Submitted by Rebecca Jaeger on the 2013 fall semester program in Granada, Spain..
This past Friday, I practically died of excitement. Although part of being a study abroad student is immersing yourself in the culture and way of life of a new country, I had the opportunity this past week to be a tourist. By that, I mean I explored some of the historical sites that make Granada a popular tourist destination. So, what did I do on Friday? I visited the Capilla Real and the Cathedral of Granada. The Cathedral was beautiful, but my favorite part was the Capilla Real. It is a giant, ornate building that houses the tombs and caskets of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. It was incredible! To stand before the King and Queen of Spain (what little remains of them) was an awe-inspiring experience. At this point, my inner nerd was just dying of excitement. It is astounding to realize that although they have been dead for hundreds of years, their gargantuan legacy lives on, as the Spain that they conquered still exists today. I was star-struck. Needless to say, it was one of the greatest mornings of my life.
On Wednesday, I also got to visit the Alhambra with is a large, stately fortress that was designed by the Arabs during their reign in Granada. While viewing the building had nothing on the caskets of Isabella and Ferdinand, it was still incredible, with its large, adorned palaces and patios. My favorite part was the Patio de la Alberca, which has a pool filled with an exact amount of water to perfectly act as a mirror for the tower above.
While it was exciting to see the sites of Granada and learn the history of the city, it is now time to buckle down and get into student mode. It is my goal in the next week to immerse myself in the culture of Spain and to speak as much Spanish as possible!