Behind the Roman Theater
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Other pictures from out trip to Merida
Monday, July 14, 2008
Trip to Mérida
Hello again, everyone! I hope you all are enjoying the pictures and posts so far, and that they are helping you to feel closer to your kids here on the other side of the Pond.
Gemma also took us around town to see the various ruins interspersed among the modern buildings. The best one was the Temple of Diana. This temple was built around the same time as the Theater and Ampitheater. The city was later taken over by the Moors, and then abandoned around 1500. Then in the 1700's, after Christians had moved into the city, the Temple was turned into a house and occupied as such until 1972, when it was handed over to the Spanish government. In fact, Gemma is from Merida and knew the people that lived there before they turned it over! :)
Our time in Merida was too short and on the way back to the train station, we were able to get a good look at the Arch of Trajan, a massive arch and former original entrance to the city and built by Emperor Trajan, the emperor between 98-117. He had defeated the Dacians and temporarily occupied Mesopotamia. The arch marked the entrance of the provincial forum. Very cool.
This last Saturday, we took a trip to Mérida, the capital of the Iberian Penninsula during the Roman Occupation around 25 B.C. Here is the Frommers.com overview for Mérida:
"Founded in 25 B.C., Mérida is at the intersection of the Roman roads linking
Toledo with Lisbon and Salamanca with Seville. Once the capital of Lusitania
(the Latin name for ancient Portugal, which included parts of southwestern
Spain), Mérida was one of the most splendid cities in Iberia. It ranked as a
town of major importance in the Roman Empire -- in fact, it was once called
a miniature Rome. Its monuments, temples, and public works make it the site
of some of the finest Roman ruins in Spain, and as such it is the tourist
capital of Extremadura."
Some of the finest Roman ruins in Spain is no exaggeration! Rome itself is nice and has some interesting ruins,
but it's got nothing on Mérida for it's level of preservation and over-all coolness.
but it's got nothing on Mérida for it's level of preservation and over-all coolness. We got up early in the morning on Saturday and caught a train to Mérida, which is about an hour away from Caceres. The landscape on the way there was very lovely and on our way in, we caught sight of our first ruin, the Acueducto de los Milagros. From http://www.spain.info/
o/:
o/:"The Aqueduct of Los Milagros which the Abarregas River and supplied the city with water from the Roman dam of Proserpina."It's very cool and one of the best-preserved in the world.
After arriving in Mérida, Gemma directed us to the park that contains the ruins of the Roman Theater and Ampitheater. These buildings were incredible! From http://www.spain.info/:
"The splendorous history of Merida can be observed in the monumental and
archaeological ensemble that it keeps, one of the best preserved in Spain.
Thus, the Roman legacy is still present in almost every little corner
of town, the Roman Theatre being one of the most emblematic constructions.
Erected in the first century B.C., the theatre can seat 6,000 people. The stage is dominated by two stacked rows of columns, ornamented with sculptures of deities and imperial figures. Next to it is the Amphitheatre, a stage where gladiators wrestled with beasts. This building, contemporary with the previous one, preserves some of its original elements, like the grandstands, the box and the gallery.
Both precincts come back to life each summer with the celebration of the
Merida Classical Theatre Festival, one of the most important of its kind in
Spain."
Gemma also took us around town to see the various ruins interspersed among the modern buildings. The best one was the Temple of Diana. This temple was built around the same time as the Theater and Ampitheater. The city was later taken over by the Moors, and then abandoned around 1500. Then in the 1700's, after Christians had moved into the city, the Temple was turned into a house and occupied as such until 1972, when it was handed over to the Spanish government. In fact, Gemma is from Merida and knew the people that lived there before they turned it over! :)
Our time in Merida was too short and on the way back to the train station, we were able to get a good look at the Arch of Trajan, a massive arch and former original entrance to the city and built by Emperor Trajan, the emperor between 98-117. He had defeated the Dacians and temporarily occupied Mesopotamia. The arch marked the entrance of the provincial forum. Very cool.Friday, July 11, 2008
Mas Escuela! (photos)
Learning in our classroom.
Raoul y Diana, on the basketball court.
In class with the Spanish students.
Raoul y Diana, on the basketball court.
In class with the Spanish students.
On the Road to Caceres (photos)
The Spanish bar we stopped at on the way to Caceres.
Ham hocks in the bar, or "Jamon".
Enjoying a break before hitting the road again.
Ham hocks in the bar, or "Jamon".
Enjoying a break before hitting the road again. 
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Our first few days in Spain
Hola, familias! Welcome to our blog! I will try to update this every few days to help give you an idea of how we're doing, what we're learning, what we're experiencing, etc., during our stay here in Caceres. I will also try to upload pictures that I take so you can actually see some of these things, as well. The kids will also add to this from time to time so you can have personal accounts from each of your children. However, be advised: since they are here to learn Spanish and experience the Spanish culture, their posts will be in Spanish. Not to worry, though - I will do my best to summarize their posts for you so that you can understand if you don't speak Spanish.
The past few days have been very full of activity, to say the least! Our flights to Frankfurt and Madrid were really nice (and since I hate to fly, that's saying a lot! :) ) and the bus ride from Madrid to Caceres was interesting. We stopped at a gas station half-way there and had a snack at the "bar" that was connected. Bars here in Spain are not like bars in the US. They are more family-oriented and friendly (everyone in Spain is friendly!) and serve basic food items like candy, chips, Spanish omlettes (omlettes made with eggs and potatoes), coffee, tea, soda, etc., but from behind what looks like a swanky bar. Also, people eat a lot of ham or "jamon" (pronounced "ha-MOHN") and it's sold as a cured leg of pig hanging from it's spot in a glass case. There was an entire display case with about 10 entire legs of ham and wheels of cheese in this bar. It was an odd sight as we sat and sipped Portuguese coffee on barstools at a rest stop in the middle of the desert. I have pictures and will upload them a little later.
Everyone has been situated with their families and seem to be doing really well. All the families were SO excited to have us come, almost to the point of being nervous! Everyone is staying in houses or apartments close to the school and to downtown Caceres and so far, they've each had individual experiences with local food and locations. All the kids are being treated as if they are members of each family and it's very cool to see. I'm sure they will have even more to tell you as the days go by!
We've started school and our school day is divided into two halves: from 10am to about noon, we study Spanish vocabulary, grammar, culture, and conversation. At about noon, the kids go out and play sports or talk with the Spanish students studying English down the hall. The Spanish kids are a little younger than ours (average age is probably 11 or 12), but all seem to really enjoy hanging out with our kids. Charlie in particular has made a good friend in 10 year old Alvaro, who is a total goofball.
After recess, we return to class and do activites as a group with the younger kids. So far, we've heard the Spanish kids introduce themselves in English, and we've also played Bingo and Telephone with them. Next week we plan to put together scavenger hunts for each other: our clues are in Spanish and theirs are in English. Based on the clues we receive, we have to find hidden letters around the school to help us spell a word or words in our respective forgein languages. Should be fun!
This weekend, we are planning a trip to Merida, the former capital of the Iberian Penninsula during the Roman Empire. This (as well as Caceres) has the distinction of being a UN World Heritage City because of it's incredible history and well-preserved ruins. Not many cities in the world have this distinction and it will be exciting to see what we learn when we're there. More details after our trip.
For now, that's about it. We're settling into a nice routine and learning a lot. I will try to update this every few days so you all know what's going on. Until then, hasta luego!
Liz Plemmons
Chaperone
The past few days have been very full of activity, to say the least! Our flights to Frankfurt and Madrid were really nice (and since I hate to fly, that's saying a lot! :) ) and the bus ride from Madrid to Caceres was interesting. We stopped at a gas station half-way there and had a snack at the "bar" that was connected. Bars here in Spain are not like bars in the US. They are more family-oriented and friendly (everyone in Spain is friendly!) and serve basic food items like candy, chips, Spanish omlettes (omlettes made with eggs and potatoes), coffee, tea, soda, etc., but from behind what looks like a swanky bar. Also, people eat a lot of ham or "jamon" (pronounced "ha-MOHN") and it's sold as a cured leg of pig hanging from it's spot in a glass case. There was an entire display case with about 10 entire legs of ham and wheels of cheese in this bar. It was an odd sight as we sat and sipped Portuguese coffee on barstools at a rest stop in the middle of the desert. I have pictures and will upload them a little later.
Everyone has been situated with their families and seem to be doing really well. All the families were SO excited to have us come, almost to the point of being nervous! Everyone is staying in houses or apartments close to the school and to downtown Caceres and so far, they've each had individual experiences with local food and locations. All the kids are being treated as if they are members of each family and it's very cool to see. I'm sure they will have even more to tell you as the days go by!
We've started school and our school day is divided into two halves: from 10am to about noon, we study Spanish vocabulary, grammar, culture, and conversation. At about noon, the kids go out and play sports or talk with the Spanish students studying English down the hall. The Spanish kids are a little younger than ours (average age is probably 11 or 12), but all seem to really enjoy hanging out with our kids. Charlie in particular has made a good friend in 10 year old Alvaro, who is a total goofball.
After recess, we return to class and do activites as a group with the younger kids. So far, we've heard the Spanish kids introduce themselves in English, and we've also played Bingo and Telephone with them. Next week we plan to put together scavenger hunts for each other: our clues are in Spanish and theirs are in English. Based on the clues we receive, we have to find hidden letters around the school to help us spell a word or words in our respective forgein languages. Should be fun!
This weekend, we are planning a trip to Merida, the former capital of the Iberian Penninsula during the Roman Empire. This (as well as Caceres) has the distinction of being a UN World Heritage City because of it's incredible history and well-preserved ruins. Not many cities in the world have this distinction and it will be exciting to see what we learn when we're there. More details after our trip.
For now, that's about it. We're settling into a nice routine and learning a lot. I will try to update this every few days so you all know what's going on. Until then, hasta luego!
Liz Plemmons
Chaperone
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