Spain Summary

I compiled all my footage, all of my photos, and all of my friends' photos to create the best-of-the-best for a summary of the 2010 semester abroad.

There are some bits from Alicante, Valencia, Granada, Elche (where I took a day trip with Scott), and even some footage of my internship.

Enjoy!

Fixed Picture Links

It was brought to me attention that my picture links weren't working properly.

Check out these blog links where I changed my photo links...


http://melissainspain2010.blogspot.com/2010/04/parents-visit-to-spain.html

http://melissainspain2010.blogspot.com/2010/04/were-gonna-burn-this-whole-city-down.html

http://melissainspain2010.blogspot.com/2010/03/return-to-san-sebastian.html

http://melissainspain2010.blogspot.com/2010/02/granada-pictures.html

At the links to those posts, you will see the photo links are all bit.ly links. They are shorter and lead to a much longer, CORRECT photo link so you can see my albums! Enjoy!

Parents' visit to Spain

I have uploaded pics from my parents' visit to Spain.

http://bit.ly/ax25ID

That is the link to the pics from Barcelona and Alicante!

Among the Alicante pictures are pics of my host family, me at the radio, and my cooking classroom!

We're gonna burn this whole city down!

I am finally uploading pictures and I got all the Fallas pictures up from Valencia.
You can see them here.

http://bit.ly/an84rJ

I am also working on the video editing, don't you fret!

Fallas is a huge celebration where people construct these gorgeous paper-mache sculptures (that look like plastic) and then at midnight Friday, they burn them all down. These things cost thousands and millions of euros, but they build them just to destroy them. Sarah, Carly and I went there and spent a weekend in Valencia. USAC had buses go Friday morning and left Saturday at 3am, basically a one-day trip (without a hotel or anything) so they could see the fallas. Therefore, we saw some USAC kids there, too.

Enjoy the pictures and let me know what you think!

More Mysterious Europe

I was on stumbleupon.com, which takes you to random websites on the internet, and the first site it brought me to was for pictures of Europe. How timely!
(the site is http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2NUFRp/www.golberz.com/2010/03/breathtaking-photos-of-europe.html)

But of all the pictures they show, which are labeled as "breathtaking," I must say none of them look that special except this one, taken at night in the Czech Republic.



Doesn't this one just look more interesting and attractive than, say, this one:




I think the beauty is in the lights, the mystery, the intrigue that the first photo has over the second. I don't want to see a city for its buildings or monuments. I want to see it for its history, its people, its personality. And that, I believe, is what this first photograph eerily displays.

First look at DANTE

Yes, that's right, his cuteness has been captured on camera.

The other day he wandered into my room eating the heel of a loaf of bread. I asked if he wanted to take a picture, and he said yes. He was fully prepared for the picture, so I don't know what the deal is with the look of confusion.

Also, you can see his scar on his forehead from the emergency room visit.

And I believe chocolate is what is all over the rest of his face.

Fotos! Fotos! Fotos! Part 2

Park that runs along the water



HUUUGE trees in this park



Parque de Canalejas: that is what it's called




If you ever look up a pic of Alicante, this might be what you see, L'Explananda




Every single tile was hand-laid



Private casino...by invite only!



First four kings' initials were A, L, L, and A, which is interesting because it spells the word for God in Arabic...and they have a strong Moorish history. By the way, this is the coat of arms for Alicante.




The ayuntamiento in El Barrio



Old part of town




Palm trees are everywhere!




Heading up to the Santa Cruz area. Super Cute



Isn't it lovely?





You can see the castle from Santa Cruz



Church in Santa Cruz



Mike, Morgen, Steve, Sarah and Me atop the Barrio Santa Cruz




Morgen, Sarah, Mike, Me, Steve and Allie in Santa Cruz



Steve and Sarah being kids


Sarah is a great photographer...this is overlooking Alicante from halfway up the castle


Sarah again!


Way up top at the castle. Lots of seagulls.


The Mediterranean


Some tombs or something at the castle.



Again, the Mediterranean, but looking to the right instead of to the left, as in the previous picture




Steve and Carly at the castle



More castle


Sarah, Drew, Steve, Me, and Carly posing in an action scene at the castle


Sarah, Steve, Me, Carly, and Drew at the castle




Sarah, Carly and I spell USA!




This castle is over 600 yrs old


Overlooking ALICANTE




Steve, me and Carly pose with the cannons
Parking for motorcycles!


A little window overlooking the city



castle against the sunset





Me sitting on the ledge of the road up to the castle. You can see the bull ring off to MY left.

Fotos! Fotos! Fotos!

These uploaded backwards...


Av. de Federico Soto




The Valencian government building stationed in Alicante

Flying over Alicante


My first view of Alicante



It took about an hour to upload these four. So it's safe to say I won't be uploading any more until I find a better connection.