Week Three

It is Friday night and I have almost been in Madrid for three whole weeks!  This week, my classes went well and I am proving to have a relaxing but fun class load.  In art history, we are studying many works of art that can be found in the Prado museum.  Today, I visited the Prado for the first time.  It was an overwhelming experience.  I will definitely have to return to see more over the course of the next few months.  Our professor wanted us to see an exhibit on the Adam and Eve paintings by Durer.  The exhibit was set up so that visitors could see the back of the wood panels and learn about how it was restored.  We also saw paintings by Bosch, Van Der Weyden, Goya, and Velazquez.  I am so lucky to have access to the actual paintings that I am studying in class.  

Yesterday, we found a new lunch spot called Ital Panini.  The pizzas are so good, so we stopped there again today.  We also visited Retiro Park--definitely one of my favorite spots in Madrid!  After the park, I got a McFlurry (of course).  For some reason, everything tastes so much better in Europe.  

I also signed up for another trip today.  During the first weekend in March, I am going to Cadiz for carnival.  Carnival is a celebration kind of similar to Mardi Gras--everyone gets dressed up in crazy outfits and there are lots of parades and celebrations.  Cadiz is in the very south of Spain on the water.  We are going there through a company called European Vibe, and we will take a bus there and stay two nights.  I can't wait!

It is about 8:15 here, which means it will be at least another hour before dinner!  I am finally starting to get used to eating this late--at least the food is always delicious.  I am looking forward to two more days of exploring Madrid before it is back to classes on Monday.  

Salamanca and El Escorial

It has been a fun weekend of sightseeing.  Saturday, I went to Salamanca.  Salamanca is home to Spain's oldest university--founded in 1218--and is the fourth oldest western university.  On our way there, we stopped in Avila to snap a few pictures.  Avila is a smaller city that is completely surrounded by medieval city walls.  Outside the city, there is a great place to stop for pictures called "The Four Posts."  The scenery was beautiful.

The Walls of Avila.

The Four Posts

Once in Salamanca, I found that there is a lot to see.  We visited the Old and New Cathedrals.  The New Cathedral was built in the 16th century.  Salamanca became very populated due to the importance of the university.  The more important the town, the bigger the cathedral.  Therefore, they built a new and bigger cathedral.  We went up in the new cathedral and saw a great view of the town.  There was a huge crack in the wall from the Lisbon earthquake in the 18th century.  We also saw Plaza Mayor.  In many Spanish cities there is a Plaza Mayor.  The Plaza Mayor of Salamanca is the place where Vantage Point was filmed!  After our sightseeing, we went to find a restaurant for food and warmth.  I ordered the menu of the day.  It came with bread and butter, a huge bowl of spicy potatoes with ham, and the entree was hard to describe.  It looked like a really fancy hot pocket and one of my favorite things I have eaten in Spain.  For dessert, we had white chocolate cake.  All-in-all, one of my favorite meals!

Plaza Mayor--the site of Vantage Point.

Everyone on top of the New Cathedral.

Crack in the cathedral from the Lisbon earthquake.

Today, I went to El Escorial.  It was by far the coolest historical sight I have seen so far.  Philip II built it over the course of 21 years.  We saw the basilica, the queen and king's bedroom, the public library, the pantheon of the kings, and the tombs of many royalty.  The king and queen's bedrooms were built on either side of the alter in the the basilica.  They had windows from their bedrooms so that they could attend mass without leaving their living quarters.  In the queen's room, we were actually standing on the original flooring that was placed there over 400 years ago.  The pantheon of kings is almost filled.  Starting with Charles V, the bones of Spanish royalty are resting in ornate caskets on shelves underneath the basilica.  From there, we saw the tombs of other royal family members.  Philip II was very invested in the arts.  The rooms were filled with Flemish and Italian artwork (just like I am learning about in Art History!)  The library was very lavish as well.  It is a public library and has been ever since Philip II built it, but the books are attached to walls with chains so that no one can take them out.  This is considered the first security system in a library in Spain.  It was really nice to have a tour guide in the building otherwise I would have had no idea what I was looking at.  We couldn't take pictures inside the building--sorry!

El Escorial

Switching up our poses.  (It looks warm, but it was freezing.)

Outside of El Escorial itself, there is really not much to see.  Today it functions as a monastery, museum, royal palace, and a school.  I was completely freezing by the end of the tour because inside the building is almost as cold as outside.  By the time we were done, it was time for lunch and I had my first experience with a Donor Kebab.  Donor Kebabs are all over Europe and they are very similar to greek euros.  They are delicious and inexpensive.  And of course, for dessert, we made our way over to a cafe for some churros con chocolat.  The perfect ending to a very fun day!

Tonight Anna and I are trying to find a bar to watch the Bears/Packers game!  Go Bears!

At dinner with Gabby in the kitchen.  We eat a lot of vegetable soup!

Chocolate.

Well, I got a late start today.  After my first full week of classes, my friends and I went to a club called Joy last night.  This was our second time there.  It is a lot of fun and dancing.  Unfortunately for us, time slipped away from us and we missed the last bus home.  We are much to careful with our money to pay for a taxi, so we waited until the metro opened in the morning.  By the time we got home, Gabby and Roberto had already left for work!  Fortunately, I have no classes on Friday, so I slept in nice and late.  Today, Anna, Liz, and I went to Sol for some shopping and food.  First, we stopped at McDonald's.  (Sorry, again, not very Spanish of us, but it was a good reminder of home.)  The happy meal even comes with ice cream here!  Very tasty.  Then we walked around Sol and looked at all of the clothes.  I bought a fabulous new pair of brown boots that I am currently wearing because I am obsessed with them and can't take them off.  During the months of January and August, the Spanish have "rebajas."  Basically, everything is on sale and all of the stores have great deals.  We all bought a new pair of shoes today!  Very successful.  After shopping, we treated ourselves to some churros con chocolate at a very famous chocolate place called Chocolateria San Gines.  It was the very best that I have had so far and the shop was so crowded that we had to stand.  It was well worth the wait.  The chocolate was so rich.  I was glad that me and Anna decided to split ours.

Museum of Ham!  The Spanish love their ham.

Tomorrow, we are going on a trip to Salamanca.  Gabby told us that it was very cold there, so I will be sure to bundle up!  There is a very old university there that I can't wait to see.  They have one of the oldest classrooms and you can still see the graffiti of students from the 13th century.  I will post pictures from our day trip tomorrow.  Tonight, we are going to stay in and watch a movie because we are leaving for our trip at 8:30.  Hopefully we can figure out how to work the DVD player!

Going to Toledo and Getting a Job!

Yesterday, I went to Toledo on a SLU trip.  It was beautiful.  We went on a walking tour around the city and got to see one of El Greco's famous paintings, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.  This painting was on a "pre-test" that I took for my art history class last Wednesday.  I am excited that I was actually able to see it in person!  After our tour, we were able to explore the city.  We stopped in the shops and ate lunch at a pizzeria--I know it wasn't very Spanish of us, but it was absolutely delicious.  (I think I will miss Roberto's pizza the most).

Cathedral

The view of Toledo from the our scenic bus tour.

Posing with the roommates.

By the time we returned home, I was completely wiped out and then remembered that I actually have to go to class this week!

Today, I went to class and met the family that I will be tutoring this semester.  Their names are Luis, Juan, and Anna (10, 8, and 5).  They live in a beautiful apartment and are very serious about studying.  Their apartment is not a long walk from mine.  I was very impressed with their English.  I was a little nervous about taking on a job, but the kids are absolutely adorable and are very fun!  I will look forward to seeing them every week.  It will keep me busy.  Luis is actually following this blog.  He is very interested in computers and one of the first things he showed me was his blog.

We just ate moussaka for dinner.  Moussaka is a traditional Bulgarian dish with meat, potatoes, and egg.  It is very tasty and I remember eating it on my trip to Bulgaria.  Annie, the housekeeper, is from Bulgaria.  Because Gabby works every day, Annie prepares many of the dishes and cleans the house.  I haven't had a bad meal yet from Gabby or Annie!  Miss you all.  If you give me your address, I will send you a postcard!

School, Getting to Know Madrid, and Segovia

On Wednesday, classes started.  I really like all of my professors and enjoy the campus.  I learned that I have a class trip in March for my Late Shakespeare class to Stratford-upon-Avon to see three Shakespeare plays and Shakespeare's home.  I also have Art History and Linguistics on Tuesday/Thursday.

The campus is in a really cute neighborhood with lots of places to eat great food in between classes.  There is a sandwich shop where we can get fresh sandwiches and a drink for 2 euros--great deal for such a tasty meal!  On Fridays I don't have class.  Liz and I used our free day to wander around Sol, Retiro Park, and shop. 

Outside of my apartment building.

Puerta del Sol

Puerta del Sol

City Hall in Plaza de Cibeles

Alcala Gate

Retiro Park

Retiro Park

Retiro Park

Retiro Park

Today, I went to Segovia.  It is located an hour from Madrid.  Gabby, my senora, packed us ham sandwiches and juice boxes for a snack.  She is always looking out for us.  We went on a guided tour, then ate lunch at a cafe, and wandered the streets until it was time to return.  Even though Segovia is only an hour from Madrid, it is much colder.  From the city walls, you can see snow on the mountaintops.  

 Segovia Cathedral

Alcazar de Segovia

Roman Aqueduct 

Tomorrow I will be visiting Toledo for another guided tour.  Much love from Madrid.

After our first night out on the town, I had a day to explore some more of Madrid.  The weather was beautiful.  We went on a trip with SLU ambassadors to a palace and had some free tapas--it was delicious.  Here are some pictures from sightseeing today!

At lunch with my roommates, Liz and Anna.

Day Two in Madrid

Hello everyone!  I arrived in Madrid yesterday after 24 hours of flying from Chicago to London to Madrid.  I am writing from my bedroom that Anna and I share.  We are all settled in now and are having fun while getting to know our host family.  Roberto and Gabriela are the parents.  They are very warm and welcoming.  They do not speak English, but fortunately for me, Anna has been able to do a lot of translating!  (Thanks, Anna).  They have two children, Santiago and Alejandra.  They also have a niece, Marlena, who lives with them.  Their children are all in their late twenties.  We also have some friendly pets living with us!  Killer, the dog, and Otis, the turtle.  We were pleasantly surprised when we discovered that we have another roommate.  Liz, from Austin, Texas, lives right across the hall from us.

Last night, after a much needed nap, Roberto took us to the campus to make sure we could walk their on our own.  We also practiced using the Metro and unlocking the door to our apartment so hopefully we will have no troubles there!  (The key is really tricky).  Gabriela cooked us two delicious meals and there was so much food.  Dinner was late, at 9:30, so I will have to get used to eating at that time.  

Today we went to orientation.  It was very long, but afterwards, we went on a walking tour of the neighborhood.  We also found a great place to enjoy sangria called “The Golden Cock”.

Tonight we will be exploring Madrid.  We are going to meet up with our friends who live near plaza del Sol.  Stay tuned for more updates!  I miss everyone already, but can tell that this will be a great semester!