Granada!

[thismortalcoil]

Hola a todos...
I am going to study in Granada for 6 months beginning in October. I will be staying with a host family and attending a language institute. I'm so excited!!
I have read nearly everything I can find online about Granada, but I would love to hear any opinions, advice, or general info you all may personally know about the city!
For example, what are the best restaurants / hang-out spots / hotels (for my visiting family) / things to do? Any advice on cultural differences I may face? (I'm from southern USA).
I can't wait to experience Spain! ;D
Thanks!

[greytop]

Hola a todos...
Any advice on cultural differences I may face? (I'm from southern USA).
I can't wait to experience Spain! ;D
Thanks!

Lucky you!
Best advice anyone ever gave me about travel was not to compare it with home or expect to find the same things you are used to. It will be different, but that's why you travel.
Enjoy every minute and don't miss the Alhambra.
Your host family will have had other students so will be only too happy to point you in the right direction. The winter can get quite cool and the mountains are not far away if you like the snow, so pack something warm.
Keep us posted on progress.

[Ben]

Hi and welcome to the forums! You have to check out the cave discos in the Sacremonte, really bizarre. My favourite part of Granada is the Albaicin, a labarynth of quite white-washed flowery pedestrian streets on a hill opposite the Alhambra Palace - wonderful. Try to visit Guadalix while you are there too, where thousands of people still live in cave houses! - It's about 40 km from Granada. Almeria is close as well, a semi-desert region where a lot of the Spaghetti westerns were filmed - also has some lovely, wild coastline.

You are going to have the time of your life, I hope you post here and tell us all about it once you arrive!

[Brian]

For example, what are the best restaurants / hang-out spots / hotels (for my visiting family) / things to do? Any advice on cultural differences I may face? (I'm from southern USA).

Difference#1: If you're a Southerner (as I am), you can forget about the traditional "big breakfasts" composed of eggs, bacon, toast, and grits. I'm sure they're available SOMEWHERE in Spain, but most Spaniards that I know eat a very light breakfast.

Difference#2: They don't say ya'll, nor do they play our brand of football. ;)

Seriously, I would read Culture Shock Spain (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1558686304/102-7893499-8239312?v=glance&n=283155) if you want to get read-up on common cultural tendencies. It is an excellent book, and should prepare you well.

Have fun, and 'welcome to NFS!

[ValenciaSon]

Are there any Piggly Wigglys, Winn Dixies or Starvin Marvins in Granada?;)

[richardksa]

Difference#1: .....you can forget about the traditional "big breakfasts" composed of eggs, bacon, toast, and grits. I'm sure they're available SOMEWHERE in Spain, but most Spaniards that I know eat a very light breakfast.

OK! I have no idea what a "grit" is, but as for the rest of the breakfast it is possible to get it in Madrid, but not everywhere. Sounds like an idea for a "Spanish Cuisine" (and why isn't it "Cocina de España"?). Oh! Er, just a minute, I suggested that months ago. Oh well, maybe Marina does not eat breakfast!

[Brian]

OK! I have no idea what a "grit" is, but as for the rest of the breakfast it is possible to get it in Madrid, but not everywhere. Sounds like an idea for a "Spanish Cuisine" (and why isn't it "Cocina de España"?). Oh! Er, just a minute, I suggested that months ago. Oh well, maybe Marina does not eat breakfast!

According to www.grits.com (http://www.grits.com), "Grits are small broken grains of corn. They were first produced by Native Americans centuries ago." It's a typical Southern breakfast side-dish, boiled until semi-tender, then salted and buttered to taste. They're even better when mixed with cheddar cheese. Many don't like their insipid taste and "gritty" consistency, but I like a portion of them from time to time if I'm eating eggs and bacon (which isn't very often these days).

[Marina]

You are right Richard I usually don't have a massive breakfast usually only fruit and then at 9 o'clock I have a tea with buiscuits at work! I'll be speaking about Spanish breakfasts in a podcast soon.

Welcome to the forums thismortalcoil.

[Edith]

According to www.grits.com (http://www.grits.com), "Grits are small broken grains of corn. They were first produced by Native Americans centuries ago." It's a typical Southern breakfast side-dish, boiled until semi-tender, then salted and buttered to taste. They're even better when mixed with cheddar cheese. Many don't like their insipid taste and "gritty" consistency, but I like a portion of them from time to time if I'm eating eggs and bacon (which isn't very often these days).

They have got them in Mexico too; there, hominy grits are called nixtamal.

[Edith]

Hola a todos...
I am going to study in Granada for 6 months beginning in October. I will be staying with a host family and attending a language institute. I'm so excited!!
I have read nearly everything I can find online about Granada, but I would love to hear any opinions, advice, or general info you all may personally know about the city!
For example, what are the best restaurants / hang-out spots / hotels (for my visiting family) / things to do? Any advice on cultural differences I may face? (I'm from southern USA).
I can't wait to experience Spain! ;D
Thanks!

Welcome to the forum Thismortalcoil!

Andalucía is a wonderful place, and I'm sure you are going to enjoy yourself in Granada! One of the things I like most about Andalucía is its Moorish architecture and its flamenco tradition. Spain is a country of contrasts and Granada is very different from, say, Barcelona or Madrid. Hopefuly, you will have some time left to travel around.

When you visit the Alhambra, make sure to go there very early in the morning because it can get very crowded.

Here is a website about Andalucia which might be worth checking out:

http://www.andalucia.com/

Have fun and keep us posted!

[thismortalcoil]

Thank you all for the responses!
I'm sure I will miss my sweet tea and grits, and home in general, from time to time...but I am so excited to experience a different way of life and try new things!
The purpose of my trip is to serve as an Ambassador of Goodwill for Rotary International (http://www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/index.html), and they are providing me with scholarship money to study while I'm in Spain. Part of my "duty" is to promote cultural understanding in both directions. So, I look forward to trying and experiencing Spanish customs, but also to baking chocolate chip cookies and making sweet tea for my Spanish family! (I suppose sweet tea is no good if you didn't grow up with it, but it's like water here!)
And thanks Brian; I will certainly check out that book!
:)

[Edith]

Thank you all for the responses!
I'm sure I will miss my sweet tea and grits, and home in general, from time to time...but I am so excited to experience a different way of life and try new things!
:)

Make sure to check out the food sections on this forum: Spain - along with Italy and France - has got some of Europe's most delicious and colorfol food! And then there are the wines... :)

[richardksa]

........ and making sweet tea for my Spanish family! (I suppose sweet tea is no good if you didn't grow up with it, but it's like water here):)

How does "sweet tea" differ from normal tea with lots of sugar?? Do you have it with milk or lemon?

[Brian]

How does "sweet tea" differ from normal tea with lots of sugar?? Do you have it with milk or lemon?

No, you brew it up in a pot with several teabags, then dilute it and chill. Add whatever sweetener you like, fill a glass with ice, then pour. Some like a wedge of lemon in it, too.

Some of us call it iced tea, also.

It's definitely a thirst-quencher on a hot day. I know that some of you hot-tea drinkers will yell "sacrilege," but don't knock it until you've tried it....