Happy holidays everyone!

Well,well,well...believe or not the holidays are actually here and we had our last class today. Not many people couldn't make it though. In a nutshell, we reviewed "Negative adverbials + inversions" and "Proverbs". Oh, and the interesting thing is that we did it by playing games.

Homework for the holidays?
Read, read, read. You choose the author, the title, the length, the genre...I want you to read something that you are interested in.When we come back you will fill up a "Book Report Form".

Enough. No more "class talk".

I hope you enjoy your holidays how you wish and with whom you wish.

Have a brilliant 2010!

Teresa

P.S. Celebrate as much as you can!!!

GRANADA

Like all of us have written about foreing cities, I would like to talk about Spanish one, so I have choosen Granada.
It seems that in this city had lived moslem people, now some of them continue to live there with spanish people.
Moslem reign finished when the city was conquered by "The Catholic Kings", so there is an extrodinary sculpture of isabel "The Catholic" in the centre of the city.

Besides, near the cathedral, "The Catholic kings" rests in ther mausoleum with their children.

There is no doubt that this city has a lot of traditions of moslem, there are plently of shops which sells typical items os moslem culture and you can also smoke their "cachimba".
Another heredity of them is the aweinspiring palace which is called " La Alhambra".

In the other hand, hordes of tourists visit this city in order to know more about moslem culture and to enjoy with the fabulous dishes. It seems that tourists eat "tapas" instead of eating in a restaurant, and ir the weather is great you should eat an ice-cream, don't you?

 

If you like Spanish music, you must go to Sacromonte neighborhood, there are plently of caves in which you can have dinner while enjoying a flamenco show. It's an unforgettable experiencience, you should try it.

To sump up, in this city, you have all what you need, culture, traditions, food and shows, what you hope to visit this city?

Sandra Velasco

The blog is back to normal

How did it happen? Out of the blue the blog is as good as new again! Sooo happy.
Did anybody do something to fix it?If that's so, thanks so much... whoever you are. Or maybe it got fixed on its own. In any case, all good.

Teresa

BERLIN

   Gone are the days when the most remarkable city in Central Europe was splitted into the East side and the West side. Come out with me and let's have a walk around Berlin, the most convulsed city for the second half part of 20th century.

   Berlin has too much to offer for everyone: that one who is interested in Art and those who loves the nightlife, the lover of History and someone who is keen on sports, people who like living in a city and others who prefer to enjoy the countryside.

   It appear that its own desintegration was a reflection from the Cold War which divided the world in two parts. The last 9th November, the city celebrated the 20th anniversary since the fall of "The Wall". It leaved a footprint which is visible not only on the pavement, even between Berliners.

   City of contrasts, place where nobody is amazed of what surrounds him, where all tendencies and ways of thinking are present. Proof of that is Prenzlauer Berg, one of the fashion districts thanks to crowd of young people who live there. Youthful atmofphere which is reflected in the great amount of bars and cafés located into that area. The same for Friedrichschain district, another one of the most visited by young Berliners at weekend nights.

   Postdamer Platz is becoming an urban area of skyscrapers. From balcony of last floor inside Kollhoff skyscraper you can enjoy an spectacular view of Daimler-Chrysler enclosure and Sony Center with its singular ceilling.

 
   A compulsory visit you should do is at Pergam Museum, located at Museuminsel (Museum Island) in order to see the most beautiful girl in Berlin, as many people say, Nefertiti.

   One of the most visited amusements is "The Reichstag" with its air opened dome. That dome is not only the symbol of the city, but its transparency shows the Berliner Republic.

VENICE

A truly unique city that has canals instead of streets and water instead of traffic. Venice is made to be seen from the water. It has a Grand Canal and infinity of small ones. You can float through the canals either in gondola or in vaporetto; obviously, if you can afford it choose a gondola to enjoy the splendor of the town; you can distinguish the old venetian palaces, floating beneath elegant bridges –it has more than 400, such us Rialto Bridge , the Bridge of Sighs, Accademia Bridge, Scalzi Bridge… If not, you can float with a vaporetto, a public mean of transport, like a bus but across the water. You will be able to enjoy that romantic town too and visit one of the more than 118 small islands Venice has, such us Lido, Murano, Burano…

In the city centre you´ll find St. Mark´s Basilica in the Square with the same name and de Ducal Palace. In St. Mark´s Square you can be delighted having a coffee while you listen an orchestra around you, but prepare your wallet… Another special feature that tourists admire is the doves; the entire square is crowded of them.

Two singular attractions for tourists in Venice are the Carnival of Venice and the Venice film Festival.

The Carnival of Venice emerges in the seventeenth century when aristocratic people were dressed up to mingle with singular people of the town. Till them masks are the most important element in Carnival, mainly in white, silver and golden. -do you like mine?

During the day there are processions around the town with all the people dressed up and at night people turn to dance halls. In the year 1797 the carnival was banned by Napoleon Bonaparte but in 1979 the festivity was reincarnated as an official party.

The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world. It was founded in 1932 and has taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of Lido. Screenings take place in the historic Palazzo del Cinema and it is part of the Venice Biennale, a major biennial exhibition and festival for contemporary art. The festival´s principal awards are the Golden Lion, which is awarded to the best film screened at the festival and the Valpi Cup, which is awarded to the best actor and actress.

What to tell you about the food, in general in Italy you can taste fabulous pizzas and pasta with the ingredients you never imagined, but not only you can eat pizza and pasta, in Venice you can savor delicious fish cooked in the venetian way; if you are thinking of going I can recommend you a typical venetian restaurant . And of course you can´t leave without trying authentic and delicious Italian ice-creams, so creamy and so enormous variety; for sure you will try more than one.

Help...

I've been trying to publish back all our entries for 2 hours!I've no clue...

Can the person who posted "Edinburgh" please tell me what is that he/she did to modify the whole configuration of the blog? I'm desperate...

Teresa

Tokyo

It would appear that Tokyo has always been the amazing metropolis that we know, but the truth is that Tokyo is the capital city of Japan just since 1868 when the emperor decided to move his residence from Kyoto to Tokyo converting the old Edo Castle in the actual Imperial Palace of Japan,

During the Second World War Tokyo suffered really hard times, but from the 50’s the city was completely rebuilt, it was called the “economical miracle”, and it didn’t stop till the city became one of the most populous cities in the world.

When you arrive Tokyo for the first time you feel like in a science fiction film, everything is so soaring that your eyes are not enough to capture every building, every light, and every little detail, because everything looks so new and exciting for you.

The area of Shinjuku, full of skyscrapers, is in the heart of Tokyo, and is probably the best strategic point to visit the rest of the attractions. The Shinjuku underground station is the busiest in the world, and you will have to choose between more than 200 exits, but don’t worry, it’s not so difficult to find yours.

In Shibuya you can find a huge number of nightclubs and karaoke’s, and there is no doubt that is the funniest area of the city. If you decide to going out some night, definitely Shibuya is the place to be. The popular Shibuya Cross is simply spectacular

Ueno Park, the most famous in Japan, deserves one whole day because it includes some special temples, beautiful views, funny buskers, the national museum of Tokyo, and even a zoo!

Akasuka is the traditional neighbourhood of Tokyo where you can visit Sensoji Temple, the most important Buddhist temple in the city. Around the temple you can find a delightful street market where to buy Japanese craftwork, sweets, or even tacky and kitsch souvenirs that you never expected to find there.

Yoyogi is the trendiest area of the city; there you will find young designers shops, local artists, and a crazy mixture of urban tribes hanging around.

If you want to escape a couple of days from the bustling of Tokyo you should visit Kyoto, known as the cultural capital where you will visit incredible places like the Golden Pavilion.

Japanese people are extremely hospitable. They will help you to find any place; even they go with you to make sure you don’t get lost on the way. The food is varied (not only Sushi as many people think) cheap and delicious. It would seem that everything is clogged because there’s so much people, but everything works perfectly, the train always arrives at time, the underground smells nice, and streets are so clean that you could walk barefoot.

I could tell you scores of anecdotes, but i will choice a simple one: Japanese’s are very careful with their appearance, specially with their hair, but I never expected to go to a nightclub and find a hairdresser’s next to the dance floor!

Definitely, Japan is another world.

Pedro.

Riyadh

Riyadh is the capital of Saudi Arabia. It might not be the most famous city in the world neither the most beautiful, but it has a peculiarity: there is not tourism. So, if you have a chance at get a visa to entry to this country you will see a culture as it is, not as the industry of tourism wants to be. Visiting the city is having direct contact with their people, customs and religion. There is a exaltation of senses

Gabriel, Yibrail in arabic

EDINGURGH

Edinburgh is a magic and romantic city where narrow and frightening passages and corners live in harmony with huge streets, beautiful gardens and parks, and elegant buildings with big windows without curtains, expecting a bit of sun shine.

One of the highest place is the Castle, located on an extinct volcano, which offers a fantastic view of the city, and whose walls ooze stories and legends about Queens and Kings and the eternal fight between Scottish and English people.

At the end of Royal Mile is Holy Roodhouse, the magnificent palace-museum which is today the Queen’s house in Scotland.

Carlton Hill is other high point in the city with important monuments and a fantastic view of Leith, the renovated port with own identity.

Scottish cuisine is not very brilliant, although desserts are excellent, but Edinburgh has a extensive offer in restaurant from other countries, and It would be unforgivable to forget the typical “fish and chips”, eaten walking in the streets or sitting in any park, and the welcoming pubs, the perfect place to enjoy a pint of good beer.

Princes Street is the perfect place for “fashion victims”, where it is possible to visit elegant and famous shops, observe the Castle and listen to bagpipe musicians playing in the street, at the same time. Royal Mile and Victorian Street are other places where it is possible to find malt whiskey, cheese, cashmere and traditional and modern kilts. It is remarkable to observe how proud are Scottish people of this garment. They wear it in weddings and special social events, but nowadays young people tend to wear modern and fashion kilts in daily live.

Edinburgh celebrates every year in the Castle, two special events: The Hogmanay, on the first of January with hundreds of fireworks, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, in August, where British and international military bands perform their best.

If you love the bagpipe sound like me, this is the wonderful, spectacular and perfect show.

Celia Polo

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CAIRO (al-Qahira)

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world. Nicknamed “The city of a thousand minarets” for its Islamic architecture is also considered the main entrance door to Orient.

Travelling there, for those, who have never gone outside Occident, is a hard impression. I still remember when I arrived there for spending my Easter vacations many, many years ago. The first contrast: the high, extremely high temperature!!! I did really have the feeling I’d come back to the past but in a totally different world.

Located in northern Egypt, Cairo extends along the Nile River, source of great richness since Faraonic times. There is a mixture of different places to visit: The Egyptian Museum, Cairo Tower (modern),the Great Sphinx, the Great Pyramids of Giza, while inside them it seems time has suddenly stopped, Coptic Cairo (the heart of Egypt’s Coptic Christian community), Babylon fortress, the Greek church of St. George, the Citadel….

Under no circumstances are you to leave from Cairo without visiting the famous souk Khan el-Khalili, a largely shopping area unchanged since the 14th century. You can there buy almost whatever you want, particularly good are spices, perfumes, leatherwork, carpets, gold, silver, ceramic, fabric (in special egytian cotton) but you rarely can pay with credit card! Walking around Khan el-Khalili one can appreciate how grubby and clogged is the environment, but it’s part of it’s charm. In a few words a fascinating trip, a shopper’s paradise!!!

For sure in a near future I’ll come

back to Cairo to enjoy its mosaic of art, people and so on…

Consuelo de las Peñas Sanchez

EL CAIRO

The most remarkable city I have ever visited is El Cairo. El Cairo is the capital of Egypt, a country located on the northeast corner of Africa. The historic centre of this city has been declared World Heritage for the UNESCO since 1979. Political, economic and cultural life of Egypt and the United Arab are controlled from El Cairo. British invaded this city in 1881, but, finally, Egypt became independent in 1922.
If you go to El Cairo, I would recommend you visit some very special places full of historical richness where you could live unforgettable moments such as the Giza pyramids (they were looted many years ago), the sphinx, Cairo museum (where you can see real mummies), The Christian Quarter (where you can visit the Basilica of St. Sergius, the place where Holy Family stayed overnight to flee the Herodes massacre) or the City of The Dead (where poor people coexists with their ascendants tombs).
It would appear that Egyptian are very rude or impolite people, but nothing is further from reality. People are very hospitable, pleasant and cheerful. They spend the day singing and dancing. On the other hand, they are a bit lazy. You can see them sitting and smoking hookahs at any hour of the day. El Cairo is the safest city I have ever visited. There are no pickpockets. 90% of the population is Muslim. They pray four times a day. Women can pray at home but men must go to the temple.
There is no doubt that El Cairo is a city of traditions. The day we arrived there, we had the opportunity to see how is a Moslem wedding. When we arrived to our hotel, the just married had just arrived there. They were dancing and playing instrument in the hall of the hotel. Almost all women wore a scarf on their heads and they looked very elegant. Men danced together around the couple. It was a very funny moment.
El Cairo is a very impressive city. I enjoyed my visit very much because these city is a different world with different culture, different people and, obviously, different customs. I really liked it. For all it´s worth.


Laura Setién

ERASMUS IN LISBON

views from Cristo Rei.

Cristo Rey
Belém Tower
Padrao dos Descubridores
Castle of Sintra

Santa Justa´s elevator

Comércio Square

View of the city

very typical of Lisbon (the tram)

Gone were the days I used to get lost in the streets of Lisbon. I just spent there three months of my life, but they were the most thrilling months I have ever lived.

Talking about the history of the city, I would say that the most important and well-known historical moment about Lisbon is the 1755 earthquake, which destroyed a large part of the city. Fortunately, the Marquess of Pombal rebuilt the city after the disaster, but instead of rebuilding the medieval town, Pombal decided to demolish the remains of the earthquake and rebuild the downtown in accordance with modern urban rules. It would appear that Pombal have already been in the future, because his views of a modern city were right, and nowadays the city structure is accord to the rest of european cities. Of course there is a monument of Marquess of Pombal in Lisbon, situated in the very centre of the city.

Some other highlights about the city could be:

- Alfama, the oldest district of Lisbon, which contains the Castle of São Jorge and the Lisbon Cathedral.

- Baixa, the heart of the city, which includes Comércio square, Rossio square, Restauradores square, and Santa Justa´s elevator.

- Chiado, a traditional shopping area that mixes old and modern commercial establishments. The most famous café of Chiado is A Brasileira, famous for having had poet Fernando Pessoa among its customers.

- Bairro Alto, an area of central Lisbon which is today the heart of Lisbon's youth and the Portuguese capital's nightlife.

-Belém is famous as the place from which many of the great Portuguese explorers set off on their voyages of discovery. Perhaps Belém's most famous feature is its tower, Torre de Belém, which was built as a fortified lighthouse late in the reign of Dom Manuel to guard the entrance to the port at Belém. It stood on a little island in right side of the Tagus, surrounded by water. Belém's other major historical building is the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, an example of Manueline architecture, it was built as a monument to Vasco da Gama's successful voyage to India. Both of these monuments were declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO.

Belém's main street is Rua de Belém, in which there is a 160-year-old pastry shop, at which can be purchased one of the famous pastel de Belém - custard tarts made with flaky pastry.

The monument to Christ the King (Cristo Rei) stands on the left side of the river, in Almada. With open arms, overlooking the whole city, it resembles the Corcovado monument in Rio de Janeiro, and was built after World War II, as thanks for Portugal's being spared the horrors and destruction of the war. If you go there there is an awe-inspiring view of the city and the river just flowing into the ocean.

There are many other landmarcks to visit in this city, such as the Expo 98 area, where you can find a very modern area, contrasting with the oldest ones. And to point out a building to visit, I suggest you to go to the Oceanarium, which is the second largest in the world.

And if you go to Lisbon with a few days to spend, I recommend you to visit some other towns near Lisbon, like Sintra, Estoril and Cascais. Specially Sintra is worth to visit, it seems you are in a fairy tale when you go there.

As you can see, there are lots of places to visit when going to Lisbon. And if you go for a long period of time like I did, besides you will find out more about their culure and traditions, and also how kind people are there.

I can only end this entry by saying that in Lisbon I was trained professionally but also personally. I will always carry Lisbon deep inside my heart.

Cris sister.