Roughest seas so far on the ship! As I write I sway from side to side, back and forth, drawers opening and closing, items falling off the shelf...it can get intense, but to us it's just another day at sea! ;)

Sooo...Spain! ;)

I heard her foot steps against the waves, smelled her in the wind and felt her in my heart as she welcomed me once again. I smiled as I too embraced her in my arms and kissed her (on both cheeks) to express my hello. An old friend, one I have not seen in about 2 years. This Spain was different but still very much recognizable. This time I would not be in Barcelona, Madrid or Valencia but for the first time experience Cadiz, Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada.

We arrived in Cadiz, Spain on January 28, 2009. It was a chilly morning but I stood outside with bed hair and no make up to view her splendor through the morning mist. Cadiz is charming and quiet. Her streets are narrow like most European countries but her architecture and balconies and people are reminicent of old Havana in Cuba. Must be why I always feel like home in Spain. Cadiz is on the coast so it has a long strip that resembels the Malecon in Cuba...Google it! ;) It was great to drown in the silence of the streets and occasionaly here a bird shirp and look up at the balconies and take an occassional picture of the residents who just stand outside to catch the breeze, watch us passerby's or smoke a cigarrette. I visited museums, cathedrals and churches. The ancient Phonecian history was a pleasure to discover.
The next day I left on a tour to Sevilla, Cordoba and Granada. I arrived to Sevilla...just beautiful! Sevilla is grand and classic. Beautiful architecture and ancient cathedrals that still keep the integrity of yesterdays! However Sevilla also seems to be keeping up with the times. Finding a great balance between its old architecture and historic buildings with the most advance transportation system I've seen in a city such as this one. They have a great train system that goes through the city on the main streets and its futuristic looking too. Very interesting. Also not to forget the amazing aroma coming from the hundreds of orange trees planted all over not only Sevilla but Cordoba and Granada...just lovely. Moving forward...Cordoba was also amazing. There we experienced more of the Arab influence from when Spain was ruled by the Arab kingdom...the moors. I visited an old mosque with its fantastic architecture half moon hallways that seem to last an eternity. A difference from the Roman architecture, Arab architecture is simpler yet just as complex and maybe even more beautiful. The presence felt is not that of saints or opulence but of grandeur and connection between you and God. The mosques are empty spaces drawn into a masterpiece of architecture. I loved it! That night I went out with friends. I've finally met a few girls that I truly feel a connection with and it's a great feeling. We went out dancing and loved it. We went to a strip where many clubs are and pretty much went club hoping all night. I must admit that we were the life of the party. Initially the first ones to dance as the room watched in awe, surprised wondering maybe who are these girls then eventually they would join and then and only then is when it became a club. We had free drinks and got into the clubs for free and just danced ours booties off!lol The people were respectful and we got to enjoy our time together and truly felt we bonded. They played all kinds of music: salsa, merengue, pop, reggeton, etc. We like to believe that the dj catered to us as the music he kept playing were the songs that we gravitated to the most. We also noticed that when we walked out of a club to go to the next one, some people would follow...it was like they knew we were the life of the party!LOLhaha...I'm serious!lol
Finally Granada...beautiful, romantic and mysterious Granada! It was really cold when we arrived there, given that it is also located in the mountains. There we went to visit The Alhambra...google it to see what I saw! Absolutely beautiful. It was the palace and fortress of the Arab kings during their time. It is elaborate, intricate and breathtaking. It was super cold, about 5 degrees Celsius that's about 40 something I think, or colder and it was also rainy but still beautiful.

I'm back on the ship now, waiting to arrive in Morocco...we should get there tonight! ;) The boat is rocking like crazy so it's hard to get any work done like reading or writing but I knew I had to post a blog soon! It's so hard to keep it up. I have yet to even write on my own journal about my experience in Spain even less had the opportunity to write on the journal for my other class.

I miss you all very much! Take care!

Peace and Light,

Yai