World Cup 2010: So excited!

Padres visit, Barcelona, and más!

Sorry, I haven't updated lately! After Paris I was just living life in Madrid! Nothing overly exciting. It's beautiful today in Madrid. Nice and sunny! I have been on Spring Break and just got back from the Canary Islands with my amigas. I'm tan, FINALLY. Break ends Monday and then the next weekend Lindsey arrives!

*We went to the island of Tenerife. It looks a lot like Hawaii, but less pristine, like if Mexico had a resort island maybe. It was really nice every day, with a steady breeze. I didn't really take pictures because we spent our days at the beach, which were pretty standard in appearance, but exactly what we were looking for. It was a much needed relaxing trip. The islands are pretty cheap as well, so it was nice to save a lot of money over break.*

Now to when mama y papa visited! They arrived late Friday (March 19) so we just went out for a paella dinner that night at Café Principe. They loved it, and personally I think it's the best paella I've had in Spain. Then Saturday and Sunday I exhausted them by taking them all over Madrid by foot and metro :) We went to Plaza de España, where the Royal Palace is; Plaza Mayor, the oldest plaza in Madrid; El Rastro, one of the largest flea markets in Europe; and Retiro Park among the random places we walked through on our way to everywhere. We also had delicious dinners and lunches! One of my favorite was a restaurant built into Plaza Mayor called Las Cuevas (The Caves). We sat and watched all the tourists that seemed to have came out of no where all week! Saturday night we went to Real Madrid vs Sporting Gijon. Another good game! Real won of course, even though they had a slow start.

Dad and Mom in Retiro Park

Las Cuevas in Plaza Mayor

Real vs Sporting

The flowers are blooming everywhere!

In Plaza de España

Monday I had class all day, but I met them for dinner. They went on the Madrid open-top bus tour that day and apparently I had already shown them everything it drove to so they just rode it around since the weather was perfect.

Tuesday we took a day trip to Segovia after my morning class because it is only 30 minutes away by train. The castle there is supposedly what the Sleeping Beauty castle was designed after. The streets were small and winding and retained an old village feel. A Roman Aqueduct greets you at Segovia's center. It's a really amazing sight to see.

Roman Aqueduct

Mom in the castle windows

Gothic cathedral of Segovia

the Plaza Mayor of Segovia

Wednesday I didn't get to see them all day because I had class then a flamenco performance to go to for my class. They went on another day trip to Toledo, the old capital of Spain.

Thursday we went to the Museo del Prado, one of the most famous museums in the world. It was pretty cool, but like Mom mentioned, I wish it had more than just art. The Louvre in Paris was really cool because it had artifacts and sculptures and a variety of art rather than just paintings. I had to go home and take a nap because I was so tired, but we met for dinner later.

Friday we took the train to Barcelona. We took the hop-on hop-off bus and got off to walk around Park Guell designed by Gaudi. It was like nothing I've ever seen before! The houses looked like gingerbread houses and colorful tiles covered the walls. It was really pretty and I loved all the color. On the bus, we got to see all the amazing architecture Barcelona has. I never realized how rich it was in that aspect. We saw lots of buildings by Gaudi and lots of gothic inspired buildings as well. It's a really beautiful place and the weather was really nice!

Tiles lining the walls of Park Guell

Mom and Dad in Park Guell

One view of Barcelona from Park Guell + Gaudi's old house on the left

"Gingerbread" houses of Park Guell

Barcelona architecture

One of Gaudi's designs. The roof of this place is amazing

Saturday we went to La Sagrada Familia and Las Ramblas. Once again Gaudi's architecture blew me away! I have never seen such a cathedral. Gaudi is all about combining color and nature with architecture and I really liked how everything in the cathedral was inspired by something from nature. Then we went to Las Ramblas, a street filled with shops and kiosks and street vendors. I love street vendors so I liked it a lot. There were also a ton a street performers just like Madrid, but even more over-the-top! That afternoon we went back to Madrid.

Inside La Sagrada Familia

Explanations of Gaudi incorporating nature

Resembles a forest

Gaudi loved all things Barcelona & Mediterranean; Mediterranean amphibeans on La Sagrada

La Sagrada Familia has been in construction since the 1800s and is scheduled to be finished in 2020...

Old and new on La Sagrada

Dad outside La Sagrada

Plaza in Barcelona
Florists on Las Ramblas selling palms for Easter

Since their flight was delayed until Monday, we spent Sunday walking around. We went to El Botin, the oldest restaurant in the world. It was really delicious!!!! Later that day, I introduced Mom to chocolate con churros and we ate the whole plate! Nothing new for me and my friends when it comes to churros ;) Then we had our last dinner before I had to go to my friends place so we could split a cab to the airport at 4 am since our flight to the Canaries the next day was so early in the morning. It was a great week and lots of fun! Love and miss you all!

El Rastro y Ronaldo

We don't have school today! It is a holiday, but only for the students at my college. Saint something. I don't remember but no one else has it off.

On Sunday, I went to El Rastro which is one of the biggest flea markets in Europe. It was really cool. El Rastro translates into "the stain." It's named after the blood stains that would be on the streets from venders dragging animal carcasses. Lovely. I want to buy some art there. But you have to be careful about knock-offs and pick pockets. But on these paintings you can feel the brush strokes, so that's all I want! They are by a local artist called Yutze. They also sell soccer jerseys for a lot cheaper. It was Shae's birthday last night, so Jessica and I bought her a Real Madrid jersey as a gift for her to wear to the game because she didn't have one.

It can get packed on some streets
Antiques area

Then that night was the game! We knew we had great seats, but we didn't know we were front row! It was so cool. They were so close to us! I tried to get a picture of Raul, but he didn't even play until the second half and therefore was on the opposite side! But Ronaldo and Kaka were really close so I got pictures of them! Everyone went crazy over Ronaldo's red card. And it was all over the paper the next day. Málaga isn't even big competition, but the stadium was packed and the game was frontpage. It's crazy! I can't wait to go again. We are also planning on going to an Atletico game (even though they're rivals) because they cost like 20euro for cheap seats.

pure joy during halftime

Ronaldo's red

SO CLOSE
It was Gutz Mal's last game, so we were informed.
Our view! Packed stadium
Shae and I in our jerseys!

Mi Universidad, Real Madrid, Travels

The sun came out today for a little! It was sunny in the morning, then got cloudy/foggy midday, but right now I can see blue skies! I managed to take a couple pictures of my campus for you guys. It's a really nice campus. The neighborhood it is in, Vicalvaro, is just nothing special.

After class, a couple of us went to buy our Real Madrid v. Málaga tickets at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium (home stadium), but they weren't selling them today! We could have sworn they were, but we ended up buying them online (hence the debit card charge, mom. don't worry they are paying me back tomorrow :) )

We are really, really close! I CAN'T WAIT! Hopefully it doesn't rain, but it's ok if it does because I will just bring my heavy raincoat! Nothing will stop us :) I think we are wearing face paint for added enthusiasm.

In Feb. 19-28 we don't have school because that week is when the Field Study group goes to Barcelona. Shae and I have been planning a trip that week because it's 10 days of no school! This is our itinerary:

Feb. 19-21: Granada, Spain.

21-24: Seville, Spain.

24-28: Lisbon, Portugal.

All those places are supposed to be BEAUTIFUL! The tickets to travel are so cheap. Each bus between those places is only like 16-20E. Better start doing my research (as always!).

We also booked our Cádiz Carnaval trip (I'm going to dress up as a jester aka more glitter and face paint!). And I believe next Friday is our day excursion with USAC to El Escorial and the Valley of the Fallen. It looks amazing. I've realized that my favorite thing to do traveling is either a) nature, or b) architecture. I am not much of an art/museum person.

El Escorial y Valley of the Fallen

Then for spring break we are planning a French Riviera to Italy trip. Even though I've been to Italy, I didn't feel that I got to appreciate it as much because all the tourists drove me crazy. I couldn't even move at times! But that's still in the works. First we must conquer Spain!

<-- This is the post office...

Museo, Baile, Fútbol, y Carnaval

The weather isn't very sunny out, so my pictures aren't so pretty. We haven't done too much sightseeing because everything will look prettier in the sun so we've been waiting. I went to the Museo Thyssen-Bsomethingsomething the other day. It was pretty cool but I got bored after an hour. I just can't look at art that long! Especially when some of it is modern art (aka stupid).

I just got back from dance class. I've learned Merengue, Salsa, and Sevillanas. It's really fun. Everyone gets really into it, it's awesome! The teacher is really nice and funny, but doesn't speak English. She is always having to correct the boys (because they can't dance), but we all have a lot of fun! I like salsa a lot! I am actually pretty good at it! I just need to get the arm movements down.

This Sunday there is a Real Madrid game against Málaga. Me and a couple people are going and cheering on our team! It should be really fun. Hopefully the weather isn't too bad.

In about two weeks, the festival of Carnaval is here! A bunch of us are traveling to Cadíz in the south of Spain for a weekend long festival! It's going to be really fun and everyone wears costumes and goes all out. Our first festival!

Tomorrow I'm going to the gym after class (only 22E/month and NO enrollment fee b/c we're USAC!!!). Then shopping probably. Then an intercambio session with Jessica and Shae. It should be really fun.

Next Wednesday our flamenco teacher is bringing us to a flamenco club. So excited! Flamenco is craaaazy. She is going to teach us some of the dance too, which I really want to learn! There is also this cool hand tapping thing flamecos do that she is going to try and teach us, but apparently it's really hard to learn. Fun times ahead! Sorry I don't have pictures. I have been bad at taking them because the weather!!

Love you all.