I saw the Mediterranean Sea!!!

So while I'm in Ciudad Real, I don't think I'll be blogging every day because I'm not doing anything exciting most days.  Every week day, I go to class from 9:00-1:30 (with breaks, thank goodness), then we all go to lunch on campus, and then I am done with classes for the day!  I love my classes here and Paco (Dr. Olivera, my prof) is amazing.  I've been trying to explore the city a little after classes, but it is laid out sporadically so I don't venture too far for fear of getting lost.  Ciudad Real is a great place to have classes because there is enough to do after class (for me at least lol) but there isn't so much that it gets distracting.  The Plaza Mayor is a very nice place with a giant clock where figures of Don Quijote, Sancho, and the author who created both appear.  It is very fun to see and I need to make sure to get a picture of it while I am here.  My family has taken me on walks around the city so I have seen a good deal of it with them, but can't make my way back to the same places on my own haha.  

My host family has been nothing short of spectacular.  I'm sure I have said that a lot already, but I cannot believe how lucky I got!  I have had dinner and breakfast everyday since being here and I have loved it. My favorite (if I have to choose one) meal so far was last Thursday when I had a "tortilla de patatas."  To most of us growing up in Texas, tortillas equals Mexican food (Tex-Mex technically) but the dish I am talking about is actually a Spanish omelet.  It's your typical omelet with potatoes in it.  Everyone should go try one NOW!  It was so delicious that I'm pretty sure I've been craving one ever since.  Even writing about it on here makes me want one lol.  Then tonight when I got back, I had some amazing fish (not sure what kind) and a almost croissant type pastry with cooked spinach in it.  I truly feel sorry for all the people that don't get to enjoy this amazing food and amazing people like I do!

When class let out Friday, I was already packed up and ready to leave for the beach!  Generally speaking, beaches are my ideal vacation spot.  This mostly applies only when traveling in the US, but I was not going to pass up an opportunity to visit a beach here.  I'm very glad I didn't (although I missed my host family) because I got to see the Mediterranean for the first time ever and I loved it.  Malaga itself was a much more modern town (which has its ups and downs) but the real reason we went there was to soak up some sun.  All day saturday was spent in a neighboring city that is apparently known for its beaches.  AND I managed to do what I can rarely accomplish, I got a good tan without getting burnt (excluding my lips lol).  This is a tough feat to do when there was apparently a UV index of 10 (the highest) and we were outside for 5 hours.  SPF 70 sure did come in handy!  Also, I missed my chance to take a picture of this so I'll describe the most popular beach meal instead.  There was a boardwalk type area where we were and I saw several restaurants selling sardines.  Now in America, we are used to canned sardines or whatever.  I'll be honest, I've never tried them lol.  But along the coast (in Southern Spain at least), they sell sardines on a stick.  They stick 5 or so fresh sardines on a skewer whole and stick them in a barbeque type pit and let them cook.  I felt like I should try some, but I couldn't because I was too scared by where to start.  These sardines still had tails, eyes and scales; I literally mean they were cooked whole.  So if anyone has a hankering for sardines, take a trip to Southern Spain =)

The last thing we did this weekend was stop in Granada to visit the Alhambra.  It was a beautiful old Moorish palace with surrounding structures and gardens.  I can't do it much justice by talking about it, but just know that you have probably never seen a place like it.  It is set up on a mountain with a city below it, with beautiful flowers and trees and fountains and after all that, there is still an amazing palace.  In fact, the throne room where a sultan once sat, was actually the room where Columbus was given permission by Queen Isabel to sail West in search of the East.  Just an interesting piece of history for those who are interested.  

There are many more things that I want to include in this blog, but it is already 12:30 here so I will try to pick up the left out pieces tomorrow or another day.  I miss everyone at home and it makes me sad that y'all don't get to see everything I am getting to see.  I love you all very much!

 I have seen so many solar panel farms(?).  Not sure if that is the correct term.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I had spotted some windmills while I was here.  From just driving through the countryside, I'd say Spain uses much more environmentally friendly energy than the U.S.  We have some catching up to do...

 Another source of energy from what I understood is sunflower oil.  As we were driving, we spotted fields upon fields of sunflowers.  One of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen.

 I had to get a picture with the pirate ship, even though I was dressed like a hippie haha.

 Finally, the beach!

 I'm quite excited to see the Mediterranean lol

 This is my idea of heaven =)

 First glimpse of part of the Alhambra.  Notice all the pretty green in the area.

 I just thought this was cool picture lol... Nothing significant 

 This is a picture of the throne room I mentioned above.  In this room, Columbus got permission to sail West.  Little did he know he'd find America lol

 Another beautiful garden.  The Alhambra was in no way lacking in fountains or flowers.

If you look right beneath the clouds (you might have to zoom in), you can hopefully see a mountain top with snow on it.  Apparently in this mountain range, there is skiing almost year-round (if I heard correctly).  The Sierra Nevada seems like a place I might be visiting ;P