CSU in Granada is a study abroad program of Cleveland State University. This page chronicles the group's month-long stay in Spain, from the first days in Madrid to four weeks of classes in Granada and a day in Toledo at the end.

June 27 we left from Cleveland International Airport. Above, Tiff and Monica in line. Below, Roberto in his traveling hat.

We arrived in Madrid on Thursday the 28th of July. On Friday, we visited the Prado (Top photo: Dino, Sean, Monica, Ben, Erika; next photo adds Roberto on the left).

Madrid's Plaza Mayor (photo by Christine Komar)

After the Prado, students walked independently to the Palacio Real. One group stopped to take a picture with a statue of Granadino poet Federico García Lorca. The group met outside the massive Madrid cathedral, La Almudena. (So far, this is the only photo with all 16 students!)

These pictures are from the lookout at the Palacio Real. Above, me, Stephen Gingerich, Program Director, with Christine, Rachel, Monica, and Ally; Below, Christine, Monica (Falzone), Rachel, Monica (Ruzic), and Ally.

The first day, Monday, July 1, the group met in the morning to go to the Centro de Lenguas Modernas.

David Puente, ISA director, helped students get oriented in the CLM

Erica and the rest of the group in the computer room of the ISA office, near CLM.

Monday morning the students took a placement exam. In the afternoon, we took a walk from the center of town up to the Albaycín, the old Moorish quarter of Granada, full of whitewashed houses along winding cobblestone streets and paths. Every once in a while, a view of the Alhambra across the valley appeared. Finally, we arrived at Mirador San Nicolás, at the top of the hill. From there, there is a full view of the Alhambra, the Generalife Gardens, and the Sierra Nevada (Spain's highest mountain range) in the background.

On Wednesday night we went to a concert in the Carlos V Palace in the Alhambra. The Seville Philharmonic played four pieces that connect Spain and Paris, concluding with Stravinsky's "Rites of Spring". The following Saturday, we toured the Alhambra, including the palace. This picture is from that visit.

Saturday morning we walked up the hill to the Alhambra for our tour.

The guide shows the group a model of the hill of the Alhambra.

The group in the Gardens of Generalife, the summer home of the Alhambra Palace.

These are the fountains in the Generalife Gardens.

Dino, Sean, Rachel and Tiff with the ALbaicín in the background.

Students with a picturesque trash can.

Jeff and Alma in the first room of the palace, the Mexuar.

Tiff in front of the tile walls with a geometric pattern.

The first big patio, the Patio de Comares with a reflecting pool behind.

ANother picture of the group underneath the ornate archways of the Patio Comares.

I can't seem to figure out how to place vertical photos on the page. I'll revise this if I do!

After the visit to the palace, some of us climbed to the top of the high tower in the midday heat.

Salobreña is a beach about an hour south of Granada. We spent Sunday the 8th there.

At the beachside restaurant, many had paella and other Spanish seafood specialties.

Alli, Sean, and Christine during our day at the beach in Salobreña, an hour south of Granada.

Wednesday the 11th most of the group visited the Cathedral and the Capilla Real with David.

The 14th of July, the group traveled to Córdoba. The main site is the enormous mosque/cathedral.

Córdoba also has one of three extant synagogues on the peninsula.

Sunday the 15th we went to the Alpujarras, on the southern side of the Sierra Nevada.

Part of the group went up to the top of a ridge for a great view.

The group stopped for water in Bubión, one of the white villages of the Alpujarras.

Wednesday of the third week, we went together to a Flamenco show at Los Tarantos.

Here is the group in Los Tarantos, a cave where, traditionally, gypsy performers lure tourists.

The show is meant to seem like an informal party, with dancing and singing.

The final weekend, most of the students went on the optional trip to Seville. Here's the Alcázar.

Here we are walking through the Santa Cruz district, home to Don Juan.

A group picture with the cathedral od Seville in the background.

This is a final, almost complete, group photo from Toledo. July 28 we took a tour of this fascinating city, with its two former synagogues (two of the three existing in Spain) and its enormous cathedral, featuring the tomb of Christopher Columbus.
The following morning, we all went our separate ways: the group flight returned towards Cleveland and several participants remained to travel around Spain and other European destinations.
Here you may detect a bit more color in people's faces than in the photo at the top of the page. The more important change is inside, in the rich experiences and enhanced language skills that the students have gained.