Valencia

After getting in late last night on the high speed train from Seville, we scheduled a full day to take advantage of this great city in a short amount of time.  We had a law professor discuss Spanish and world politics over breakfast.  We then toured Europe's best produce market, the Mercat Central.  The two chefs who we have hired to give the tour have been hired by the Spanish Benevolent Society in New York to open their restaurant the Chelsea neighborhood.  We had another give us a great tour this year snd then ate a great set menu meal at Delicat.  After exploring the city and our hotel pool we then headed to one of our favorite restaurants, La Francesa del Carmen for a French/Spanish dinner.

Ana Real

Our last full day in Seville and we had our good friend to the program, Ana Real, come teach a class about Flamenco singing.  I'll let the video speak for itself.

Málaga

Another day, another Phoenician city.  Málaga has a great hill that housed so many of the cultures we have talked about that have built upon one another through the years.  We also were able to sample their famous cold soup, ajoblanco, made of almonds and garlic.

Cádiz

Today we visited one of the oldest cities in Europe, Cádiz.  The Phoenicians founded the city over 3000 years ago and it played a huge role in the trade route between Spain and the Americas in the 16th century.  It is a city of towers where owners would look out for their ships, perhaps returning with Virginia tabaco.  The boys climbed the cathedral tower, visited a Camera Oscura which uses a periscope for a live view of the city, and then the beloved Caleta beach.

 

Flamenco

Today the boys saw a flamenco show at Casa de la Memoria, a less touristy place where our singing teacher performs.  She will give her class to us this Wednesday.  Tomorrow we head to Cádiz and the beach.  I'll put up photos of today and tomorrow in tomorrow's post.

Plaza Encarncaión

The "mushroom" that covers this plaza claims to be the world's largest all wood structure.  The top offers great vies of the city and underneath are Roman ruins that has turned into a museum.  It was not appreciates when it was first erected but has seem to have grown on the locals.  Here's a link to more about the Metropol Parasol:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropol_Parasol

Granada

The boys had a full day tour of Granada and the amazing Alhambra.