Hey everyone! I know I haven't posted in a while - sorry about that. I had this really cute idea about posting my last post on the train ride home (since I did my first post on the train ride to NJ), but I felt sick and dead on the train so that never happened.
The last few days in Madrid were amazing. I miss it, but it's nice to be back and see my family. The farewell dinner was AMAZING. Carmela put together a dinner at a restaurant in Atocha (the train station). We had a private room to ourselves. We had some champagne to start, followed by dinner (duck confit) - all of which was to die for. Afterwards, there was some dancing (and an open bar). Enough said, we headed home around 3am.
By the time I got home, I decided it wasn't worth sleeping. I stayed up late talking to some people then slept from 6am-7am. I met Sydney at 8:15, and we caught our shuttle to the airport. The flight was far too long - 8.5 hours. The first thing I bought in America was a peppermint mocha though - oh how I've missed those.
Anyways, I haven't felt good the past few days. I felt sick on the train ride home from NJ, and I haven't been to work since Monday. It feels like it might be the flu, but I was able to eat something today. Can't wait for Christmas!
I've uploaded the last of my photos into my general album. You can find the link on the right side of the page. Thanks to everyone who has been reading this!
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Last Two Weeks!
Hey everybody! Nothing much to post, but I just realized I hadn't updated this in a while. Thanksgiving was...special. We had "Spanish" Thanksgiving, which was hardly the same as Gradma's stuffing. It started with salmorejo (a thick gazpacho) and croquettes, which were good. Then we had these small vegetable wanton things...not really sure why, but they were also good. Then came the "pavo" - hardly what any American would call a stuffed turkey. I think what they interpret "stuffed" turkey to be is that we stuff garlic into the turkey. Anyways, that plus the gravy they concocted combined to make a really interesting meal. Instead of tasting like turkey, it tasted more like terikyaki. Also, the sides were just some vegetables, and for sauces we had raspberry instead of cranberry sauce and a few sauces that tasted like caramel. For dessert we had apple tart with green apple (note - jolly rancher) ice cream, and pumpkin pie. The pumpkin pie was normal. Although I couldn't be with my family on Thanksgiving, this was by far the 2nd best thing that I could have done. We had a great night afterwards.
On Saturday morning we all went to the Escorial. I haven't put the pictures up yet, but I'm going to add them to my main album at the end of the semester with everything else. El Escorial is a large palace about 1 hour from Madrid by train. It was somewhat different than what you expect, but it was constructed while the Austrians were in power. It had a very "cold" feeling to it. It was cool to see though, and I'm glad I made the trip out there.
The past week (and this week) I'm mostly planning to prepare my exams. It hasn't been too much work, since the classes are pretty light, but I'm glad I didn't travel this past weekend.
This coming Saturday we have a "farewell" dinner, and then on Sunday I'm off to America! I have to say it's all pretty bittersweet. I miss all my friends and a lot of things about the US, but I'm having such a wonderful carefree semester. After a very relaxing weekend, the beginning of the end is about to commence!
On Saturday morning we all went to the Escorial. I haven't put the pictures up yet, but I'm going to add them to my main album at the end of the semester with everything else. El Escorial is a large palace about 1 hour from Madrid by train. It was somewhat different than what you expect, but it was constructed while the Austrians were in power. It had a very "cold" feeling to it. It was cool to see though, and I'm glad I made the trip out there.
The past week (and this week) I'm mostly planning to prepare my exams. It hasn't been too much work, since the classes are pretty light, but I'm glad I didn't travel this past weekend.
This coming Saturday we have a "farewell" dinner, and then on Sunday I'm off to America! I have to say it's all pretty bittersweet. I miss all my friends and a lot of things about the US, but I'm having such a wonderful carefree semester. After a very relaxing weekend, the beginning of the end is about to commence!
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Hope everyone is enjoying their day and thinking of what they're thankful for. I'm thankful for the fact that I've had the opportunity to experience all of the wonderful things I've seen this semester (and most of that thanks is due to my Dad and S-Mom)! I have to say being away from home for the holidays has actually made me homesick! I'm starting to get excited to come back to the US in a few weeks. Three weeks from Sunday!
GW is taking us out for a "Thanksgiving" dinner tonight, which should include some dancing and be a lot of fun! On Saturday, we're going to El Escorial, which is a large palace just outside of Madrid (and where all the Spanish Kings are buried).
I'll try to update again in the next few days, but in the meantime stuff your bellies for me and enjoy your turkey!
GW is taking us out for a "Thanksgiving" dinner tonight, which should include some dancing and be a lot of fun! On Saturday, we're going to El Escorial, which is a large palace just outside of Madrid (and where all the Spanish Kings are buried).
I'll try to update again in the next few days, but in the meantime stuff your bellies for me and enjoy your turkey!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Andalusia
Sorry I never got a chance to blog about Andalusia! I had already visited Cordoba, Seville, & Granada, but here are my pictures. It was a lot of fun and very relaxing!
Paris pictures coming in a few.
Paris: the First Non-Monarchical Society of the Semester!
As the title suggests, France was the only non-monarchical society I've visited - crazy how those kings are still around right?
Anyways - Paris was by far the most magnificent of the trips I was able to do, but unfortunately it was my last :(. Friday was my birthday (and now I'm finally 21!), and I arrived in Paris around 5:30, but not until after having had to fly RYAN AIR one more time.
Let's start with Ryan Air. Sure - the airline is cheap - I paid €20 to get to Paris...only I didn't go to Paris...I went to Beauvais, an airport about an hour and a half north of Paris. To get to Paris, you have to take a bus...that costs more than your flight. Also, the service is terrible, and I doubted the pilot's abilities on more than one occasion. But - what can you do when you pay €20 right? Enough about that miserable experience.
After arriving to Paris, we went to a small bistro, and I had some quiche that was out of this world. I stayed with my friend who is living literally blocks from the Eiffel Tower, and it was so beautiful. After that Richard and I met up with Derek and Ryan (and some of Derek's friends) to go out for my 21st birthday, which was awesome. Unfortunately, the metro closes somewhat early in Paris, so Richard, Ryan, and I walked back to the apartment, which was somewhat of a trek. Richard went to bed, but Ryan and I really wanted to eat. After wandering through Paris we finally found a cafe that was open at 6am. We had orange juice, hot chocolate, bread and croissants - SO AMAZING. By the time we finished it was almost 7am, so we decided sleep was overrated.
At 9am - same day (although it felt like a different day) - we went to the Louvre. The only thing I can say is that the Mona Lisa is the most underwhelming painting ever in person. You expect it to be this really awesome big painting, and it's really tiny and heavily guarded. The actually building was magnificent though. It's an old, grandiose palace that is just as magnificent as all the art in it! Ryan and I spent about an hour and a half there before we decided to go through Paris to see some things.
First we went to the Bastille. FYI - it's not there anymore, it's an opera house. If you're interested, no need to go see. Then we went up and saw where Moulin Rouge was, which was pretty cool. After Moulin Rouge we went down to the Eiffel Tower to see it by day which was pretty cool. Since we were starting to crash from lack of sleep, we just sat on a bench and watched people for a while. Always a fun activity. After a souvenir salesman on the street wouldn't stop accosting us to buy mini-Eiffel Towers, we went to grab some coffee and relocated to another part of the river. We people watched for most of the afternoon, which was tons of fun, then took two hour naps (amazing).
For dinner we all met up with Derek's friends and went to a place near the apartment. I had a croque-monsieur, which is basically a ham and cheese sandwich grilled with cheese on top. The food in Paris is absolutely amazing though - I miss it already. For dessert we got some little snacks on the Champs Elysées and hot cocoa. Since Derek and his friends had an early flight in the morning we all headed home, and I went to bed around midnight.
Sunday was my last day :(, but we still explored a little more. Unfortunately when I woke up it had started to rain. At 9:30 we headed over to Notre Dame cathedral. Since I didn't visit Westminster Abbey (very expensive to even get in) I can't compare the two, but Notre Dame was fabulous. The stained glass windows, the high gothic arches, and the giant organ made it by far the most beautiful church I've ever seen in my life. Ryan and I stayed for a mass for about 20 minutes (which was interesting) and then left. The people there were so disrespectful to the mass (since you can visit at the same time), but I guess some people are just rude. Between the rain and the 40 degree weather, we wanted hot cocoa/coffee by the time we left. We crossed the bridge (since Notre Dame is on an island in the Seine) and went to this cafe.
Best story of Paris. While we were sitting enjoying our warm drinks, I noticed a cat in the cafe. In America, I'd be disgusted - but this is Paris. The cat came over and jumped up on the bench with Ryan. It proceeded to sit there in his lap while we had our drinks! It was so precious, so we named him Pierre. If only he had a cigarette and a baret - then he would have been a true Parisian cat.
With some time to kill, we went to the Luxembourg Gardens and saw the ORIGINAL STATUE OF LIBERTY (¡VIVA AMERICA!). So cool. Then we met up with Richard for lunch in the Jewish quarter - the falafel was amazing. After lunch we wandered around Paris for a bit, until I had to make the trek back to Beauvais and then Madrid. The pilot on Ryan Air was a little less skilled than other pilots I've had, and the landing was certainly not my favorite part of the flight. Nonetheless, I'm back in Madrid and alive!
Pictures will be coming soon, but I'm done traveling now! Aside from some day trips around Madrid, I will be spending the last 4 weeks I have in Madrid. I'm somewhat excited though since I actually don't know Madrid that well yet. This weekend some friends and I are going to El Escorial, a palace about an hour outside Madrid (similar to Versailles and Paris) that is supposed to be magnificent.
¡Hasta la Próxima!
Anyways - Paris was by far the most magnificent of the trips I was able to do, but unfortunately it was my last :(. Friday was my birthday (and now I'm finally 21!), and I arrived in Paris around 5:30, but not until after having had to fly RYAN AIR one more time.
Let's start with Ryan Air. Sure - the airline is cheap - I paid €20 to get to Paris...only I didn't go to Paris...I went to Beauvais, an airport about an hour and a half north of Paris. To get to Paris, you have to take a bus...that costs more than your flight. Also, the service is terrible, and I doubted the pilot's abilities on more than one occasion. But - what can you do when you pay €20 right? Enough about that miserable experience.
After arriving to Paris, we went to a small bistro, and I had some quiche that was out of this world. I stayed with my friend who is living literally blocks from the Eiffel Tower, and it was so beautiful. After that Richard and I met up with Derek and Ryan (and some of Derek's friends) to go out for my 21st birthday, which was awesome. Unfortunately, the metro closes somewhat early in Paris, so Richard, Ryan, and I walked back to the apartment, which was somewhat of a trek. Richard went to bed, but Ryan and I really wanted to eat. After wandering through Paris we finally found a cafe that was open at 6am. We had orange juice, hot chocolate, bread and croissants - SO AMAZING. By the time we finished it was almost 7am, so we decided sleep was overrated.
At 9am - same day (although it felt like a different day) - we went to the Louvre. The only thing I can say is that the Mona Lisa is the most underwhelming painting ever in person. You expect it to be this really awesome big painting, and it's really tiny and heavily guarded. The actually building was magnificent though. It's an old, grandiose palace that is just as magnificent as all the art in it! Ryan and I spent about an hour and a half there before we decided to go through Paris to see some things.
First we went to the Bastille. FYI - it's not there anymore, it's an opera house. If you're interested, no need to go see. Then we went up and saw where Moulin Rouge was, which was pretty cool. After Moulin Rouge we went down to the Eiffel Tower to see it by day which was pretty cool. Since we were starting to crash from lack of sleep, we just sat on a bench and watched people for a while. Always a fun activity. After a souvenir salesman on the street wouldn't stop accosting us to buy mini-Eiffel Towers, we went to grab some coffee and relocated to another part of the river. We people watched for most of the afternoon, which was tons of fun, then took two hour naps (amazing).
For dinner we all met up with Derek's friends and went to a place near the apartment. I had a croque-monsieur, which is basically a ham and cheese sandwich grilled with cheese on top. The food in Paris is absolutely amazing though - I miss it already. For dessert we got some little snacks on the Champs Elysées and hot cocoa. Since Derek and his friends had an early flight in the morning we all headed home, and I went to bed around midnight.
Sunday was my last day :(, but we still explored a little more. Unfortunately when I woke up it had started to rain. At 9:30 we headed over to Notre Dame cathedral. Since I didn't visit Westminster Abbey (very expensive to even get in) I can't compare the two, but Notre Dame was fabulous. The stained glass windows, the high gothic arches, and the giant organ made it by far the most beautiful church I've ever seen in my life. Ryan and I stayed for a mass for about 20 minutes (which was interesting) and then left. The people there were so disrespectful to the mass (since you can visit at the same time), but I guess some people are just rude. Between the rain and the 40 degree weather, we wanted hot cocoa/coffee by the time we left. We crossed the bridge (since Notre Dame is on an island in the Seine) and went to this cafe.
Best story of Paris. While we were sitting enjoying our warm drinks, I noticed a cat in the cafe. In America, I'd be disgusted - but this is Paris. The cat came over and jumped up on the bench with Ryan. It proceeded to sit there in his lap while we had our drinks! It was so precious, so we named him Pierre. If only he had a cigarette and a baret - then he would have been a true Parisian cat.
With some time to kill, we went to the Luxembourg Gardens and saw the ORIGINAL STATUE OF LIBERTY (¡VIVA AMERICA!). So cool. Then we met up with Richard for lunch in the Jewish quarter - the falafel was amazing. After lunch we wandered around Paris for a bit, until I had to make the trek back to Beauvais and then Madrid. The pilot on Ryan Air was a little less skilled than other pilots I've had, and the landing was certainly not my favorite part of the flight. Nonetheless, I'm back in Madrid and alive!
Pictures will be coming soon, but I'm done traveling now! Aside from some day trips around Madrid, I will be spending the last 4 weeks I have in Madrid. I'm somewhat excited though since I actually don't know Madrid that well yet. This weekend some friends and I are going to El Escorial, a palace about an hour outside Madrid (similar to Versailles and Paris) that is supposed to be magnificent.
¡Hasta la Próxima!
Monday, November 8, 2010
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