Greece

For the second leg of my spring break, I ventured to Athens, Greece. I have several Greek friends from home that have been to Greece and its islands many times with their families. I did careful research and asked them the best places to see before I left. Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world with its recorded history dating back almost 4,000 years. Ancient Athens was the birthplace of democracy and a thriving center for art, culture and especially Plato and Aristotle’s philosophy. The monuments that the ancient Greeks left behind are the source of Greek pride and heritage. They propel Athens as a city of antiquated wisdom and developing cosmopolitan metropolis. As the birthplace of the modern Olympic Games, Greece was thrilled to reestablished their reputation in the western world by hosting the 2004 Olympic Games. This prompted an influx of progress of modern development in the city.

We stayed in an area called Monastiraki, which is the premiere shopping district in Athens. There, we enjoyed the market with beautiful Greek souvenirs and amazing cafes and restaurants. Greek cuisine is incredible, I never knew much about it before visiting Greece. Now, I thoroughly enjoy:

·      tzatziki (yogurt with cucumber and garlic puree)

·      gyros

·      eggplant salad

·      classic Greek salad

·      All types of olives

·      spanakopita (spinach and feta pastry)

·      pita

·      moussaka (ground lamb and eggplant casserole)

·      baklava (pastry with nuts and honey)

·      Greek coffee

The food was so fresh and tasty that we made any excuse to eat! I was equally enchanted with the ancient Greek monuments. We climbed to the top of the Acropolis, which provided us with an incredible view of the neighborhoods Plaka, Gazi, and Monastiraki. In Greek, “Acropolis” literally means “high city,” similar to Citadel, in English. The Acropolis in Athens includes the Temple of Athena Nike, the remains of an outdoor arena, Theatre of Dionysus and then the majestic Parthenon in the center. The Parthenon is dedicated to the Greek goddess, Athena, the protector of Athens, built in 438 BC.

That evening, we took a tram up Lykavittos Mountain, one of the highest peaks in Athens. We took the funicular up through the mountain and watched the sunset from the top. There is also a beautiful 19^th century Greek Orthodox church, The Chapel of St. George, on Lykavittos.

We took an incredible day cruise from the Athens’ port, Piraeus, and visited three beautiful Greek islands. The day was a little cool and breezy, but sunny and the Aegean Sea was stunning. The first island we visited was Hydra, which allows no cars, so the only forms of transportation are donkey, bicycle and on foot. Hydra is also known for having a large population of cats. I was thrilled because I really miss my two cats from home! Between Hydra and the next island, Poros, the cruise ship was flying over white caps and crazy waves. The whole ship was going wild, so it took us twice as long to reach Poros. Therefore, we had a tragically short 30 minutes to see the island. I snapped a few pictures before we had to board to ship bound for the last island. On Aegina, the third island, we walked around and purchased the island’s infamous red pistachios, which were delicious. I learned that Aegina was a former rival of Athens in the ancient times and was a great sea power of that era. Sea breezed, sunburned and a little exhausted, we sat down a classic Greek meal of tzatziki and Greek salad.

I am so glad that I had the opportunity to see Athens and a few Greek islands. I would love to return someday to spend time on the pristine beaches of Santorini and Mykonos. 

Florence

My spontaneous daytrip to Florence was a wonderful decision. I went with Brian, Matt and Kristen on the high-speed train from Termini Station in Rome. The ride was comfortable and quick. When we arrived, we realized that the city was quite easy to tackle on foot. I did not know very much about Florence beforehand, except that it was considered the birthplace of Renaissance art and was ruled by the powerful Medici family.

When we walked into the piazza, I was in awe of the Duomo and the piazza in which it stands. It was a beautiful, sunny day, but the size of the Duomo creates a windtunnel that seemed to enhance the hustle and bustle of daily Florentine life. I noticed such a stark contrast between fast, metropolitan city of Rome and quaint, beautiful city of Florence. While both hold their respective histories, Florence captivated me in a way that Rome did not. We casually strolled around the Duomo and surrounding streets, remarking how much we wish we could spend a few more days.

We met up with Kristen’s friend, Jamie, who lived in an incredible apartment with a rooftop terrace just beneath the Duomo. She then led us around through the vast leather and glass markets, where I purchased more souvenirs than I had anywhere else! Later, we ate delicious, fresh paninis from a highly recommended deli, “The Oil Shoppe.” From there, we took an enjoyable walk across the Ponte Vecchio (which means “old bridge” in Italian.) It spans the narrowest part of the Arno River and is noted for the shops that line its sides. I learned that butchers first occupied the shops, then art dealers and now, jewelers are the current tenants.

As we walked across the Ponte Vecchio, we met up with two Loyola girls, Caroline and Marisa. They took us to the Piazzale Michaelangelo, which boasted a better view of the city than the top of the Duomo. It was a bit of a climb, but completely worth it. I could see the entire city, the Arno River, and surrounding mountains. To top it off, we had the BEST gelato when we walked down. I learned that the real, not processed gelato comes from metal cartons and not from pans in a bakery case.

In the afternoon, Kristen and I went to a market and bought tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan, baguette, olives, red wine and prosciutto to have a feast on Jamie’s terrace. We watched the sunset behind the Duomo and relaxed. I thoroughly enjoyed the fresh, delicious Italian food and found myself hoping I would return to Florence soon. 

Rome, Italy

I was very excited to go to Rome for two reasons: first, for amazing food and second, because I’m mostly Italian and was dying to visit the homeland. Rome is rich with history; the city is about two and half thousand years old. Rome’s monuments, art and culture have made Rome one of the top three cities most visited in the European Union.

I took a later flight into Rome with my friend Brian, so we arrived to Termini Station in Rome around 2 a.m. We were astonished to see about one hundred homeless people sleeping outside of the train station. I tried to not let this disheartening scene affect my impression Rome as we took a cab to our hostel. We stayed at Ivanhoe “Party” Hostel, which was a youth hostel that truly catered to the student traveler. We met lots of other students studying abroad, many of which also studied in Spain. We later figured out that we all must have had the same spring break.

The next day, we woke up bright and early to visit the Colosseum, which was a 5-minute walk from our hostel! When I saw the full view of the Colosseum, I had a similar reaction as when I saw the Eiffel Tower. I was in complete awe of this ancient work and iconic symbol of Roman architecture. The Colosseum was built around 70-72 AD in the low valley between Caelian, Esquiline, and Palatine Hills. Over the centuries, parts of the Colosseum were destroyed by the elements, such as fires and earthquakes. The Colosseum was used to host the gladiator shows and animal hunts. There was room for a staggering 50,000 audience members! We learned that animals were brought in from Africa and the Middle East, including panthers, leopards, tigers, bears, elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes, and hippopotamuses, to be hunted in these staged battles. The underground passages, called “hypogeum,” were made for the gladiators and animals to wait under the arena.

Next, we spent out entire day at the Vatican, which was much larger than I expected! We booked out tickets online beforehand, which saved us a massive wait in line. The ticket included a pass into the Vatican Museum and the various rooms and exhibits to pass through before the Sistine Chapel. We literally were shuffled among the people through room after room until we reached the Sistine Chapel. There was so many tourists from around the world. When we finally came into the Sistine Chapel, it was much smaller than I had expected. However, the chapel ceiling was exquisite and worth the long wait. Pictures were forbidden, but stupid people were still taking them anyway and then the guards yelled at them. Then, we saw a woman breastfeeding and she seemed surprised when the guards told her to stop…

We stopped in St. Peter’s Square, which I learned was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Bernini said the square was built so “the greatest number of people could see the Pope give his blessing, either from the middle of the façade of the church or from a window in the Vatican Palace.” Afterwards, I went with Kristen to see the Spanish Steps or Piazza di Spagna. There were SO MANY gypsies around selling their wares that I could hardly stand it. They basically ruined the atmosphere for me. Although, the area around the Spanish Steps is very nice and we had a great lunch! My favorite Roman monument was The Trevi Fountain, which is one of the most famous fountains in the world and the largest Baroque fountain in the city of Rome. Legend has it then when a visitor throws in one coin, they will return to Rome. If they throw in two coins, they will fall in love. Naturally, Kristen and I threw in two coins. That night, we went out in Campo Del Fiori and I met up with three friends from Fordham who are studying in London and then a friend from high school who studies in Seville. It was so much fun to see them!

The next day, we had V.I.P. passes to Palm Sunday Mass with the Pope. The mass was in Latin, but it was easy to follow along. Although we had to stand, it was a beautiful day and we had great views, thanks to the jumbotron. Later, we found the beautiful park, Villa Borghese, where we took a relaxing stroll and ate some delicious gelato. It started to get overcast as we made our way to the Roman forum and other surrounding monuments, but it was still interesting and enjoyable to take a look at the ancient ruins. To our surprise, it was Culture Week in Rome, therefore, we had free admission almost everywhere! Que suerte!

Canary Islands

This past weekend we spent a relaxing two days in the Canary Islands. After always having to sight see and walk around, it was so nice to have nothing to do besides sit on the beach. There are four islands that are included in "Las Islas Canarias" but we stayed on Gran Canaria. Gran Canaria is situated in the Atlantic Ocean about 93 miles off the coast of Africa. These islands have been Spanish territory since 1478, thanks to Christopher Columbus.

Our hostel was called Pension Plaza and was located in the capital of Gran Canaria, Las Palmas. We later found out that the more tourist-y spot on Gran Canaria was in the southern part of the island, but we were in the north. Regardless, I still had a great time. The beach was beautiful; the water was clear and there was a gorgeous backdrop of mountains. The temperature was high 70s to low 80s with a UV index of 10, so it wasn't unbearably hot, but the sun was very, very strong. Many people on our trip were badly, badly sunburned--except me! Overall, I enjoyed my stay in the Canary Islands and would love to go back and see the other three islands.

Sevilla

After a short afternoon in Córdoba, we drove two hours to Sevilla. Sevilla is also situated on the Guadalquivir River, but further south than Córdoba. There are several bridges that span across the river, connecting the two sides of the city. Our beautiful hotel, Abba Triana, was right on the river in the area called Triana. Sevilla has a heavy Arabic influence, which is obvious in its Moorish architecture. We arrived around 8 p.m., so we were free to go out, grab dinner and experience the Sevilliana nightlife.

The following day, we woke up and ate an amazing breakfast buffet at our hotel. Then, we walked through the main square in the town to get to the Alcázar, which is a royal palace. The top levels in the massive palace are still used by the royal family as an official residence in Sevilla. The rooms inside the palace were beautiful and regal, but I loved the outdoor gardens. There was a lovely pond with a waterfall, which contained these scary, giant fish and cute little ducks. Visitors were feeding them and they were going crazy! I walked around the gardens with Kristen and we admired the orange trees, flowers, peacocks, and even a few stray cats!

Afterwards, we visited the stunning Sevilla Cathedral, which is the largest Gothic cathedral and the third largest church in the world. It is also the burial site of Christopher Columbus. Before the Cathedral was built in 1402, Sevillianas said "Let a church so beautiful and so great that those who see it built will think we were mad!” The construction lasted until 1506. The interior of the cathedral contains the longest nave in Spain and is lavishly decorated with gold leaf. There are also 80 side chapels and a tall bell tower. We climbed the bell tower, which is about 345 feet. “The Giralda,” as the tower is called, has ramps instead of stairs that lead to the top. We walked up the ramps, which were put in place so carts could be taken up the tower. At the top, there was a beautiful view of the city. For lunch, we ate a great lunch of paella at a restaurant on the river. To end our day, we walked around the Jewish quarter and Maria Jose showed us a shop where we could buy a famous perfume called “Agua de Sevilla,” which smells like the oranges and blossoms that grow all around the city.

We ended our trip at Plaza de España, which was built in 1928 for the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. This building is an example of Renaissance architecture style mixed with typical Spanish architecture. The building is situated in the front of Maria Luisa Park. We all got to ride four-person tandem bicycles around the park, which was a blast! They were like golf carts with bike peddles and wheels. I was in a bike with Kristen, Brian, and Fernando. All of the boys in our group were going crazy and racing each other, having the time of their lives. It was WILD. I thought we were going to crash about a hundred times but I loved it. After riding for a half hour, we boarded the bus headed back to Alcala. I loved my weekend in the South!

Córdoba

On our trip to Andalusia in southern Spain, we first stopped in the city of Córdoba. It is a culturally diverse city, having been Iberian, Islamic and Roman in various times during its history. In the 10^th century and the beginning of the 11^th century, Córdoba was the most populated city in the world and was one of the intellectual centers of Europe. At the time of Julius Caesar, Córdoba was a favorite spot of Roman intellectuals. In 711, an Arab Muslim army captured the city and Córdoba became a great cultural, economic, political and financial center in the Iberian Peninsula. During this time, the Great Mosque of Córdoba was built, along with 300 public baths, 3,000 smaller mosques, and the largest library in the world (at that time), which housed around 1 million volumes. In 1236, King Ferdinand III of Castile captured Córdoba and it was declared a Catholic city. Many new churches were built around the city; even one was incorporated in the Great Mosque, changing its official name to “Cathedral-Mosque of Córdoba”. Now, UNESCO considers Córdoba a World Heritage Site.

Córdoba’s rich history can be seen mostly in its architecture. There is a large Roman footbridge that leads people into the city, which was built over the Guadalquivir River. Córdoba enjoys a fairly warm climate year-round. Maria Jose told us that in the south of Spain, Spaniards say that they endure 9 months of temperate weather and then 3 months of hell in the summer. I absolutely believe it because it was only mid-March and it was already 80 degrees Fahrenheit!

When we first arrived, we had free time to eat lunch before we were going to tour the Cathedral-Mosque. The city reminded me of Toledo because of its tiny, winding streets, which of course were cobblestones. As much as I love charming cobblestone streets, I think I’m going to need realignment when I’m back in the states. Even on the days that I wear sneakers sightseeing, I’m still in pain! Maria Jose took us to the courtyard behind the mosque, which had about six fountains. She told us that every time before Muslims prayed, they had to wash all of their senses in these fountains before entering the mosque. This means that they washed their eyes, mouth, nose, ears, and hands before praying five times a day to Allah. The interior of the mosque held an eclectic collection of distinct types of architecture. The mosque contains giant arches, striped with red and white stone, supported by 856 columns that are made of jasper, marble, granite and onyx. These columns were actually recycled from a previously destroyed Roman building in Córdoba. As we walked further into the mosque, the conversion into a Gothic cathedral was evident. 

 The bridge

 Center of town

 Outdoor courtyard before entering Mosque

 Arches and recycled columns

 Notice the change from Moorish to Roman...