Now that classes have started we finally have time to sit down and fill you all in on our first days here in Valladolid! The trip here was for the most part uneventful (that's a good thing!). Everyone made it here in one piece and no one got lost- although at first we thought we lost our bus here to Valladolid from the Madrid airport. Nothing like some adrenaline to wake you up at 3am - which was 9am local time.
Our first Sunday here in Valladolid coincided with the celebration of Corpus - the tradition and belief in the Eucharist and its meaning. This year the city is returning to celebrating this holiday by bringing out the religious relics from the churches and creating altars in the streets and the main plaza. This was followed by a procession and a blessing of those in the center. It was a beautiful event that helped to show us all the importance of Catholicism in Spain.
Our first activity here in Valladolid was on Sunday as we gave students the opportunity to settle in with their families and get some rest after the trip. We met in la Plaza Zorrilla and students were divided into groups of 4 to complete a scavenger hunt through the city. Their challenge was to find 8 things in the city and take pictures to prove that they found each. The most challenging seemed to be a mail drop box - which are bright yellow but round. The first group to complete all of their tasks was rewarded with an ice cream cone - un cucurucho de helado. We enjoyed our helados with the sun shining and the plaza mayor filled with Spaniards on an afternoon stroll, visiting at the cafes and chatting away. A beautiful way to finish the weekend.
Monday was the first day of class and students seem to be excited as they left for home afterwards. Most importantly they recognized themselves as a group of dedicated students who strived to use their Spanish both inside and out of the classroom. Almost everyone questioned how to get their book for class as there is not a University bookstore here at La Universidad de Valladolid. Instead students must go to a local bookstore and ask for their book by title.
As a group we met at Casa de Estudiante at 17.30 hours (remember they use military time here so 5:30). The University set up a tour guided by Aurora and José, two Spaniards studying to be teachers, who directed us through the city showcasing the oldest buildings and giving us some insight to the history of the city. Students marveled at the ornately decorated churches, the statues sprinkled throughout the city, the beauty of the architecture and the ambiance that abounds in Valladolid around every corner. Take a look for yourself:
This is the cathedral of Valladolid. The second picture is the back end of the cathedral. It was never completed because the royalty who were paying for it's construction moved to Madrid before it was finished. Below are some more treasures awaiting us in the streets of Valladolid.