I'm here...

Well I guess it's safe to say that it's been a whirlwind since I arrived--and this is this first opportunity I've gotten to write in here. Currently, I'm in Toledo--we arrived this afternoon and staying until Sunday morning.

The flight were good. They seem like they were so long ago. I met up with the girl Ali at the Dallas airport, and she was sitting 2 rows behind me in the the plane. I had the window seat and the seat all to myself (the plane was huge--2 seats--3 seats--2 seats)--but then a girl moved into the seat next to me since her headphones weren't working in her other seat. It turns out she was 19 and from Israel and was fun to talk to. I slept a few hours on the plane, then woke up to see the Atlantic Ocean and within 5 minutes of waking up we crossed into Spain. The Madrid airport was crazy. Ali and I arrived in the Terminal 4 Satellite--then had to take a train to Terminal 4--then get our passports stamped and pick up our luggage and then take a bus to Terminal 1 to meet the group. Needless to say, it was a little crazy. We met up with the group and then headed to the hotel at about 11. Our hotel in Madrid was wonderful--it was a 5 star hotel in Central Madrid. Everyone arrived in shifts that day (I was in the first shift) and once we had our keys, we were free until a meeting that night at 5:30. I went out for lunch with 2 girls and then walked around with some other students. Then my roommate (Marli) arrived with another shift from the airport--we ended up chatting until our meeting. After our meeting, we went on a panoramic bus tour of the city and then we were free again. We have a lot more independence than I expected. I ended up at a tapas restaurant with a few others--it was good food and fun to talk with the other students. Then I crashed because I was exhausted from all the traveling.

The next day (Thursday) was incredibly busy. We visited Museo del Prado (Prado Museum) and the Palacio Real (Royal Palace). We had tours at both places and both tours were in Spanish. At the Prado we toured 3 exhibits focusing on 3 major Spanish artists--El Greco, Velasquez, and Goyo. It was amazing getting to see "Las Meninas" by Velasquez. I had studied the painting before in some class-but seeing it in person was awesome. There is a lot of symbolism in the paintings that our tour guides pointed out. From the Prado, we walked to the Palacio Real. It was a really cool place. It has over 3,000 rooms, and the royals do not live there anymore. It has 2 courtyards and is right next to the Madrid Cathedral. There were some cool clocks--since one of the kings collected clocks. Everything was very elaborate and well...royal. After the Palacio Real, our directors announced we were free for the rest of the day--and this was at 2:30 in this afternoon. I ended up going to the Reina Sofía Museum with a few other girls. It was a really long walk--but we stopped along the way in a few shops and got some ice cream. The Reina Sofía is a modern art museum--and parts of it were really neat. I wanted to go there specifically to see Picasso's 'Guernica'--another painting I had studied before. Look it up and read the history behind it--it's fascinating. Seeing 'Guernica' was incredible--so much bigger than I expected and beautiful and tragic at the same time. We also saw some very modern art--including a bunch of furniture covered in identical fabric and taped--set up like a living room. We weren't exactly sure about that one. Then we took the Metro (subway) back to the hotel--it was my first trip EVER on a metro--it was quick, cheap (1 euro)--and a relief for our aching feet. Back at the hotel we relaxed, then headed out to dinner at 9 (more on that later). I ate with 7 other girls at a restaurant a few blocks from the hotel--it was good. I had my first sangria there--which was delicious. After dinner we walked back to the hotel (about 11:30)--then decided to go get a drink and chat. I needed a little convincing to go since I'm not accustomed to going for a drink. We ended up at a bar and had some more sangria. On our way back to the hotel, we ran into our directors and about 15 other students--and this was at 1:30 am. Life here is different. Then I slept--took a while to fall asleep.

Friday--we left the hotel and went to El Escorial, a town about 50 kilos from Madrid. It has the Monastery of San Lorenzo. It is huge!!!!!!! Besides being a monastery, it also served as a home for royalty. All the royals are buried there. We went into this giant room with tombs of all the royalty since Carlos I. It was creepy--but cool. Our tour guide explained that they don't bury the bodies--just the bones. So once a royal dies, the body lies in a room for 40 years until only the bones remain before being put in the tomb. That was weird. Then I had lunch in El Escorial--then we headed to Valle de los Caídos (Valley of the Fallen). It is supposed to honor the people who died in the Spanish Civil War in the 20th century--but it is argued the Franco wanted it built just so he could be buried there. Franco is buried there in the basilica. It's a very sad place, but beautiful. Then we hopped on the bus and came to Toledo (where I am now). We rested, then had a meeting--then were free. I had dinner with 9 other people at this little restaurant in Toledo. Eating out on the terraces is a lot of fun. We were there for over 2 hours having dinner--but it was good. Took a taxi back with 3 girls to the hotel--and now I'm here writing this. I think I'll give a little 411 on Spanish culture.

-The eating schedule is way different from America. You have breakfast at 8 or 9. Then sometimes a snack before lunch at 2-3:30. Lunch is also the biggest meal of the day--usually 3 courses. Maybe another snack in the afternoon and then dinner at 9:30 or later. Anything before 8:30 is considered early and you may be hard pressed to find a place that is open and ready to serve. I'm still getting used to the eating schedule. Everyone also stays out late--hence why it is 1 am and I'm still awake--probably will head to bed after this. I'm going to end this for now--maybe add more tomorrow. For now--it's bedtime.