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Exploring Andalusia
Southern spain offers many treasures of spanish culture
August 03, 2006

What could be more fascinating than a leisurely trip through the countryside of Andalusia? I ’d read so much about this southern part of Spain: The bullfights, flamenco and delicious gazpacho, a famous cold soup. Small towns with their white houses and red roofs dot the mountains. Big cities offer travelers fascinating glimpses of Spain’s history and culture.

My family and I rented a car in Seville and started on our way. We planned a route through both the small towns and large cities of Andalusia to experience all its charms.

The next day we visited a town named Arcos de la Frontera. Most of the Old Town sits high on a ridge with steep cliffs on each side. We started up the road to it. The closer we got to the top,the narrower the streets became. Finally, the street was so narrow that less than a centimeter remained between our car and the buildings! At the top, we were treated to amazing views of the countryside. Then we wandered the narrow streets that haven’t changed much since medieval time. 

Word Bank
Leisurely (adj) 惬意的；悠闲的
Tim and his wife had plenty of time, so they enjoyed a leisurely dinner.

Glimpse (n) 一敝
We caught a glimpse of the deer as it ran past us.

Ridge (n)山脊；棱线
The house sat the ridge high above the river.

Cliff (n) 悬崖；峭壁
The boys couldn’t climb down the steep cliffs of the mountain.

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Flamenco(n) 弗拉门戈舞
Many tourists visit Spain to enjoy flamenco music and dance.

Medieval(adj) 中世纪的
The medieval castle was built in 1226.