spain guide 2010

8/8/2019 Spain Guide 2010

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15 June FastApproachesLets GetReady!!!!Okay, so I just wanted to create handy

guide for you guys to use before we

take our big trip. This guide holds

valuable information for you

regarding just about everything -what to pack, what to do about

money, what I need from you and

maybe most importantly - what to

leave behind. So read on...

WHAT SHOULD I BRING?

First and foremost, comfortable

shoes. Let me write that again -

COMFORTABLE SHOES!!! Well be

doing a lot of walking and if you think

youll be able to survive eight days

wearing nothing but flip-flops, Idadvise against it. If youd like to bring

a couple sets of flip-flops, you can, but

make sure you have a pair of

sneakers of something thatll be

comfortable when were walking

around Madrid or Sevilla during the

afternoons.

continued on page 2

Back in 2007, I visited Spain as a

co-chaperone on a trip that Sra.

Reynolds led, along with her

husband and Sr. Escobedo (my

roommate on the trip). There were

20 kids on the trip - 17 girls and 3

boys - along with the adults. Plus,

we got to hang out with Seors

parents for a little bit too.

We went from Barcelona to

Zaragoza, Madrid, Toledo, Crdoba,

Sevilla, Granada and wrapped up

the trip on the sea in the town next

to the one well be visiting -

Torremolinos. We saw a lot of cool

stuff in those places. I hope this

trip is as rewarding for you as it

was for the 07 students.

The last time I was there...

TORRE DE ORO - on the shores of the Ro

Guadalquivir, the tower held all the booty that

the explorers brought back from the Americas

in the 1600s and 1700s. Really cool at night!

PALACIO DE LOS NAZARES - Part of the

Alhambra in Granada, nominated to be one of

the new Seven Wonders of the World.

Incredible architecture and setting.

PUERTA DE ALCAL - the old eastern gate

of the city of Madrid, now sits in the middle of

a roundabout, still worth checking out and

taking a photo or two.

ESPAA 2010A PROFE ZERBEY PUBLICATION ISSUE NO. 1

ROCKY RIVER HIGH SCHOOL / SUMMER 2010 / VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1


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If you want to bring stuff like

hairdryers and straighteners, etc. I

suggest that you check on the

voltage. Many American appliances

wont work over in Europe. You can

buy a converter, but youll need a

120/240 converter for it to work in

our hotels. And I dont know that

everybody needs to bring one for

themself. Maybe just a few of you

could bring them and then share?

As far as shampoos, conditioners,

etc. go, if its in a travel sized bottle,

you should be fine. But keep in mind

that if you forget something, well be

able to pick up whatever you need in

Madrid. For further info on what to

pack, check the list I provided to

you.

WHAT ABOUT MONEY?

The thing Id recommend is to go to

your bank and open up a VISA ATM

debit card. Theyd need to be VISA,

though, with the VISA logo. Its a

good way to go because your folks can

add money to the card from home and

theres a secure PIN for you to use to

keep things safe. Bringing a bunch of

cash isnt advisable simply because

you never know what might fall out of

your pocket/purse. I think thatoutside of shopping money, you

should be able to make do with about

$8 or $9 Euros for lunch (remember

that breakfast and dinner area

already paid for). Also, I would like to

collect 45 Euros in cash from you at

the time of departure. Im going to

use that to tip our drivers, etc. You

can get Euros at some banks, but you

can definitely get them at AAA. Youneed to call ahead to order them,

though. And it usually takes two or

three days for them to get them

shipped in. You can also get them at

the Huntington Bank in River. And as

a last resort, theres a place

downtown that sells them. Let me

know if thats your best option and Ill

give you all the details. Travelers

Cheques are kind of annoying, but ifthats what you want to bring along,

Id ask you to bring along cash as

well.

THREE PROFE TRIPS: HUNDREDS OF MEMORIES

I saw my first professional Spanish

soccer game at Estadio Snchez

Pizjuan in Sevilla. Sevilla lost, but it

was a lot of fun to attend.

2007

Plaza de Espaa in Madrid with the

statues of Don Quijote and Sancho

Panza down below Miguel de

Cervantes. Really cool place to see.

2005

A COUPLE FAVORITES

The Palacio Real in Madrid, ceremonialhome to Rey Juan Carlos and ReinaSofa, has the biggest and mostimpressive collection of clocks in Spain.

La Giralda, the tower of Sevillascathedral is really cool! You can walkup to the top and get fantastic views ofthe entire city. Well worth the climb!

continued on pg. 3


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Profes Tapas #1

Wondering about your cellphones? I

think its a good idea for you to have

them. Im not sure you want to text

your friends back in the U.S., but for

us to communicate when separated,they could come in handy. Im sure

therell be additional charges for

texts, but youll have to check with

your phone carrier to get all the info

on that. In addition to keeping in

touch with me on the trip and with

your folks later, you can use them as

alarm clocks. Plus plus, when we

return to the States, youll be able to

contact them with updates on our

flights, etc. You probably want to

bring a camera and your iPod. Plus,we do not have any plans for a

laundry stop, so make sure you pack

enough underwear and socks. Of

course, as I mentioned earlier, we will

be in civilization, so you can buy

anything you forget over there.

WHAT I NEED FROM YOU

See the document that came to you

along with the e-mail. Theres a

document thats called the LETTER

OF UNDERSTANDING. I need you to

read it and sign it and return it to me.

Ditto for your folks. The other

documents spell out what I need fromyou much better than this guide

could. But just remember - 45 Euros

cash.

WHAT TO LEAVE BEHIND

Bottom line is - dont bring anything

to Spain that is too valuable to you to

lose. Sure, phones and cameras and

cash can be replaced if they get lost or

stolen, but you should really think

twice about bringing anything that

has an incredible amount ofemotional and/or personal value to

you. Jewelry? A photo? A stuffed

animal? I think you can live for a

week without them. Thats my

two cents. If youre thinking

about bringing a laptop, maybe

you dont need to. Each hotel we

stay in will have a business

center or computer lab of

some sort, so I dont know that

youll need your own laptop. Its

not like youll have a lot of time

to hang out in your room

chatting on Facebook or

whatever. I am bringing my

own laptop, for whatever thats

worth. But I will also be staying

in Spain for another week after

you guys leave.

Profes top ten tapas for you to try

1. Patatas Bravas

2. Croquetas

3. Empanadas4. Calamares5. Jamn Ibrico6. Queso Manchego7. Montaditos

8.

Sepia

9. Esprragos Blancos10. Camarones al ajillo

CHECK THE OTHER ATTACHMENTSThe e-mail that gave you this guide also has

helpful documents to print out about many/

most of the topics on the preceding two

pages. Be sure to read them carefully. These

next two weeks will fly past, so lets make the

most of our time. Please dont wait until the

last minute to get your things in order. Please

DO contact me if you have any questions

about anything.

LUNCH, SNACKS, ETC.The only thing I really want to ask you to do,

for me as a favor is to at least please TRY

all of the food that gets put in front of you

while were in Spain. Its too easy for you to

hit McDonalds when were out and about for

lunch. Please dont. If you want advice about

lunch food, ask me for help. Also, be sure to

get somegelatto. Its like ice cream, butdifferent. Mitchell s has nothing ongelatto!

IN CASE YOURE CURIOUS...In Spain, they use a different format of DVD,

so in the event that you find yourself mulling

over the purchase of some movie, that might

not be a great idea unless you have a multi-

region DVD player at home. CDs, on the

otherhand, are standard. You can buy music

there and listen to it when you get back here.

No problema!


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Madrid - the heart and capital ofthe country

MADRID

Population:city - 3.3 million

province - 6.4 million

Mayor:Alberto Ruiz-Gallardn

Founded: 8th Century B.C.

Established as Capital:1561

Avg. June Temps:High - 80 F / 26.9 C

Low - 59 F / 15.1 C

Head of State: PresidentJos Luis Zapatero

Unofficial Heads ofState: Rey Juan Carlos I y

Reina Sofa

Ancient Roman Name:Ursaria or land of bears

MADRID ES CAPITAL IS THE CITYS MOTTO AND YOULLSEE WHY THAT REFERS TO MORE THAN JUST BEING

HOME TO THE COUNTRYS GOVERNMENT

We will begin our time in Madrid with visits to thePuerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor and Plaza de Espaa, three

great places for people watching and three places that

are very important to all madrileos. That same first

day in town, well also get a guided tour of one

of the worlds finest museums, El Prado.

The following day, well see more of the

capital, featuring a tour of the Royal Palace,

and other intimate looks at the citys most

famous monuments such as the Puerta de

Alcal, Fuente de Cibeles, Grn Va and La

Calle Mayor. That night, well have a dinner ofa series of different tapas and well learn all

about that uniquely Spanish tradition of eating

small portions of food while out for the evening.

There will be time for shopping in Madrid, and

depending on how things are going, maybe well

take in a movie that second night after the

tapas. What do you think about Shrek Forever

and Ever in Spanish with English subtitles??

NMEROS

Daily newspapers soldin the city

10Daily sports papers

sold in the city

4Works of art ownedby El Prado

7,000


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Crdoba - remnants of theformer Moorish capital

CRDOBA

Population: > 325,000

Mayor: Andrs Ocaa

Rabadn

Founded: 8 B.C.


Low - 60 F / 15.5 C

AutonomousCommunity: Andaluca

Ancient Roman Name:

Kartuba or rich and

beautiful city

AN IMPRESSIVE BUILDING, BOTH INSIDE AND OUT,

AWAITS YOU ON THE BANKS OF THE ROGUADALQUIVIR - LA MEZQUITA DE CRDOBA

One of the most amazing things about the Mezquita isthat it was built by human hands. Its easy to take that

for granted when walking past the many, many columns

that support the ceiling of the mosque. It took

203 years to build, and as Moorish different

leaders came into power, they continued

adding to it. It was the largest mosque in the

world before the Reconquista began, and now

its the home to Crdobas Catholic

Archdiocese.

While were in Crdoba, well be stopping for

lunch in the Jewish Quarter, where all thejudos lived until they were kicked out of Spain

in 1492. Theres a beautiful synagogue in this

neighborhood, as well as great examples of the

typical architecture of the region. We will have

to navigate the narrow streets and alleys and

passageways, all with white walls to lessen the

effects of the scorching Andalusian sun. Itll be

tricky not to get lost in there, but Im sure youll

be able to do it.

NUMBERS

Columns in theMezquita

856Major additions to the

original Mezquita

4Year constructionbegan

784


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Granada - a little piece ofparadise on Earth

GRANADA

Population: 238,000

Mayor: Jos Torres

Hurtado



Low - 57 F / 13.9 C

AutonomousCommunity: Andaluca

Ancient Roman Name:

Iliberis

THEALHAMBRAWAS THE MASTERPIECE OF THENASRID DYNASTY, EQUAL PARTS FORTRESS, PALACE

AND MARVEL OF MEDIEVAL CONSTRUCTION

Theres more to do and see in Granada than just theAlhambra, but no trip to this city in the northern

foothills of the Sierra Nevada would be complete without

a visit. And theres enough to see up there for

a visitor to while away an entire day, but well

make it through the highlights. This would

include the Casas Reales, the Alcazaba and

also the Generalife. Granted, these structures

have been refurbished through the years and

are kept in great condition by a cadre of

caretakers, but if you block out the other

tourists, you can almost imagine that you can

hear the sultan or sultana speaking Arabicaround the next corner. The Alhambra (and

the Generalife) is honestly one of my favorite

places ever, anywhere.

Depending on time, well probably check out the

winding streets of Sacromonte on the hill across

from the Alhambra and visit the Albaicn, the

old Moorish quarter, down near the banks of the

Ro Darro.

NUMBERS

Years it took tocomplete theAlhambra

62Lions in the

Patio de los Leones

12Carlos who built a squarepalace inside the

Alhambra

I


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Benalmdena - a peaceful,seaside resort to end the trip

COSTA

DEL SOLPopulation: > 50,000

Mayor: Enrique Moya



Low - 57 F / 13.9 C

AutonomousCommunity:Andaluca

Ancient Arabic Name:Beni al-Medina or Son of

the SettlementBRING A GOOD BOOK TO READ DURING YOUR

BEACH TIME, AND DONT FORGET YOUR BATHING

SUIT BECAUSE WELL HAVE ALL DAY TO DO NOTHING

Well be spending our last 1.5 days in the quaint, seas-side resort city of Benalmdena, which sits between two

other towns cut from the same cloth (Torremolinos and

Fuengirola). You can be sure that the sun will

be shining down on us during that time. Since

its June the beach wont be really crowded.

That also means the Mediterranean wont be

very warm. In fact, it might be kinda chilly.

But dont let that stop you from going for a

swim. It wont stop me! Plus, Im sure our

hotel will have a much warmer pool.

When not at the beach, your biggest decisionswill be a) where to eat; b) which crappy t-shirt

to buy for your little brother/little sister/father/

mother; and c) which flavor of gelatto would

you like to try. You could also check out the

marina, which - as marinas go - is pretty cool.

After all the walking around well be doing over

the first six days of the tour, the time by the

beach will be a welcome relief. So plan to take it

easy as you enjoy your final day in Spain.

NUMBERS

Height in meters ofEuropes tallest

BuddhistEnlightenment stupa,

located near

Benalmdena

33Miles west

Benalmdena sits fromthe waters of the

Atlantic

85

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