My Experiences with the Wild...

Ma sent me new socks - I love them. Although NOTHING here is christimassy yet it has definitely made me excited for winter walks and Christmas baking!

Since my last post I have continued my cultural learning with a visit to the "Caballerizas Reales" (Royal Stables) and "El Parque Zoológico" - (THE ZOO)!

The Caballerizas Reales are part of the stables built in 1570 by Felipe II and are now considered a National Historic Monument. They're now home to the "espectáculo ecuestre" which Sinéad, Anna and I went to see one balmy evening.

 We were treated to different performances by horses, riders and flamenco dancers. It was quite something to behold - the horses were clearly some of the best trained in the country, (dare I say it) the world? To be honest, I wouldn't know, I haven't seen many dancing horse shows. 

As an admirer of horses, I can say they were absolutely gorgeous and I was quite jealous of the riders. Similar to when I saw Billy Elliot and immediately afterwards researched dancing lessons, following the "espectáculo" I was considering abandoning my current career plans for a life in the saddle.

Although I'm not sure where I stand on animals in shows, including this one in particular (during the show the performers occasionally seemed to give the horses a bit too much encouragement with the whips/reins) but it was a fascinating experience that I won't forget.

I can't tell you how excited I was to go to the zoo.

And how excited I was to see that Córdoba had managed to preserve some dinosaurs!

A student ticket only cost us 2 euros which is an absolute steal although this did ignite my inner animal activist as I worry this might be why the zoo seemed almost devoid of keepers and anything stimulating for the animals. Many of them were also poor little spinsters and had no pals to play with. This did indeed make me sad. However, they seemed to be happy and healthy so I shall complain no more.

Now follows the obligatory photos after a visit to the zoo. I'm sure you've seen all these animals before but... oso with me... get it? 

Oso means bear.

I adore these fellas.

This here is Nigel (we named him), he is my one true love.

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My Solitary Walk...

On Saturday, with both flatmates gone for the day, I faced a lonely day of iplayer and biscuits. However, I decided this was not the time for moping - I'm on my year abroad for goodness' sake - and so, after quite a lot of biscuits, I went out for a walk!

Luckily for me, the faculty building in which I have all of my classes is found in the Historic Centre of the city. 

This is a mere couple of hundred metres from my University building.
The wall on the left is the outer wall of the Historic Centre.

It is so easy to walk five minutes away from "uni" and find yourself next to a beautiful building or some sort of stunning view.

Patio de los Naranjos

El Puente Romano

On my walk I realised I've developed a new...hobby. Now don't judge me - I realise it sounds a little strange - but I've become fascinated by the Spanish children! They are always well dressed here, laughing and playing all the time and, believe me, a Spanish accent on a three year-old is just adorable. I may be wearing rosa-tinted spectacles but you just don't seem to see any bratty kids screaming whilst tugging on the arm of a worn-out, bedraggled looking parent - a sight I feel I've become too familiar with in England.

Oh, and I've also taken some photos of them. Like I said, please don't judge. If you imagine it's a fun project of mine it's really not that weird at all...

He jumped out at her soon after this photo.
She didn't flinch one bit.

Part of the African Cinema Festival which is happening here at the moment.
This man was telling what sounded like a fascinating story - the kids were enraptured.

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My Day Out...

  I've been away for a while, my apologies. I've genuinely actually really been doing things!

I think I've finally decided which subjects I will take at the University which is good as I have to register this week. I will be taking post-WWII English Literature (and no, that's not cheating), Themes and Forms of Spanish Theatre and Psycholinguistics.
It is quite liberating being able to choose whatever I want, but it has made it quite difficult too. Psycholinguistics is something I never would have chosen before and so I'm really glad I get to try it out here. 

Although I do feel a little naughty, I am looking forward to the English Lit class because we will be studying all the famous "classic" British writers - C.S. Lewis, Woolf, Tolkien, Plath, McEwan - the list goes on. And I also enjoy the lecturer saying things like "huge" instead of "Hugh", simple pleasures.

This weekend my fellow Brit, Sinéad, and I agreed we should be a little more cultural and a little less student-y and we set off to explore some of the historical sites in Córdoba. 

 Our first stop was the "Museo de la inquisición" - a small museum which featured the torture devices used by the Spanish Inquisition. If you're of a nervous disposition, look away now.

I would describe most of them as a cross between something you'd find in the London Dungeons, and Fifty Shades of Grey - not for the faint-hearted.

"Iron Maiden" - this very much resembled the chokey
from Matilda, but slightly more deadly.

A chastity belt - with teeth to discourage any intruders!

The most hideous contraption I have laid eyes upon.

Took me a while to get these images out of my head, but interesting nonetheless.

We then tottered along to the "Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos" - essentially a fortress where Isabella and Ferdinand once resided. I believe the Spanish Inquisition paid a few visits too...

Ignoring the possible tortures that could have occurred there, it really was the most beautiful place. 

Sinéad and I decided we could have our 21sts/wedding receptions here.
Not sure how much it would cost to rent out an ancient Spanish palace though...

Feeling a little more knowledgeable about our new home we set off with a growing list of other places to visit. This weekend made me realise how lucky we are: we have a whole world of culture right on our doorsteps and so much time to experience it all. 

With the glorious sunshine, the magnificent buildings and the history and culture pouring out of every street, I can't help but feel like I'm just on an extended holiday!

¡Qué suerte!

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My Post for the Davies Family...

So far, I have seen six mullets.

Still counting...

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My Rant...

Mother says this is a good place to document all the not-so-great parts of studying here; so here goes: What kind of an international office only opens from 11-13:30, Monday to Thursday?! How is that going to help anyone? And also, whilst they're at it, give us a young Spanish girl who doesn't really want to speak any slower or try and make it easier for us foreign students to understand - and sure, go ahead and make a mistake on my Certificate of Arrival, I only need it to receive my Erasmus grant after all. And yes I know a siesta is traditional and oh so authentic but must everything close at lunchtime?

Being a (reasonably) organised person I also really would have liked to have had my classes sorted before I arrived at the University, but that would be silly. So trawling through the dense, and in some parts out-of-date website, I eventually found the page with the information for my intended course. Ok - that module looks good...(scrolling down the page, scroll, scroll, scroll) ooh that one looks fun! Oh no wait, can't do that - it's a year long...(scroll, scroll, scroll) well, yes, ok beginner's French could be good for me...(scroll, scroll, scroll...end of page). Fab, plenty of choice. 

So having eventually found some other modules which appeared on the course programme but not in the timetable, I proceeded to ask unhelpful Spanish girl where I could find these classes. Naive little me - she tells me that as they don't appear to have been assigned a time, classroom or teacher, they probably aren't happening and that I should just look for something else - there's bound to be something similar. How can a university have a subject floating around in academic cyberspace that belongs to no teacher?! NO COMPRENDO.

On the plus side, look at my new slippers.

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My First Cup of Tea...

We have no kettle and no teapot - a travesty for myself, tea's number one fan. I have been searching for one but apparently the Spanish have absolutely no taste in hot beverages and so do not sell them! I gave in yesterday and used a saucepan - so old-fashioned. Oh my it was wonderful. Nothing beats a good old cup of Early Grey.

I also visited my first Spanish club - Babylonia - and you know what? It wasn't bad! I very much enjoyed myself. Especially when they came to hand out the fruit skewers and lollipops! I would happily suggest this refreshing scheme to some of England's dingier establishments.

I start classes on Monday, not that the University knows or cares anything about it. Turns out I don't have to officially register my classes until the 8th of October and so can just try out classes until then! On one hand it seems like a good idea, but I think it could just be a cover up for the university being lazy and thoroughly disorganised. Ah well, perhaps I'll try out a few classes in medicine and try to shake things up a bit. I'm sure I can handle a scalpel.

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My Arrival...

 Ok, so Doctor Who didn't take up that much time - I've actually been busy! I arrived last Friday, Ma left on Sunday and I am completely unpacked in my gorgeous double room. 

Hopefully won't be needing the duffel coat for a long while.

I like it a lot. As is typically European/my bad luck, I have a fine view of a brick wall from my window; but, just over the road is the lovely Parque Juan Carlos I.

Whilst Mum was still here, we indulged in one of my favourite Spanish traditions: churros con chocolate. They're essentially the reason I came to Spain. If you haven't ever had them, they are fried dough-pastry (like  a long doughnut) with a deliciously thick and horribly bad for you chocolate drink that you dip the churros into.

Mum wonderfully demonstrates dunking her churros.

After our churros, on the day of Mum's departure, we decided to try and find 'La Mezquita' which is a famous, ancient Mosque in Córdoba. We underestimated timings and overestimated my map-reading skills so only got to see a little of it, but what we did see was beautiful.

The bell tower that surrounds the minaret.

Yesterday, I went to the University to register my arrival. The Faculty of Humanities is nestled in some of the winding, residential streets just a few minutes away from my apartment. Perfecto!

 

I had to queue for a good 40 minutes to have a form filled in and to be told that I should come back on Wednesday to collect it - the guy with the all important stamp wasn't there. Things don't run quite so smoothly in Spain as they do in Britain. Everything is "mañana, mañana". 

Tonight will be my first trip out - out out - for an Erasmus party. Everything in Spain works a lot later, so I'll probably be returning to my comfy bed a lot later in the mañana!

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