Cordoba & Granada

This weekend I had a trip with my program. We spent Friday afternoon in Cordoba. We visited the mosque turned Catholic church, and walked around the old neighborhoods. There were some very pretty areas with flowers hanging.

Flowers

Olive Tree alive since 1741

Cordoba

Friday night we arrived in Granada and went to a flamenco show in a cave. There we're two different performances and it was fun to see. The way they move their feet still amazes me!
Saturday we visited the Alhambra. The gardens were gorgeous. Lots of flowers and the views of the city were beautiful. We then toured the palace. It was so detailed and intricate. I wasn't as amazed by it because the alcazar in Sevilla has the same style architecture, but I enjoyed seeing it.
Friday afternoon we had free time

Spanish Frog 

Gardens

Gardens

Tiles

Tiles

Alhambra

Lion Fountain

A ceiling

Granada

Lanae and I

Rachel, lanae, Allyson, Ashley, and I went to the Moroccan street. They have lots from Morocco. It was nice to be able to look at the items without the crazy Moroccan atmosphere.

Saturday night Lanae and I went to the cave bar with a few other friends. We had to walk up a big hill, but the view of the Alhambra was spectacular.

Sunday was rainy and cold. We went on a short tour of the chapel, then found a tea place to sit for a few hours. It even started hailing at one point! When it was time to leave everyone was happy to get back on the warm bus.

Feria de Abril

The week I traveled to London and Paris there was a week long fair going on in Sevilla. It's located in one area of Sevilla. There are hundreds of tents set up with a big bridge entrance. Most of the tents are private, so it's pretty much just for Sevillians. They wear their flamenco dresses, drink, dance, and eat.
Saturday I went and checked it port with Allyson and Lanae. We found one of the public tents and drank rebujitos, white wine and sprite. Its was fun to just relax and watch everything going on around us.

The bridge

The horses were dressed up too

There was a carnival part to it too. There were tons of rides. At sunset we rode the ferris wheel. It was tie fastest one I've been on and we had a great view.

Ferris Wheel

The Fair

Then we decided to go to the circus! There were elephants, camels, dogs, trapeze artists, tigers, and more. Not as good as ringling brothers,  but it was fun to see the circus.

Circus

The Bridge at night

Sunday night marked the end of feria and so there were fireworks. Lanae and I went, sat on one of the bridges with everyone else in Sevilla and watched them. It was strange no seeing everyone decked out un red, white, & blue, while watching them.

Paris

We got to Paris late monday night.

Tuesday we started at Notre Dame. It was a nice cathedral with beautiful stained glass.

Notre Dame

We did the touristy bus around Paris too, so after we just got on the bus and took it to the next place, being the orsay art museum. The building it was in was very nice. We saw van Gogh  Renoir, Monet  and other notable paintings. I loved the water lilies by Monet.

Orsay

Next we got off at the arc de triomphe. 

arc de triomphe

Ash and I

We strolled down the champes elysees. We stopped and had a delicious macaroon at Laudree. And had our first crepes. I had a cheese and mushroom one. so delicious!

Raspberry Macaroon

Crepes!

Then we saw the eiffel tower! We walked around it and took lot of photos. We ended up staying there for a long time. We knew it lit up and sparkled sometime at night, turns out it is at 9 o'clock, later than we though. But the wait was well worth it. It was beautiful when it sparkled. 

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

Ash and I with the eiffel tower

All Sparkly 

Wednesday we started at the Louvre. We got in for free, because Paris is nice to students with EU visas. We saw the mona lisa, venus of milo, Napoleon III's apartment, and other works of art. 

Inverted Pyramid

Venus of Milo

Mona Lisa

Ash and I with the pyramid

We stopped by the bridge with the locks covering it.

Lock Bridge

We rode the bus around for awhile just taking in the sites, and then stopped at the eiffel tower. This time we went up in it! We had a wonderful view of the city, but we also realized there isn't that much to see when you're standing in the thing that identifies Paris as Paris. 

View from the top

At the top

 Afterward I needed a crepe.

Banana Nutella Crepe

Later we met up with Wade & Sally, who I met in Barcelona. We with them to a park and watched the sun set. 

The Sunset

Ash, me, Sally and Wade

Thursday we went to Versailles. It was huge! We walked through the gardens first and made our way to Marie Antoinettes estate. We saw here place, and made our way to the palace. Each room was so elaborate, especially the ceilings. 

Part of the grounds

Marie Antoinette's place

Her bedroom

In the gardens

Hall of mirrors

Hall of mirrors

In front of the palace

After Versailles we went back into Paris and went to the top of the arc de triomphe. It was a nice view and we were able to hold the eiffel tower. 

Holding the eiffel tower

holding the eiffel tower together

For dinner we had escargot and creme brûlée, both of which were delicious!

Escargot

Creme brûlée

Friday we came back to Sevilla, after 8 days of traveling. It was a wonderful trip, but it was so nice to come back home.