Aug. 25, 2008 - Field Trip! Morelia, Michoacán

Pack up your sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, and convert those dollars to pesos... we're heading to Morelia, Michoacán!  Michoacán is one of Mexico's 31 states, and the name comes from the native Nahuatl word for "place of the fisherman".  It is situated in a mountain valley in south central Mexico.

Morelia is famous for it's colonial architecture.  Walking its well-preserved streets is like stepping back in time to the 1500's, when this was a great Spanish city.  Because of its beauty and well preserved state, it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This photo shows the beautiful historic town center of Morelia:

This is Morelia's baroque cathedral:

The Governor's Palace was completed in the 1700's:

Morelia's top university, The College of San Nicolas, dates back to the 1500's:

Morelia is home to 150 city blocks of historic buildings and monuments, including a colonial era aqueduct that once provided the city's water.  Morelia is also the birth place of Mexico's Revolution from Spain, begun in 1810.

Not ones to be stuck in the past, Morelia and its environs house ever-growing suburbs, some of the top private schools in Mexico, a University of Engineering and Technology, and one of the largest shopping malls in Latin America.  Ask a Morelian what the best feature of the city is, and he may well tell you it is the golf course designed by Jack Nicholas!

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May. 20, 2008 - Field Trip! ¡Vamos a la playa! Let's go to the beach.

Because I have spring fever...

¡Que linda es la puesta del sol!  The sunset is so beautiful!

Cultural note: Ceviche.  Legend has it that ceviche was invented by Peruvian fisherman as an easy meal out at sea.  Slice some onion, squeeze some citrus, and throw in some hot ají peppers for some jazz, and you have a basic ceviche.  It can include any seafood: whitefish, conch, shrimp, scallops, you name it.  Other yummy addition options include cilantro, carrots, garlic, celery, ginger, tomatoes, and lettuce.  There are a million variations!  In Perú, ceviche is typically served with corn on the cob or french fries.  A yummy variation is french fries made with sweet potatoes.  In the picture above there is also a snack similar to what we might call "corn nuts".  Here is a basic ceviche recipe.  Improvise to your heart's content!  Ceviche has become popular throughout Latin America, and can even be found on many restaurant menus here in the states.  It is a cool treat on a hot day!  I'll take mine with shrimp please....

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Apr. 21, 2008 - Field trip - Segovia, Spain

What a beautiful day for a field trip!  Weather today in Segovia is cool but sunny, and great for getting around and seeing the sites.

Can you imagine what it would be like to live in a UN World Heritage site?  The old town in Segovia won this honor due to the impressive Roman aqueduct that still carries water.  My children and I were recently studying the Romans, and discovered that this is one of the finest remaining examples of a Roman aqueduct.

This amazing piece of architecture was built around 50 A.D.  The Romans were in Spain for a long time, and have left their mark on the language, religion, and culture of Spain.  Julius Caesar worked his way up the Roman Military ranks here, the apostle Paul went to Spain on missionary trips, and Hannibal was raised in Spain.  Just as many American kids find arrowheads in their yards, a Spaniard is as likely to unearth Roman coins.

Another amazing site in the area is the Alcazar castle.  Construction began in the 11th century, and it reached the form we see it in today in the 1500s. 

It is said that Walt Disney was inspired by this castle when he created the castle in Snow White.  Perched on the edge of a cliff, and with an amazing view of the countryside, it played a key role in the reconquest of Spain from the Moors.  Later it served as an alternate residence for the king, from which he and other courtiers went on hunting trips.

Also built in the golden age of the 1500's was the Cathedral of Segovia.  It is considered by some to be the last great Gothic Cathedral built in Europe.

This lovely Cathedral remains the tallest building in the city.  In addition to this breathtaking Cathedral, Segovia is full of Romanesque churches, each a treasure in its own right.

The old city is surrounded by a wall, built and maintained since the 8th century.

After a lovely day of walking through twisted alleys, visiting monuments, castles and churches, let's stop in a cafe and enjoy some hot chocolate to finish off our day.

For more information and pictures of this amazing city, visit this site.

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Mar. 16, 2008 - Field Trip! Semana Santa

Semana Santa is Holy Week, one of the largest celebrations you will see in any Spanish-speaking country.  Beginning today Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday), and going to Easter (la Pascua) schools and businesses come to a halt while people celebrate with processions, worship, and feasts.  Let's take a little trip and peek in one some of these celebrations  Here, we join a Domingo de Ramos celebration in Perú....

Here, Costa Ricans reenact the Passion (La Pasíon):

Here is a beautiful night time Procesión in Perú, in which the street is carpeted with designs made by flower petals:

Here, in penance for sins, Los Penitentes carry crosses in a procesión in Oaxaca, Mexico:

Honoring Mary, and remembering her suffering at the death of her Son is a key aspect of Semana Santa, such as this weeping Madonna in Sevilla, Spain:

No celebration is complete without special foods to commemorate the event!  With all those outdoor processions, icy fruity drinks and snowcones are an important part of the day.  This done in memory of the woman who gave Jesus a drink as he carried his cross.  In Mexico, we would see foods that look familiar to us being served: burritos, chalupas, and quesadillas.  Chicken or fish dishes are enjoyed throughout the week, as many people avoid meat, especially on Viernes Santo (Good Friday).  Crispy fried salt cod (bacalao) is a common favorite.  Easter dinner itself usually consists of lamb.   In Spain, everyone eats torrijas, a sweet, sticky treat that resembles deep fried french toast topped in honey or syrup and powdered sugar:

Children wake up Easter Sunday morning to a basket of chocolates and candies.  The Easter bunny does not figure into their celebrations.

Still hungry?  Here is the fantastic Cooking Diva blog, with some beautiful recipe ideas to celebrate! Yummmm... I think I gained 5 pounds just posting that!

 

 

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Feb. 22, 2008 - La Playa - Field trip!

This is the view from my luxury beach-front condo in Marbella, Spain.  Let me just pinch myself to make sure I'm not dreaming... ouch!  Dreaming again! 

In the last entry we talked about wishes, and right now I could say, Quisiera estar en Marbella.... I wish I were in Marbella.  Marbella sits in Southern Spain, in the province of Andalucia, on what is called La Costa del Sol - The Sun Coast.  You can see on this map that it is at the western edge of the Mediterranean Sea, and in close proximity to North Africa.

La Costa del Sol is where Europe goes to relax and play, and get away from the dreary winter and chill of the North.  One of the major industries of Spain is tourism, and Marbella is the tip of the iceberg.  Not only are the beaches and fresh seafood a lovely temptation, but Southern Spain is a bounty for the history buff, and a great opportunity to practice Spanish.

Here is Marbella Castle, the remains of a Roman Fortress.  Outside of town you can stroll through the old Roman Village called Las Bovedas.  After a morning of enjoying this amazing history, let's have lunch in a cafe in La Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Tree Plaza), whose fountain dates back to the 15th century.

We will enjoy tapas, savory appetizer portions of Spanish food, served until you are satisfied.  Our yummy options include thin slices of serrano ham, calamari and shrimp in garlic sauce, marinated olives, roasted pepper salad, and a lemony potato salad.  There are more choices of dishes than we have time to enjoy!

Here are some phrases that may serve you well on our beach vacation:

• No te olvides ponerte el bronceador - Don't forget to put on sunscreen
• Me encanta la playa - I love the beach
• Vamos a ver la puesta del sol - Let's go watch the sunset
• Quisiera probar las gambas - I would like to try the shrimp (gambas is a word unique to Spain, camarones another option known throughout the Spanish speaking world.)
  
• Vamos a pasar la tarde en la playa - We are going to spend the afternoon on the beach
• Hace sol/Hace calor - It is sunny/It is hot
• Tengo sed/tengo hambre - I'm thirsty/I'm hungry
  
• Vamos a visitar las ruinas - We are going to visit the ruins (Roman or otherwise)
• El restaurante está en la plaza - The restaurant is in the plaza.

Ah.... a leisurely stroll through the old city... a day trip to the Moorish palace in Málaga... don't wake me up from this sueño yet, please......

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Jan. 31, 2008 - Fab Field Trip resource!

Thanks to friends from FIAR, I was introduced to a fantastic resource for virtual field trips.  Check this site out! Nine Spanish-speaking nations are featured.

You and your child can choose a country, learn cool facts, view a history timeline, learn some lingo specific to that country, and see some beautiful sites.  For older children, this may be a great source for country reports!  Notebooking fans can use this as a great resource for chronicling a study of these countries.  Maybe your family can visit a country a week, and top off your study by cooking a recipe from your chosen country!

Here is an example of some of the neat things you can learn about Ecuador on this site.  While we all know that amigo means friend in Spanish, it is common in Ecuador to hear the word pana instead.  Goodbye is commonly chao,  There are even audio files so that you can pronounce these words correctly.

You can also visit important areas of your chosen country.  Here is a picture of Cuenca, Ecuador, a city that still boasts Spanish architecture from the 1500's.

Last but not least, you can take a quiz to see how much you learned about your country, then send a friend a postcard with a scene from that country.  How fun!

My only disappointment with the site is that it doesn't show flags for each country.  Never fear, the coloring book of flags is here.  If you want to print a great map, try this UN sponsored site.  Just choose a country from the menu on the left, and print away.  Excuse me while I sharpen my colored pencils....

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Jan. 11, 2008 - Field Trip! A Flamenco Recital.

The term flamenco is an umbrella term for a family of folk and traditional dances of Spain.  Flamenco embraces all the stereotypes one thinks of... flowing skirts, flowers in the hair, and soulful music.  For this week's field trip, we will attend a flamenco recital, and get a taste of this lovely dance form.

Our first stop is London - yes you heard me right!  Flamenco is loved and practiced by people all over the world.  Our first performers will focus on "taconeo" the art of rhythmic footwork.  You will also notice in this performance that the singing reflects the long centuries of Moorish domination that is part of Spain's fascinating history:


In this next video we see an American teenager named Krystal who has undertaken to learn flamenco.  Here she dances a version of Sevillana, one of the most beloved of Spain's traditional dances.  Notice that she includes castinets in her dancing, a much harder feat of coordination than one might think!



Here is a short video of Sevillana dancing at the source itself - a country fair or romeria in Southern Spain.  Romerias are religious and community festivals.  Here a couple breaks out in an impromptu Sevillana:


Last but not least, here is a shout-out to my flamenco teacher Crystal! She makes it fun, and is so patient with my daughters and I as we learn. I wanted to post a picture, but her web site is down. Whenever I'm feeling sassy, I put on my noisy shoes and my ruffled skirt, and burn some calories!

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Dec. 18, 2007 - December Field trip - christmas in Mexico

While people in the US try to eek out a real Christmas amidst the staggering consumerism and pagan elements that have infiltrated our celebration (JMHO), in Latin America the focus of the celebration is the Christ child.

In Mexico a celebration called Las Posadas begins the night of December 16th.  A group of people form a procession carrying statues of Mary, Joseph, an angel, and candles.  The procession may include people dressed as the three kings, shepherds, and there may well be a burro in the group.  They go from house to house singing traditional Christmas songs, and asking at each house if there is room at the inn for them.  There are even traditional songs that the people in the house sing in reply, denying them entry!  Here is a link to a translation of a traditional posadas song.


They make their way around the neighborhood, seeking shelter in an inn, with more neighbors joining them as they go from house to house.  Finally they reach a home that will take them in, and here is where the real fun begins!  Not only are Mary and Joseph invited in, but the whole neighborhood comes in for a party.  Part of this celebration involves a piñata for the kids. 

Another tradition is Las Pastorales, which resemble our Christmas pageants, and reenact the Christmas story.  A fun aspect of Las Pastorales is that the shepherds have many funny misadventures on their way to find baby Jesus.  These pageants tend to be light-hearted, and can be very original.



On Christmas Eve, most families go to a late mass called El Miso del Gallo (Rooster's mass).   After service, everyone returns home for a feast of tamales.  Another traditional dish is Biscayan salt cod.  Hearty portions are made, because everyone will be eating leftovers tomorrow!  There is punch and sparkling cider for a special holiday toast (el brindis).  This gifts are opened, and the kids play with sparklers - las luces de Belén - the lights of Bethleham.

Children, by the way, write out their Christmas list to El Niño Dios - The Christ child.  In most homes, just the children get gifts, and not nearly as many as American kids get!  Many in the Spanish speaking world also celebrate Epiphany on January 6th, on which they get more gifts from the Three Kings - Los Reyes Magos.

The holiday spirit lives on after Christmas, and December 28th, El Día de los Santos Inocentes is celebrated.  It is much like our April Fool's day.  Pranks and jokes can get pretty elaborate that day!

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Nov. 16, 2007 - Field Trip Friday! - Machu Picchu, Perú

High in the majestic Andes mountains, at an altitude of 7,970 feet, lies the remains of a great Inca kingdom.  Inhabited from approximately 1450-1550, this city was lost to the modern world until its discovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911. 

Read more about it here, and check out some great pictures.

This amazing photo lets you wander the grounds, and look at the smallest details! Try it - you can focus in on every stone, every blade of grass.  Remember, these stones were fitted without mortar.

This site allows you to take a virtual tour of Machu Picchu.  The background music is the Andean Pan flute, a traditional instrument of the Inca and their descendants.

Here is another virtual tour!

So, where did all the Incas go?  They are still there, and make up a large percentage of the population in Perú, Ecuador, Bolivia, and northern Chile.  They speak a language called Quechua, and have retained many of their traditional customs and manners of dress.

You can hear a little bit of Quechua here.  There is surprising variety amongst the costumes worn by Inca people today.  The locals can tell what area someone is from by the costume they wear.  Here is a travel blog I found with great pictures of the costumes of Cuzco, a beautiful city 50 miles from Machu Picchu. If you click on the small pictures, they will enlarge for a better view.

After touring Machu Picchu, let's get together for a traditional Inca meal of cuy.  (Warning - not for the faint hearted... but they really eat spit-roasted guinea pigs!).

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Nov. 8, 2007 - Field Trip Friday - La heladería

Our weather is still unseasonably warm, and I was too lazy to plan an international field trip.   So we'll head on over to the neighborhood ice cream shop, la heladería en Spanish.  ¡El helado es delicioso! (Ice cream is delicious!)

To ask someone their favorite flavor, you would say, "¿Cuál sabor prefieres?"  The answer would be "Prefiero......." ("I like.....")

Here is a list of flavors to try out:

• el chocolate
• la vanilla
• la fresa - strawberry
• dulce de leche - cream caramel
• el límon - lemon
• la sandía - watermelon
• el café - coffee
• la canela - cinnamon
• el coco - coconut
• el pistacho - pistachio

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Nov. 2, 2007 - Friday Field Trip! Mezquita Catedral, Córdoba, Spain

This week's field trip is to the amazing historical Mezquita Catedral in Córdoba, Spain.  Wikipedia has an extensive history, and excellent photo gallery, from which I borrowed the images below.  This Cathedral began as a mosque in 784 A.D. , and became a Catholic church in 1236, when the forces of Fernando III took Córdoba from the Moors.  Be sure to stroll through the gallery, and enjoy this unique architecture.

Here is a site in Spanish with more amazing pictures of the interior of Cathedral, including the oldest sections.

Weather today in Córdoba will be partly cloudy, low humidity, and a comfortable 25 C.  There is just a 10% chance of precipatation.  If you plan to stay into the evening, bring a jacket, because it will cool considerably at sunset. 

The orange garden:


The facade of the old mosque:


An interior view:

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Oct. 26, 2007 - Field Trip Friday - Palacio Presidential, Lima, Perú

For today's field trip, let's head to Perú!  First we will take a virtual tour of the Presidential Palace, here. 

The sites on our tour are the following:

• Gran Hall - Great hall - notice the traditional uniforms of the guards.
• El Gran Comedor - a comedor is the dining room.
• Salón Dorado - the gilded room
• Salón Tupac Amarú - named for "the last Inca", and yes a rapper named himself after this guy. 
  
• Salón Almirante Grau - named for a beloved Peruvian Admiral
• Salón de Embajadores - The Ambassadors' Room

We will briefly get to meet with the President, Alan Garcia Perez.  Notice the Peruvian flag in the background, and on the banner he wears.  The symbols of the flag include the vicuña (representing Inca royalty), the cornucopia (representing wealth), and the arnica plant (representing health).

Here is history of the Presidential Palace.

And here is an external view.

For lunch, we will take a short drive out to the coast, and eat at the Rosa Nautica!

The Peruvian flag and coat of arms:
(from www.brittannica.com)

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Oct. 9, 2007 - It's field trip Friday again!

Ummmmm someone tell Señora Kathleen that today is NOT Friday..... has she gone crazy?

Well, actually, I'm going out of town to spend time with people I love dearly (happy dance!  happy dance!), so I want to go ahead and set the field trip up.

We are going to Argentina to take in Iguazú falls and national park!  To get there just fly to Buenos Aires International Airport

Take the highway north, follow the signs, turn right, and we'll meet at the front gate to the park! - here

Here is a quick translation of the menu of links (look at the links on the photo):

• lo nuevo - what's new
• como llegar - how to get here
• el parque - the park
  
• las cataratas - the falls
• contactenos - contact us

• ubicación - location
• tour virtual - yep, virtual tour. 
  
• vistas panoramicas 360 - see how easy some Spanish words are to translate?  Warning: you will be amazed!

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Oct. 5, 2007 - Field Trip Friday! Parque de Atracciones - Madrid

Weather today in Madrid is partly cloudy, and a comfortable 23 C.  A perfect day to spend at the park! 

Let's go! Parque de Atracciones

helpful vocab:

• el mapa - map
• tarifa - fee (well come on, it isn't free!  Shake those euros out of the couch  cushions!)
• infantil - anything to do with kids - don't think "infants"
• zona infantil - kid zone!
• un paseo por el parque - a walk in the park
• zonas del parque - zones of the park
• naturaleza - nature
• cerrar - close
• descargas - downloads
• cargando - loading

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