It's about time Sara!

OK OK I know, it's bad. I haven't written much. But as of today I will start blogging! I need to record all of these experiences before I forget!
September..oh September. It was sooo full of activities. I've included a link to our schedule; there you can see all we did in September. Also check out http://www.griis.es/calendar.htm for my schedule of extra-curricular activities. I had class with the program's director, Amalia Pulgarin, Monday-Thurday mornings at 9:30. Then we had excursions almost every day and evening. The first week was a lot of "paseos" or walks through different parts of Granada. During every paseo, I noted how I MUST come back here, because it is so beautiful.
We visited La Capilla Real, where Isabel, Ferdinad and their daughter lay. Granada has some awesome museums, including one that opened six months ago! It is called Caja Granada or the Granada Box, and it sure is shaped like a towering but hollow box. It is devoted to the history of Andulucia, or the southern section of Spain, from prehistory to the 21st century. Andaluz was ruled by the romans, arabs, and of course Los Reyes Catolicos (Isabel y Ferdinad). It's the most technologically advanced, and therefore the most fun and interactive, museum I have ever been to. Also, the science museum is wicked good (aaw I miss Boston).
There is the park of Federico Garcia Lorca, the writer and artist. The park was built around his summer home, which is now a museum. Everything in the house except one room is exactly the way the family left it when they moved in exhile to New York when the Spanish Civil War began and Lorca was assasinated. http://www.huertadesanvicente.com/e_portada.php?id=0 I love this park, it is full of multi-colored rose gardens and trees like the ones in Dr. Seuss books. There is a big beautiful fountain that does a light show every night.
Many (too many!) of our excursions included trekking up the steep hill streets toward the Alhambra. I lost pounds during my first few weeks here from these darn climbs.
And of course we visited the three parts of the Alhambra. What struck me the most was the palacio, because no expensive materials were used, such as marble or gold. Every wall was an intricate, lavish carving, carved into cheap stone. They would carve a perfect pattern, then make copies using plaster, and paste them altogether on the walls. And hundreds of years ago every carving was painted, mostly green (the color of Islam), yellow, orange and blue. The sun has faded most of the color off the walls. The Muslims used time, work and only cheap materials to make one of the 7 wonders of the world.
Ok, next I talk about MOROCCO!!!

Estoy tan ocupada :(

Hello amigos,
My apologies for not posting anything yet. This month of September is ridiculously busy for me with my intensive spanish and culture course. I barely have time to sleep! I promise to be better by October, in 11 days. I send you love and I miss you.

Back from the vineyard :/

It's one of those quaint places where you just want to move there after you visit it, because life would be simple and pretty. Its beauty of unique woods and beaches and homes were therapeutic.

I love the matching homes of Edgartown with their faded grey siding and white shutters. And oh the shops!! Note: The shops in MV are the kind where I love EVERYTHING in the store. The clothing so special and unique and breathtaking. Really. Didn't expect that. Oh my gosh I love pretty clothes. When I am rich I will go to MV to buy all my gifts.

We spent one day driving around the entire island in a Jeep with the roof windows open and Stormy in the back. We drove down private roads where famous people live ;) We hit all the big towns and a breathtaking sanctuary. My profile pic is in the woods of that sanctuary. We watched the sun set in Menemsha, one of the only places on the east coast where one can watch the sun set over the ocean. The colors of orange and pink and the half circle sun sitting on the sea, slowly dipping all the way under, I won't forget.

Take a look at Alex Unger's pictures if you can on facebook, and I'll be posting mine sooooon!

Now its physics II and environmental ethics for six weeks..........................
THEN OFF TO ESPANA

Day 4 on the VINEYARD

Location: Martha's Vineyard Public Library in Edgartown

We made the trip by boat in 1 1/2 days, a record for the Ungers!
Just as we were getting close, the rain stopped and the hot sun came out. Alex and I arrived in style, tanning on the the top front (port?) of our vessel.

The first day we walked Edgartown. It's a unique and quaint town with impressive and beautiful grey-washed and white trimmed houses, diverse shops and amazing ice cream and candy stores!

We are eating well! So far I've had the best ice cream, grilled cheeseburgers, bbq chicken and corn, candy shop candy, carousel popcorn, fresh fudge, and omelets and bacon or sausage or cereal with blueberries for breakfast! Life is good.

The second day Al and I biked all the way to Oaks Bluff. We photographed the campground of the gingerbread houses; so cooooool. I will post pics of them soon. We rode the carousel where one collects rings as they pass by riding the carousel, and whoever gets the brass one gets a free ride. Phyllis got it! THEN we biked home right through a huge thunderstorm; what an adventure! Actually the only time it rained that day was when we rode our bikes. When we got on, it started to rain. When we got off, it stopped.

So the weather's been both rainy and sunny, but I am having fun with both! Biking as fast as possible up the coat back to Edgartown in a torrential downpour is a gooood memory. But there's supposed to be sun for the next 4 days. Beach time.

This weekend the island will be packed for the 4th of July. And we get to have perfect seats to watch the fireworks from the bay in the boat!!

Lisa's Bon Voyage Partay

Location: My Condo, Cambridge MA
The first party I hosted alone was PERFECTO!!
Menu: Bbq chicken and veggie kabobs we made ourselves, lime tortilla chips and scoops with black bean salsa and mango salsa, my homemade sangria (mango is the key, as I learned from Adrian), and pink/yellow lemonade.

Why was the party perfect?
1. It rained all day except during the party. The weather and view from our roof deck was moving. We watched the sun set and the stars come out, with Ursa Major right above us.
2. Most of the party consisted of dancing. After a glass of sangria, my guests convinced me to give a "ballet" dance around the deck to Celine Dion as a goodbye present for Lisa.........
3. Akane sang a beautiful Italian aria for her goodbye present.
4. Greg and Thorn impressed us with some hot hip-hop.
5. Falah brought a big box of Lindt chocolates.
6. We baked fresh cookies at the end of the night. Mmmmm.
7. Lisa said she and I share the same heart. And that this party was perfect.

I WILL MISS YOU BANANA

10 Days & Counting, WOO

I 've grown up in the Boston area and never went to the Vineyard. Thanks to Al and her folks, I'm experiencing it while living on a boat. Ahoy Matey!!! The Ungers have been going to the Vineyard every Summer so I will have excellent tour guides.
I'll fall asleep in my bunk by the rocking of the boat, aaaah.
We will rent bikes and eat yummy summer food and have adventures and swim and make friends and turn into burnt cookies. I remember when I was a teenager and stayed a weekend on the boat; one morning I woke up at dawn and wrote a poem about the sky and sea :)

Any suggestions on where to go?