Spanish dreams

There is a legend told in the towns surrounding Grazalema National Park. It is about two lovers whose families lived in the same valley of Grazalema and the families couldn’t of been more different. One was Christian and the other Muslim. The son of the Muslim family and the daughter of the Christian family fell in love, but their families forbid them from seeing each other. So the boy would play the Rubella every night for the girl and each tune would signify a different meeting place. They had to keep their love a secret. After they died, the people of the valley, to this day, still claim that they can hear the soft melodies of the boy’s Rubella being played in the Valley of Grazalema National Park.

The sounds of Spanish music being played in the tiny streets of Cadiz paints an enchanting path for tourists and locals to follow. As the music plays, the constant smell of cheese, seafood, and bread makes waiting till 9 p.m. (Spanish dinner time) almost impossible.

Cadiz is a peninsula and her beautiful beaches outline the cities edge and the warm air blows inland from Africa making it a perfect vacation destination for any traveler and Spaniard.

On September 4 the ship arrived in the Puerto de Cadiz early in the morning. Students rushed to grab their passports and head down the gangway. Many took independent trips to as far as Barcelona, Madrid or they stayed close and traveled to Seville, Cordoba and/or Granada.

The city of Cadiz had much to offer. After getting acclimated with the city by going on the Semester at Sea organized City Orientation I was ready to explore.

Ashley, Hans, and I traveled to La Playa de la Caleta, which is right near Castillo San Sebastian. It was Sunday and the beach was scattered with perfectly tan Spaniards, colorful beach umbrellas and flip-flops.

That is one thing about the Spanish — they love their sandals … flat or high heeled. Most of the windows displayed flat canvas shoes, but the majority of the women walking on the street had four-inch strappy heels on. While they are dancing, however, they wear more traditional and conservative shoes that help express their anger and struggle as they pound their feet into the floorboards.

I will always remember Spain for their good Paella, beautiful white towns and gruesome bullfighting.

Spain

The intensity in her face spoke of struggle, anguish, passion and suffering — all crucial elements of the Spanish Flamenco dancer.

As part of the Andalucian Flamenco Night FDP, Semester at Sea students got to enjoy an amateur bullfight, tapas, and a Flamenco show.

“Tonight was wonderful,” Jim Law, lifelong learner, said. “I enjoyed sitting down and having a drink and watch the good dancing and even watching the kids dance was just wonderful.”

There were three women Flamenco dancers dressed in red, white and black. Each topped off with a headpiece and a shall. There was also a male dancer in the traditional suit wear accompanied by a guitarist and singer.

“I was impressed with how they kept their faces so intent,” Amy Thoburn, Semester at Sea student said. “I think that if I was doing it I would be all over the place and it really impressed me that they maintained the passion in their faces.”

The Flamenco dance showed more than just a form of dance to the students, but them insight into what it means to be a Spaniard.

“[The dance] just shows the really rich traditions they have and that it is such an art form to them,” Thoburn said. “It’s not just something they do to party. It’s art and it is something they really want to perfect and master.”

Thoburn said enjoying the Flamenco dance performance and then participating in the demonstration was the best example of traditional Spain.

“All of [the flamenco dancers] up there really just poured all of their self into what they were doing,” Thoburn said. “They looked exhausted afterwards, but while they were up there you couldn’t tell. They just gave it their everything and I think that really speaks about what their culture is about and the artistry in their culture is about.”

The Bridge

Today Ashley and I had a tour of the Bridge, the place where the Captain Roman Krstanovic steers the ship, and got to sit in his chair. Unfortunately, we couldn’t try out our steering skills.

A daily log

Day 6 — September 2, 2010

My time on this ship has consisted of rudimentary routines and daily chores of cleaning my room and doing my homework. I know excitement waits for me when we reach the docks in these unfamiliar places. I wonder what they will offer, bring and how I will be influenced by them.

I hear rumors about each country and get excited and fearful about a language barrier, gender inequality cultural practices, getting kidnapped, or some other crazy theory someone can come up with.

Up till now the only places I have traveled to do not compare to these third world countries. I have been to towns where the only cultural experience left after the touristic places, events and shopping has conquered is found out in the rural areas.

Currently I have four service visits in Cape Town, India, Singapore, and China. I hope this coupled with my desire to use my time in these ports as an anthropological study I will be able to begin to understand what it means to be a citizen in these countries today, the issues they face, their hopes, dreams and the essentials for a happy life.

Land ahoy!
Day 5 — September 1, 2010

We have been at sea for six days taking classes, eating, getting to know each other, eating, going to the gym, eating, and scheduling field programs when we dock in the different countries.

8 a.m. - I just had breakfast and decided to climb to the seventh deck. Looking out to sea at the vast emptiness of the Atlantic that stretches out all around me made the ship seemed insignificant and defenseless against this monster of an ocean.

It’s only moments after these thoughts darted in and out of my mind does land appear over the horizon line. It’s the first sighting in six days. All of a sudden a rush of students, faculty and staff run to the starboard side with a camera in hand.

Click! Click! Click! Everyone’s camera goes off as if in unison. The whole incident felt like we were in the movie Waterworld and we had only dreamed of the day we would see land with all of the beauty and magic it could posses.

All day long people were talking about seeing the Azores.

On Deck

Semester at Sea ... we have made it here.


The pool deck on the ship.


Leaving the port in Halifax.


Practicing safety procedures.


Searching for Desmond Tutu or "Arch," as he likes to be called.

Living in motion

Day 4 – In-Transit: Halifax to Spain

The constant hum from the propellers and the rocking back and forth turns bellies inside out and green-faced zombies walking the halls of Fall 2010 Semester at Sea voyage. The seas have been relatively clam for the past few days, but that would come as a surprise to the majority of the participants who haven’t quite got their sea legs yet.

Despite being in constant motion walking down the halls seems to be the biggest challenge. As the boat rocks back and forth towards starboard than port side students stumble back and forth trying to walk in a straight line. It is near to impossible not to bump into at least one person at every attempt to walk.

In classrooms, attention spans sway in an out and projection screens flap against the wall. It is an unorthodox college learning environment and presents some interesting challenges.

For instance, shaving in the shower requires skill that should be considered an Olympic sport. For one, there is a deadly razor sharp object involved, unpredictable turbulence, closet size space and balancing on one leg all at the same time.

It will take dedication, balance, and a lot of medication to reach Spain.

Setting sail

After one early morning flight from Boston to Halifax, an expensive cab ride to the port, five security check points and one incredibly awkward pat down, I have made it to the ship.

The ship itself is the most astonishing part. It is a 28,000-ton ocean liner with many amenities. The big blue and white cruise ship is laced with a string of multi-colored flags that reach from one end of the boat to the other. Florescent orange lifeboats adorn the port and starboard side while a rather simple pool sits water less on the deck. And for the casual or experienced basketball player there is a netted section to practice shooting hoops.

Inside, there is a whole other world of meeting rooms, dining halls, offices, cabins, a spa, and hundreds of passengers anticipating the moment the horn signals us Bon Voyage.
In less than five hours we will be setting sail for Cadiz Spain. Oh how I hope they have some beautiful shoes waiting for me.