Everyone definitely enjoyed that lesson. Even though it sounds like a waste of time, it is actually really helpful to know colloquial Spanish sayings. For instance, (hypothetically, as someone back home may be a little perturbed), if I see an attractive female walking down the street, I now know what to say to my buddy. "Ella esta como un tren" or "ella estacomo un queso." (She is like a train or she is like cheese.) Why? Well, our professor said that it basically means she can turn heads like when a train passes by and everyone looks. She did not have a good reason for the cheese, though. Note: The phrases only refer to looks and not brains. This has real world practicality.

I also joined a gym here and started running along the river (more about the river one day). First, gyms here are quite similar to gyms at home but with a few minor differences. I found out the hard way that my gym, at least, does not have a water fountain. No one brings water bottles to the gym either so I will just assume that the Spanish store water like camels. Second, they also dress up to go to the gym. Few wear shorts to the gym (except that old man who wears Spandex. I guess there is one in every gym in the world.) The rest wear nice track suits or even jeans.

My home-stay brother came to the gym with me the other day and was shocked that I was bringing my iPod. He asked, "Aren't we going to talk while we work out?" "Uh no." Once we were there I did notice that no one else was listening to his own music but was instead chatting away with each other. I'll stick with my iPod. It is surprising, though; that the music in the gym was all American and MTV Espana was playing. I don't have cable at home so I was extra shocked to see that Spain imports our low-quality, yet highly entertaining shows like Date My Mom. Oh globalization.

I also can't figure out if some of the people here are rude or deaf. When I am running or walking around the city and people are in the way, I usually say Perdon (Excuse me or pardon). No one budges. (Now I don't want to sound like a pushy American, but in a city were people drive their motos on the sidewalk, sometimes you just need to get by.) I told my Professor this and she says that it's best to say Perdon while giving the person a little touch. Now why can't they just move on their own I will never understand. I figure I have to be polite because I am the foreigner or guest in the city. Not anymore.

Fortunately, I can now use my new found Spanish vocabulary to help speed up the process. Sometimes, if I am really frustrated, I will use choice English words to question their paternity. I figure they won't understand me. I hope I have not underestimated the number of English speakers in this city.

Last Friday, we traveled to the Cathedral here. It is built upon the site of either an old synagogue or an old mosque or both. The building itself is really impressive and is located off of a main street in downtown Granada. The area is basically all clothing stores and bars and then the cathedral is just plopped in the middle. We had our trusty guide give us a tour of the cathedral and another church that is attached. The attached church was really interesting and housed a lot of history, literally. The bodies of the Catholic King and Queen, Ferdinand and Isabel are buried there.

If you do not already know, these are the rulers that united Spain in 1492 and ousted the last remaining Moors from the country. They also financed Christopher Columbus's three-hour tour to America. The best part of their burial area is the crypt. You can actually walk down a little ramp and see into the lit room with their coffins. (The bodies of Juana la Loca and her husband are also in the crypt.) There was also a really cool ark/golden 3-D mural in the church that depicted Catholic history quite graphically, including a beheaded John the Baptist and a boiled John the Apostle. I would love to post pictures, but, like Disney World, you are only allowed to photograph the less interesting places. I do have plenty of pictures of the actual cathedral, which is quite grand, but less historically exciting.

The next day we saw a rendition of Garcia Lorca's La casa de Bernarda Alba at the local theater. (He is the author with the exciting home.) It was pretty cool to see a play in a foreign language although it was extremely difficult to understand. I was at least able to tell when the actors were happy or sad. It's a start.

Thursday we are leaving to go to Segovia, Madrid, Salamanca and Toledo so I am sure I will have plenty to say when I return.

Video of the Cathedral

The Cathedral

That's a famous Spanish knight. His horse is standing on the head of a Moor. Lovely.