Madrid

The Kalamazoo troupe went to Madrid this weekend.  It was a program excursion, although we might have been better off if they would have given us each 50 euro and said “Find Madrid.”  Anyways, it was a good time.  The first day I went to the Museo Thyssens with Nick, Andrew, Hannah, and Cory.  Afterwards we went to Plaza Mayor and then out for sushi.  Hannah and Cory aren’t so big on the out- at- night thing, so they went back to the hotel.  Nick and I, however, performed one of the quintessential tasks of visiting Spain- we bought beer at Burger King.

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The next day we went spent some time walking around Madrid.  We saw lots of important buildings:

and then went to the Parque del Retiro.

We then met with our group to go to the Prado, then we went to Clamores (supposedly the best jazz club in Madrid.  It was really good, but I don’t know if it’s the best).

The next day our group went to El Palacio Real.

If you have to live in a palace, this is a pretty good choice.

My favorite part about my trip to Madrid?

Returning to Caceres.

My second favorite part about my trip to Madrid?

This week thus far:

Cadiz

We went to Cadiz this weekend. Beautiful city.

We spent the first day on the beach.  It was kinda cold, and we didnt really do anything exciting, so at that point the trip was disappointing.  We picked up some food at a supermarket and ate dinner in our hostel, slept, and when we woke up everything was better.  The weather was warm and beautiful, I had a tan line (which means that the sun changed the color of my skin in some way or another), and we just felt better physically.  We spent the day roaming around the beautiful town.  It’s full of plazas, old churches, and Roman ruins.  My favorite part was the trees.

We took the bus back to Caceres and arrived around 10:30.  The whole time back I was wishing I was back home (in Caceres).  It doesn’t matter how beautiful Cadiz is, I love Caceres.  I had a really great night last night, too.  I don’t ever want to leave.

Soy Rebelde

I love Spain. I eat cupcakes for breakfast and I never have to pay for my own beer.

Weekend Update

This weekend we went to Merida, an ancient Roman city:

There is an ancient theatre, one of the best preserved in Europe.  Also, there are Roman ruins all over the city.

When we got back some friends and I went to a bar called Air, which is on a terrace overlooking the whole city.

Sunday we climb La Montana, whose view is almost worth the insane hike.

That night Cory, Hannah, Nick and I went back to the tavern.  Cory played guitar with the band.

Afterwards Cory and I went out with Pepe and Jose, some of our new Spanish friends.  We got milkshakes and then went to a gay bar, since that’s what’s open on Sunday nights.

Yesterday after class Kristie, Nick, Hannah and I went to Eroski, which is the supermaket in the mall.  I now have Spanish toothpaste and shampoo.  Tonight we’re going out with Pepe and Jose again, and tomorrow we’re going back to the tavern.  Six of us are trying to put together a trip to Cadiz, a beach town a few hours south of here that happens to be the oldest city in Spain.  We’re having a lot of trouble booking a hotel/hostel, but other than that it should be really fun.

Mi Taberna

Yes, I already have a favorite bar in Spain. It’s a tavern in the old part of town called Taberna de Lancelot. It’s gorgeous, and the people are so friendly. Most importantly, they have live music.

It’s mostly klezmer and celtic music. The violinist and the clarinet player are AMAZING. Seriously, I have never seen fingers move so fast before in my entire life. We went there Wednesday night because Gemma recommended it. A lot of our group didn’t like it because there weren’t a bunch of drunken college students dancing to Spanish techno music. Cory and I went back last night. We talked to George the bartender, the cute clarinet player, and another girl whose name I don’t remember. They were all very nice. People here don’t smile at each other on the streets, so it was a good change to be around people who looked happy.

Today, after class, I went for a walk in the old part of the city again. There is a gorgeous courtyard with a garden, and the only sounds you can hear are birds.

Pretty as it is, the ants drove me away. Maybe when it gets a little colder they will leave me alone.

I have my schedule for classes:

Monday:

9am-10am Spanish Literature

10am-11am Grammar 2

11am- 12pm North American Literature

4pm-5pm Arabic

6pm-7pm Linguistics

Tuesday:

9am-10am Grammar 2

10am-11am Spanish Literature

11am-12pm North American Literature

5pm-7pm History of Islam in Spain

7pm-8pm History and Art of Spain

8pm-9pm Linguistics

Wednesday:

9am-10am Grammar 2

10am-11am Spanish Literature

12pm- 1pm History of Islam in Spain

4pm-5pm Arabic

5pm- 7pm History and Art of Spain

Thursday:

12pm- 1pm North American Literature

4pm-5pm Arabic

5pm- 6pm Linguistics

Some of the classes (History and Art, Islam, and Grammar) are designed for K students, and won’t have anyone else in them. The others are university classes that will be full of Spanish kids. They’re all taught in Spanish. The university doesn’t offer any classes between 1pm and 4pm, because that’s when everyone is supposed to go home and eat lunch.

Tonight I’m planning to go back to the tavern with some friends (for the third night in a row) and tomorrow morning we’re leaving for Merida. It’s a small town about an hour from here, and we’ll be back by 4:30. It’s about 3pm right now, so we’re about to eat lunch and then SIESTA.

Hasta luego!

Mas sobre la ciudad

I’ve now done two official walking tours of the city with my group, and about a hundred on my own.  The old city is beautiful:

Yesterday’s official tour showed us how to get around to the basic parts of town.  Afterwards, Kristie and I went back to explore the old area.

During the day the only things that are open there are the church, the gift shops, and a restaurant.  At night there is a bar.  Last night a bunch of us went out for sangria and wine with Luis, a Spanish student who studied at Kalamazoo last year.  First we went to Plaza Mayor, and afterwards to the bar in the old section.

Today we all bought cell phones, then we had another organized tour.  Everything they took us to see today we had already discovered on our own.  They were very impressed.

After the tour a few friends and I went to a cafe, and later tonight we’re meeting again to study for our Spanish test.  Tomorrow we go to the university for the first time.  I still don’t have any pictures with me in them, but I promise, I’m really here.

Hasta luego!

Estoy aqui

I’m here 🙂  and it’s the most beautiful city in the world.   Everything went smoothly, except for the landing coming into Chicago.  All 14 of us are now spread throughout the city with our various host families.  I got very lucky.  My host family, Maribel and Manolo, live right next to the bus station that goes to campus.  They also live next to a gorgeous park:

They have a very nice house on the third (4th by American standards) floor of a commercial building.  Both of their daughters are off at college, but they’re coming here tomorrow to visit for a few days.  I’m staying in the older daughter’s room. 

It’s a really nice room.  I have a desk, a massive bureau, wireless internet, more storage space than I know what to do with, and a pair of slippers. 

Tomorrow we’re having our first part of orientation.  We’re meeting at the post office (again, just down the street from me 🙂 ) and getting a general tour of the town.  We spend this whole week doing orientation classes together on Spanish culture, the town, and basic grammar.  Friday we have our grammar quiz, and after that I think we choose our classes.

I’M IN SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

Gettin’ Ready

In case the title didn’t give it away, I’m getting ready for Spain. I’ve made an excellent packing list:

Column A is the status, which is either “Packed” or blank. Column B is category, such as “Electronic” or “Clothing- Pants.” Column C is name, which gives a description of the item so that I know exactly what I meant. So far I’ve only packed sweaters and my coat, because those are the only things I know I won’t be using before September 14th:

I am AMAZING at packing. I will be able to fit everything I own into that suitcase, just watch. There’s enough room next to the sweaters for me to pack Connor, but I won’t be able to bring any of his larger trucks or power tools.

I have a Michigan calendar for my host family, but I want to get them something more than that. Does anyone have any brilliant ideas?

Cáceres

I will be going here: