Envisioning Spain's Border

One of the more eye-opening moments on the trip was crossing the border from Spain (Ceuta) into Morocco, and witnessing the plethora of smuggling activities that were taking place in and around the checkpoint. Perhaps it was the visible material inequality on either side of the border, or perhaps it was the fact that such [...]

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As we traveled across Andalucia a few weeks ago, hurrying around Granada, Sevilla and Cordoba in a frenzy to soak up every sight, smell and sound of culture-rich southern Spain, it was impossible to ignore the prevalence of the Gitanos, persistently offering us rosemary and a blessing – a “gift” which we were then to [...]

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Late night in Madrid had me wandering around Plaza del Sol with a small group of friends, slightly hungry, slightly tired, yet not wanting to go to bed and possibly miss out on any part of the city.  As we made our way through the sea of people back towards our hotel, stopping to listen [...]

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The Desertec Foundation: Promoting Alternative Energy in Morocco
On our final bus ride in Morocco, I couldn’t help but notice the multitude of wind turbines dotting the hills and horizon as we travelled from Tétouan to the Port of Tangiers. Spinning slowly in the distance they stood out in stark contrast to the dark green hills [...]

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One night as I walked through the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, through the city walls and the labyrinthine cobble stone streets, I happened upon two pieces of graffiti outside of a quaint Spanish cafe. Both works seemed to be in dialogue about the “Spanishness” of Barcelona and the value of Catalonian culture. One piece proclaimed [...]

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(http://www.playsegway.com/large/sacromonte_17.jpg)
Nestled within the brilliant green hillsides of Granada, in the south of Spain, is the community of Sacromonte. Sacromonte is located in the Albayzín region, which is in the old Arabic quarter of Granada. Sacromonte, meaning sacred mountain, is a wondrous relic from the past. With it’s whitewashed stonewalls, Sacromonte is a place that holds [...]

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The Templo Expiatorio de La Sagrada Familia (The Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family) was originally conceived of by Joseph Maria Bocabella, bookseller and founder of the Asociacion Espiritual de Devotos de San Jose (Spiritual Association of Devotees of St. Joseph). The Association sought the triumph of the Catholic Church and the protection of St. [...]

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Walking through the streets of Tetuan, I was awed by the lack of visible female presence. In a time of such female liberation, and from the perspective of a student at a historically progressive academic institution, the absence of women, both in a tangible and an abstract sense, was striking. To say I was intrigued [...]

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