Mi viaje a Madrid

Hola, todos! Well, my time in Spain has passed the halfway mark by a week or so, and I have another trip to update y'all on! I have been crazy busy since my return from Morocco--apparently, I chose a study abroad program that actually has a challenging curriculum that requires us to write papers and make presentations. I have found the worst possible format for evaluation in a class: the group paper. I have to write one for 2 of my classes, and it's driving me a little crazy. As many of you know, I write papers (by myself) for basically all my classes at home, and have my own special work ethic for doing so. Depending on other people to write things, which then have to be checked over and stylized the same is really stressing me out. I know it's supposed to make writing the papers less burdensome, but it doesn't really.

ANYWAYS, that's my rant on that topic. I'll talk about my trip to Madrid now, which took place the weekend after I got back from Morocco. After our 5 day weekend, we had another 4 day weekend (thanks, All Souls Day!), and my housemate Keely and I took advantage of this and flew to Spain's capital. Now, I know I usually write a long and detailed analysis of my trip, but I figure it will be much more reader friendly (and less time consuming on my part) to make a couple lists which describe the trip.

Éxitos! (Successes)

1. Picking a hostal (which, I have learned, is different from a hostel--hostal with an "a" designates a place that's more like a small, 2 star hotel) which happened to be in the middle of a very busy shopping district and ridiculously close to the main plaza, Plaza Mayor. Also, it was really clean and the people at the front desk were super nice and helpful
2. Successfully navigating the Madrid metro system and not getting lost once.
3. Going to the Prado!!! And seeing Las Meninas and other amazing works by Velasquez, Goya and Caravaggio (among others)
4. They have guidebook dispensing machines in the important galleries of the Prado. Put in a euro, and it spits out this handy little book that will describe the works more in depth. I got one. It was awesome!
5. Also, the Prado has a highlights tour. Very helpful.
6. Seeing the Parque de Buen Retiro--so peaceful!
7. Not getting pickpocketed
8. Finally viewing "Guernica" at the Museo de Reina Sofia. I liked that gallery, which also featured paintings by Miró and Dalí. The bottom floor of the museum, however, was filled with modern art which I didn't like as much
9. Not spending too much money on food/souveniers/anything in general. Discounted entry into the museums helped a lot
10. Actually getting up in time to catch our 6:30 AM flight out of Madrid
11. Art museum gift shops= super win
12. THAI FOOD at a restaurant near our hostal. SO DELICIOUS. I have never eaten fried rice that fast in my life.
13. Randomly seeing a CD signing/release party outside of a Corté Inglés. Also, visiting lots of bookstores.
    
14. Madrid is a very pretty city, in general. I'm very glad I visited.

Cosas Desafortunadas (Unfortunate Things)

1. Big cities are tiring. We really didn't have the energy to go out much at night, though we did go to a couple bars. Also, clubs in big cities are expensive and the one near our hostal looked kind of exclusive
2. I had compiled a list of places recommended by the NYT to see, which included some out of the way plazas with cute stores. Though we tried, and found the place on maps, we just couldn't find the streets that would lead us there. This was depressing. Madrid is confusing and our map was bad.
   
3. Plaza Mayor is SO TOURISTY. In fact, all of Madrid is. No one would speak to us in Spanish. It was kind of frustrating.
   
4. The metro doesn't start running until 6 AM. We had to be at the airport before that. Cue waking up at 3:30 to catch a cab at 4 to get back to Barajas. Actually, we had to get up really early to catch our flight to Madrid, too. But they were cheap so...
5. Eating cheese sandwiches a lot because vegetarian options are not so varied at the tapas places/restaurants in Madrid
6. Halloween is kind of lame in Spain. People just dressed up and went about their usual Friday night. We walked down Gran Vía and found lots of people our age drinking in a public square, but it was getting a little scary.
7. I wanted to buy a Real Madrid jersey, but they were all RIDICULOUSLY expensive. I should have bought one in Morocco. Now I'll just buy one in Granada, I guess.
8. So. Much. Walking. I think my feet were going to secede by the end of this trip.
   

Actually, that's it for the bad things. Like I said, this was a pretty easy and good visit, though I would love to go back another time and explore the things we missed (and find Plaza de la Paja...seriously...). I have a nice Spain guidebook, but it's heavy so I usually leave it behind. I wish I hadn't, because it would have been nice to have a general list of clubs, restaurants, sights, etc. But oh well! It was a good trip, and I had another day to relax before we had to go back to school (well, I spent most of it sleeping...)

Other things that have happened since my last post: KRISTINA CAME TO VISIT. She came in the day after we got back from Madrid, and therefore I haven't really had much time to rest/do homework, so that makes me stressed. BUT I had such a good time with Kristina and her friends that I don't really care! We went to lots of tapas bars and a tetería (tea lounge), a couple clubs, karaoke, and shopping. She and I bought the most ridiculous pairs of harem pants I've ever seen, but they're so comfortable! I was really sad to see her go, but I'm so happy that she could come visit. You have no idea how good it was to see a familiar face and talk about Rice stuff!

This Friday we have our last IES-sponsored trip to Cádiz and Jérez. I can't believe that time is going by so fast! Now back to homework...hasta luego!