Last weekend was really fun! Although I was really worried that I'd miss a bus or something wouldn't work out, everything went smoothly. I woke up Saturday and took a bus to Carmona for an urban score-o that is part of the local orienteering club's "provincial circuit." I followed the map I had printed out online to get to the parking area, but I was there about an hour early, and at first I didn't see anyone. Then I finally saw someone with an orienteering map, and, relieved, I asked for directions to the event arena. I then went and registered. I was standing around the plaza not really sure what to do while I was waiting, and Jose (the guy from the club who I've been emailing to get info about the meets) walked up and asked if I was Tori. I guess I looked obviously out of place. But, it was nice to have someone there who knew what was going on and where I needed to go for everything.
Once the computer finally arrived I finished registering, which occurred about 5 minutes after the supposed first start. But the starts were delayed by a few minutes, so it was fine. It was a mass start, but there were different groups of people starting every 5 minutes. I was in one of the "D senior A" (longest course for women) groups. It was a fun course, and it was nice to run past some of the touristy sites I had seen while visiting Carmona about a month ago. We had a couple controls on the outskirts of the town that had great views since Carmona is up on a hill, but unfortunately I was concentrating more on the race than the view. Here's a photo of the map. Thoughts about the order in which you'd go to the controls are welcome.
Then, I took the bus back to Seville, and since I was able to take the earlier bus, I was able to take a bus to Granada leaving from the same station instead of having to bike across town to get to the other bus station. Although I intended to read my linguistics book for the entire the 3 hour bus ride, I ended up sleeping for half the time instead. I arrived at the bus station in Granada, but my group was off somewhere and when I called I was told they were in a really confusing area where I'd probably get lost so they said they'd call me when they were closer to the hotel. I didn't have a map of the city, so that was fine. I took a taxi to the hotel, got a key, showered, and then wandered around near the cathedral for a little while.
There were a lot of people out and a bunch of booths in this one plaza near my hotel, so it was enjoyable.
I came back as it was getting dark, and by that time the other students in my program were starting to get back.
We had dinner at the hotel (a buffet - it was very exciting to have other foods than what I've been having here). Then Natalie, Tiffany, Katharine, and I wandered around the city for a while. Here's a fountain near the cathedral.
We then headed to a street from which we could see the Alhambra all lit up.
There was an almost full moon, which was quite pretty. This was the best picture I managed to get of it.
And we spent a while trying to get a good picture of us in front of the Alhambra. Katharine was the only one with a nice enough camera that could probably have gotten a good night shot plus the people, but she had left her camera at the hotel. This is the best I could get.
And every good walk deserves an ice cream break, so when we saw this place, we had to stop. Besides one place in Italy, I think this is the prettiest ice cream I've ever seen. (Notice the carved mango in the lower right).
We also discovered that our hotel had a terrace, so we visited that once we returned to the hotel.
In the morning, we got up and went to the Alhambra. It's so pretty! Unfortunately, I hadn't brought my extra camera battery since we were only going to be gone for 1 night, and my camera battery died. I got most of the pictures I wanted though. Here's the door we entered.
My favorite part was the views from the towers. The Alhambra is situated above the valley below it. It was especially pretty when the sun came out from behind the clouds and shone on the bright white houses.
I also really enjoyed the courtyards and gardens.
And although I still prefer the outdoor views to the indoor ones, the architecture was amazing.
Here's the part on the adjacent hill.
And the view looking back at the rest of the Alhambra.
After the tour, we went back to the hotel for lunch. It had cleared up enough that we could see the mountains from the terrace! Just like when I'm home, I absolutely love being able to see snow-capped mountains.
We then took the bus back to Seville. Natalie, Katharine, and I wandered around a park in Nervion since it was such a nice day out and then I went back home to continue reading my linguistics book.
Once the computer finally arrived I finished registering, which occurred about 5 minutes after the supposed first start. But the starts were delayed by a few minutes, so it was fine. It was a mass start, but there were different groups of people starting every 5 minutes. I was in one of the "D senior A" (longest course for women) groups. It was a fun course, and it was nice to run past some of the touristy sites I had seen while visiting Carmona about a month ago. We had a couple controls on the outskirts of the town that had great views since Carmona is up on a hill, but unfortunately I was concentrating more on the race than the view. Here's a photo of the map. Thoughts about the order in which you'd go to the controls are welcome.
Then, I took the bus back to Seville, and since I was able to take the earlier bus, I was able to take a bus to Granada leaving from the same station instead of having to bike across town to get to the other bus station. Although I intended to read my linguistics book for the entire the 3 hour bus ride, I ended up sleeping for half the time instead. I arrived at the bus station in Granada, but my group was off somewhere and when I called I was told they were in a really confusing area where I'd probably get lost so they said they'd call me when they were closer to the hotel. I didn't have a map of the city, so that was fine. I took a taxi to the hotel, got a key, showered, and then wandered around near the cathedral for a little while.
There were a lot of people out and a bunch of booths in this one plaza near my hotel, so it was enjoyable.
I came back as it was getting dark, and by that time the other students in my program were starting to get back.
We had dinner at the hotel (a buffet - it was very exciting to have other foods than what I've been having here). Then Natalie, Tiffany, Katharine, and I wandered around the city for a while. Here's a fountain near the cathedral.
We then headed to a street from which we could see the Alhambra all lit up.
There was an almost full moon, which was quite pretty. This was the best picture I managed to get of it.
And we spent a while trying to get a good picture of us in front of the Alhambra. Katharine was the only one with a nice enough camera that could probably have gotten a good night shot plus the people, but she had left her camera at the hotel. This is the best I could get.
And every good walk deserves an ice cream break, so when we saw this place, we had to stop. Besides one place in Italy, I think this is the prettiest ice cream I've ever seen. (Notice the carved mango in the lower right).
We also discovered that our hotel had a terrace, so we visited that once we returned to the hotel.
In the morning, we got up and went to the Alhambra. It's so pretty! Unfortunately, I hadn't brought my extra camera battery since we were only going to be gone for 1 night, and my camera battery died. I got most of the pictures I wanted though. Here's the door we entered.
My favorite part was the views from the towers. The Alhambra is situated above the valley below it. It was especially pretty when the sun came out from behind the clouds and shone on the bright white houses.
I also really enjoyed the courtyards and gardens.
And although I still prefer the outdoor views to the indoor ones, the architecture was amazing.
Here's the part on the adjacent hill.
And the view looking back at the rest of the Alhambra.
After the tour, we went back to the hotel for lunch. It had cleared up enough that we could see the mountains from the terrace! Just like when I'm home, I absolutely love being able to see snow-capped mountains.
We then took the bus back to Seville. Natalie, Katharine, and I wandered around a park in Nervion since it was such a nice day out and then I went back home to continue reading my linguistics book.
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