Life Lessons

The view from our balcony window at the Hotel Preciados in Madrid! Que Bonita!

Here is a brief overview of things that have happened so far, such as:

• not going to the best club in the world (supposedly), because they are closed on sundays.... oops!
• almost getting locked in the madrid train station because we didn't know what time it was=(
• having to pay 300 EUROS, (approx. 500 USD) to get my luggage to alicante
• eating the best mushrooms OF MY LIFE
• eating more bread than I have ever eaten IN MY LIFE
• Forgetting my camera charger at home like a ninny, and not being able to take pictures... At least I am here for 4 months, and the charger is on its way!
• Getting lost and needing a map every single time I try to walk to the store, the train, bus, beach, bar, home, the kitchen, ect....
• Wearing my fanny pack when I go out dancing so that I have full mobility! And both hands to wave in the air!
• Going to the beach the past 4 out of 4 days
• Sneaking into a hotel and taking full advantage of their sauna to escape the rain!

Anyways, some good some bad, but all exciting and new and fun! (except maybe the 300 euro luggage fiasco, but Im not going to dwell....)

I am in love with Alicante! It is magnificent. There is a very understated charm about the whole city and I absolutely adore it. Climate wise, it actually reminds me a lot of California. Its hot, a little humid, and there are a ton of palm trees! My homestay parents are the cutest little old couple in the world, named Paco y Charo. I just want to squeeze Charo's little cheeks, and lovingly pat Paco's buddah belly!

The University is absolutely beautiful. It takes 247431 minutes on the bus to get there, So I have to wake up at 7 which is earlier than I ever had had to at Santa Clara, (my first class was at the earliest 915am there, both years and there was virtually no travel time to account for!). Needless to say, I don't wake up properly until about 10 am. I started classes on Monday, and for the next two weeks I have spanish for 4 hours a day. That is equivalent to an entire quarter's worth of spanish in 10 days!

I know this update was too short, but I will get better at updating now that I have the formula down, and a more set schedule!

P.s. Here are some Photos of my weekend in Madrid! Enjoy =)

These are called "tapas." They are basically Spanish appetizers, usually eaten with cocktails. Somtimes they take the place of dinner all together! We got them at a tapas bar in Cava Baja, a trendy local hangout. Note the most delicious mushrooms ever, the spanish tortilla, and "la bomba" a mashed potato filled pastry.

Kandace and me strutting around La Plaza Mayor. There were some interesting street performers here....

Acting like the princesses we are at El Palacio Real. The King and Queen still carry out official business here from time to time in some of the 3000 rooms!

Me and Trev at a fountain in another Plaza. (There are about a million Plazas in Spain. They are a BIG deal. )Happy One Year Anniversary to us!

My first Spanish Dish. I thought I would be safe with "ensalada con pollo." To bad it tasted like ensalada con cat food =(

Hanging out on the fabulous balcony of our hotel. I thought I was cool with my first legal drink from our free mini bar. Too bad there wasn't even alcohol in it! jaja