walking back to the bus
we went by the jewish quarters and cementary... and said our good byes!
Christmas in Madrid
Christmas party 2007
Tulane and Georgetown students met at the meson de la Mazmorra.
Program directors, Diane and Ani
Enjoying tapas
and secret santa presents.
Christmas caroling
Learning Spanish villancicos.
La zambomba
didn't last very long, did it?
English carols
followed in a more relaxed tone!
Except for the 12 nights of Xmas
-No one got it straight!
TuGeorgeLane Town sweatshirt
Merry Christmas everybody!!!!
Thanksgiving in Madrid
Thanksgiving dinner in Madrid
Turkey baked in a wood burning oven built in 1725! Botin Restaurant.
But...let's backtrack
and make the pies first! And they were good too!!!!
Reunidas professors
joined us for dinner.
Tulane and Georgetown
students shared their meal with Javi, the orientation art professor.
Georgetown program alumni
living in Madrid and Miky
Diane (Tulane director)
thanked this new Spanish family for getting together. Happy Thanksgiving!
Cordoba and Seville 2007
Welcome to Cordoba!
Our rooms were all around a typical Andalusian courtyard (smoking area included)
Cordoba's Mosque
Our first visit was to the Great Mosque (now a Cathedral)
Arches from Caliphate times (Xc)
The group approaches the ornate kibla wall.
Macsura dome
Just in front of the niche in the kibla wall.
Calle de las Flores
This small street is famous for its flowers (especially in the Spring).
Prom in Cordoba!
Jewish sinagogue
Students inspect the XIV c building.
Al Andalusi house
from the XII c.
Sephardic home
is now a museum that explains the different traditions.
Seneca and Marcos
Two very "stoic" types.
FOOD- We tried it all!
Bull(ox) tail, salmorejo, eggplant with molasses, cod with orange, croquetas....
Night walk through hidden,
dark and illuminated corners, plazas and monuments. Kind of romantic (sigh)!
Castle of the Christian kings
Competing for the doorman post! Clearly Erin's got the look.
Hi ! (from high up)
Castle gardens
5 soccer team members and an intellectual.
Peek a boo!
Can you find the 6 missing students?
And Columbus brought us....
....some incredible students!
"Murder" in the Caliphate baths
(Well..maybe not THAT incredible!) -Xc bath house where a caliph was assasinated
And southbound to Seville
The Giralda tower (XII c) -originally the mosque minarete, now the cathedral's
Ice cream stops
are obligatory if you want to enjoy sightseeing.
Columbus' burial monument
The third largest cathedral in the world holds interesting surprises.
View from the bell tower
Shortly before the bells
RRRAAANNNGGGGGGGG!!!!!
Flamenco anyone?
Students prepared to see some action!
And they saw some!
Flamenco show at the Palacio Andaluz.
Royal palaces
This palace was extremely ornate in arabic style (mudejar, XIVc)
Embassadors' room
Definitely fit for a king!
At the garden grate!
We walked through the gardens to see the fountains and the Charles V pavilion.
Spain plaza
Built for the 1929 Iberoamerican expo.
Built in a regionalist style,
the plaza is located in the Maria Luisa Park and represents all of Spain.
To each his/her own PROVINCE
Colorful tilework described the provinces and their location.
America Plaza
Students were attacked by "killer" doves.
Bridges to Universal Expo 92
We drove on this bridge designed by Santiago Calatrava in Marcos' honor.
Italica
Roman ruins dating IIIdC-IIaC
Fancy domus (houses)
This floor had the days of the week laid in mosaic tiles.
Amphitheater
Thumbs up for the awaited spectacle!
The lions escaped the pit
so it was safe to eat the sandwiches in the arena!
Exhausted....
we return to Madrid in our little van. The trip couldn't have been better!
October 2007 activities
Let's go to a bull fight!
Tulane and Georgetown attended a fight during the fall bullfighting festival.
In the arena
The place was packed!
Escorial
On saturday the 20th we visited the San Lorenzo monastery.
Students duly identified
with their yellow sticker. No chance of getting lost (?)
Outside the inmense building
Built in times of Phillip II, the enormous complex includes the royal pantheon.
Dubious statues
In the gardens
students show some signs of weariness after a two hour tour.
However, these two have energy
to row through the hedges....
The monastery definitely leaves an impression in our memories....
Valle of the Fallen
A politically conflictive monument of the Spanish civil war.
We walk up to the base of the cross eating pinenuts from their shells.
Images of the evangelists
Saint Mathew and the angel
Sant Mark
The figures are enourmous!
Che with St. Luke watchin over
Did you know he's missing a toe?
Climbing high
The girls are quite "monumental" themselves!
Rocks and trees
The moss makes it difficult to distinguish the two.
Basilica
We then visited the church where the fallen and Franco are buried.
Sorolla museum (and home)
On sunday, october 21, the early risers had a chance to vist this place.
Sorolla' painting studio
We enjoyed seeing his home and many of his works.
The siesta
Tempted by the title but we were too awake to succumb.
Enjoying the gardens
and happy to start our day so pleasantly!
Fall Orientation 2007
Spain welcomes
Tulane and Georgetown students: the TuGeorgetLaneTown program!
Morning walk in Madrid
Ironically, the first monument we visit is an Egyptian temple!
Orientation in Leon
Students sepnd 2 and a half weeks in leon for an intensive orientation course.
Gaudi building
Leon has monuments of all styles: romanesque to art nouvea!
Snooping
What book is he reading? Is it in Spanish?
Oviedo
The group went for a one day trip to Asturias.
Santa Maria del Naranco
9th century palace
Inside the palace
San Miguel de Lillo
Small church of the same time period.
Javier,the art teacher
explains the importance of this pre-romanesque building.
Horreo
Tipical grainery of Asturias
Gijon- the beach!
Tulane students with Ani (Georgetown director) on the boardwalk.
"Elogio del horizonte"
Massive sculpture by Chillida and beautiful lookout of the coast.
Apple cider
Students learned how to pour cider with style.
Students with Ana
(language teacher) on the beach.
Large waves
said their goodbyes as we returned to Leon.
Madrid
Reality hits as students visit the Complutense campus
View of our building (B)
as seen from the A building.
Reunidas lobby
Students reach their prospective offices in the Reunidas area.
Visit of old Madrid
Students waiting for the tour to begin.
Sitting AGAIN in the old
moorish quarters.
Proof that they can also stand!
In the city hall plaza of the Madrid de los Austrias.
Plaza Mayor
The tour ends shortly after seeing this famous plaza at the Puerta del Sol.