3 cities, 1 day

Another week gone by! This week I began my ODE class, which actually isn't so bad...thus far. The professor is very nice and accommodating, and is letting me take the final exam early so that I can get home at a reasonable date (late May, instead of mid June). And luckily, the math library has TONS of books on diff eq's in English, so I checked some out so that I can self study. But I have to say that in a way, while it is the only regular university course I'm taking, ODE is more bearable than my humanities courses designed for exchange students. Taking the derivative or integral of a function is universal, written in the same notation no matter what language in which the subject is taught. On the other hand, I have to make an extra effort to pay attention to every word being said in my other three classes because of the nature of humanities classes...everything is about the written word and lecture. Now I truly know that math/science/numbers are my home base, intellectually :D

Anyways, yesterday was a Saturday filled with many festivities! In the morning, JYS had a day trip to Córdoba. We left Sevilla (city number 1) at 8:30 in the morning, embarking on the 1.5-hour bus ride. In Córdoba, we saw the beautiful mezquita, a giant mosque with a Gothic cathedral inside of it. The city is absolutely majestic. There is a long bridge across a river that leads into the city - it reminded me of the royal city in "Tangled"!

Well, kind of. But walking across that bridge in the bright sunlight just felt somewhat surreal. I can only imagine how much more beautiful it must be in the spring when all the flowers have bloomed. Definitely taking a trip back in a month or so when the weather warms up!

So that was city number two. We got back home at around 6pm, and I rushed home to get ready for the carnavales in Cádiz! Los carnavales are two weeks of crazy costumes and street music and food all over the city of Cádiz in the southern coast of Andalucia. It's kind of like a mix of Halloween and Mardi Gras. On crack.

My señora lent me her witch hat for the night! My costume was definitely weak in comparison to the others...there were chickens, cows, sumo wrestlers, and even mushrooms. At 8pm I was back on the bus with a couple of friends from JYS, bound for Cádiz (city number 3!) At 10 we arrived and were dropped off so that we could venture off on our own. The narrow cobblestone streets were absolutely jam-packed! I felt as if I were inside a can of sardines. In the plazas scattered throughout the city there were people gathered, dancing with music playing and street vendors selling chorizos. It was probably one of the most ridiculous nights of my life.

Definitely a one-of-a-kind experience worth having, that's for sure! That, and being in 3 completely different major Spanish cities in one day. Now I'm completely tired, and ready for bed. Good thing I don't have class til noon tomorrow :)