Dec.23-26 LYON
KT with the gamewinner
I'll be spending Christmas with my bro Kim in Lyon, France. He has a game on the 23rd I'm hoping to make it there just in time to see him kill it like the video! Anyways, his mom, dad, brother, and girlfriend and cat Tigrou will keep me company till the 26th when I head for Barcelona!!
Dec 26-30 BARCELONA
I'll get to Barcelona and get settled in. The following day I'm taking a day trip to the Salvador Dali Museum which he built for himself; I know a little pretentious but that's Dali. He was like Kanye of early 20th century painters.
The rest of Barcelona will be spent hanging out with my friends Mario (from Barcelona) and Davood (from San Diego.) We plan on seeing the Picasso Museum and most of Gaudi's works including La Sagrada Famila.
Dec 30- Jan 3 VALENCIA
From Barcelona Davood and I head to Valencia to meet up with our friend Jose (from Valencia) and Bram (from London) to bring in the new years! We are missing a couple member of our Amsterdam "wolf pack" and I assure you they'll be missed. However, it will be amazing to get off the beaten path and party in some low-key Spanish clubs and pubs. We're also planning to see a lot of Valencia, including their world renown aquarium!!
Jan 3-8 MADRID
From Barcelona Bram and I head to Barcelona to meet up with another Spanish friend from Madrid, Santi. We'll eat some tapas, enjoy the pubs, and see the Museo Nacional del Prado of course.
After Bram leaves on the 5th I'll take a day trip to Toledo before I head to Marakesh, Morocco!
Jan 8-12 MARAKESH
Despite the worries of my parents I'm headed to Morocco. It's the first time I will have been in an arabic dominated country. I can't wait for the culture shock. Morocco draws me for its' medinas which are old, winding, historical sites containing the essence of a country and culture in a few square miles. I plan to do a lot of haggling while I shop for Moroccan made goods. Marakesh is also known for the entertainment within its' medina, which includes snake charmers!!
If time permits I'm planning to take a camel ride into the Sahara!
Jan 12-14 FEZ
Ever wonder how leather is died. When is Fez's Medina you won't have to look any further.
Jan 14-16 MEKNES
Another ancient imperial city of Morocco, Meknes has just as much to offer as Marakesh and Fez. While here i'll visit some ancient roman ruins and enjoy a world renown mosque!
Jan 16-19 GRENADA
January 16 is going to be an interesting day for me. I'll take a train, ferry, and bus while crossing continents. This is going to be the most challenging day for me by far. Let's hope everything goes smoothly. As a backup I may end up having to spend the day in Tangier or Algeciras.
Anyways, the main sight I plan to see in Grenada is the Alhambra. It's arguably one of Spain's most beautiful sights and brings in more tourist dollars than any other sight.
I remember learning about these columns and this famous courtyard in one of my art history courses. Who would have thought I'd be seeing it 3 years later!
Jan 19-21 CORDOBA
I won't spend too much time in Cordoba, just enough time to see one of the most amazing mosques in the world. Construction started in 600 ACE for this wonderful feat of architecture which houses over 850 columns. This mosque truly attests to Spains' moorish past.
Jan 21-24 SEVILLA
I'm going to finish my Spanish journey in Sevilla where I'll see La Catedral and the Plaza de Espana!
Jan 24-28 LISBON
I finish my trip in Lisbon and I couldn't have chosen a better city. My travel mentor Professor Mathison at the U of U told me this was his favorite city; after reading guidebooks I can understand why. The Castelo de Sao Jorge, Se Catedral de Lisbon, and the Torre de Belem will be the focus of this trip. Afterwards, it's back home to Amsterdam!
Anyways, this is sure to be a memorable experience. I'm salivating at the opportunity to travel and face new challenges and experiences. However, when I look at my Dutch map of Europe I realize that this is just part 1 of my European travels.....stay tuned for the rest. Hope your holidays are everything you expect and more!
ALEJANDRO
