The South

I am going to go ahead and ask for forgiveness now because this post is a big one! I really wanted to post each night during this last week’s trip, but the internet in our hotels was spotty and we were exhausted anyways! All right, let’s get this started.

All y’all know I am from the South, right? So of course it only makes sense that I go on a trip to the South of Spain! And oh my goodness, if you come to visit Spain, the South is a must have in your itinerary! If I picked some place to live in Spain, I would say any where in the South. Not only was it so much warmer, but it was also so so beautiful and more relaxed.

Our first stop of the trip was Cordoba. I adored Cordoba! It felt like a little beach town with the bright colored houses and the small streets. Cordoba is also super famous for La Mezquita, which is another place I have only ever seen in pictures. It was HUGE. And I mean the inside of this mosque was ginormous. I think I remember the guide saying there were over 80 arches? Huge. We also saw the cutest little street called el Calle de los Flores. It was so charming. That street took everything good about Cordoba and put it all together! Another favorite thing of mine is that all the streets and courtyards are chalk full of orange trees. The locals don’t actually eat the oranges, but use them to make marmalades. We decided to use them for a photo shoot and play soccer of course.

From Cordoba we continued on to Sevilla and stayed there for the night. The next day we toured Sevilla by bus and on foot. Here we saw the Olympic park that was built, but never hosted the Olympics, another very large Cathedral de Sevilla, which is actually the biggest Moorish Cathedral in Europe, and another Palace, or Alcazar de Sevilla, with the most beautiful gardens. Sevilla was a lot more modern of a city than what we have been seeing, so it was very interesting to see the combination of their old town vs. the newer sides of town. Also, while we were in Sevilla, Brad Wilcox put on a fireside for the Elders and the young single adults (YSA) in the area. There were just about 30 missionaries there and it was so great to meet and talk to them. They are all so extremely happy to be serving the Lord and be serving him in the beautiful South! I made a lot of fun connections with multiple missionaries as well. It is such a small world!

The next morning we took off for Granada. Granada is mainly known for the Alhambra, and yes the H is silent. The Alhambra is a huge Muslim Palace that is on the hills of Granada. There is beautiful tile work and amazing, clay, engraved walls; everywhere you looked there was something beautiful to look at! Every room had Muslim references and every single wall had written on it, “Only God is Victorious.” I thought that was so cool that even though the Sultans had essentially all power, they still recognized God as the only one that could ever make them powerful or successful. Also in the Alhambra was a baptismal font created to be just like one from the Biblical Solomon’s Temple. This was so special to see because as Mormons we have something similar in our temples and fact is, everything in the temple is laid out in the scriptures. I love studying the ordinances that we can receive in the temple. The gardens of the Alhambra were also so large that this tour definitely was a killer to our feet, but completely worth it.

Going down South was a great trip and it was made even better by the people that I have gotten to know and love so quickly. I have been out here not even a month and I know I have made long-lasting friendships and relationships with the people I have met. We haven’t been out here very long, but it feels like months have passed and time is still flying! I am so grateful for this amazing opportunity I have to experience the Spanish culture and to see and touch the history in this country! Hasta luego amigos!

Xoxo,

Lyds