So last Thursday, Spain decided as a country to go on strike. Literally, the whole country. Flights were cancelled, busses ran on a really limited schedule, grocery stores and restaurants were closed, about a third of Spain went to work. They were protesting these new labor laws and huge budget cuts Spain has been making over the past few months. There were huge protests in the streets all over the country. These have been going on since we got here, the protests, but this strike hadn't happened before. It is crazy that they can just strike like that and that it involved so many people! The budget cuts are a really controversial issue, because they have been cutting for medical and education, areas that don't seem like the first places to take 20 billion dollars, but I don't vote here, so oh well.. Dad, you would appreciate our alternative agenda during the strike-Instead of participating in the protests or seeing them, the dorm kids decided to make a pool day out of it and we lounged around playing cards and swinging on swings outside the Villa! (our dorm) sounded a little safer to me..
It wasn't a dangerous riot or anything though, just marches through the streets and stuff of people carrying flags and signs.
On Friday, our class had a day trip to Elche, a small town about 20 minutes by train from alicante. Elche is known for "palmeras", or palms! The people of the town weave masterpieces using palm leaves and it is incredible! There are a ton of palm groves throughout the city. As it was the Friday before palm sunday, there were loads of people selling their palm masterpieces near the mercado central of Elche. We toured some museums about Elche's history and the palm traditions.
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| the irrigation system in the middle of one of the many palm groves |
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| one of the palm leaf creations |
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| the man at the top of the palm tree pollinating it! |
The palm grove was so cool! It was like a prettier version of Florida with this irrigation system running through the entire town because of the little rain they get. A man climbs the palm trees to cut off the palms with some special shoes and this climbing rope and he showed us how to climb even! My dress I chose to wear (unaware palm tree climbing was on the agenda...) wasn't the best for that activity, so I just watched :)
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| my entertainment as everyone else climbed the palm trees.. |
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| the palm creations in action! the woman on the left was adding finishing touches to one of them |
There was also a beautiful cathedral where my Spanish teacher got married! It is gorgeous. Looked like something from Scotland. The views from the top were great too- overlooking the palm groves and the city.
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| inside, a tomb made of wood that is carried around by over 100 men during Semana Santa, or Holy Week, coming up this week. |
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| view from the top of the Cathedral |
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| another pretty one. The ceiling kind of looked like Sacred Heart, but without the weird stars.. |
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| a palm grove! The palms provided protection from the hot sun and gave Elche the name of "Oasis" as an oasis from the heat of the Mediterranean region |
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| hey! i can't see anything! |
We got back to Alicante at a decent hour and spent the evening hanging out and trying to book the last few things for Spring Break on Thursday. Getting us in the vacatio mode, Saturday turned into a shopping day since the stores finally got all of their spring stuff in! Soo cute. I love Spanish clothes. Found a perfect French Riviera dress for Abby and my Monaco and Nice adventure. Hoping it can get us on someone's yacht at some point..
Ok now I really need to study for this Spanish grammar exam tomorrow. ¡Adios!
-k
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