Friday:
Because we are studying in a foreign country, our school was kind enough to give us Fridays off from classes. However, one of our classes is a Travel Class, and this Travel Class usually takes trips on Fridays. I am in the Art/History Travel Class and on Friday we went to Segovia. If I were to be completely honest, (which I have no reason not to as the only people this next statement might offend would be my Art/History travel class teacher or a resident of Segovia, none of whom I believe are following this blog... and if you are please continue to read as it does get better) I would say that I was a less than thrilled to spend my first Friday in Spain in Segovia.
When we arrived in Segovia, we first went to La Granja (I will refrain from giving you a history lesson but here is the wikipedia link for anyone interested! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Palace_of_La_Granja_de_San_Ildefonso) and I am happy to say that I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed myself! Maybe it was the company (Helen), or the beautiful garden paths with towering tree canopies that changed my mind... but whatever the reason, La Granja was really wonderful. As was Segovia. Known for is aqueduct, Segovia is much more than just a home to this "monument" (I add quotes because it was recently officially named one according to my tour). Segovia also specializes in white bean and meat soup and baby pig. Helen and I (both vegetarians) were SO excited for lunch! Actually when lunch time came around we asked if there were vegetarian restaurants in Segovia and there was one! So we meandered down the Segovian streets trying to locate this place only to find it was "cerrado." So we went to a different place and got tortilla (remember in Spain that is eggs and potato) because that was a safe option and we knew that we liked it. However, Helen and I learned the hard way that not all tortillas are alike. We realized this when it started oozing raw egg. [Flash back to the previous night when we had raw salmon. Our "estomagos" were not happy.]
After lunch, the tour resumed and we went to see the castle in Segovia. A little "chisme" (gossip)- rumor has it that Walt Disney saw this castle and modeled Cinderella's Castle after it (the one in Germany is Sleeping Beauty's Castle). The castle was beautiful but it may have been more fun posing for pictures with our "Knight in Shining Armor."
Saturday:
Saturday began at 2:30 pm. Our plan was to wake up and go running early so we could enjoy a nice leisurely lunch and explore our "nuevo ciudad." We decided instead (as lunch here ends at 4) to skip the running and go straight to lunch. On our tour of the city, I had seen this gorgeous restaurant with beautiful umbrellas facing the royal palace. I convinced Helen that we needed to go there for lunch during our tour and had reminded her about it every day. This seemed like the perfect day.
When we arrived, I realized that the restaurant was not at all what my imagination had lead me to believe. (I had seen the umbrellas from afar and they were the pretty beige kind that I associate-apparently incorrectly- with cute, quaint and fresh salads. My imagination had filled in the rest.) In addition, the restaurant managed to sneak meat into everything on its menu (pesto ravioli- with chicken! Mozzarella sticks- with hidden ham! Rasberry sorbet- topped with ground beef!! ...seriously, the Spaniards and their "carne.").
I have not outright said it yet, however if you are clever you will have discerned that my roommate Helen is much more than a lovely friend, companion, listener etc. Helen is just very useful. I like having her around for many reasons (she is excellent company, we laugh a lot etc.) but also A. she usually knows where she is going B. if she does not she will pull out a map and C. she always seems to have a back up plan. Today, thankfully, Helen had a back up plan. Not too far from the Meat Mecca was a cute little vegetarian restaurant. We found our way over there and completely fell in love.
In addition to being completely vegetarian, this restaurant had vegan options, celiac options and bright green walls. Helen and I got two different things to share, loved them both and vowed to return.
Then we went to Court Ingles (essentially the ultimate English department store). This place is so huge they could not fit it into one building. There are three buildings. The first building that we entered was the electronic building. However, we did not find that out until the 7th floor when we realized that they could not possibly be hiding groceries (Reason for going to Court Ingles: we have been on the hunt for hummus!! No store has it, which is strange to Helen and I because they claim to be following the Mediterranean diet. Restaurants serve it, no where sells it.) behind the electric pianos and records and camcorders. [For any T-Squad/Board members that are reading, on our way back down the 7 stories they started playing Michael Jackson Beat It and I started to Beat It right there on the escalator!! Thinking of you!!]
Second Try: We went across the street and into another Court Ingles. This building was the Bloomingdales section of Court Ingles. We spent more time trying to navigate this (getting lost in the strange shoe styles that are popular here now- apparently they are bringing back metal studded platform heels) building until Helen found a map that told us to go down to the basement. In the basement there was an entire market complete with fresh fish, produce and every different kind of yogurt possible. But no hummus.
Progress: this time when we asked if they had hummus they A. understood us and B. knew what we were talking about.
Sadness: Helen and Kendra are still hummus-less.
Freshly armed with orange juice, soy milk, popcorn and japanese rice crackers Helen and I went back into the the Plaza (that is where all of this has taken place... Plaza Mayor). Just as we are about to get back onto the metro we see someone holding Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Obviously we stop them and ask where they got it. We follow their directions but before we get to Ben & Jerry's we spot a gelato place with a huge line. Naturally we had to peek in. I ended up getting rice pudding gelato and spumoni and Helen ended up in the corner too overwhelmed by the choices to make a decision. We shared. And then we watched a group of men playing instruments in the street. It was the perfect way to spend an afternoon in Madrid.
Saturday Night:
This deserved its own heading as it lasted longer than my whole Sunday Day. Ill explain.
As I unofficially turned 21 about a week ago (please see previous blog for explanation) I am now free to go out to clubs. And I can think of no better place to strip me of my clubbing innocence than club Kapital!! The SEVEN STORY club in Madrid!!
My emotions pre club Kapital: nervous- this was my first club. excited- this was my first club.
My emotions entering club Kapital: overwhelmed- there are 7 stories each boasting its own music theme. excited- we were dancing!!!!!!!
My emotions at 2:00 am (after being in the club for 1/2 hour): anxious: there is NO WAY that we will all be able to stay together- the club is seven stories high and packed with people that all look the same in disco lighting.
I eventually stopped caring and started dancing when I realized that we would be there for another 4 hours at least (in Madrid, the metro closes for only 4 hours, from 2 am to 6 am. So when you want to home after going out, you either make it to the metro by 1:30 [meaning you will have only been out for about two hours as the night starts at 11] or you stay out until 6 when the metro re-opens and everyone goes home.) and [parents, this is so you know that you raised me well] Helen and I had a meeting spot incase something bad were to happen.
Fun thing I learned: Shakira's song "She Wolf" is just as good in Spanish as it is in English. People in Spain howl along with her just like we do in America.
Thing I will do next time: Sneak in a flask- filled with an energy drink. I wanted to fall asleep at about 4:30 and tried to on one of the couches but apparently that is not acceptable.
Helen Story of The Day: A Canadian bought Helen a drink which she did not necessarily need/want so she poured it into the corner when he was not looking. Responsibility at its best!
Sunday:
Sunday can be summed up in one sentence. I stayed in my jammies all day. We woke up at four only to realize that we had missed the Madrid Market and our chance to go paddle boating which ended up being for the best as it was raining.
Best/Worst part of my day: I was filming the rain with my camera and Helen thought I was just taking a picture so she started singing "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plane." I then accidentally deleted it because I pushed the down button which I thought was "play" but it was actually "erase."
Monday:
Yesterday was pretty uneventful as well... We went to the park again and I ran 5 laps (on a 3/4 mile track) without stopping!! Something I have not done since my cross country days!!
For Dinner: We had rice topped with fried egg. It was delicious!
Today:
This morning Helen and I were running late (it was exceptionally cold when we woke up, so we had to mentally prep before getting out of bed. Lovely Helen though made us tea!!) only to find out that I beat my teacher because she was running late too! I had Spanish this morning and I absolutely love my Spanish teacher. In addition to the fact that she wears really cute clothes in varying shades of whites, beiges and pastels, she is very "amable" (kind) and exceptionally supportive.
Lunch: We had another vegetarian lunch today! Today it was felafel salad with garbanzso beans, beats, cole slaw and other great veggies.
After lunch we had our Travel Class and after my Travel Class I met my new friend for tea at this adorable outside cafe. One more reason to love Madrid.
Now Helen and I are about to go to Al Campo to stock up on more snacks!! (We hoard food in our room as we cant afford to eat out every day but we are not allowed to eat the food at our house for lunch... thank goodness for bonebelle cheese and crackers.)
Hasta Manana!!
Saturday Night:
This deserved its own heading as it lasted longer than my whole Sunday Day. Ill explain.
As I unofficially turned 21 about a week ago (please see previous blog for explanation) I am now free to go out to clubs. And I can think of no better place to strip me of my clubbing innocence than club Kapital!! The SEVEN STORY club in Madrid!!
My emotions pre club Kapital: nervous- this was my first club. excited- this was my first club.
My emotions entering club Kapital: overwhelmed- there are 7 stories each boasting its own music theme. excited- we were dancing!!!!!!!
My emotions at 2:00 am (after being in the club for 1/2 hour): anxious: there is NO WAY that we will all be able to stay together- the club is seven stories high and packed with people that all look the same in disco lighting.
I eventually stopped caring and started dancing when I realized that we would be there for another 4 hours at least (in Madrid, the metro closes for only 4 hours, from 2 am to 6 am. So when you want to home after going out, you either make it to the metro by 1:30 [meaning you will have only been out for about two hours as the night starts at 11] or you stay out until 6 when the metro re-opens and everyone goes home.) and [parents, this is so you know that you raised me well] Helen and I had a meeting spot incase something bad were to happen.
Fun thing I learned: Shakira's song "She Wolf" is just as good in Spanish as it is in English. People in Spain howl along with her just like we do in America.
Thing I will do next time: Sneak in a flask- filled with an energy drink. I wanted to fall asleep at about 4:30 and tried to on one of the couches but apparently that is not acceptable.
Helen Story of The Day: A Canadian bought Helen a drink which she did not necessarily need/want so she poured it into the corner when he was not looking. Responsibility at its best!
Sunday:
Sunday can be summed up in one sentence. I stayed in my jammies all day. We woke up at four only to realize that we had missed the Madrid Market and our chance to go paddle boating which ended up being for the best as it was raining.
Best/Worst part of my day: I was filming the rain with my camera and Helen thought I was just taking a picture so she started singing "The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plane." I then accidentally deleted it because I pushed the down button which I thought was "play" but it was actually "erase."
Monday:
Yesterday was pretty uneventful as well... We went to the park again and I ran 5 laps (on a 3/4 mile track) without stopping!! Something I have not done since my cross country days!!
For Dinner: We had rice topped with fried egg. It was delicious!
Today:
This morning Helen and I were running late (it was exceptionally cold when we woke up, so we had to mentally prep before getting out of bed. Lovely Helen though made us tea!!) only to find out that I beat my teacher because she was running late too! I had Spanish this morning and I absolutely love my Spanish teacher. In addition to the fact that she wears really cute clothes in varying shades of whites, beiges and pastels, she is very "amable" (kind) and exceptionally supportive.
Lunch: We had another vegetarian lunch today! Today it was felafel salad with garbanzso beans, beats, cole slaw and other great veggies.
After lunch we had our Travel Class and after my Travel Class I met my new friend for tea at this adorable outside cafe. One more reason to love Madrid.
Now Helen and I are about to go to Al Campo to stock up on more snacks!! (We hoard food in our room as we cant afford to eat out every day but we are not allowed to eat the food at our house for lunch... thank goodness for bonebelle cheese and crackers.)
Hasta Manana!!
No comments:
Post a Comment