Toledo, El Rastro, Córdoba, Granada, Parque del Retiro

These past few weeks have been really exciting!

On January 25th, we took a trip with our professor to Toledo, a town known for its swords. The views were beautiful. We visited a few cathedrals, mosques, and a synagogue. It has been really helpful to be able to see in person the sites that we are learning about in class.

January 28th, some friends and I visited the popular weekend flea market, El Rastro. It was packed with people! Apparently, some people go every weekend, not just to shop but also to socialize and catch up with friends. There were lots of cute things, from clothes to bags, books, and custom poems. It is close to an area called Tribunal, with lots of gastronomy places.

February 8-9th, our group visited Córdoba, one of the birthplaces of bullfighting. The section we stayed in was known as the older part and was very quiet, with not too many people on the streets. The streets were so tight that you had to cling to the wall if any cars passed by. We had dinner and saw an amazing flamenco show at the Patio de la Judería. The next day, we visited Mezquita catedral de Córdoba, the San Basilio, and the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. It was pouring rain! All of the places we visited were gorgeous with intricate architecture and wonderful artwork. We even saw an ancient bathhouse!

February 10-11th, we left Córdoba early the next morning for Granada. We walked around the city and saw the Catedral de Granada and Dobla De Oro. We also walked through a neighborhood known as the Albacín. At the top, we were able to see a beautiful view of the entire city at sunset. The next day, we left for the Alhambra, a palace and fortress, which was completely breathtaking! It was huge and displayed some of the most impressive Islamic architecture we have seen yet.

February 16th, I visited Parque del Retiro for the first time. It was very beautiful, with lots of statues, gardens, fountains, and different areas.

El Rastro