Street Amusement and Language - Module 1

While walking the streets of the many cities we visited, I noticed lots of street art. Some people sang, played an instrument, did magic tricks, while others were dressed as some of our favorite American characters. They lined the busy city streets. Tourists took turns taking pictures with the performers. however, no picture was for free of course. You had to pay each performer at least one euro to take a picture. This was obviously a job for many of the locals.






















Being on streets with the locals forced us to participate in the Spanish language. Although I don't speak much, most people were kind and willing to help. I did notice a slight shift in dialect from city to city. I noticed in Seville and Barcelona many people use the "th" sound a lot. Instead of saying Barcelona, they pronounced it "BarTHelona" or "graThias" instead of "gracias."

Transportation – Module 5

Transportation in Spain was different from what I am used to in Dearborn. Before my trip to Spain, I had never used public transportation or got in to a taxi. In Barcelona, we used the bus once. Considering where our hotel was located and the amount of time spent in the city, we walked almost everywhere we went. In Seville, my friends and I used taxi services almost everyday. During the time we spent in Seville, taxis were the biggest expense for me. However, taxis were easy to find and quick so it was well worth it. We also took a horse carriage ride throughout the city! In Madrid, we used the subway to get from our hotel to the city. Because our hotel was located so far from the city, we sometimes had to take the subway in to town and then a taxi to our destination. Public buses and subways are well maintained. They’re clean, comfortable and air-conditioned. From the buses I see around the Metro Detroit area, I think we could take a few tips from the Spanish to help improve our public transportation system. 

Alhambra – Module 1, 5, and 6

The Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain was my favorite part of the trip. Its impeccable architecture, rich history and lush gardens were fascinating. The Islamic influence throughout the palace was evident and significant to me because I am Muslim. A mountainous backdrop makes the views from the windows and balconies all the more breathtaking. The palace was home to many Muslim rulers, but was later taken over by Christians. Arabic scriptures from the Quran decorate the walls and were kept even after the Christians gained the palace. Beautiful paintings and large fountains were common throughout the palace as well. Painted tiles shows western influence in the palace.

The Alhambra gardens were breathtaking. Trees, bushes and wild flowers decorated the gardens. I noticed that sprinkler systems were being used to keep plants watered in the heat. The palace it self was first constructed from clay and rocks. The original exterior materials can still be seen when entering the palace. 

Food! - Module 4, 5 and 6

Exploring Spanish cuisine while in Spain was my favorite part of the trip. The fresh produce, cheese and meats made walking into any supermarket an exciting experience. Restaurants had mouth-watering menus to choose from and although I am Muslim and can only eat halal foods, I did not find it difficult choosing something off the menu.

Cultural influences were obvious when walking into different restaurants. Fish was served at almost all restaurants we ate at. It is customary for Jews to eat fish for Shabbat dinner every Friday. Many kosher restaurants lined the streets of Barcelona to accommodate tourists and Jewish communities in the area.

Finding a restaurant or tapas bar that served hamone, or ham, was fairly simple. Ham is considered to be one of the most popular meal ingredients in Spain. It is sometimes served with cheese as an appetizer or incorporated into rice dishes, such as paella. The Christian influence on Spain made hamone well liked through out the country. Because I am Muslim, my religion forbids me to eat pork and therefore I was unable to try the hamone while on my trip. 

Our meals were almost always eaten outdoors. Even though temperatures were high, sitting in the shade made it bearable. There was a breeze that kept us cool. Many restaurants had mist fans installed on outdoor patios. These fans also helped cool down outdoor eating areas.