Last Few Days in Madrid

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

After class today I did homework from 5:30 to 11:00.  I missed dinner because I had so much work to do.  I had to translate my resume in Spanish, study for a vocabulary quiz, write a presentation and study 20 centuries of history all for Thursday.  I am SO stressed out.  I did my homework in the hallway for hours because I had perfect weefee connection right by the router.

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Today we went to Museo de Las Americas.  We left at 10:00 and I got back at 12:00.  The museum was interesting and had a lot of artifacts and gold pieces.  After, I did laundry and more homework.  After my second class I continued to study my timeline of Spanish History.

At 10:00 we had a Paris Orientation.

After the meeting we went to House of Beer for Olivia's birthday!  Olivia and I got a mini burger and it was so good!  We laughed and had a fun night.

After I came back to the room and studied more.

I literally can’t wait until I am done studying.  I am so nervous because history is hard for me and studying thousands of years in Spanish is difficult

HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY OLIVIA!!  Hope you had an awesome day :)

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Today I woke up early to study for my Advanced Conversation class.  I presented first in class and felt good about how it went.  After class I came back to the room and packed a little and studied for history of Spain until lunch at 1:45.  At 2:30 we went to take the test.  I was so nervous and when I got the test freaked out.  It was so hard and detailed.  I did the best I could.  After the test I saw my teacher upstairs and she wished us well and to have fun Paris.

I am done with classes!  The stress is over!  After, I came back to the room and packed some more.  I put all of my shampoo and products in travel size containers and threw most of my schoolwork away.  I want to carry as little as possible since I bought souvenirs. 

We then went back to El Tigre to have one last family dinner in Madrid.  We left around 8:30 and got back around 1:00.

I posted this to my facebook and will share it on here as well:

I can't believe that my time in Spain has come to an end.  2 weeks in Malaga and 4 in Madrid.  I have had the most amazing experiences while here and I am so thankful.  Study abroad has opened my eyes to the world and also to who I am and who I want to be.  I have laughed, cried, but enjoyed the moments.  This trip will forever be some of my best memories. Now off to Paris until Monday where we can celebrate, relax and enjoy!

XOXO

Will write from Paris next!  How crazy time flies!

Toledo

Monday, July 22, 2013

Today I woke up early to go to Toledo!  This was part of the package I paid for.  We left a little after 9:00 and got there a little after 10:00.  Our tour guide was great.  She told us that the saying holy Toledo came from the view that she took us to (below)!

First we went to a sword manufacturing company and watched them make a sword.  It was so cool.  After we went into a store that had all of the Damasquinado products.  Toledo is known for this type of jewelry and products and it was in all of the stores here.  It is pure 24-karat gold inlayed into darkly oxidized steel.  The jewelry has intricate patterns engraved into it.  Our tour guide told us that there are 3 different types to look out for.  The first is masters meaning that the people making these products are experts.  This type is most expensive.  The next is educators who are learning the process and these products are a bit cheaper.  Lastly is machines that make the jewelry.  It is stamped onto the steel rather than etched in by hand.  These are the cheapest.  Toledo is the world’s largest center of the production of this jewelry.  This jewelry is a treasure to have and a true item to have that is made right in Spain.

Next we went into the Sinagoga de Santa Maria la Blanca.  After we walked to Iglesia de Santo Tome.  Here we got to see a famous painting by El Greco called The Burial of the Count of Orgaz.  The painting was beautiful.  After we walked past the giant Toledo Cathedral.

After, we had free time for lunch and shopping.  Our tour guide told us that siestas are a national sport and that they are necessary.  She was funny.  Leaving Toledo was just like all of the other places we have been in the sense that they are all surrounded by dead land.  These places are like oasis (Olivia :)) and have nothing surrounding them.

Toledo is rich in history and culture and remains the way it has been centuries ago.  There are a lot of Roman aspects that you can see throughout.  Toledo was so beautiful!

We got back to Mara in about an hour at 4:17.  My room was cleaned today which was great.  I took and nap, painted my nails, did homework, updated my blog and went to eat at 9:00.  I literally can't believe that this is my last Monday in Madrid and I only have one more week!  Finals are on Thursday so this week will be filled with studying!!  I am so glad that I got to go to Toledo as my last big place to visit before Paris on Friday!  We are already planning each second in Paris to make sure we get to see everything in so little time.

Weekend Festivities

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Today Grace and I had breakfast at 8:30.  We headed on the metro and went to Parque del Retiro.  This park is huge and kind of like central park.  First we went to Palacio de Cristal.  It was so gorgeous.  There were different colored circles all around.  Next we walked around and took some more pictures.  It was nice being in the park early because it wasn’t extremely hot yet.  After, we took the metro to SOL.  Here we finally went to a El Corte Ingles.  It is basically like a Macy’s and they are everywhere.  Each store sells something different like El Corte Ingles bookstore or El Corte Ingles accessories.  We went into the one that had 7 floors including makeup, clothes, food store, post office, hair salon and more!

After we headed back for lunch and got to campus around 12:45.  After lunch I headed upstairs and started homework.  Unfortunately I have 2 papers due Wednesday so I had to get started.  At 4:30 I took a break and uploaded pictures and updated my blog.

At midnight Alyssa, Grace and I went to Teatro Kapital.  When we first got there it was drizzling!  Finally some rain to cool everything down.  Kapital has seven floors, each with its own theme.  The first floor was the best and had to best DJ.  Some floors were a Bacardi room, a room with Spanish music and a floor with more hiphop music.  It was extremely fun!  No one came until around 1:30 and at that point it was packed.  The music was awesome and the atmosphere was great.  Every so often there was a big poof of air or smoke right in the middle of the dance floor followed by gold confetti that got stuck to you.  (Side note: it is still all over my room.)  At one point four girls came on the stage with big wings and danced around.  Before we knew it, it was after 3:00.  The ceiling lights started to move and there was this big light show with music!  El Kapital was awesome and I had so much fun dancing!  After we got churros at D’CH d’Churro.  We didn't get back until after 4:00.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

This morning I woke up at 8:00 and went to breakfast at 8:30.  A few of us went to El Rastro in the morning.  It is the most popular flea market in Madrid that is held every Sunday.  I got a few gifts for people and left around 12:00.  I was so tired from getting no sleep that I took a siesta.  After I woke up the weefee stopped working from the little bit of rain we finally got, so we decided to go to dinner earlier at 7:00.  We went to El Tigre.  It was so fun!  You buy a big drink for 6 euro and then they give you free tapas.  There were six of us so we got at least 10 plates of tapas that the waiter just kept bringing out.  It was crazy, I have never eaten so many croquettes.  At one point the table next to us was done eating there croquettes so the waiter took there plate and poured it onto our plate to eat.  It was kind of gross but I still ate them.  After, we took the metro again to SOL.  We went to Chocolateria San Gines for chocolate (hot) con churros.  They were so delicious and have been in Madrid since 1894.  After we took the metro back and got in a little after midnight.

Field Trips

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Today was rough getting up in the morning.  I was super tired from the long weekend and not looking forward to class.  I only had my advanced conversation class today, which was good.  Instead of our history of Spain class we had a field trip at 6:00.  In the meantime I worked on my presentation for my morning class.  We had to develop our own business and basically pitch the idea to get investors.  Our store was an anti-theft accessory store.

For our field trip we went on the metro and walked through Plaza de España.  We then walked to Templo de Debod.  The temple was originally built in Egypt.  Spain helped Egypt and as a gift the Egyptian state donated the temple to Spain.  The temple was rebuilt in Parque del Oeste.  It was small but who cares because it came all the way from Egypt and holds a lot of history.  After, we walked down Plaza Mayor, which was so cool.  It led right into Sol, which is another main area.  We took two metros back just in time for dinner at 9:00.  After I stayed in and did some notes for class.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Today after our presentations we went to Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia.  It was free with our student IDs.  Here there is also the Dali exposition but there wasn’t enough time to see that also.  The museum was interesting and each floor was different.  Some of the artwork was weird and I could have done it myself.  It was cool though to see some of Pablo Picasso’s artwork.  One of them is Guernica.  After we headed back in time for lunch.  I had my second class and after I outlined my textbook until dinner.

I really enjoy going on field trips during class because it breaks up the day nicely.  Two 3 hour and fifteen minute classes suck.  By the time classes are over it is already 6:00 and the day is done.  By doing field trips during the day I am able to see more things!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

After classes I came back to the room and did some homework.  After a group of us went across the street to House of Beer.  It was so yummy.  I had Alhambra beer that was from Spain.  After we walked to Campus Bar.  It was so fun because we were the only ones there.  We danced around and had a great time!

Friday, July 19, 2013

Today in my advanced conversation class we took another field trip!  We walked to Real Madrid Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.  It is a soccer stadium.  We walked through the entire stadium.  First we saw a panoramic view of the entire stadium.  It was so huge!  Next we walked through these interactive rooms where there were old soccer balls, trophies and more.  We saw the locker rooms.  We made our way down and took pictures right on the field.  After we went through the pressroom.  It was so cool!  We made it back in time for lunch and then went to my next class.  After class I passed out for about an hour.  After I started homework and went to dinner.  After dinner I went to buy water and came back and did some more homework.

I had a great week filled with so much exploring!  I loved it!!  I can't believe tomorrow is my last weekend in Madrid.  The time is flying by here :(

Leaving Barcelona

Monday, July 15, 2013

Today I woke up at 8:25 to go to breakfast.  I unfortunately still have no voice.  After I finished some last minute packing I updated my blog because the wifi was so fast in the hotel.  We met for the bus at 11:00 to head back for Madrid :(.  One of the boys on our trip never came back after going out the night before.  Instead of heading back to Madrid the Barcelona Soccer Stadium.  Everyone was so worried about him.  We got to the stadium at 12:00.  We didn’t have time to go into the stadium so we walked around the store.  We left 12:30.  We thought we were going back to Barcelona but an hour and a half later we realized we weren’t.  We stopped at our first rest area at 3:15 ish and left at 4:00.  We continued on and stopped again at 6:30 and left at 6:50.  We got back to the college in time for dinner around 8:30.  Laura and I brought our luggage straight to dinner.  After, I unpacked and relaxed.

I literally can’t believe that this trip is over.  I have been dreaming about Barcelona for so long and it finally happened.  I hope to one day go back because I love it there.  Barcelona is so rich in culture and there is history on every corner.

Beautiful Barcelona

Friday, July 12, 2013

Today I woke up at 5:30 AM to finish getting ready for BARCELONA!!  We got on the bus and left at 6:10.  I sat next to Laura.  We got to our first rest stop at 8:35 and left at 9:00.  I tried to fall asleep on the bus but it was hard to stay asleep.  We got to the next rest stop at 11:45 and left at 12:45.  We got to the Hotel around 3:00.  We are staying at Ayre Hotel Caspe.  It is really nice.  Our room number is 121.  My roommate is Rose.  We have AC, weefee and a normal shower!!  It is so great we even have some English tv channels.

After we settled in we went to grab a quick lunch.  We started our optional walking tour around 5:20.  Vanessa and Alejandro led the walking tour.  First we went to Cataluyna Square where there was a beautiful water fountain.  Next we walked to Las Ramblas, which I absolutely loved.  It was a long street with no cars that had food, vendors, street performers and shops.  They had all kinds of food, all sorts of souvenirs and local crafts.  By the end of the strip there was a huge outside food market called Mercado de la Boqueria.  There were fresh fruits, candy, meat and fish vendors and so much more!  Next we walked into Placa Reial (that’s how they pronounce and spell it in Catalan).  At the end of Las Ramblas is the Monument of Christopher Columbus.  At the top he is pointing to the port.  Next we walked to the waterfront called Rambla de Mar on the Old Port.  There were many boats and further down tons of cruise ships.  Here one of the girls from the group almost got pick pocketed by a gypsie using her scarf as a cover-up.  Thankfully she noticed and grabbed the ladies wrists.  Next we walked to Parc de la Ciutadella.  It was so beautiful and there was this huge fountain.  We were all joking that it is the perfect wedding spot.

We got back around 9:00 and a bunch of us went to a Mexican restaurant.  We showered and got ready to go out.  About 25 of us went to Opium Night Club.  It was free entrance before 1:00 so we got there at 12:00ish.  There were about 8 nightclubs that were all right on the beach.  It was so cool!  We had no problem getting in.  It was so big inside and we had such a great time!!  I had a rum and coke that was 12 euro and I almost died when I paid so that was my only one.  We danced and the music was great.  We left around 2:00 because we had to get up early the next day.

I am so excited to finally be in Barcelona!!  I have been looking forward to this mini getaway for so long!  It is nice to get out of the dorm and get away from all of the classes and homework.

It is also interesting to listen and read Catalan.  It is a dialect that they speak in Barcelona.  It is sometimes hard to read signs because the words are completely different.

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Today I woke up at 8:30.  Breakfast in the only meal we get for free so we made sure we filled up.  It was actually really good.  We met in the lobby at 10:00 to start our bus / walking tour.  We had a tour guide, which was really nice.

Our first stop was to see La Sagrada Familia, which is the Church of the Holy Family.  It was only a 3-minute drive from our Hotel.  It has been under construction for many years and will only be complete if they get enough donations.  Gaudí devoted many years to the project.  It is absolutely beautiful and so massive.

Next we drove down a Diagonal Avenue, which is 13 KM long.  The streets are so interesting because there are no corners.  Instead there are octangonal streets because all of the buildings are squares.  Next we went to Montjuïc Hill which had a beautiful view of Barcelona.  After we drove by the Christopher Columbus Monument again that we saw the night before.

After that we went to the Old Quarter and saw Kings Square, Archivo de la Corona de Aragón that holds important archives and Cathedral Square.  We also saw the oldest store which is now a candle shop.  They were all so beautiful.

After we drove to Park Güell.  I absolutely loved this park.  The architecture and all of the mosaics were amazing.  Guadí designed it.  There were so many people there but I took as many pictures as I could.

After we were all starving and all went to a buffet.  It was a salad and grill buffet so it was good.  We got back to the Hotel around 4:00.

From 4:00 to 5:00 I uploaded pictures and updated my blog in the lobby.  This hotel is so cool and trendy.  I love it!

After I took a siesta and at 7:30 a group of us met in the lobby to go back to Las Ramblas.  On our way there we stopped in some shops to look around.  Laura and I got so excited when we saw a chocolate shop.  They were so nice in there and gave us samples of chocolate and a milkshake.  It was so yummy and the chocolate was made in Spain!  We walked down Las Ramblas and I bought some presents and souvenirs from the local stands.  I like to try and support the local people because they make everything themselves and it is authentic.

Next Laura and I split from the group to get dinner.  We went down a side alley and found this amazing restaurant.  We had sangria and four different types of tapas.  It was soooo delish!  We spent hours there.  We left and got back to the hotel around 1:00.

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Today I slept in a little and woke up at 10:00.  We went to breakfast and then met in the lobby at 11:30.  We took taxis to the Olympic Stadium.  This stadium was used for the 1992 Olympics.  The stadium was so big!  They were setting up for the 2013 world aquatics swimming competition so it was crowded.

Next we took a taxi back to the Christopher Columbus Monument and walked around to find food at Las Ramblas.  We got pizza and I ended up grabbing a few more things on the street.  Next we walked to the beach and stayed until 5:00.  We took another taxi back because it was too far to walk.  The taxis are really cheap here and split between four people it is cheap.  I had dinner in the hotel because it wasn’t expensive at all at 6:30.

At 8:45 we met in the lobby to meet Vanessa so she could take us to the light show.  The walk was a little under an hour.  You had to pay to use the elevator to go to the top to watch the show but we didn’t want to do that.  We went into the mall and took the escalators all the way to the top for free instead.  It was so cool.  Lights were being projected onto a huge water fountain with music playing in the background.  After, we headed down and walked to the fountain.  It was amazing.  You could feel the water during some parts because the water was so high.  After the show Grace and I took a taxi back to the hotel.  I finished packing and went to bed.

I had such an amazing time in Barcelona and can’t believe we are leaving tomorrow.  I wish we could stay longer.  I love it here and there is so much more to see and do!  We tried to do so much in so little time.  One day I will be back here!!

Phone Problems

Wednesday, June 10, 2013

This morning I knocked my Spain phone off of the nightstand and of course my luck the screen turned gray.  I couldn't do anything about it until after my afternoon class so I did laundry.  It was so nice to finally have clean clothes again and underwear!  I have all of my clothes spread across the room drying but honestly it took about 2 hours since its so hot in here for everything to dry.  After I tried everything I could to fix the phone and it still wouldn't work at 6:30 Laura, Olivia and I went to the Vodafone store at the end of the first metro line to get it fixed but of course they couldn’t help me.

After we went to a supermarket and had the best sushi!  We sat at a bus station and ate sushi like the classy people we are :)  We then went next door for a real dinner since we shared the sushi and had pizza.  After, we went on another metro line to try a different Vodafone store.  The guy basically told me he doesn’t know why this happened and that it was probably a defective phone.  My options were to send it to a repair shop which would take longer than I am here or buy a new one.  So I decided to buy a new one but of course they ran out.  He told me to come back tomorrow.  Let’s cross our fingers that I can get one tomorrow after my first class.  Tomorrow I also have to pack for Barcelona and get ready.

Although this day was really frustrating I did finally find herbal essence shampoo :)  Looking forward to a new day tomorrow.  I AM SO EXCITED for Barcelona!!

Thursday, July 11, 2013

After my morning class I went back to Sol to get a new phone with Alyssa.  The guy who helped us was really nice and didn’t understand why that happened to my phone.  After we got my phone we headed back and made it in time for lunch.  I started packing before dinner and it took me longer than expected.  I packed my little suitcase and 2 backpacks.  After dinner I went to the bank to take out money out for Barcelona.

I am so excited that I don’t think I will sleep tonight!  I have to be up early tomorrow but I don’t even care!

A Day In Madrid

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

After we took our test and did our presentations in my advanced conversation class we went to the Prado around 11:00.  When we got off the metro one of the girls in our group was told that two women were following us and to be carful because they were thieves.  I wasn’t scared but I held onto my bag tighter.

We first went to the Museo Naval.  It was really cool to see all of the naval equipment.  After, we walked to the Prado.  We got in for free with our student ID.  It was nice to walk around again and see things I missed the first time.  Some of us wanted to be back in time for lunch so we left around 1:15.

After lunch I met with my group and we worked on our paper for our History of Spain class.  I sat in the classroom and cranked up the AC.  It was so nice to sit in AC and write my paper.  For once I wasn’t sweating and my computer wasn’t overheating.  After I worked on my paper I went upstairs to take a nap.  After my siesta I went to dinner downstairs with the girls.  The dinner was awful so we went to Burger King.  We hung out there for a while because there was good weefee and AC.  As we were walking back we saw lighting and heard a little thunder but so far no rain.  After, I came back to my room and finished my paper.

**HAPPY 21^ST BIRTHDAY TO CYNNIE AND BRITT!!  I can’t believe you girls are 21!!  Have so much fun XOXO

Museums

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Today we ate breakfast at 8:30 and headed to the metro at 9:15.  Our first stop on our journey was to go see Museo Nacional del Prado.  We got in for free with our student ID’s.  The Prado is a huge art museum located in central Madrid.  In it includes Spanish, German, Flemish, British, French, Dutch and Italian paintings.  Some artists include Goya, Greco, Velazquez and many more.  The paintings and sculptors were so beautiful and grand.  Some of the paintings even looked like they were 3-D, it was so cool.  We stayed here until 12:00.

After, we went back on the metro a few stops to see the Royal Palace.  We got student discount tickets that were only 5 euros.  This palace is the official residence of the Spanish Royal Family but now it is only used for state ceremonies.  As we walked through each of the different rooms I fell in love with it more and more.  First we saw a old pharmacy that was filled with jars all the way to the ceiling with medicine.  It was so cool and so well persevered.  Next we went into the palace.  The ceilings had such amazing detail and color.  Charles III died in the bedroom that we got to walk through.  It was such a cool feeling to see right where it happen.  Olivia and I were freaking out and breathing the same air that he did.  It was so surreal how much history this place holds.

 t stinks because we weren’t allowed to take any pictures inside either of the two places but it was so amazing to see these two places for almost no cost at all.

After the palace I got a postcard and we got ice cream.  We headed back and not to long after had to leave again for a class trip with my History of Spain class.  We left at 6:30 to get on the metro to take to the bus station.  We missed the first bus so we took the next one.  We took a 45-minute bus right to a town called San Lorenzo de El Escorial.  Here we saw El Escorial, a Spanish royal site that also functions as a monastery, royal palace, museum, and school.  Also royal bodies are buried under it!  We got there too late and the place had closed.  Mass was going on so I popped in and said a quick prayer.  After we walked around a little and headed back for campus.  We got back after 10:00 and went to have dinner.  I had my first real salad in a while and it was delicious.

Today was such a busy day but a fun filled one at that.  My feet are killing me but it was all worth it!  I will sleep when I get home.