Seville, Spain

I spent Thursday afternoon in the Fine Arts Museum of Seville. Alas, no lactating virgins.

On Friday morning I went to one of the homestay houses for the IIS, just to check it out. I also met with the General Director of the IIS and discussed a variety of Study Abroad options for our KCC students. It all looks very good -- a great program at reasonable prices.

Last night (Fiday) I went out and enjoyed some fantastic flamenco (en La Carbonaría y El Tamboril). And then this morning I made the pilgrimage to Northern Seville to visit María Santísima de la Esperanza Macarena (a.k.a. La Macarena; see photo) and El Señor del Gran Poder, the two most famous Catholic images in Seville. I danced the Macarena for La Macarena, but I don´t think she enjoyed it. She never stopped crying... And then I touched the heel of El Señor. I could have kissed his heel, but I think that´s how I got face-herpes when I was in elementary school (not by kissing Jesus´heel, but by touching a drinking fountain with my lips -- not a good idea to swap spit with the general public). At any rate, it was all very exciting. I was so moved by the experience that I actually made my first major purchase for the trip -- a bottle of Holy Water from the Bascilica of La Macarena. That´s right, a bottle of Holy Water. Because glass bottles are fun to travel with and easy to ship.

Siesta time. Mañana, ¡Granada!

(Photo by Eric: La Macarena, Seville, Spain)