Spain Day 9: Girls Night Out

Went to class and then had our group meetings.

Talked about our weekend excursion to Toledo on Saturday. I am so excited!!

 Then, Ashley and I searched the internet for HOURS trying to find deals on flights and hotels for our free weekend in Barcelona.

It really was very stressful.

So, we put away our computers and walked around Madrid for a while and ate a pastry at the bakery on our street.

It was a wonderful afternoon. 

Very relaxing.

Then, some of the girls decided to go out after dinner to Plaza Mayor. 

We had a blast.

Talking, planning, and laughing.

Solid evening.

I love Plaza Mayor. It is everything that Spain should be.

Courtney, Emily, and Ashley

 Plaza Mayor at night. 

The whole group!

(L-R) Kimberly, Emily, Allison, Ashley, Courtney, and me!

Madrid Day 8- Wash Day and Procrastination

Today, wasn't very eventful.

We had our first paper to write, so Ashley and I stayed home most of the day to work on that.

We went to class, then had a group leader meeting, and went out to lunch with the professors, which is always fun. I love to ask them about all of their favorite places and things to do in the city.

They always have the best stories.

Today was wash day, so our clothes are on the line for everyone in our courtyard to see.

Today, we spent most of the day at home. Skyping with friends and procrastinating on our papers.

My bed is a mess with all my papers, but my paper is (for the most part) is finished.

Like my sun and moon sheets? Haha.

Also, the procrastination may have payed off. 

I may have found a wedding dress!

Well, I know what I want it to look like at least. :)

Spain Day 7- Trying to be "Authentic"

It is hard to believe that I have been in Madrid for an entire week.

It has flown by!

Today, we got up early on our day of to go the el Rastro, which is their flea market.

They have the best prices on EVERYTHING.

Clothes, tourist stuff, luggage, shoes, belts, jewlery...everything.

It is also one of the other best places in Madrid to get robbed, 

so I wasn't having too much fun.

A little too nervous.

But I did buy a beautiful yellow linen scarf for 2 euros.

I really love it.

After that, we took a siesta for pretty much the rest of the day.

We were exhausted from our first week and just needed time to wind down.

Here are some pictures of el Rastro.

This evening, we had our first play that we had to attend for our lit/theater class.

So, Caitlin, Ashley, and I went out for tapas, the traditional authentic spanish food.

We all ordered different things so that we could try it all.

We ordered tortilla (like the first night- egg, potato, onion, garlic omelt),

empenada (pastry filled with meat), and a tapa called callos madrilenos.

The last one was one of the authentic tapas of Madrid, so we decided that we had to get it.

When it got to our table, it looks weird. We wondered what it was, but decided to eat it first and then worry about what it was later. We all tried it.

One bite was enough for me, the texture was crazy. And I was fully satisfied to never put that in my mouth again. So, when the bill arrived, we asked our waiter what it was.

He said that it was his favorite dish. It was cow intestines and tongue.

YES, YOU HEARD ME RIGHT!

COW INTESTINES AND TONGUE.

disgusting. but, we were brave and awarded ourselves with gelato. :)

Then, we went to our first play for our theater/lit class.

It was Cervantes' El Licenciado Vidriera.

We had a good time and the play was great!

I understood the majority of it, which was amazing!

Hasta manana!

Day 6- Segovia

Today we went to Segovia on a day trip!

We had so much fun. 

The town was small and quaint and the exact opposite of Madrid. 

Which was refreshing.

We went to their beautiful aqueduct, cathedral and castle among many other places.

My group had such a good time!

We love soaking in the sun in this new town.

Here are some pictures:

The cathedral in Segovia

aqueduct

Segovia

at the top of the aqueduct!

my group that i'm in charge of!

that's me at the bottom. the aqueduct is huge!

statue of Juan Bravo

a church

cathedral. moorish and spanish influences.

cathedral.

cathedral.

castle of ferdinand and isabella

view from the castle.

tower. we got to climb this to the top.

the view was incredible.

crest.

the throne of ferdinand and isabella

top of the castle

view of segovia from the top.

all the girls.

we had such a wonderful day. 

then went out for gelato tonight.

 i could get used to european living!

Spain Day 5

Welp, everything that we talked about in the pre-Spain meetings

 that could go wrong has gone wrong.

Plane delays, lost baggage, crazy Spain family, and now pick pocketed.

Gypsies stole my wallet with my license, student id, $200, and my debit card.

 (Dad cancelled my card, thankfully)

All while a police man watched.

He came up to me as I was frantically searching my bag.

Told me in plain English what had happened.

He saw three gypsy kids take my wallet straight out of my bag.

When I asked him why he didn't stop them, he said that it wasn't his problem.

Welcome to Madrid.

After many tears and much frustration I have come to the conclusion that

You just have to take it as it is.

I know the One who is in control and thats all that matters.

Es la vida.

On the bright side, I got some good pictures:

Madrid Day 4

Today after school, my roommate, Ashley, and I walked all over Madrid.

We had nowhere in particular that we wanted to go. 

We just walked. For two hours.

Things like that are just relaxing and somehow liberating.

We found the perfect gelato shop and went all through Plaza Mayor.

We then kind of walked off the beaten path

We scoped out places to go eat tapas and to get some paella.

We also saw that the opera Carmen is playing. 

(I think that we are going to go on Sunday!)

I also found the cutest printshop.

The man, who owned the store, had various prints from Spain in the 1920's.

He didn't have one of Madrid, but he did have one of Barcelona.

And since we are going to go there on our free weekend. I figured that it was perfect!

It'll be something that I am going to be able to keep forever and put in my house.

(Jer, I hope you like it. If not, tough luck!)

Now, the only problem is seeing how it will get home. :)

Here are pictures from today!

Just go explore, you won't be disappointed.

See?

Plaza Mayor

Streets of Madrid. 

Ashley with Nutella gelato.

Yes, it does exist!! :)

Flower shop

My print!

Not very good quality picture, but it really is so cute!