Errors

Disregard any grammatical errors, I just noticed a couple. As my Spanish gets better my English is getting worse.

More Segovia

Also in Segovia is the Roman Aquaducts, crazy thing about them is that worked up until 20 years ago and would still work today except that the city decided to close them to preserve them. And...The aren't even kept together with cement or mortar it is all just the way the stones are stacked. Also check out the picture of me and the mini cooper...if you thought I was tall at home I think I either grew here, or everything shrank.

Segovia!

Megan and I in front of my new home...I wish. Actually that castle back there was built for the Spanish King I want to say Fernando, but far more importantly it is the castle that Walt Disney used to design Cinderella's castle. So let me just say as a girl faithfully raised on Disney Princess stories I was more than excited to be there! Put me in a ball gown and I probably would have stayed there forever. Also here are some pictures from the castle towers, yes we climbed all of the twisting staircases to the top. I could just imagine what it must have been like to live there. Pretty sure I was born in the wrong century.

Toledo

So what does Toledo have that we don't? Winding narrow streets, a wall, and of course...Swords. Toledo has some of the best metal weapons in the world. It was pretty amazing, I was tempted to come home with a sword but desisted for a few reasons 1. I assume customs does not look favorably on that sort of thing 2. Not sure what my host mother would say upon finding a sword in my room but 3. and most importantly Dinah + Big Sharp Object...not going to end well. So for the safety of those around me and myself I left the handmade swords in their glass casings. Another thing that we passed was the gold metal working. The artisans use the same tools to inlay gold into jewelry that they have used for hundreds of years. It was all very beautiful, even the weapons were handmade.

(Example of why college students shouldn't be given weapons)

Toledo is also known for its marzipan, a treat that I bravely tried, and it was good. Not something I would choose over chocolate but good, sweet and a little nutty. I did get some chocolate as a back up just in case the marzipan fell through. My newest weakness...Chocolate croissants. They are only 1.20 at the corner store and they are hard to resist anywhere.

The first Excursion

This past thursday the group of American students (there are 8 of us) went on our first excursion. This one to El Escorial a monastery in the mountains just outside of the city. The monastery was built in honor of Saint Lawrence, and houses not only the monastery, but the crypt for the royal family and the living quarters for the King. It is amazing to see what kind of architecture people were capable of 100s of years ago especially with the kind of technology that they have available to them. It only took 20 years for the entire monastery to be built. It is very impressive. 

We also had our first experience with the Madrid night life. It is very different from home. We went home at 5 in the morning and that was early! Not sure if  Im going to be able to keep up. It is interesting though because you see absolutely everyone out at night, all ages and walks of life. Im now beginning to truly understand why the siesta was created. 

Tomorrow classes start. It is going to be very different than the states I think. Im taking a math (not excited) , Art history (very excited) , Intermediate Spanish (should be beneficial), History of Western Civ (Im intrigued to see how history is portrayed without an American spin), and Cultural Introduction to Spain (this class has field trips to places such as Toledo and Barcalona). 

I have... embraced the "lisp"

It is already getting harder to talk in English because my thoughts are now for the most part in Spanish. If not directly then I am constantly translating my english thoughts into Spanish. Its a little bit difficult to understand some words here because of the "lisp" words with c for example gracias are "grathias". But I think I have picked it up decently because  I'm not getting weird looks from the Spaniards. Besides learning the lisp I think I have mastered the Metro (the subway in Madrid). After last nights fiasco...we missed the last train by a minute and had to walk over an hour home...I am now more comfortable with my directions and with the subway. But so far so good. The food is good, there are excellent pastries and chocolates so my sweet tooth is not suffering. The meal times are very different here, breakfast is similar, but lunch is not until 2 or 3 in the afternoon and dinner is normally 9:30 or 10, it takes some getting used to. But all the cafes are helpful in getting you through the day. Its been 3 pretty full days of exploring the city with my friend Megan from Endicott and our new friends from all over. So far I can say with a clean conscience that Madrid is a very good fitting city for me!

Arrived!

I have finally arrived in Spain!! It is currently 10:40ish in the morning local time which with the 6 hour time difference places me 6 hours ahead of time it is aound 5 o'clock in the morning back home! The apartment Megan and I are staying in is awesome right on a major road and about a 5 minute walk from school. We are living with one woman and there is another student here as well I believe doing here MBA (not sure) but we all have our own rooms! Im almost unpacked and very ready for a siesta before Megan and I head out to do some exploring!

Getting Closer

3 days before departure! The current weather in Madrid is sunny and in the high 80s looks like I'm heading back into summer.