I hope this works but in Granada there were some wonderful street performers doing what they do best. Playing music. I remember sitting in the street thinking this is peaceful and my head was clear from all the stress of traveling. Music for me is an escape of sorts. It is a way to unwind, relate life to other peoples experiences, and be tranquil. I love all types of music but this experience was particularly captivating because they played flamenco and I listened. I had no worries, it was me, the sound of the guitars, and the lyrics. Street performing is nothing new in Spain. Many take to the streets to earn a few euro but also to share in most cases their talent with any passerby. Busking is the practice of performing in public place for tips and gratuities. People engaging in this practice are called buskers. The terms stems from the Britain and the place where the busker performs is called their pitch. Many actors and musicians have started their careers as buskers including: the Blue Man Group, Bob Hope, Jimmy Buffett, Robin Williams and Penn and Teller. Sit back and enjoy the music, because it will take you to unimaginable places.

I had a great weekend! The sun was shining and the weather was beautiful. We traveled to La Granja for a hike in the Sendero de los Reales Sitios. It is approximately 9100 meters and some of the most beautiful scenery that I have seen on this trip. Plus as the picture suggests I made it all the way to the end! The snow capped mountains in the distance and the Rio Valsain or Eresma running throughout the winding trails were wonderful for taking pictures. Some of the geological features date back to 40 million years old and what was really interesting to see was the Pinares de Valsain. For a stretch of the hike there were hundreds of cut pine trees that were placed in strategic piles. These pines are able to support the winter and summer climates and bring a distinct beauty to the area. In the year 1579 the town established protection for the forests and organisms that surround the city. However, the lumber yard still remains and is used to some degree. It was wonderful to explore the forests as many people travel to the city in order to see "mini" Versailles. I will probably have to make another trip back for that but to frolic in the woods was relaxing, especially with the other people that went.

The catholic Kings Fernando and Isabel in the 16th century were the driving forces behind the first Spanish army. The main force for home defense was the Hermanadad (Brotherhood), which included both cavalry and infantry.

A sort of uniform was worn, consisting of a white woolen over-tunic with a hood, sleeves tight at the top and a red cross back and front. Trousers were also red; boots or sandals were worn. Helmets were commonly of sallet type, much favored in Spain at this time. Provincial militia served throughout the period, mainly against rebellions—in 1567 they were one-third crossbowmen, two-thirds arquebusiers, while the cavalry had lances.-myarmoury.com

This photo was taken in the Alcazar of Segovia and many people on the trip have come to learn about my fear of armory. It is a childish thing yes and the history behind these pieces is amazing but I cannot get over the fear of them coming down off their pedestals and lancing me. Funny, I know. However, imagine being alone in a room full of these intricate works and letting your imagination run wild. Creepy. The Alcazar of Segovia has a wonderful display of the armour and artillery. King Carlos III founded the Royal Artillery School in 1762. It served this function for almost a hundred years until 1862 where a fire badly damaged the roofs and framework. The preservation of these pieces is beyond compare and I enjoyed -for the most part- seeing the display of these pieces.

The disposition of the hands. Posed here as El Greco depicts in his paintings, the disposicion de las manos is a characteristic that distinguishes him from other painters of his time. In Toledo, we were unable to take photos in any of the buildings that we encountered. This was a shame because we were able to experience many of El Greco's famous works. El Expolio was in the cathedral and it is my favorite piece by the painter. King Phillip II had commissioned El Greco to paint for his palace El Escorial however, the King only accepted one of his paintings because he did not agree with the distinct characteristics that the painter used. First El Expolio depicts other members of society higher than Jesus himself. Also El Greco incorporated characters from different time periods into his work. Other distinct characteristics include the use of colors Venetians and mannerist's-these styles were learned from Tiziano and Michael Angelo. I have really enjoyed learning about this artistic genius in my art and architecture class, and what made Toledo even better was seeing the paintings in real life. It is one thing to explain the beauty of a piece as it sits on a projector but it is enlightening to experience it in reality. Being able to get out of the classroom and actually stand where others have stood is an incredible feeling. The truth is I knew very little about this painter before arriving to Spain and now I feel like I could discuss him and his works. Therefore even though I have no picture of his works, they are ingrained in my memory.

I really like this picture because not long after the sun disappeared for a length of time. I think that the tower with its ornate detail and sculptures was the best part of the exterior of this building. The north tower of La Catedral de Toledo stands at 295 feet (90m) high and was built from 1380-1440. Inside is the famous bell known as the Campana Gorda, cast in 1753 it weighs 17 tons. For this excursion we had a guide and I really enjoyed her enthusiasm. She spoke very clearly and I was able to understand more of the history behind the monuments than I would usually receive just by walking through them.

Inside the cathedral there were red hats-of various styles- hanging from the ceiling in front of El Transparente. These hats once belonged to the cardinals who are buried in the tombs directly beneath. I learned that Toledo's cardinals have the ability of choosing anywhere in the cathedral to be buried, and their hats are hung above the tombs until they rot away. The guide also told us a legend about these hats but she says it isn’t true. However, I hope that it doesn't take a hat falling to the ground for the Cardinals soul to go to heaven. I had a really wonderful time in this cathedral and at the end of the tour we were able to touch a stone that sits beneath the statue of the Virgin Mary and is supposed to bring good luck. I hope that this is not merely legend.