Cultural Enlightenment & Learning the True Meaning of 42°C

The other day, I decided to dive head first into the cultural wonders of Granada by going to see my first Spanish movie. Well, I went to go see my first American movie in a Spanish theater...one step at a time here. 


Here's how this enriching cultural experience began: I looked out my window and saw a sign flashing 17:45/42°C. Struggling to do a bit of math, I realized that it was 5:45pm and I hadn't done a damn thing with my day. I ignored the 42°C part because only Google can tell me what that means. Big mistake. 42°C means "do not go outside." For those of us who ignore the norms of the rest of the world, 42°C is 107°F. Good thing I regularly apply my 100spf rain or shine. I have very delicate skin. 

Upon walking out the front door, I realized that the weather gods of Granada were NOT looking to play around. For a brief second I though about walking back up to my room, but alas, it's up five flights of stairs so I thought better. Thankfully, fours years of living on the 4th and 5th floors throughout college —room draw loser— prepared me well for these sorts of predicaments:
"Oh you left your room for lecture without your laptop? Ya, you're just not going to take notes today....well if you're not going to take notes, what's the point of going to class? Good point, Lexi, let's go see what terrible movies we can go watch today."


So I headed for the movies. After a pleasantly short walk to the theater (because I also don't know how to convert kilometers to miles), I entered a Spanish mall, took a hard look at the lovely casino directly inside the front entrance of the shopping center, then looked back at the movie theater and employed the very small amount of self-discipline I have left, and vowed to lose all my euro on Spanish slots another day. 


I walked up to the ticket office and the only thing playing was "Sombras Tenebrosas," the Spanish dubbed version of yet another Johnny Depp - Tim Burton collaboration (really...what's going on with those two? EIGHT movies together...??). Personally, I prefer Johnny with dreads (re: Pirates of the Caribbean), but it was the only thing playing and nothing is better on a hot day than sitting in a cool, dark theater and watching Johnny Depp dubbed in Spanish, amiright??

Brilliant choice because when I walked into the theater, they were jammin' to the great American classic, Miley Cyrus' "Party in the USA" (also, twitter tells me she's engaged? what is this madness). Following the ever-pressing needs of my freakishly small bladder, I danced my way up the stairs to use "los servicios" and what a blessed day it was to be among the small bladder population, because it bought me enough time to hear the next song — the best of Britney circa 2004 — "Toxic." Perhaps no other combination of songs could make me quite so happy to be an American.

View of the Alhambra from afar 

All-in-all, my whole American/Spanish movie going experience was quite enlightening, and although I could have easily been satisfied with my cultural experiences in Spain at that point, we all know that I'm an over-achiever.


So, in the time since I've last blogged (although tempted to just sit in dark casinos and play Spanish slots), I've visited the Alhambra (about seven centuries worth of culture right there!) and seen my first Spanish Flamenco show. 

Detailing on the walls
at the Alhambra

For those of you who have never heard of the Alhambra (other than Alhambra Water....apparently not related...), it's the tourist destination in Granada. It's basically the main reason why people go to the city. It's a huge Moorish palace and fortress that was built in the mid-14th century by Arab rulers and then taken over by Christian rulers after the Reconquista. Fast-forward over five hundred years and you have a UNESCO World Heritage Site boasting lush gardens, exquisitely preserved stonework, and flowing water and fountains through all parts of the sprawling fortress.

Now, I'm always a little reluctant to go stand in line and pay money to see those supposedly "must-see" monuments. Like the Louvre... a whole week in Paris and never went. What's there to see anyway? The Mona Lisa? My God you guys, that painting is tiny. I guess I'm just generally a bad tourist. I'd probably go to India and end up eating Chinese food.

Generalife at the Alhambra

So, naturally, part of me was a little reluctant to go to the Alhambra, but the woman at my hostel in Algeciras was very insistent that I go. In fact, I think she may have threatened me at one point. I'm not sure. She kept trying to practice her English with me, but she really didn't speak any English at all, so maybe it was a mistake when she said, "I come kill you if you no go to Alhambra"...?

She was a little scary though, so I dragged myself to the world-famous Alhambra; it was fabulous. I highly recommend it. In fact, if you come to Granada and don't go I may just have to pretend that I don't speak English and threaten you a little bit.

View of the Alhambra
from the outdoor Flamenco show

As if I hadn't culturally enriched myself enough already —like I said, huge over-achiever— the owners of the hostel that I'm currently working at organized an outing to a local Flamenco show. And because I have the easiest job in the world, they had my shift covered so that I could attend as well. So after a strenuous day of not working, I was relieved from my 3 hour shift and headed over to the Flamenco show with a bunch of Brazilian, Polish, and Argentine tourists. The show consisted of a 10-year-old singer, a 14-year-old flamenco dancer, a 17-year-old guitarist, and a 65-year-old poet.


The show was actually incredibly inspiring. The kids were all ridiculous talents, but my favorite part was the older gentleman's performance of some poetry by the Granada-born writer, Federico Garcia Lorca. Firstly, I actually kind of, almost understood it in its semi-entirety, which was awesome. Secondly, even when I didn't understand, all the Spanish people around me were LOL-ing hardcore, so I know he was funny. And, thirdly, his flamboyancy reminded me of home. Overall, he couldn't have been more perfect.