Malo Madrid

Today is my last full day in Spain! I fly out of Madrid's airport tomorrow afternoon.

I caught a 6am bus from Valencia to Madrid this morning, wanting to spend my last day exploring a new Spanish city. I've visited the second and third largest cities in Spain, why not top off my trip with the first?

Well, maybe I shouldn't have come. For many reasons.

1. I am out of money. Literally do not have 1 euro to my name. Not even a cent! And I have no access to cash. Getting to the airport tomorrow is going to be interesting...

2. It is World Youth Day. Over 1 million people from all over the world have come to greet the Pope, who arrived in Madrid around the same time as I did. It is cool to see all of the flags and different people crawling all over the streets, but not very cool when you get flash mobbed and are unable to move for over an hour and a half. I had hands on my face, on my waist, in my hair, and tears on my cheeks. For being a joyous occasion, it sure was terribly pushy.

I would have loved to spend my last day in Spain exploring Madrid and getting a feel for this last city, but instead I'm cooped up in my hostel, unable to walk due to the crowds and unable to go get those chocolate churro things due to lack of dinero. Booooo.

I did mange to push my way through the crowds to see the top things on my to do list. I saw the Plaza Meyor, the Palacio Real, Plaza del Sol. The other sights will have to wait until my next visit. Apologies to my boss, Cheryl, for being unable to make it to the Reina Sofía for your postcard. The crowd outside was too thick to even think of fighting through.

But maybe this is what I needed. Finally, Spain isn't perfect. Finally I'm thinking, "Ok, maybe it is time to go home." Because yesterday in Valencia, those were not the thoughts running through my head. I wanted to stay. I wanted to start a new life in my new Spanish city. I was going to miss my plane and start anew.

But after the craziness of today, I think I can say:
I am ready to go back to sane little ole' Charleston.

Una Noche en Barcelona

On Sunday, August 14h, the gang and I rose early and headed to the estación de autobuses with nothing more than one knapsack between us and some bocadillos.

For our last weekend in Spain, we decided to do something special, something spontaneous.
We climbed aboard a bus to Barcelona with no hotel or hostel booked, only full of the desire to explore more of this beautiful country.

We arrived in Barcelona around 2pm and immediately sat down at a small café for coffee and sepia. Sepia is a tapas dish, consisting of small rings of cuttlefish, swimming in olive oil. It is fabulous. Cuttlefish is what I will miss most upon my arrival to the States.

After getting our caffeine fix, we walked towards the heart of the city. On our way we passed the Arc de Triomf, which was gorgeous (and a perfect group photo op).

Photo by Clare Sweeney 

As we walked into the city, I was in absolute awe. The architecture was spectacular, the people were beautiful- as every minute passed, I couldn't help but think, "Why don't I live here?" 

Clare did live in Barcelona in the fall of 2010 when she studied abroad, so first thing on our agenda was to visit her old apartment across from the Barcelona Cathedral. As if I hadn't been a tiny bit jealous of her living in Barcelona already, after I saw that she lived across the plaza from the Cathedral I turned green with envy. 

It was so beautiful! Not only did her plaza contain the cathedral, but also there was an outdoor market occurring, and both the Dalí and archeology museums were right around the corner. 

We headed up Las Ramblas, a very busy street, populated with wandering tourists and peddling venders. Anything and everything was for sale- bunnies, turtles, flowers, whistles, art, gelato- you name it. It was very impressive. We entered the metro from Las Ramblas, heading up, up, up towards Park Güell.

Park Güell was designed by the infamous Galli. It was strange but beautiful, awe-inspiring and alluring. We climbed to the top, where we sat on a monument of stone and overlooked a 360 degree view of Barcelona. 

We climbed down and sat upon the world's longest bench (strange, I know).
We witnessed a police raid in the central market. Police men and women descended from all sides upon the street vendors, who packed up with lightning speed, managing to get away with only one lost backpack. It reminded me very much of the scene in Aladdin when the guards are running after the handsome street rat for stealing a piece of bread.

After we had our fill of the park and the sun's beating rays, we headed to the infamous Sangrada Familia.  Even after 100 years of construction, it is still being built but it is no wonder why. The intricate details are breathtaking. Words cannot describe what my eyes saw, so I shall only try to convey to you what it was like by posting some pictures.

The back of Sangrada Familia 

Front of Sangrada Familia

Photo by Clare Sweeney 

After the Sangrada, we were starving. We ate our weights at the Rosa Negra mexican restaurant, and consumed the most fantastic raspberry mojitos and passionfruit margaritas. 

At 10:00pm the Real Madrid v. Barcelona game began, which we watched at the St. Patty's (English speaking) club. Being surrounded by such die-hard fans was so cool. I love the Spanish simply for their love of fútbol. The game, unfortunately, was a draw. 

Sad that Barcelona had not proven victorious against the pretty-boys from Madrid, we turned our frowns upside down by hopping in a cab and heading to the Port, where we danced at una discoteca until the wee hours of the morning. 

We watched the sunrise over the Mediterranean as we chatted with new friends on the beach. 

At 10 am, we boarded our bus back to Valencia and slept the entire way home. 

Hispania- Escuela de Español

Since arriving in Spain, I have been attending language classes at the Hispania School of Español.

The school is about a 30 minute walk from my house (or 15 minute bus ride). It is a lovely walk through the Turia Riverbed Park, but with the warm weather we're having here, the bus is the best bet.

Classes begin at 11am, lasting until 1pm. But classes here aren't your typical language class- there are no homework assignments or tests- we only practice our conversational skills. It is perfect.

Since attending classes at Hispania, I feel my Spanish skills and my confidence have immensely increased. When I first arrived, I was almost in dispair. My language skills were failing me. Those A's I earned in college courses meant nothing. Sure, I could write and read Spanish fine- but having a full-blown conversation?! No way. Trying to talk to a native speaker about had me in tears.

But after weeks of classes, I'm charging right up to people on the streets, in restaurants, at bars, with absolutely no fear. Sure, my Spanish is nowhere near perfect, but it will never be if I don't try to use it! Hispania has given me that confidence in myself to try to talk in Spanish.

My first week, the only Spanish I used is "Hablas Ingles?" Now there is no stopping me! Thank you, Hispania!

Friday is a Fútbol Day!

On Friday, August 12, our gang of Americans donned out Valencia Club Fútbol jerseys and headed to the Mestalla Stadium to watch Valencia v. Roma.

While Clare and I waited for our bus to take us to the stadium, we headed into a nearby café to grab a few Coca Cola Lights. We instantly made new friends with the waiters who were thrilled to see two American girls wearing Valenciano jerseys. They were so funny, teaching us fútbol cheers and exchanging Facebook information.

We caught our bus and met Seth and Wes at the Stadium. Our jaws dropped at the amazing seats we scored, paying only 12 euro to be right front and center. 

To our left was the Valencia cheering section. They waved flags and banners, yelled cheers and chants, stomped their feet, and pumped up the crowd. I've been to many a sporting events in my life, but never have I ever felt energy in a stadium like I felt that night. And the match was only a friendly! The Spanish sure do take their fútbol seriously. 

Roma seemed to be the team with the momentum, controlling the ball for the first few minutes of the game. But Valencia, pumped up by their fans, came back before the end of the first half to score and put themselves in the lead. 

Valencia won 3-0 over Roma. 

Que fantastico. 

La Cuidad de Artés y Ciencias- Día Dos

On Wednesday we finished exploring La Cuidad de Artés y Ciencias, viewing the robotic dinosaur exhibit, the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, and the "Flying Monsters 3D" IMAX film.

The dinosaurs were contained in an outdoor exhibit, underneath the baby blue, Spanish sky. They roared and moved their heads... but that was about it.
It was fun to read about the different species, remembering all of the facts that I crammed into my head as a dino-obsessed child.

After viewing the robotic monsters, we headed to the Museo de las Ciencias Príncipe Felipe, which is a three-story interactive museum. 

The first floor contained exhibits on light, electricity, and the ocean. We loved playing in front of the green screen and having our shadows captured. Clare and I spent the majority of the time in front of an incubator, where we watched at least two baby chicks hatch. That was something I had never experienced before- the beginning of an existence- it was amazing. 

The second floor was a little less exciting. It was a long row of exhibits on Spanish nobel prize winners. We didn't stay long.

On to the third floor, which was what I had been waiting for all day. There was a Marvel super hero exhibit, as well as a Valencia C.F soccer exhibit. 

The first thing I did was jump into a gyroscope-like contraption which spun me upside-down and around, making it impossible for me to have any idea of which way was up, down, north or south. All long hair was to be put back to prevent the machine from ripping it out as we twirled, but my hair unfortunately fell out and I feared I was about to lose my hair (or worse, my head). But wow, was it fun. I couldn't walk straight for a minute or two. 

After Seth (who did it too) and I composed ourselves, the gang explored inside the world of Marvel comics. We swung on Spiderman's webs and tied a shoe using Dr. Otto Octavius's claws. 

Inside the Valencia C.F. exhibit, we viewed the different soccer jerseys the team has wore throughout the years, measured our body fat and compared that to players, and kicked soccer balls inside a goal. 

We then experienced "Zero Gravity" when we entered a dark room full of mirrors- the floor, the ceiling, and the walls were covered. A film of still images of planets and astronauts was projected onto the mirrors, creating an incredible optical allusion. But... it did not feel like zero gravity, and I was a bit disappointed. 

All in all, it seem the Science Museum is aimed at a younger audience than us college kids. Too many dirty, interactive games than actual exhibits. 

We concluded our time at the Ciudad with a final IMAX film- Flying Monsters in 3D! 

La Cuidad de Artés y Ciencias- El Primer Día

On Saturday, August 6th, Team Europe and Team USA spent the day lost in wonderland... also known as La Ciudad de los Artés y Ciencias. 

We began our adventure in the Hemisfèric, the building that resembles an eye, which contains a huge IMAX theater. We put on our futuristic headset, laid back, and watched as the Hubble telescope brought us to the edge of the galaxy and back. Our minds were blown, to say the least. We watched as stars and solar systems were born in Orion's Nebula, we flew past clusters of thousands of galaxies, and we gasped in awe at the vastness of the universe. 

I think Wes may have cried. 

After we came back to our reality, we headed down to the Oceanografíc, Europe's largest aquarium. We began in the Mediterranean Sea, viewing turtles and starfish.

Next, we dived into the shark exhibit (tiburones), walking down a 7meter long tank, surrounded on all sides by sharks. It was spectacular. 

Off we went to the Arctic exhibit, where we saw sea lions, beluga whales, and penguins. We missed the Red Sea exhibit's show, but peeked in to see the massive tank containing the creatures of El Rojo Mar. 

To finish our Oceanografíc experience, we watched the nighttime dolphin show, which contained synchronized swimmers and fire explosions. Set to a soundtrack of my favorite composers (think Gladiator, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Harry Potter), the swimmers and dolphins twirled and spun through the water as divers jumped from frightening heights. 

I am getting goosebumps just thinking about it. What a moving show. 

We only were able to see half of the Ciudad due to Team USA's late start (what's new? We like our sleep), so we will be heading back this week to view the interactive science museum, another IMAX movie, as well as the dinosaur exhibit! 

Love me some dinos. 

Un Día en la Vida

Feliz :)