The first last of the week, obviously, was classes. We finished up all of the curriculum for the semester, turned in the last of our assignments, and had our final review sessions. This part, for many of us, honestly was the part we were least heart-broken about. Now, don't get me wrong, I love school and I love learning! But the homework part...yeah, not as big of a fan. But hey, that's life. But what also made this "last" interesting is that apart from review we also did some other things, such as watch a movie in literature and learn flamenco! That was quite the surprise, and definitely the best way to end a week of classes.
The traditional flamenco dress.
Most of the students this semester took a few flamenco classes, so during this class Marian (our professor) had some of them demonstrate the different flamenco passes. And they were good too!
The second "last" of the week was this week marked the last trips we made as a class during our European Union class with Marian. See, throughout the course of the semester, whether professors have had to miss class or whether we just felt like taking advantage of a nice day outside we have taken a lot of small trips throughout the city of Segovia. Well, with the class ending, so did the trips, but we took advantage with two trips: monday took us to a local artisan studio to see a demonstration on how she creates ceramics, and tuesday we traveled to the Segovian Plaza de Toros (the bullring in Segovia) and heard about the history of bull-fighting in Spain.
We got to see this lady whip up three pots in ten minutes! She is quite the artist, and it was nice to see art at work. :)
On the way to the Plaza de Toros, we also learned some more unseen history about the aqueduct: how it was reconstructed after all of the wars throughout history, and how the aqueduct actually produced the water and moved it. And of course...we walked through it. ;)
This is such a cool building! We took a spin around and got to see all of the rusticness, and some graffiti as well. Fun fact: during the summer this building is actually used for concerts, not bullfighting. The bullfights ended here some years ago, but they didn't want to get rid of the building (for good reasons!).
In this demonstration, Paige (the girl) is acting as the bull-fighter and the boys are the public. Fun fact: women could actually be bull-fighters! Other fun fact: when the bullfighter would slay the bull they would be lifted on the shoulders of the public in celebration.
The third "last" of the semester was it was the last week to explore the city. With finals coming up the next week, most of the next weekend was going to be spent studying and things, so this week was the last chance to take advantage of the nice weather to check out some more of the city still unfamiliar. So, a couple of afternoons were used to do just that! We explored the historic center, the outskirts, and of course: the hills. I really can't get enough of the physical geography of this place. It's going to be hard returning to Indiana. There's kind of nothing like any of this there.
This is probably one of my favorite pictures I was able to capture this semester. I just love the way the light hits the cathedral. For some reason, it kind of reminds me of the Taj Mahal (or some other desert palace). Must be the sun rays. Anyways, love it. :)
During monday evening, I passed around the city and came across this gem of a view: to the left, the Alcázar, to the front the town of Zamarramala, and to the right the Segovian mint and the rest of Segovia. Such a view. And yes, I took a selfie short after that in front of it too. ;)
The castle at sunset. So much better than the first week we were here when all it was was rain and wind. Definitely a lot more pleasurable.
On tuesday, a couple of friends and I traveled to the outskirt hills of Segovia and came across this cross again. It's a really beautiful backdrop.
One of the last sunsets over the horizon! Definitely worth the time.
Another "last" happened on friday morning: the last group excursion with the AHA program. And let me tell you, it was quite the trip! The culture and civilization professor from AHA, Edu, took us all up a mountain! So, for three hours, our group traversed many winding paths through a forest, and ended at a war battleground. See, the interesting thing about this mountain is that it is more than just a physical landscape, it's history. Actually, it was packed with it!
The mountain is called Valsaín. This mountain was actually the location of one of the biggest battles during the Spanish Civil War: the Battle of la Granja. While we hiked the mountain, our group took many stops to hear about different areas of the mountain, what happened at each point, saw the various points of view of both the Nationalists and the Republicans during the battle and notable places that were worthy of a good reenactment story. I could say more, but I think the pictures will say it all.
The group hiking up the mountain.
Edu describing to the group the landscape of the Valsaín village and the war path between the mountain and the city of Segovia in the distance.
Fun fact: this is in fact a lookout protection point for the nationalists that was used during the Civil War. It was really cool to see. This architecture is something, because despite the elements, it's all still intact after 75 years.
Isn't it ridiculously beautiful? We honestly couldn't have had a better day to hike.
This was the moment where Edu was telling us about how this corner was used as a lookout point for the Nationalist snipers. It was also where he shared with us that this is actually the place where Ernest Hemingway got his inspiration to write "For Whom the Bell Tolls." Like I said, lots of history here. :)
While on the mountain, the class decided to give Edu a little gift. It was a shot glass with the Barcelona soccer team emblem. Fun fact: he's a Real Madrid fan and actually can't stand Barcelona. So, needless to say, the gift was a gag, and we all got a good laugh.
Again, the views in this place were spectacular. 'Nough said.
How we all felt after three and a half hours of hiking. Needless to say, these "tíos" (dudes) had the right idea.
The weekend also has been filled with "lasts." Last night, my friend Alec and I had the opportunity to hang out with some people from the church that we have been going to all semester. It was a sort of going-away party for the American students that have been going there all semester, and we got to do all kinds of fun things, and make a couple of new friends in the process. We went bowling, ate at the local Burger King, and ended the night by traveling to the outskirts of the city to see Segovia lit up at night. It was a great start to the weekend.
Even as I write this post, I am also learning that this is also my last post I'm actually going to be writing about all of the experiences I've had here in Spain. WHAT? Gosh. And this afternoon, I ate my last paella of the semester with my host parents. Tonight I will be going out to the bar for the last time before the semester closes, and tomorrow I will be going to my last church service before studying for the last tests I have on monday. It's mind-blowing how many of them there are! Wow.
It's honestly crazy to me just how fast it's all gone. When I think about week 1, I feel like it just happened! I remember every feeling like it was yesterday. Heck, I still remember just how clearly I felt right before I put all of my bags in the car and headed to the airport. It's been so great, but it's gone so fast. Such is life. That kind of tends to happen a lot. This afternoon, I also got the chance to catch up with a friend over coffee from Ball State. See, she's been here all semester too, but in a different program. It was great to catch up because honestly, I haven't seen her since I met her four years ago. And, after chatting for two hours, we both realized that so much in us has changed. And being here in Spain has only enhanced that process of change.
Being here we have both seen the Lord work so much in our lives, and it was nice to reflect over that together. When we look for the Lord, we are so much more able to see him working and molding and changing and directing. And actually, that is the one thing this week that isn't a last. Actually, we hope that this is just the beginning. And of course, our walks with the Lord are just starting. Life with him is going to be forever, so even though our experience here in Spain is ending this is only the beginning. And the best part? All that we have learned this semester is something that we get to put back in practice when we board the plane, land back in the states, and pick up our lives where they were before. That's the best. And I'm definitely excited about that.
"And when you seek me you will find me when you seek me with ALL of your heart." -Jeremiah 29:13
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