Recent Activities
Life in Granada the past several weeks included language classes. Esther, our grammar teacher, is second from right.
María del Mar helped us with conversation,
and Jesús taught us about Spanish and Granada history, and for Judi, Spanish cooking, including some recipes.
During the two weeks of language study we stayed with María, who has become a good friend.
This is a view out of our fourth floor bedroom window in her apartment.
At the end of language study we found an apartment to rent. Mark & Charlene Troyer, who are part of our Shiloh support team, arrived the day we rented it and helped us, along with Kevin & Wendy, move in! M & C were on their way back to OH from a prayer journey in Albania.
One of the attractive features of the apartment is that it has a view of the Sierra Nevada through our dining room window.
We were able to tour the Alhambra with Mark & Charlene, Kevin & Wendy.
Construction on the Alhambra began some 1200 yrs. ago and was a fort/palace/city of primarily Muslims until conquered by the Spanish Catholic monarchs in 1492.
It’s imposing on the outside, but majestic, full of intricate design and beautiful gardens on the inside
There was time to relax over some churros con chocolate, of which Wendy was the winner in predicting the demise of Harv. (see earlier blogs),
and for Evan and Ellie to play with some puppies. Watch out there, Ellie, or that puppy may soon meet his demise, too!
We also spent half a day with Gary & Ruth Troyer and Ray & Ruth Miller, vacationing in Spain.
We visited the caves where people, some of them gypsies, actually live.
The first Saturday in May was the “day of the cross.” Crosses are decorated with flowers and set up in various parts of the city amidst antique relics.
Often on a table is an apple pierced with a scissors. A religious symbolism of this would be that the apple represents original sin and its consequences. A more secular version is a play on words: the apple is sometimes called a “pero,” which also means “but,” which how an excuse begins: but… So, the scissors is to cut out the excuses.
The celebration of the cross, according to the Church version, started with emperor Constantine’s mother, Elena, who supposedly went to Jerusalem in the 4th century and found the cross on which Jesus was crucified. (Remember Constantine’s vision: “In this cross you will conquer?”) So, a day was set aside to remember the cross. (The building in the background is the hostal where we stayed the first 10 days.)
Over the centuries most religious meaning has given way to secular celebrations, including dancing the “Sevillana” by children in gypsy costumes,
various music and dance troupes,
and the streets clogged with people!
In the middle of this fiesta is the procession of horses, ridden by people in traditional clothing (are there conservative Mennonites in Spain?!)
and trailers pulled by farm tractors, all eventually headed for the city of Huelva, the home of the Virgin of Rocío. The “brotherhoods” and religious societies which sponsor these traveling party booths, are the backbone of perpetuating many of the customs that were/are Church related, but for many have become a cultural expression and occasion for party and diversion, including lots of alcohol consumption!
Today we went to church, ate lunch at a Chinese restaurant with the Mayers, then came home to our apartment
where we relaxed
and enjoyed Judi’s Mother’s Day bouquet. This evening we hope to Skype with the family.
