Cortijo Escondido Arcos de la Frontera

This is by far the most beautiful city I have visited in Spain! Ronda is where the first bullfight took place and is home to the oldest bullring in Spain. The other students and I started out the day listening to one of our professors give a speech about the history of bullfighting, very interesting but after three hours I was ready to see Ronda. We then went to the bullring and had the opportunity to go inside where the fights take place. It was a feeling like no ...

We got up really early (for us vacationers). It was about 8:15am. We decided we would drive 2 hours to a city called Jerez de la Frontera to see the famous dancing horses of Jerez. The tour guide said it was worth the drive... We arrived to another city. Not as big as Seville, but a city nonetheless. Shae was super excited to see the dancing horses. The show started at noon and lasted 1.5 hours. Shae lasted about 20 minutes - which was pretty good for her ...

... Benalauria. The restaurant was an old converted olive mill. It was very cool inside and had 3 levels and an outside terrace for dining. We started off outdoors, but the bee's were scaring us so we moved indoors and sat next to a woman who was in her late 70's holding court with her 3 friends. She spoke 7 languages and was really interesting to talk to. It was nice meal. Again, great salads! We headed back to town and decided to eat in and pack up our things ...

... 1:30pm. (We're definitely getting use to late lunches and late dinners). The restaurant was awesome! Mike enjoyed a leg of lamb which was by far his best meal yet. After lunch, Shae did one more jump and then we toured around the town. It has views from all sides. We headed out and drove to the lake which was also an amazing drive. On the way we found hiking trails so Mike decided it was a perfect place to go for a ...

Yesterday (Saturday) I went to Ronda with the group that I am with in Malaga. It was really cool. Even though I am not a big fan of the group tours, it wasn't that bad. The tour guide was older and I could understand most of what he was saying and we visited some pretty neat places. There is a really large canyon that divides the town into two, and that is just really spectacular. It wasn't what I was expecting, but that isn't a bad thing ...

... they buzz about at dinner. Diana and I keep getting mistaken for Spaniards. We can tell - the Moroccan salesmen that bother other tourists do not bother us. Waiters that were speaking English a moment earlier, speak to us in Spanish. And this morning when I pass them on the street, the white women tourists clutch their purses a little more tightly. Anyway, I now sit on our 10th floor balcony with a view to the rising sun, caught in the kind ...

... fence jumped off to clear themselves from the bulls horns. The men were running around, slapping at the bull and yelling trying to anger it more. The bull charged at the men, swong its head around and was backed into the fence. Jake saw one man get knocked over by the bull and traped under then fence...where the man did only what he must have thought he could do at the time...grab the bulls testicals and squeeze!!! Jake said he also saw the 'offical ...

Yesterday (Sat. Feb 4, 2007) my friend Ish and I made a day trip down to Jerez, a wine town an hour by bus south west of Seville. A small city fueled by its main export, Jerez sherry, it is a charming town. We walked by the cathedral and main plaza on the way to Tio Pepe, one of the larger "bodegas" (wineries).

The winery exports its product to over 150 countries, beating out ...

... Then I came home, took a nap (longer then I should have really), and then watched some movies while I made dinner (meatballs that Nana made for me and pasta, they were excellent). I forgot how cool this house is, and how great the city was. Tomorrow I am off to Sevilla and getting a tour of Arcos Gardens (the course my dad's company is building). But first I'll get some coffee after I get to sleep in... ahhh sleep.

... and a half then flying to Paris and touring there for a couple days. I´m so stoaked!!! I´VE ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE THE EIFFEL TOWER! and now i get my chance. You better belive i´m going to have that Ataris song in my head...what is it called...i don´t remember. But those of you who are familiar with the Ataris know what song i´m talking about. Anyways...I´m going to try to put my pictures up now...have a great day!