Simple Home Living: 1/20/08

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Donostia Student Reunion of July 2007

Reunion Dinner at Sidreria San Bartolome

Chris and Megan on the way to the Sidreria. And, Michael and I following. :-)

OK, so you're thinking - What's up with the woman's hair? That's my question. Can't seem to get the main to calm down. Frizz and more frizz. Any suggestions?

Donostia students from The Summer in the USA program of 2007 at the reunion dinner held at the Sideria of San Bartolome.

Getaria and Zarautz

This is Getaria - the birthplace of navigator Juan Sebastian Elcano.

Getaria and Zarautz - Coastal Towns in Basque Country

On the road again. . . I took these pictures from the car after we'd left Loyola's place and headed to the coastal communites of Getaria and Zarautz. Zarautz is a very popular tourist restort. It's the longest beach in Gipuzkoa (one of the seven states in Basque Country).

This is Getaria - the birthplace of navigator Juan Sebastian Elcano.

Ignacio of Loyola - His House

Check out those stairs and the rock to build this place. Amazing.

How'd ya like to cook on this thing? Note the flooring - it reminds me of a real nice saltillo tile.

I totally have a place for this in my house. Just kidding.

This is his real table. I felt so weird sitting there...but I got over it. What kind of conversations happened around this table?

It's such a strange feeling to be walking around in someone's house with such a history. Not only is this place old - built between 17th and 18th centuries, but just the fact that life, people, family, God, war, legacy happened in the rooms that we walked through. The interior of Ignacio's house was dividedd into four floors. I think the ground floor was for the grain, animals and storage. We walked up very beautiful, wooden stairs to the second floor where I was told that was the place where every day life happened. I'm at the "cook stove." This was the kitchen and the servants quarters.

Friday, January 25, 2008

A Tour Around St. Ignatius Sanctuary

These sweet little gentleman stood in the portico holding the tape player - that gave us a mini guide of the place in English. Periodically he would point to something. I couldn't resist taking his picture or at least pretending I was snapping a photo of the statues behind him.

The Basilica is Baroque style designed by Italian architect Carlo Fontana, a disciple of Bernini. This photo is looking up at the pipe organ.

This is the Tower-house of Loyola and is what is known as the heart of the sanctuary. It's the place where Ignacio Loyola was born and spent his early years and then later where he returned after being seriously wounded in the citadel of Pamplona (1521). It was here where he had a God

experience and where he wrote the "Spiritual Exercises."

That cute guy on the right is my hubs, Michael.

This bronze sculpture depicts the scene of Ignatius arriving home after

being wounded in Pamplona.

Loyola - Saint Ignatius and the Company of Jesus

The Sanctuary of Loyola - Part One

Many of the roads through Gipuzkoa (of the the seven states in Basque Country) are through winding hills up and down. The scenery is incredible. This pic was taken through the car.

I'll let these pictures speak for themselves.

There are many Basque monuments in the different "states." Loyola's Basicila is in the state of Gipuzkoa, which is where all my blogging pictures have been taken. I've always heard about the Jesuits, but had no clue that their roots were here in Basque Country. This Basicila was built somewhere between the 17th and 18th centuries around the Tower-house of the Loyola's and in honor of Saint Ignatious - the founder of the Company of Jesus. My pictures will show inside the sanctuary and inside his house.

Team Time in Olaberria - part 2

We stayed for lunch in this town. Have you ever tried pouring from a bottle like this and hitting the target? It's quite the art.

This year's Summer in the USA team - representing Indiana, Oregon and Washington. I have one question: will there be a team representative from Arizona next year?

Or how about YOUR state?