Behind the Scenes of the Olive Trees

By Ashley Lyons

In Seville, our got to visit an olive farm that has been there for 400-500 years for an olive oil tasting and some education. The Greeks and the Phoenicians brought the olive trees to the Iberian Peninsula. Olive cultivation was expanded more by the Romans, who improved the techniques of oil production. Later, the North African people, known as Moors, continued to perfect the technique. (The importance of the Arabs is relevant because the Spanish word for oil comes from the Arabic language.) Now, after thousands of years of tradition, Spain is the major producer and exporter of olive oil in the world today.

Going to an olive oil farm was such an amazing experience. Our guide, Isaac, was so knowledgeable and passionate it reflected on the tour. The Basilippo area has the owner’s home, land, and mill all in one property. There are over 6,000 olive trees and three different varieties there. You can see them lined up for miles. They produce the best extra virgin olive oil that is used for cooking, frying, and dressing. No oil is better than extra virgin olive oil. The olive is squeezed and nothing preserved is added to it. When it is squeezed perfectly you can smell the aromas of apple and banana peels, tomatoes, and fresh scents. The olives begin to grow in May and reach their maximum size in September. Olives are only produced once a year.

Of course olive oil can be found in any grocery store, but Isaac gave us all the information we need to be an olive oil expert! Extra virgin olive oil means it’s perfect. When you’re in the store and see any information about the picking time of the olive on the bottle, that’s the one you should pick because you know it’s legit. Another sign of the better quality is when the bottle says it’s made in Spain. Virgin olive oil is the second best in quality. This means there is something slightly wrong with it with modest taste defects. The worse type of olive oil is lampante olive oil, which has serious unpleasant, sensorial defects. This happens when you wait too long to squeeze the olives, which will start to give a bad smell, or the olives are bruised and defected. This type of oil can’t be sent to the grocery stores to sell. It has to be sold to a factory that will try to clean it up. This oil is then labeled as refined lampante + virgin olive oil.

I think this was a highlight of my trip to Spain. I don’t think I would experience anything else like this tasting in the world. We tried all different types of oils, but my favorite was the Basilippo Aromas (orange and vanilla types). I tried something I’d never in my life expect to be so good. Chocolate ice cream with a pinch of sea salt that was topped with orange olive oil. What a combination! I had to buy it to bring home to do on my own. The other types of oils were Gourmet (used for salads, greens, and bread), Seleccion (used for seafood, dressing, and sauces), and Organic (used for pasta, game meat, and BBQ). I had a great time with my group learning everything you can about the olive oil process and taste!

Seville: Home of the 360° Views

By Liz Mercado

When we first arrived in Seville, I noticed that it was more crowded and had less of a coastal feel than any city we visited in Portugal. I was impressed when I saw that Seville had more shopping areas, restaurants and a busier nightlife. While Portugal was more relaxed, Seville had more sights to see, and the city came to life after dark. In Seville, I was able to see many different types of buildings, foods, and had the opportunity to experience authentic Spanish culture. The most fascinating moment of my visit to Seville was our journey to the Seville Cathedral. I loved learning about the history of religions and seeing old churches, but I have never been able to experience anything like the Seville Cathedral. Our guide, Gloria, told us that the cathedral is the third largest in the world, and was built in the Gothic architectural style. She took us into the cathedral, and I was mesmerized by the huge, vaulted ceilings, and the spectacular organs on each side of the cathedral that were made out of wood and carved with intricate designs.

Today, they are no longer owned by private families, and remain a part of the cathedral. Next, we were led into a room where there was a large, wooden, statue of Christ on the cross and explained that it was made here in Spain. Gloria talked about the importance of religion in Spain, and taught us about the parades that take place in the city every Easter during La Semana Santa, where people carry a heavy statue of Christ on their backs throughout the city. There were separate areas of the cathedral, blocked off by large, iron gates, and Gloria explained that these areas were once privately owned by wealthy families. These families would have these sections of the cathedral as their own personal place of worship and could even be buried there. After she told us about the traditions and practices of La Semana Santa, Gloria led us into a room that contained some of the treasures the cathedral owned. We saw gold goblets dating back over 500 years, gold plates, and even two crowns decorated with pearls and jewels.  They were spectacular. I loved visiting the Seville Cathedral, and my absolute favorite part was climbing the tower that contained a ramp with 34 turns, and seeing the mesmerizing 360 views of the entire city of Seville.

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Welcome to Lisboa: The Historical Capital Everyone Should See

By Liz Mercado

As soon as I arrived in the city of Lisbon, I was amazed, and was trying to take in all of the beautiful scenery. I was in awe of the tall palm trees, and all of the different types of vibrant orange, purple and pink flowers everywhere. The sky was such a beautiful color, and there were no clouds in the sky. When we took our panoramic bus tour of the city, I noticed that Lisbon is a very hilly region, and you can see all the different areas of the city. I loved how all of the houses were painted bright colors with terracotta roofs. They looked like they came straight from the Mediterranean. I also noticed that everywhere we went, the streets were paved with cobblestones. I was also surprised to see how clean the city was. In Connecticut, I’m so used to seeing the streets littered with garbage, being in such a clean city was a new experience for me.

      On the bus tours, I learned some of the history of Lisbon. Our tour guide, Nicholas, told us that in November of 1755, there was a massive earthquake that was so destructive, it made Lisbon crumble. The aftershocks were so powerful that they were felt as far away as Salamanca, where its cathedral has cracks in it.The piece of information that I found most interesting was the fact that Belem, one of the four districts of Lisbon, was founded by Miguel II after he prayed to St. Mary and told her that if Vasco da Gama was successful in his journey, he would dedicate the town to Bethlehem.

In Lisbon, I saw beautiful architecture and structures over 500 years old. I saw many marble sculptures depicting religious and historical events, and the religious sites like the old churches and cathedrals were amazing. I also saw many olive trees and train like trolleys on tracks around the town square- something that I could never have seen in Connecticut. As we were traveling into the city, I could see the statue, Christ the King, (a replica of the Christ the Redeemer statue found in Brazil). Initially, I felt overwhelmed arriving in Lisbon, due to the fact that I have never been outside of the United States before, and I know about 3 words in Portuguese. I was unsure of what to expect in Portugal, but after the gorgeous city took my breath away, I was excited to explore the city and discover what Lisbon has to offer.

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A Passionate Dance

‘Olé’

By Nelson E. Román

Photo by Mariajose Valdez

One piece of Spanish culture I wanted to explore more of was the country’s music. Music being an universal way of expression and worship that produces a feeling in all human beings, I longed to experience at Spain’s arrival,’El Flamenco.’ The special incorporation of dance moves, instrument playing and vocals, unified by a clash of cultures, a genre known as Flamenco. The style integrated into this musical euphony of Flamenco originates from the outcast populations in Spain.

Flamenco has had a long journey, one dating back to a time where Gypsies would express themselves in caves through music. The dancers of this art-form based themselves in certain traditions and spontaneity. At times, the bailador/a (dancer) will stand still to the cantor (singer), until she or he feels inspired to express his or her heart through the music.Flamenco is something that touches your soul. The music gives an exuberant manifestation, shows passion, dedication and tells a story. The vibrant music is at its best when the Flamenco guitar is played skillfully and the cantaor sings to his or her highest key. During the Flamenco show in Madrid, I was in awe when a male dancer incorporated his dance steps and synced his body in rhythm.There was also a woman dancing throughout the performance. She presented her heart’s feelings towards the music and the story that was sung. La bailadora expressed with her all an emotion, especially with her face, which resounded louder than sound. Flamenco music is an art--an artistry which during its execution, if all of the performers in the ensemble give their all to the flow of the rhythm and the melody--will impact the listener's heart and soul. At last, giving a sense of revivification to their existence.