So Field Trip 1 was our introduction to Spanish architecture and culture outside of Barcelona. We visited Madrid and parts of Andalucia, including Toledo, Cordoba, Granada, and Seville.
Looking back on it, I think that this field trip was one of the most exciting and eye-opening parts of the semester so far: we were all still new to Spain (let alone Europe), and we were still wide-eyed, brashly foreign (more so than now, at least), and we were all still getting to know eachother.
What I realized during this time: Barcelona is perhaps a little less typically "Spanish" than many, if not most, of Spain. This, I think is primarily due to the fact that it is the capital of Catalunya (Catalunya wants independence from Spain), and due to the fact that there is such a tradition of change and push towards modernity in Barcelona...which I think is rooted in the modernista architecture movement. I'll explain more of this later.
Anyway, getting back to the field trip. There were Americans everywhere. We infilitrate everything (this is not always a good thing) Next: Spain seems to be on a fast track towards mdernization, while still preserving architectural traditions. This really made me happy! There were construction projects in almost everywhere we visited, most notably installation of a new tram system through Sevilla, which actually had diabled most of the major streets in the area where we were staying. I was so happy to see that old buildings were being preserved and their exteriors were kept clean. This was prominent in Madrid.
All in all, Field Trip 1 was an amazing time for all of us CUA archies. We returned back to Barcelona breathless (switching planes, trains, and busses quickly for a week started to get to us), feet sore (we walked EVERYWHERE), all partied out...(the clubs were awesome), architecturally more exposed, and ready to re-emerse ourselves in a city that was beginning to be a home-away-from-home.
A typical sight in Southern Spain: orange trees!! There are some groves in Barcelona, but not as many as in Andalucia. We found out the hard way that the oranges were really sour.
Sean, Brian, Felipe, and Monica looking suave in Madrid.
Looks can be deceiving. This plate of food I ate in Cordoba was actually some of the most delicious tapas I've had since I've been in Spain.
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