Catch a Ride, Reduce Pollutants

Skyrocketing gas prices burn more than imaginable, especially with the Texas heat. First goes the gas evaporating away with the hot sun. Next is the hole in every driver’s pocket. Finally, and most importantly, is the ozone layer, making the hole larger every year. While traveling in Spain, I saw many things we can do here, in the States, which would make a worldly impact.

The fix for this growing concern breaks down into two simple words; public transportation. The problem is figuring out why so many turn down such a beneficial alternative method of getting around. Once this gets solved, we can put our energy into preserving our ozone layer.

“The only time I see a full bus is around Fiesta or when other events are going on downtown,” said Ramiro Ramos, a VIA bus driver. “The bus is safe, and for the most part, we are on schedule.”
Part of the problem is that public transportation is not encouraged or advertised enough. VIA Metropolitan Transit displays discount information, bus routes and transfer information on their official website. Anyone wishing to access this information can go to www.viainfo.net.

According to www.viainfo.net, regular fare is $1. Reduced fare is 50 cents. In order to qualify for reduced fare, a person must be a senior citizen, student or have certain disabilities. Those also qualifying are people who receive Medicare. Veterans who hold a disability rating for aid and attendance (housebound or permanent) and total disability rating at the 100 percent level can also receive a reduced rate. Also children ages five to 11 are eligible also. In order to receive the reduced rate, a card indicating this must be shown when boarding the bus. This card is available at VIA information centers, but it is not available at the Randolph and Ingram centers.

According to the US Census Bureau, 1.3 million people resided in San Antonio as of last year. Station foreman Don Riley estimates 3,000 to 4,000 people ride the bus each day. When doing the math, the bus breaks down to be the cheaper method of transportation. Although it’s cheaper, there aren’t a lot of riders.

What this city needs is something new, something just as advanced as all the citizens of this city. We need a subway system. What is taking the city so long to generate this idea? It will reduce many pollutants people take into their bodies everyday. I hope that in the future people can stand anywhere in the city, take a deep breath, take in real fresh air and never have to wear what looks like surgical masks over their noses and mouths.

While in Spain for three weeks, the subway routes were easy to learn, and the metro was fast. It was a cheap and effective way of getting around. It cost one Euro per ride, or could break down to .60 Euros per ride if you bought a 10 ride ticket. Security was always on guard and honestly, I felt safe. I felt safer in the metro than I do driving in my own car. I am a victim of a hit and run accident. I had my car totaled and was left in pain over a week. Everyone driving is responsible for his or her own actions, however it is hard to predict what another driver might do. This didn’t cross my mind once in the metro, but it does in cars. I didn’t have one fearful thought as I boarded the metro, the only thing I had on my mind was all the fun I was going to have as soon as I reached my destination. It was like a dark cloud was removed from above my head.

In Spain, the air is different. My nasal passages opened and I could breathe. The air was fresh and crisp. It felt like I had never really smelled anything before. The air wasn’t clouded with fumes coming from vehicles. The sky was even a different shade of blue. The color of the sky looked pure, like it never encountered smog before. It saddened me inside because in the back of my mind I knew that my loved ones, or anyone back in the United States wouldn’t have the opportunity to see something like this every day unless we made immediate changes.

The main contributor of Spain’s clear skies and fresh air was the subway system. The subway is a way of life. Many relied on it and took it everywhere, like we do our cars. Each time I took the train, I wished more and more we had something like it back in San Antonio. “If the city would open up a subway system, more people would work because there would be more affordable transportation. They wouldn’t be limited to just the bus,” Ramos said. An increase in the employment rate would be a huge plus, as would cleaner air.

According to the Texas Committee on Environmental Quality, people who suffer from lung diseases and colds have even more trouble breathing when the air is polluted. The effects are worse for those who work, exercise or spend a considerable amount of time outdoors. When exercising, the air intake for some increases as much as 10 times compared to the level when resting. With air pollution, children are at increased risk for developing respiratory problems because they breathe more rapidly and inhale more pollutants per pound. The elderly also have increased health risks.

“When I was in elementary school, I had to use a breathing machine. It was hard to breathe and I was always sick,” said Sara Dehoyos, a high school student. “I take a lot of medicine and it only bothers me once in a while.”

According to the Alamo Area Council of Government, there is an Alamo Clean Air Partnership whose mission is set at improving quality of life and economic growth through federal air standards. Next year the federal government will again determine if our region violates the ozone standard based on air quality data during the summers of 2005, 2006 and 2007.

“Our air quality hasn’t increased or decreased,” said Heather Wilden, AACOG commute pollutants assistant. “We are doing better this year with all the rain, it keeps the air clean.” In order to keep within federal standards, our region must remain below 82 parts per billion for this year’s ozone value. “August and September are going to be critical months,” said Wilden.

The pollutants in the air contribute to the hole in the ozone layer. The carbon monoxide coming from cars, trucks and utility vehicles go up the ozone layer and only help the hole become larger. Everyone’s contribution of pollutants only makes it worse for generations to come.

In an effort to increase awareness, MTV often puts on public service announcements showing small ways viewers can make a difference. Whether a viewer acts on it or not is uncertain but the opportunity is there. They even have large concerts and events urging viewers to make the world a better place.

Come to think of it, public transportation is there. Why not try it? Although we may not have a much needed subway system, we do have city buses. It is a great starting point to better the environment and save serious cash. One difference (or bus ride!) is not too small to go unnoticed. Maybe one day our future generations would be able to smell the fresh clean air and see real blue skies, like the one I saw and smelled in Spain. It made such a strong impact on me. I experienced it once and I’ll work as hard as I can to see again. Only this time, I want to see it here in San Antonio.

June 7- Missing blog

The Goths boasted at one time to have the largest and strongest kingdom in all of Western Europe. In their first attempt to become a unified nation, they achieved a shaky unity. This was considered pretty good being that Spain was new to unity in general. The greatest impact the Goths had on Spain was moving the capital on the Meseta at Toledo. This made the coastal regions look at the inside as a source of political power.

Spain was different more than once throughout our textbook. As explained in the chapter, Spain was being “different again” because they had a new religion, language and culture stamped on the land by Moors. Many natives willingly became Muslim because of this. The Goths were weak and the Moors pretty much trampled them. The Moors were fearless, they were ready to take what was not theirs and make it their own.

One of the most notable accomplishments of the Moors was the mosque they created. It stands as meaning so much more now. It is forever apart of their history. If only the walls could talk, you could whispers of this difficult time in Spain. At this time, three religions ruled this area, so you can only imagine the hardships everyone endured all together. In a way it was a sanctuary for some because at this time religion tore many people apart. Religion had ties with the social ladder. What was a battle for many people was picking their true beliefs or wanting a better life and saying otherwise.

July 4- San Antonio

We are finally home and I am still not adjusted back to the American lifestyle. Our flight came in Monday night and ever since then I have not been able to hold down any food. I've been home drinking Gatorade... It is getting old but at this point I have no choice. In three weeks I completely changed the limitations of my stomach. The only thing is, I don't know how to get my old stomach back :(

Studying abroad was a great experience. It is different when you see things in person opposed to pictures in books. Personally, I skim over pictures. In person you get to see every angle, impressions of other people, and most of all the urge to ask what you want to know and understand. For some reason when I see something very unique or beautiful, I can't focus until I physically touch it. It is the same with statues, walls, flowers, animals, you name it! You can imagine I had an extremely hard time in museums, especially when seeing Picasso and Van Gogh.

Personally, I don't think the study abroad experience changed me much. If anything, it made me more aware of how strong and independent I am. Not once did I get home sick or feel the urge to call my family every two days. That sounds pretty cold hearted, but I'm not. (I did miss my cat!) I took advantage of our free time in Madrid and found something to do every day rather than sleep in. I even tried to adapt to their lifestyle. Siesta is a very beautiful thing once you get a hang of waking back up.

The world doesn't seem so big anymore. Everyone has their own way of doing things, sets of values and laws just like we do here in the States. There are beggers, hustlers and successful people here, there and everywhere. It comes down to the same general thing but its just different everywhere. You can't expect to find the same thing in every place. You just adapt to the set lifestyle. Once you do that, you already won half the battle (you can win the whole battle if there isn't a language barrier).

Then before you know it, you are back on a plane heading home awaiting the whole "adjustment" period. It's exactly what happened to me. I'm just waiting for it all to be over...

This was an experience I will never forget!

June 25- Madrid

I stepped off the green tourist bus and was nearly blinded by the bright sun. I immediately brought my hand up to my head to shield the sun from eyes. I looked around the empty parking lot and then back to the others stepping off the bus. I took another look around and thought of the weather in Rio Grande. It was bright outside, dry and hot. There were a few clouds in the sky but nothing large enough to block the sun. I took my sunglasses out of my tan messenger bag and put them on. I hoped I didn’t have to walk too far.

When everyone stepped off the bus, our tour guide Gary gave us directions where to find a bathroom. I began walking and saw very old fashioned business establishments where they sold souvenirs. The entrance of the square where everything was located looked like a white and red barn with flowers hanging off the sides. It was clean and quiet. I heard the buzz of a fly’s wings as it flew in and out of place as if they were checking out who was there. There was absolutely nobody else in sight besides our large group. It felt like a ghost town. No wonder, it was siesta!

Before I started my mission of looking at the signs to figure out where the bathroom is, I thought of a horror film. It played out perfectly in mind. I thought of the bus not being able to start after our bathroom break was over. Everyone in the group walked back into the square to find shade and wait for further direction. After some time has passed, siesta was over and night fell not too long after. Since it was time for the town’s people to be social, they revealed their real identities.... They were all zombies!

By this point I realized I watch too many horror flicks. I just wanted to go to the bathroom and get back on the bus. I turned to the left wall and walked along it hoping to find the restroom. ¨Señoras!¨ This is the place. The sign was a faded tile with a woman in a flamenco dress. Right underneath the picture you can faintly see the letters that spelled out señora.

Everyone got on the bus on time with the exception on Steve, an older tall and slender man. When we waited for him to jump on board, I took one last look out the window, and the place was still empty. Even in Madrid, I can’t shake off the weird feeling. I’m sure glad we didn’t stay too long there!

June 22- Costa Del Sol

After a long day of walking, a cool breeze gently blows and I turn in the direction it is coming from. My body is almost immediately cooled and I finally feel it is my time to relax.

I walk down the steps onto brown colored sand. It has broken sea shells in it, making it looking like grains of salt. It is different from other colors of sand I have seen. The water was different, too. It was clear until a certain distance and then all you could see was a hue of blue.

People were laid out on the sand tanning. Others were flying kites or playing games on the shore. Some people walked on the sand just where the water hit. They walked with grins, because the water was colder than they thought. They didn’t move from that spot because that is where the sand was the softest and no broken shells in it.

While laying out facing the water, I could see white sails from boats, people swimming and two people at a time in a brightly colored parachute above them sitting comfortably in seats high above the water. These people were being pulled by boat all over the sea, with the ability of having a complete view of the beach and part of the city. When sitting up from my towel, I could hear the gentle blow of the wind. It was very soothing and much deserved after all the traveling we had been doing.


Well today was our day, and the beach was the spot to be at. Sarah and I woke up around noon and went to eat Chinese food. After that, we went gift shopping and laid out in the sand. We occasionally went into the water. After a few times of going in just half way, we decided to take stop being scared and fully submerge ourselves in the Mediterranean. Boy was it cold! It felt refreshing after lying out in the hot sun. The breeze came at all the right times, so it was hot but not too hot. Over all, it was a fun filled relaxing day.

June 21- Costa Del Sol

I saw blue waters, sand and families on the beach when I looked out the window. I had been on the bus for two hours. I was asleep most of the way over here from Granada. I didn´t have a chance to rub my eyes yet, and I was visually floored by all the hotels, bars and resturants. I have looked forward to Costa Del Sol the whole trip.

When I walked through the Alhambra Gardens in Granada earlier in the day, I couldn´t stop thinking about the beach. I saw flowers, unique architecture and large bushes with large doorway cutouts. Throughout the garden we had a view of the whole city. It was amazing!

For today's assignment, we are covering the reconquest of Spain. The Moors controlled two thirds of the peninsula. They had the most powerful ¨taifas¨ based in Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, Almeria, Zaragoza, Badajoz and Toledo. Religion isn´t what controlled the political map; it was kingdoms who kept turning their back on one another and formed alliances.

One Sevillan ruler named Motadid used human skulls as flowerpots around his place and kept heads of defeated rivals in leather cases. He would take them out once in a while to admire his fine work.

Sancho III, or refered to as ¨the Great¨married the sister of a Castillan ruler, killed his brother in law and gained control of Castilla. He then put his own son in charge. Ferdinand I occupied Leon and assumed the title of ¨Emperor of the Spains.¨

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, also known as ¨El Cid¨ was a young knight who became one of the main figures in Spanish history. El Cid was exhiled by Alfonso VI and fought in service of the Moores. El Cid was adopted by Christain Spain as a national hero.

The Christians were responsible for the Moors expulsion. Jews were also expelled because they were blamed for the outbeak of the Black Death, econimic crises, refused to accept Christianity as their new religion and other various troubles. The Christians believed if the Jews were gone, all troubles would go with them.

June 20- Granada

Today we had a seven-hour journey to Granada. It is not really as long as it seems. I´ve gotten used to sleeping on the bus. My body goes into shutdown mode, and I grab my Curious George pillow buddy and fall asleep.

We had the best dinner today at our hotel! I ate ham, plenty of olives, salad, pineapple and other desserts. I finally feel full today. I am used to eating heavy, hearty meals at home. It feels like I am constantly starving, eating at every hour. Ham and bread aren´t enough for me. All the walking we do burns off our perfectly portioned meals before you know it.

While we were in Barcelona, we had the opportunity to see some of Gaudi´s work. When we first arrived, we walked through Parque Guell. This is the most colorful and beautifully designed park I had ever seen. There were flowers of all different colors that complimented the mosaic tiles that were placed on benches and even a large lizard fountain. There were large pillars and when looking at the ceiling, it reminded me of a large container of ice cream with perfect scoop indentions.

The group walked off the park grounds and headed to Sagrada Familia, a cathedral. The cathederal had deep, cave like arches. A lot of parts on it were rounded, adding a soft edge to its gothic apperance. It looked dark, but modern. It was unfinished so we could not go in. We could only admire it from a distance.

Thinking back to the cathedral's apperance, it makes me think Gaudi let his mind go free on blue prints. When I think of the park, I see so much beauty and airy areas that enhance the whole outdoor feel. His work was different from everything else we saw that day because it had unique touches, like color and specific architecture details.