Today was a travel day between Seville and Cordoba. We started the day with a rousing breakfast conversation between the whole choir about which kind of fruit each person in would be. Mrs Clark is a kiwi, Mrs P is a red apple, Mr Cotton is a pear and Ms Ortman is a plum, just so you know. We followed breakfast with a quick but focused rehearsal of our music for our concert later that night. It was incredibly satisfying to sing through all our music and we all felt well prepared. Thanks to Mrs Clark’s clever clever rehearsal planning, we all got to go on a little Seville shopping spree in the morning. Me, Miriam, Maia, Erin and Evelyn went on a mission to get churros, film, postcards, jewelry and cute dresses. It was a very successful excursion, if not a little rushed, and we were only two minutes late woohoo!!

The bus ride to Cordoba revealed lots and lots of olive trees in the countryside, and our tour guide shared some interesting facts about the real origin of Italian olive oil. Apparently all the olives are grown here then sold to the Italians for cheap, they then turn it into the oil and sell it for a much higher price. I really enjoyed staring out the window and getting to see a different side of Spain. Once in Cordoba we got some time to explore the new city for lunch. Me, Miriam and Maia got ham sandwiches, while Erin got lemon ice cream. We got Horchata to drink and looked around the tiny streets and white buildings, enjoying the scenery. In one building we saw an elderly woman on her balcony. I want to live like her when I get older.

The big event of the day was going inside the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba. Inside, the mix of Roman, Islamic and Christian architecture was fascinating to look at. However, the way the Catholics tore down and destroyed parts of the Mosque to make room for their own religion was definitely difficult to hear about and left a weight over us all. This day seemed to be all about bus rides.

Following the mosque we then hopped back on the bus and traveled to Úbeda, where our second concert would be. Our rehearsal and dressing space was located in a lovely little church covered in depictions of angels and other biblical figures. It was a very inspiring place to get dressed in. Our concert that night felt really good, despite the fly that landed on mine and several other choristers' faces as we sang. I was proud of how we sounded as a group and felt like we were all tuned into one another in a beautiful way. Singing Vivir Mi Vida and dancing at the end was particularly fun. The bus ride to the hotel that night was long, but sustained by a feeling of satisfaction and delight that I have continued to feel this whole trip. To my mom and dad, I miss you <3