Friday, December 19, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Don't know where to begin to end!
With exactly 1 week to go, I don't know where to begin to conclude my study-abroad visit to Palma de Mallorca. Its funny because I look forward to retuning home, but its so wild to actually be leaving. It all passed so quickly, and now I'm just trying to enjoy every final moment to the fullest. Most of all, I will miss the care-free environment that is Palma and the people. I'm running around taking pictures of everything I can and saying my goodbyes. Its all so surreal!
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Firenze!
Please allow me to explain. The beautiful city of Florence, Italy is actually known as Firenze in Italian. (Yea, I didn't know that either) Landing in Zurich, trying to find my connecting flight to F-L-O-R-E-N-C-E, I was a little lost. However, once I landed and saw the signs everywhere, I concluded that this "Firenze" must be the place. I went to Italy to meet up with two of my closest friends, Allie and Ellen. This trip was so important because we are all rowers and are studying abroad this fall semester, a BIG deal for any student-athlete. Allie is studying in Athens and Ellen is in Brussels. Florence, Italy is in the middle of the three of us and where we held our reunion weekend. I came in at night, and from the drive to the hostel, I knew that we chose the perfect place. For the night, we share pizza and pasta, and went to bed early. Saturday morning we hit the pavement at 7AM. We had an appointment with The David, yes the one and only at the world renown Galleria dell'Accademia. It was amazing to see this historic work of art up-close. I couldn't believe that we were so lucky.
After we finished visiting with David and all his glory, we went to the main market to shop and meet up with Ellen's good friend, Garrett. We did some serious shopping, nothing like Italian leather goods to put you in the gift giving mood, even if it is a gift for yourself. I cleaned up! We were very lucky to have Garrett as our guide. We walked and saw everything. He took us to the german Christmas market for lunch, then we went to the first of two gelato shops, and afterwards, it was on to our next museum, the Uffizi Gallery National Art Museum.
This museum is best known for holding The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. Along with this famous work of art, the museum holds about three floors of thousands of pieces of statues and paintings. We took as much of in as we could, but you need about 24 hours in that museum alone. We still had so much more to see and do!
Because of our early rise, we were starting to lose steam after the Uffizi. However, onward we went to visit the oldest bridge in Firenze. It is now a beautiful tourist attraction with lots of shops and street vendors. It was bustling with lost of people and attractions. We decided to have a late lunch and recharge. It was a quick, but worthwhile bite to eat, and we were off again to make it to the Duomo. This is the cathedral church of Florence, also known as The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. Although we did not make it in time to view the inside, I took plenty of pictures of the outside, which is just as beautiful.
By this time, everyone was in need of a nap. So, we went back to hostel and slept. Two hours later we awoke refreshed and hungry. (Always with us) We dressed for the evening and met Garrett again. He took us to this great Asian-fusion restaurant for Aperitivo, an italian, buffet style of eating. It was delicious with vegetarian options! I was content. Sitting there, I couldn't believe that actually pulled this off. I remember thinking, "Here we are, laughing and talking together in Florence, Italy!" Needless to say, we enjoyed a wonderful day in Firenze. What else can I say? I felt so fortunate to be able to meet up with these lovely ladies. When we said goodbye the next morning, it wasn't sad at all for we knew that we will see each other very soon on our next reunion trip to Augusta, GA. Until then, ciao bellas!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
The other Capital
That's right, BARCELONA! I actually did it; I spent my Thanksgiving in the other most famous city in España. Today, I returned to Palma on a flight at 14:20. I arrived in Barcelona on Thursday at 21:00. In the meantime, I enjoyed about 41 hours in Barcelona. The trip was so quick but that much more amazing. However, jet-setting is a tough job. I literally hit the ground running, from one mode of transportation to another. It was really easy to get from the airpot to the city on the bus. From the bus stop in Plaza de Catalunya, I took the metro to Diagonal, one of the longest streets in the city. Here, the hostel was located about a block away. Yes, that's right! I stayed in a hostel for two nights, a very good experience actually. I recommend that all student/young travelers try it at least once.
After I found the hostel and dropped my stuff, I left to find my friends. I was excited to see Barcelona, but most of all I was excited to see my friends that I haven't talked to in about a year. We were in the same program on campus freshman year and kind of lost touch sophomore year, but that didn't mean a thing this weekend. In fact, I now know just how fortunate I am to have such great friends who welcome me anytime and anywhere. With Christin, Martine, and Mel, we were off for the night. First, we hit up their favorite bar, which is now my favorite too.
Just check out the menu and their wide variety of choices to see why! We stayed, we enjoyed, then we left. We walked around some after that, but surprisingly the streets were very quite for a Thursday in. Likewise, we were all tired from the week. I wanted to get some sleep in order to get an early start in the morning to see as many sights as possible. So, back to the hostel I went. 
In the morning I woke-up feeling good. Even better, it wasn't raining! It was going to be a good day in Barcelona. First, I went to La Rambla, the main street for tourist to see street performers, vendors and artists. Here's a picture of the main sign, welcoming visitors off the metro. I didn't really have an itinerary for the day, more like a list of places to go. Also, I didn't know where anything is located. I knew it was all close to La Rambla, so I just walked, more like wondered in awe. It was such a perfect day.
I walked all along the water front. I made it to this mall, passed the awesome aquarium, and finally stumbled upon this cool looking museum.
It was even better on the inside. The Museum d'Historia Catalunya is a four story building dedicated to the history, evolution, and modern culture of Catalunya, the autonomous community within Spain. Before visiting Spain, I knew of the language of Catalan, but I had no knowledge about the entire community nor its history of political autonomy. It was all very interesting to see in this very modern building. Its an interactive museum where the kids come to learn during class time, and they can play with all the exhibits. I had fun playing too, but I had to get going. I was meeting Martine that afternoon to start making the dessert for our day-after Thanksgiving feast.
Yes, that's right. As American students, we celebrated our holiday in style with all the traditional trimmings. Christin was the gracious host in her very spacious apartment. She made a great vegetarian stuffing and cooked a turkey. Yes, it was a full bird! She and her friend Christanna spent literally all day caring for this 20lb bird. The best part was that all the side dishes were vegetarian. We ALL ate WELL. I was so impressed because it all turned out so great.
It was a good meal that I did not expect, which made it even better. It was also great to meet all their friends who are in their program or just visiting like me. I was in good company with great food. We ate, talked, and laughed for hours, stuffed ourselves silly of course. That's what the day of thanks is all about right? We all took advantage, and than we napped. After a full day of walking, there is nothing like a warm meal to put me to sleep. I napped too. I had to rest up for the night. After dinner, Christin, Martine, and I took this photo, one of my favorite pictures from this weekend.
We're spelling out W.L.P. which stands for Women's Leadership Program. How good are we?! After sleeping off the meal, we had lots of desserts for everyone to eat. Martine was very determine to "make" something and made chocolate rice krispy treats. We also bought a pie and tons of cookies. There was something for everyone. However, we were all ready to walk/dance off all that good eatin'. 
We had a fun night at this popular club. It was group of us, and we stuck together through all the floors and different rooms. This place was huge, and we almost shut it down. We only left early to beat the crowd to the metro. Finally, at the end of the night, I had to say goodbye to everyone on the metro because of course I had a flight to catch. I was sad to leave so soon. I didn't even see a third of all the museums and attractions that Barcelona has to offer. It really is a beautiful city with a great culture. I will be back soon with more time to spare and a really good map.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
¡No me digas! ¿Sólo un mes más?
Well look at that! I am in the final month of my long-awaited study abroad experience in Palma. Just like that, I am at the beginning of the end. Yet, there is so much more to see, learn, and experience. In fact, if I had to articulate my current state here, I would use the diagram of a narrative plot. Being the protagonist of course, I'm in the falling action of this short story/drama/comedy.
And the climax, the one event in my entire time here that I can call the "the turning point," has to be our impromptu, unoffical excursion to Inca for the Festival of Fire. Inca is the second largest city on the island, north of Palm in the center. It was a cold and rainy night but unexpectedly, a GOOD TIME!
Check out this video of the fireworks
And the climax, the one event in my entire time here that I can call the "the turning point," has to be our impromptu, unoffical excursion to Inca for the Festival of Fire. Inca is the second largest city on the island, north of Palm in the center. It was a cold and rainy night but unexpectedly, a GOOD TIME!
Check out this video of the fireworks
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Yesterday I woke up, and my country had elected a new President...
...and I helped!
November 4th, OBAMA '08.
WE MADE HISTORY!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Time flies (and CHANGES) when you're having fun
I can't believe that it has been 11 days since my last post. The days are passing so quickly, and my schedule has filled up. More and more everyday I have more assignments, appointments, and activities. This week was hectic but fun. Still, I am so happy to begin my FOUR day weekend, friday to monday. Yes, that's right, no classes on HALLOWEEN. Although it isn't an official holiday here, Halloween is very much celebrated in Palma. Now, admittedly, I am not a fan of dressing up for Halloween; however, I'm feeling the spirit and preparing to participate. Actually, I'm excited about this costume, but I hope that I can pull it off. I will surprise you with pictures of my costume soon.
Also, this week, the time changed, and we gained/ lost an hour. I'm so disoriented that I can't tell which one actually happened. It gets really dark much earlier, which makes me feel like the day is shorter and tomorrow comes faster. It sounds confusing, I know. When I arrived, I was 6 hours ahead of Detroit/D.C. and 9 hours ahead of the west coast. Now, I really can't say. I'm constantly checking the time just to stay on schedule.
And what a schedule it is! Classes, excursions, and play dates. Yes, play dates! Twice a week, I have the opportunity to visit two young girls, ages 3 and 5, at their home to play with them and speak english. So far, I have been to play 3 times, and I really enjoy my time with them. The girls are very bright and the family is so genuine. It's nice to have an outlet or another place to go, aside from campus and home. In honor of the holiday weekend, we had a Halloween party, and I was actually able to find and buy a pumpkin for them. They were thrilled.
Lastly, I just want to share this YouTube video of Tenia Tanto que Darte, a song by Nena Daconte. By chance, I saw this video in the gym one day, and the song was stuck in my head for about a week. Finally, today, I was able to find the song and more info about the singer. Check it out, but be careful. You won't be able to get it out of your head!
Also, this week, the time changed, and we gained/ lost an hour. I'm so disoriented that I can't tell which one actually happened. It gets really dark much earlier, which makes me feel like the day is shorter and tomorrow comes faster. It sounds confusing, I know. When I arrived, I was 6 hours ahead of Detroit/D.C. and 9 hours ahead of the west coast. Now, I really can't say. I'm constantly checking the time just to stay on schedule.
And what a schedule it is! Classes, excursions, and play dates. Yes, play dates! Twice a week, I have the opportunity to visit two young girls, ages 3 and 5, at their home to play with them and speak english. So far, I have been to play 3 times, and I really enjoy my time with them. The girls are very bright and the family is so genuine. It's nice to have an outlet or another place to go, aside from campus and home. In honor of the holiday weekend, we had a Halloween party, and I was actually able to find and buy a pumpkin for them. They were thrilled.
Lastly, I just want to share this YouTube video of Tenia Tanto que Darte, a song by Nena Daconte. By chance, I saw this video in the gym one day, and the song was stuck in my head for about a week. Finally, today, I was able to find the song and more info about the singer. Check it out, but be careful. You won't be able to get it out of your head!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
A great day for a 10k!
20 euros to register
31 euros to get a race chip
56 minutes to experience it all
Being an international "marathon" runner for the day, PRICELESS!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Momento del Día
I found this little guy on the stairs in our building, coming home today. We startled each other. However, he was so cute that I just had to take a picture and share his close-up as the moment of the day!
Monday, October 13, 2008
"¡Uno de cada, por favor!"
Last night we went out for tapas and enjoyed the final night of the TaPalma tapas festival. Its simiular to Restaurant Week in DC with a specific menu at a special price, except the menu actually is reasonable, no more than 2 euros per item, drinks as well. The festival is hosted by 45 different restaurants over 5 days. There are so many restaurants that they are separated on a map into four different routes, Ruta Centre, Ruta Santa Catalína, Ruta La Llonja, and Ruta Plaça Espanya. We stayed on Ruta Santa Catalína for the evening and went to three different restaurants for samples of their best tapas. I had a very flavorful piece of white fish with tomato, a delicious portion of grilled calamari on a baguette, and a rich eggplant parmesan. I love everything about the festival. You choose. You chat. You eat. You go, on to the next restaurant to do it all again. My kind of night!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Más acerca de Mi Casa
I'm in the midst of a four day weekend, being very productive of course! Below are photos of my Señora's apartment. I love the décor, so quaint.
Yes, stairs leading up to the "throne!"
It is customary for the washing machine to be located in the kitchen here, just like the dish washer there, an efficient use of space.
I proudly made myself dinner.
Outside on the balcony.
The street below. By the way, between the yellow line and the wall is the "sidewalk." I walk out of the front door, and I'm in the middle of the street!
On the roof.
Lounge area, but its not really the season.
Notice all the satellite dishes and antennas.
El jardín de mi Señora.
I did a little laundry, four loads of clothes, and hung them on the clothes line to dry.
Yes, stairs leading up to the "throne!"
It is customary for the washing machine to be located in the kitchen here, just like the dish washer there, an efficient use of space.
I proudly made myself dinner.
Outside on the balcony.
The street below. By the way, between the yellow line and the wall is the "sidewalk." I walk out of the front door, and I'm in the middle of the street!
On the roof.
Lounge area, but its not really the season.
Notice all the satellite dishes and antennas.
El jardín de mi Señora.
I did a little laundry, four loads of clothes, and hung them on the clothes line to dry.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Viaje a la Capital
WoW! This week ended just as quickly as it began. Sorry for the delay, but after my amazing weekend of travel, I had to hit the ground running on Monday. Yes, I had the great opportunity to visit Madrid, the capital of Spain. Our trip was great because we really did see a little bit of EVERYTHING in Madrid. From beautiful parks to a palace, congress to churros, and art museums to artists on the streets, we saw it ALL. Furthermore, I want to revisit it all so get comfy. This will be a long, interesting read!
Friday morning, I packed my bags and left to meet the group to go to the airport. It was the eight of us and Antonia. We caught the very crowded bus to the airport, checked-in, and made it to the gate in plenty of time. It was all so smooth. "Great start," I thought to myself. The flight was quick too, maybe 60 minutes. When we arrived, no one needed to go to baggage claim because we all brought carry-ons. What an efficient way to travel. I had never done this before, guess its because I never pack light enough. And, I did pretty well though. I had everything I needed for our very busy weekend. Sometimes I surprise myself.
From the airport to the metro we went. The station was in the same building! I wish I could have seen this place from the outside because it must be massive. The airport has several terminals, and the metro systems has 12 different lines. We had to take 3 lines just to get to our hotel. Some of the stations have escalators, and other do not. Trekking around with all our luggage, up one set of stairs, down another set, hopping on and off different trains, it was a production. But, once we finally saw the light of day, coming up out of the metro station in central Madrid, I realized that I had made it! "We're in Madrid!" I yelled. I was so relived to finally see it, cars zooming by, real sidewalks, and grand architecture all around.
We went straight to the hotel. I was eager to see our room and really happy to be able to lighten my load. The room was a little disappointing for my taste, but we weren't there for long. When we exited the metro station, I saw a little piece of home right across the street, Starbucks! Before I could go on with the rest of the day, I NEEDED a café Americano. The first sip was amazing. I downed that grandé in record time. After that jolt of espresso, I was ready for anything. Even better, it was time for lunch! We walked and walked all around and had a picnic lunch in Los Jardines Sabatini. It was gorgeous. This is the garden of the kings. It had all these cool statues of former kings of Spain. It is located next to El Palacio Real or the Royal Palace. Next, we took a tour of the palace. More walking, but it was fascinating to see. I just love how extravagant kings and queens lived. I could get used to that. We only saw about 25 rooms, but there are over 2,800 very different rooms in the entire palace! I couldn't take photos, but check out the link to see pictures and read all about this lavish national treasure. When the tour concluded, the guide suggested that we visit the armory as well, and we did. It was so amazing to see the actual attire that real Spanish knights once wore.
After walking through all that royal history, we had "tiempo libre," free time to recharge and get ready for the evening. Antonia arranged for us to meet and have dinner with a student from Madrid, who she knew very well. It was really nice to have like a tour guide for night life in Madrid. He and his friends took us to some very popular cafés and clubs, and we all had a great time together, conversing in 'Spanglish' and enjoying the same music. It wasn't a long night though. We all knew that Saturday was going to be a very long day with even more walking. We said goodnight, and returned to our rooms for some much needed rest.
Saturday morning quickly came, and it was crucial that we did not oversleep because it was Antonia's birthday! We got her a big card and some chocolate. She was so surprised and happy to spend her birthday with us. On to breakfast, and of course I was starving. Don't get me wrong, I really do like that food here, but there just isn't enough variety. When you hear, "This is a Spanish breakfast," that applies to EVERY part of the country. Nevertheless, its great because when I order, I know what to expect. I had a Spanish tortilla, which is more like a frittata with egg and potatoes, and un bocadillo atún, a tuna sandwich on really crusty bread. At this particular café, both dishes were really good. I was satisfied and ready for the day.
First, we took a guided tour of El Congreso del Los Diputados. This tour made me feel at home, touring the capital building and all. Usually, I take these kind of opportunities for granted. However, when we entered el Salón de Sesiones, I realized the importance of this space. This is where hundreds of the country's leaders convene and vote on policies for the advancement of Spain. Moreover, the history in the room was overwhelming. All along the ceiling, there are beautiful paintings and statues honoring the past of the royal government. The tour was quick and straight to the point. We were off to our next appointment, but not before a pit stop at Starbucks! With my Americano, I was all set and ready to see some art.
We met up with a professor of Spanish art history, and he was our tour guide for the day. The first museum we went to was the Museo Nacional del Prado. Simply amazing. It's funny how I'm not the type to visit an art museum on my own, but when I do visit any art museum or exhibit, I want to stay and learn about every piece of work in the building. Luckily, I was in good hands. The professor gave us every bit of information that he knew about the most famous paintings in the building. We viewed the works of several famous artists including, El Bosco, El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya. My favorite paintings were created by Velázquez. I appreciated his work so much because if you look closely, you can see the lines where he decided to erase and repaint, simply because he changed his mind. Something didn't look right in one spot, and it looked better two inches to the right. I loved this audacity. He didn't see mistakes. He just took a moment to rethink his work, and kept going, creating thought-provoking art. We also observed the first and last works of El Greco in Spain. The stark contrasts are so interesting. His first work, La Trinidad, is filled with bright light and color, while La Adoración de los Pastores, his last creation in Spain, is extremely dark and gloomy. Everyone speculates about the reasons for the different perspectives, but there isn't a clear answer. Another aspect I found interesting about all the famous painters was how they would randomly include a self-portrait in the their paintings. I thought this was odd at first, but now that I think about it, I would do the same. The Prado was a great experience, and the gift shop was cool too. Yes, I got a couple of souvenirs for some very special people.
After the Prado, one can probably guess what came next, lunch! We went to a café and restaurant called El Brillante. Particularly, this place is known for serving the best bocadillos de calamares, a customary lunch in Madrid. I ordered one with the group. I like calamari, but not really in a sandwich. But of course, I was glad that I tried it. For dessert, I tried this flan dish, and one bite was enough. Along with tasting new dishes, I was happy to sit and enjoy the environment. We lunched for about ninety minutes. That's Spain!
Once everyone was finished and ready, we were on the move again to our second museum. We toured the contemporary art museum of Spain, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. The building includes four floors of art by hundreds of different artists. Yet, I have to admit that I'm just not a fan of contemporary art. Most of the art just didn't grab my attention like the classics. There was one piece that I was glad to see in person, Guernica by Pablo Picasso. It is the most famous painting created about La Guerra Civil in 1937. Last week, in my Politics and Society course, we discussed this painting and all of its many symbols and intricate detail. There's nothing like seeing this historic treasure in person.
After observing most of Spain's famous art, we had tiempo libre. A few us visited the Madrid train station. It was interesting to see because inside the station, there is vegetation growing tall everywhere and includes a turtle pond. Next, we took the metro back to the hotel. We relaxed a little and prepared for the night. After all that walking, all of us just wanted a good, filling dinner. Collectively, the ladies were determined to find some authentic paella. As recommended by our "night life tour guide," we dined at a restaurant called La Barraca, which has been serving delicious menus since 1935. We enjoyed a mouth-watering seafood paella. It was made to order and slow cooked just for us. It was so relaxing to be in good company with great food. I was absolutely content. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel. Some of us planned to nap, get a café, and spend another night out. Me on the other hand, I wanted a little gelato, but even more, I wanted that bed. Needless to say, it was a DEEP night's sleep.
Sunday morning startled me because I slept so hard. Yet, I felt energized and ready for our last day in Madrid. For breakfast this morning, we went to San Ginés, the best café in Madrid for Chocolate con Churros. As you may know, I'm that odd kid with a food allergy to chocolate. I tried my churro con un café, but sadly, it is NOT the same. Imagine eating a warm buttery pancake without syrup and just a plain, hot cup of coffee. Its not even worth the carbs and calories. Interestingly though, mis compadres only seemed to enjoy one or two. it was that rich with the chocolate. Antonia was surprised by this response too. Though they don't eat churros daily, most Spaniards and tourists drink the chocolate after they finish all the churros. Yikes!
Being that we had a plane to catch, we had to keep to the schedule. Next we went to one of the most anticipated events on the whole itinerary, El Rastro, the most famous open air market in Spain. It was nice to walk around and see all the vendors. I took it all in and bought a few more gifts. The best thing I saw here were the artists on the streets. This is a very poplar custom all around Europe and especially in Madrid, street performances. Check out this video of a quartet of violinist. I love how it is absolutely ok for people to stop and enjoy the music, for hours if they want.
Leaving el Rastro, we grabbed lunch en FresCo, a restaurant buffet. Its specialty is salads. Antonia said that she chose this place in my honor. We had OPTIONS among all kinds of vegetables and toppings! I was so happy. We enjoyed another long, relaxing lunch, then it was time for more walking. We headed to a second major park in Madrid, el Parque del Retiro. We walked around and enjoyed the atmosphere. Among the tranquility, I saw some of the biggest ducks ever. They are really well fed. There is a pond where one could rent a romantic row boat. I loved seeing the ROW boats. Also, we took in some more entertainment. Check this out.
Our trip was coming to an end, and it was time to go back to the hotel, get out bags, and find our way back to the airport. But first, I had to make one more trip to Starbucks. I just got a tall soy Chai. I wanted to rest on the airplane. We managed to get ourselves and all our stuff on the plane and back to Palma. I was happy to return 'home' for a hot shower, but what a trip. I had such a great time in Madrid. However, now I get it. Once you see one, you MUST see the other, Barcelona. That's the ongoing debate/rivalry in Spain. Which city is better Madrid or Barcelona? Guess I will just have to investigate for myself. Thanks for reading and recollecting with me!
Friday morning, I packed my bags and left to meet the group to go to the airport. It was the eight of us and Antonia. We caught the very crowded bus to the airport, checked-in, and made it to the gate in plenty of time. It was all so smooth. "Great start," I thought to myself. The flight was quick too, maybe 60 minutes. When we arrived, no one needed to go to baggage claim because we all brought carry-ons. What an efficient way to travel. I had never done this before, guess its because I never pack light enough. And, I did pretty well though. I had everything I needed for our very busy weekend. Sometimes I surprise myself.
From the airport to the metro we went. The station was in the same building! I wish I could have seen this place from the outside because it must be massive. The airport has several terminals, and the metro systems has 12 different lines. We had to take 3 lines just to get to our hotel. Some of the stations have escalators, and other do not. Trekking around with all our luggage, up one set of stairs, down another set, hopping on and off different trains, it was a production. But, once we finally saw the light of day, coming up out of the metro station in central Madrid, I realized that I had made it! "We're in Madrid!" I yelled. I was so relived to finally see it, cars zooming by, real sidewalks, and grand architecture all around.
We went straight to the hotel. I was eager to see our room and really happy to be able to lighten my load. The room was a little disappointing for my taste, but we weren't there for long. When we exited the metro station, I saw a little piece of home right across the street, Starbucks! Before I could go on with the rest of the day, I NEEDED a café Americano. The first sip was amazing. I downed that grandé in record time. After that jolt of espresso, I was ready for anything. Even better, it was time for lunch! We walked and walked all around and had a picnic lunch in Los Jardines Sabatini. It was gorgeous. This is the garden of the kings. It had all these cool statues of former kings of Spain. It is located next to El Palacio Real or the Royal Palace. Next, we took a tour of the palace. More walking, but it was fascinating to see. I just love how extravagant kings and queens lived. I could get used to that. We only saw about 25 rooms, but there are over 2,800 very different rooms in the entire palace! I couldn't take photos, but check out the link to see pictures and read all about this lavish national treasure. When the tour concluded, the guide suggested that we visit the armory as well, and we did. It was so amazing to see the actual attire that real Spanish knights once wore.
After walking through all that royal history, we had "tiempo libre," free time to recharge and get ready for the evening. Antonia arranged for us to meet and have dinner with a student from Madrid, who she knew very well. It was really nice to have like a tour guide for night life in Madrid. He and his friends took us to some very popular cafés and clubs, and we all had a great time together, conversing in 'Spanglish' and enjoying the same music. It wasn't a long night though. We all knew that Saturday was going to be a very long day with even more walking. We said goodnight, and returned to our rooms for some much needed rest.
Saturday morning quickly came, and it was crucial that we did not oversleep because it was Antonia's birthday! We got her a big card and some chocolate. She was so surprised and happy to spend her birthday with us. On to breakfast, and of course I was starving. Don't get me wrong, I really do like that food here, but there just isn't enough variety. When you hear, "This is a Spanish breakfast," that applies to EVERY part of the country. Nevertheless, its great because when I order, I know what to expect. I had a Spanish tortilla, which is more like a frittata with egg and potatoes, and un bocadillo atún, a tuna sandwich on really crusty bread. At this particular café, both dishes were really good. I was satisfied and ready for the day.
First, we took a guided tour of El Congreso del Los Diputados. This tour made me feel at home, touring the capital building and all. Usually, I take these kind of opportunities for granted. However, when we entered el Salón de Sesiones, I realized the importance of this space. This is where hundreds of the country's leaders convene and vote on policies for the advancement of Spain. Moreover, the history in the room was overwhelming. All along the ceiling, there are beautiful paintings and statues honoring the past of the royal government. The tour was quick and straight to the point. We were off to our next appointment, but not before a pit stop at Starbucks! With my Americano, I was all set and ready to see some art.
We met up with a professor of Spanish art history, and he was our tour guide for the day. The first museum we went to was the Museo Nacional del Prado. Simply amazing. It's funny how I'm not the type to visit an art museum on my own, but when I do visit any art museum or exhibit, I want to stay and learn about every piece of work in the building. Luckily, I was in good hands. The professor gave us every bit of information that he knew about the most famous paintings in the building. We viewed the works of several famous artists including, El Bosco, El Greco, Velázquez, and Goya. My favorite paintings were created by Velázquez. I appreciated his work so much because if you look closely, you can see the lines where he decided to erase and repaint, simply because he changed his mind. Something didn't look right in one spot, and it looked better two inches to the right. I loved this audacity. He didn't see mistakes. He just took a moment to rethink his work, and kept going, creating thought-provoking art. We also observed the first and last works of El Greco in Spain. The stark contrasts are so interesting. His first work, La Trinidad, is filled with bright light and color, while La Adoración de los Pastores, his last creation in Spain, is extremely dark and gloomy. Everyone speculates about the reasons for the different perspectives, but there isn't a clear answer. Another aspect I found interesting about all the famous painters was how they would randomly include a self-portrait in the their paintings. I thought this was odd at first, but now that I think about it, I would do the same. The Prado was a great experience, and the gift shop was cool too. Yes, I got a couple of souvenirs for some very special people.
After the Prado, one can probably guess what came next, lunch! We went to a café and restaurant called El Brillante. Particularly, this place is known for serving the best bocadillos de calamares, a customary lunch in Madrid. I ordered one with the group. I like calamari, but not really in a sandwich. But of course, I was glad that I tried it. For dessert, I tried this flan dish, and one bite was enough. Along with tasting new dishes, I was happy to sit and enjoy the environment. We lunched for about ninety minutes. That's Spain!
Once everyone was finished and ready, we were on the move again to our second museum. We toured the contemporary art museum of Spain, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía. The building includes four floors of art by hundreds of different artists. Yet, I have to admit that I'm just not a fan of contemporary art. Most of the art just didn't grab my attention like the classics. There was one piece that I was glad to see in person, Guernica by Pablo Picasso. It is the most famous painting created about La Guerra Civil in 1937. Last week, in my Politics and Society course, we discussed this painting and all of its many symbols and intricate detail. There's nothing like seeing this historic treasure in person.
After observing most of Spain's famous art, we had tiempo libre. A few us visited the Madrid train station. It was interesting to see because inside the station, there is vegetation growing tall everywhere and includes a turtle pond. Next, we took the metro back to the hotel. We relaxed a little and prepared for the night. After all that walking, all of us just wanted a good, filling dinner. Collectively, the ladies were determined to find some authentic paella. As recommended by our "night life tour guide," we dined at a restaurant called La Barraca, which has been serving delicious menus since 1935. We enjoyed a mouth-watering seafood paella. It was made to order and slow cooked just for us. It was so relaxing to be in good company with great food. I was absolutely content. Afterwards, we returned to the hotel. Some of us planned to nap, get a café, and spend another night out. Me on the other hand, I wanted a little gelato, but even more, I wanted that bed. Needless to say, it was a DEEP night's sleep.
Sunday morning startled me because I slept so hard. Yet, I felt energized and ready for our last day in Madrid. For breakfast this morning, we went to San Ginés, the best café in Madrid for Chocolate con Churros. As you may know, I'm that odd kid with a food allergy to chocolate. I tried my churro con un café, but sadly, it is NOT the same. Imagine eating a warm buttery pancake without syrup and just a plain, hot cup of coffee. Its not even worth the carbs and calories. Interestingly though, mis compadres only seemed to enjoy one or two. it was that rich with the chocolate. Antonia was surprised by this response too. Though they don't eat churros daily, most Spaniards and tourists drink the chocolate after they finish all the churros. Yikes!
Being that we had a plane to catch, we had to keep to the schedule. Next we went to one of the most anticipated events on the whole itinerary, El Rastro, the most famous open air market in Spain. It was nice to walk around and see all the vendors. I took it all in and bought a few more gifts. The best thing I saw here were the artists on the streets. This is a very poplar custom all around Europe and especially in Madrid, street performances. Check out this video of a quartet of violinist. I love how it is absolutely ok for people to stop and enjoy the music, for hours if they want.
Leaving el Rastro, we grabbed lunch en FresCo, a restaurant buffet. Its specialty is salads. Antonia said that she chose this place in my honor. We had OPTIONS among all kinds of vegetables and toppings! I was so happy. We enjoyed another long, relaxing lunch, then it was time for more walking. We headed to a second major park in Madrid, el Parque del Retiro. We walked around and enjoyed the atmosphere. Among the tranquility, I saw some of the biggest ducks ever. They are really well fed. There is a pond where one could rent a romantic row boat. I loved seeing the ROW boats. Also, we took in some more entertainment. Check this out.
Our trip was coming to an end, and it was time to go back to the hotel, get out bags, and find our way back to the airport. But first, I had to make one more trip to Starbucks. I just got a tall soy Chai. I wanted to rest on the airplane. We managed to get ourselves and all our stuff on the plane and back to Palma. I was happy to return 'home' for a hot shower, but what a trip. I had such a great time in Madrid. However, now I get it. Once you see one, you MUST see the other, Barcelona. That's the ongoing debate/rivalry in Spain. Which city is better Madrid or Barcelona? Guess I will just have to investigate for myself. Thanks for reading and recollecting with me!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Cherry on Top
Having most of my syllabi and meeting all of my professors for the semester, I am pleased with my curriculum. It will be an interesting semester, jammed packed with all sorts of assignments, activities, and a few surprises. I know I can manage it all, just need to get organized. This brings me to the highlight of my week!
HOT and HANDY study abroad TIP: Don't be shy, bring ALL of your favorite school supplies from home.
I didn't bring any notebooks, folders, or any of my leftover supplies from the spring. I can't tell you how many note cards and pens I have in storage in D.C. Yet, I have been hanging on to the same Lufthansa Airlines pen and Hotel Jaime III notepad, just so I could survive my classes this week. By Wednesday, I was at the end of my wits and spoke to Antonia and Susan about places to purchase supplies for a reasonable price. Of course, everything on campus and in central Palma is expensive. I had to find a better alternative.
They directed me to a SUPER center called Carrefour. Antonia could see by the expression on my face that I was a little apprehensive to find this place on my own. However my mood changed quickly when she said, "Its like Wal-Mart." I carefully took their directions and made plans to see this place for myself.
Carrefour is on the bus route from UIB to home. I decided that today I must get all my supplies in order to be ready for next week. No excuses. Because I had a backpack and gym bag with me, I incurred some problems with security upon walking in the door. I just had to put my stuff in a locker until I finished my shopping. After all that, I was a little frazzled; however, I had a mission to complete. I crossed the security wall, took one look around, and realized that I had arrived! Admittedly, it is not as big of a building as an average Wal-Mart but more similar to a Targét. Either way, I was beaming with delight. I know its wrong for me to want to shop at the store that reminds me of a domestic store, but I love it! It has all that I need at affordable prices, and even better, its easily accessible. What more can I ask for?!
Any who, getting to my point, I found the "back to school" section near the front of the store, "SCORE!" I thought to myself. Looking at the spirals, just as I was warned, I realized that ALL the notebooks, in Mallorca and Spain actually, contain what we call "graph paper" only. Lined paper simply does not exists. Wide ruled, college ruled, loose leaf, I used to take it for granted, such a simple luxury. Still, I had to get what they had. I bought some notebooks, Post-it notes, pens, and substitute folders. I don't think pocket folders exist either, so we'll see how these fair.
So after I surveyed the school supplies, I wanted to see the rest of the store, especially the grocery section. The most mind blowing moment occurred when I saw the seafood section. No, not prepackaged items, but fresh, straight out the net from the boat cruising the Mediterranean, sea food of ALL types, from snapping lobsters to octopus legs to 5 different types of shrimp to porterhouse size tuna steaks. I was in awe. I just couldn't believe that it was all right there, waiting to be purchased, cooked, and enjoyed.
After I closed my mouth, I walked around some more, surveying the brands. I nearly teared when I saw Colgate and Dove in the hygiene section. Last week, I went to the local pharmacy to purchase some body wash. I found some, but it was pricey. Moreover, I am pretty sure that I bought a body wash with a hint of men's cologne. I plan to use it all, but now I know where to go as soon as I run out!
I paid for my items, had a nice conversation with the cashier, and got my bags from the locker. I witnessed another amazing moment in the store when I saw this the young boy be reprimanded by his father. Actually, the whole front of the store stopped to watch him yell at the boy. I was scared for him and didn't move a muscle until the father was done yelling. I love seeing these natural expressions of emotion in the Mallorquin culture. I've seen this same situation at home before, but this was that much more intense in español!
It was fun to get out and find Carrefour by myself after such an intense first week of classes. Furthermore, I need to get focused and organized tonight. I have a big weekend ahead of me. More to come soon!
HOT and HANDY study abroad TIP: Don't be shy, bring ALL of your favorite school supplies from home.
I didn't bring any notebooks, folders, or any of my leftover supplies from the spring. I can't tell you how many note cards and pens I have in storage in D.C. Yet, I have been hanging on to the same Lufthansa Airlines pen and Hotel Jaime III notepad, just so I could survive my classes this week. By Wednesday, I was at the end of my wits and spoke to Antonia and Susan about places to purchase supplies for a reasonable price. Of course, everything on campus and in central Palma is expensive. I had to find a better alternative.
They directed me to a SUPER center called Carrefour. Antonia could see by the expression on my face that I was a little apprehensive to find this place on my own. However my mood changed quickly when she said, "Its like Wal-Mart." I carefully took their directions and made plans to see this place for myself.
Carrefour is on the bus route from UIB to home. I decided that today I must get all my supplies in order to be ready for next week. No excuses. Because I had a backpack and gym bag with me, I incurred some problems with security upon walking in the door. I just had to put my stuff in a locker until I finished my shopping. After all that, I was a little frazzled; however, I had a mission to complete. I crossed the security wall, took one look around, and realized that I had arrived! Admittedly, it is not as big of a building as an average Wal-Mart but more similar to a Targét. Either way, I was beaming with delight. I know its wrong for me to want to shop at the store that reminds me of a domestic store, but I love it! It has all that I need at affordable prices, and even better, its easily accessible. What more can I ask for?!
Any who, getting to my point, I found the "back to school" section near the front of the store, "SCORE!" I thought to myself. Looking at the spirals, just as I was warned, I realized that ALL the notebooks, in Mallorca and Spain actually, contain what we call "graph paper" only. Lined paper simply does not exists. Wide ruled, college ruled, loose leaf, I used to take it for granted, such a simple luxury. Still, I had to get what they had. I bought some notebooks, Post-it notes, pens, and substitute folders. I don't think pocket folders exist either, so we'll see how these fair.
So after I surveyed the school supplies, I wanted to see the rest of the store, especially the grocery section. The most mind blowing moment occurred when I saw the seafood section. No, not prepackaged items, but fresh, straight out the net from the boat cruising the Mediterranean, sea food of ALL types, from snapping lobsters to octopus legs to 5 different types of shrimp to porterhouse size tuna steaks. I was in awe. I just couldn't believe that it was all right there, waiting to be purchased, cooked, and enjoyed.
After I closed my mouth, I walked around some more, surveying the brands. I nearly teared when I saw Colgate and Dove in the hygiene section. Last week, I went to the local pharmacy to purchase some body wash. I found some, but it was pricey. Moreover, I am pretty sure that I bought a body wash with a hint of men's cologne. I plan to use it all, but now I know where to go as soon as I run out!
I paid for my items, had a nice conversation with the cashier, and got my bags from the locker. I witnessed another amazing moment in the store when I saw this the young boy be reprimanded by his father. Actually, the whole front of the store stopped to watch him yell at the boy. I was scared for him and didn't move a muscle until the father was done yelling. I love seeing these natural expressions of emotion in the Mallorquin culture. I've seen this same situation at home before, but this was that much more intense in español!
It was fun to get out and find Carrefour by myself after such an intense first week of classes. Furthermore, I need to get focused and organized tonight. I have a big weekend ahead of me. More to come soon!
Monday, September 29, 2008
The HIGHLY anticipated first day of classes
I swear, last night, I felt like I was 10 years old again, restlessly laying in bed, anxious to begin the 5th grade. Except, this morning, I was eagerly waiting to begin the 15th grade;-) Yes, I enjoyed a very long summer, but today was the day. For anyone who may not know, this program is (balls to the walls) full Spanish immersion. My professors speak very little to no English, but I have a really interesting course load. My classes include a Hotel Management and Tourism course, Spanish for Business and Tourism writing and negotiating, Globalization, Human Migration, and Tourism using the Balearic Islands as a case study, a history course on Palma in the Mediterranean, and finally, a course that explores Spanish Politics and Society. I'm enthusiastic about the material and all that I will learn.
Today, I had three classes, well not really. The Hotel Management class, my only course in the number one nationally ranked Escola d' Hoteleria, did not begin today. It will start on Wednesday, but someone forgot to tell the International kids. I was a little disappointed, especially because this class is scheduled for 9 am. Furthermore, I was all dressed up in my mandatory uniform, black pants with a white blouse. Don't worry, I had a change of clothes and a snack. I was ready for my 11:30.
Next was the Globalization and Human Migration course. This, like my other four classes, is a CIEE course, which means that only CIEE students have enrolled. This fall, we are a quaint group of eight students, and as a result, my classes are small too. Four of us are taking the Globalization course. For this class especially, I am grateful for the small class size because I have a final project due for the term. It is so intense that we will need to meet individually with the professor biweekly as well as email him for help, not a T.A. He seems like a really nice and fair guy. I just need to organize the course material and focus on a topic as soon as possible.
My last class of the day at 3:30 was Palma in the Mediterranean. It is a class of only three students. This professor has a very active syllabus with field trips and a midterm. I am going to enjoy this course in particular because I have never learned about the history of the Mediterranean empire and its geography. We got rolling right away today, and I have already picked up a few interesting facts. Did you know that there was an invisible line separating the occidental and oriental halves of Europe and Northern Africa, mandated by the Romans? Also, call me geography challenged, but I never realized the the very southern tip of Spain is so close to the most northernness part of Africa, Morocco! It's like traveling from Miami to Cuba. Yes, the Straight of Gibraltar! I've heard of it, just couldn't tell you where it was located.
In conclusion, the first day was insightful and a success. One down!
Today, I had three classes, well not really. The Hotel Management class, my only course in the number one nationally ranked Escola d' Hoteleria, did not begin today. It will start on Wednesday, but someone forgot to tell the International kids. I was a little disappointed, especially because this class is scheduled for 9 am. Furthermore, I was all dressed up in my mandatory uniform, black pants with a white blouse. Don't worry, I had a change of clothes and a snack. I was ready for my 11:30.
Next was the Globalization and Human Migration course. This, like my other four classes, is a CIEE course, which means that only CIEE students have enrolled. This fall, we are a quaint group of eight students, and as a result, my classes are small too. Four of us are taking the Globalization course. For this class especially, I am grateful for the small class size because I have a final project due for the term. It is so intense that we will need to meet individually with the professor biweekly as well as email him for help, not a T.A. He seems like a really nice and fair guy. I just need to organize the course material and focus on a topic as soon as possible.
My last class of the day at 3:30 was Palma in the Mediterranean. It is a class of only three students. This professor has a very active syllabus with field trips and a midterm. I am going to enjoy this course in particular because I have never learned about the history of the Mediterranean empire and its geography. We got rolling right away today, and I have already picked up a few interesting facts. Did you know that there was an invisible line separating the occidental and oriental halves of Europe and Northern Africa, mandated by the Romans? Also, call me geography challenged, but I never realized the the very southern tip of Spain is so close to the most northernness part of Africa, Morocco! It's like traveling from Miami to Cuba. Yes, the Straight of Gibraltar! I've heard of it, just couldn't tell you where it was located.
In conclusion, the first day was insightful and a success. One down!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Mí Primera Clase de "Spinning" en ESPAÑOL
It is so fun to burn calories and learn new vocabulary words while exercising with others! Today, I went to the UIB gimnasio and had a sweat fest! (Sorry for the visual) It was so awesome. The facilities are top of the line, and the class schedule is INTENSE. I can't wait to join some more. If all the other instructors are half as demanding as this guy I met tonight, then I will be in good shape, literally. He yelled things like, "¡Sube Medio!" and "¡Arriba!" En inglés, "Up the resistance!" and "Get up (out the saddle)!" It was great, and the music was hot too! The only songs I recognized were Rehab and Apologize during the cool down. He was serious about stretching, which I appreciated so much. We cooled down for nearly 15 minutes, but I KNOW that I will still feel this tomorrow.
Cross Cultural Note of the Day: To my knowledge, all buses stop at a certain bus stop for a "break," or whatever it is they really do! I took the bus home from campus tonight. When the bus finally arrived, he drove for about 3 minutes to another stop and stood there for more than 10 minutes. He was reading or talking on the phone. YES, this happens almost everywhere, from Detroit to D.C. to Palma de Mallorca. I was flabbergasted!
Cross Cultural Note of the Day: To my knowledge, all buses stop at a certain bus stop for a "break," or whatever it is they really do! I took the bus home from campus tonight. When the bus finally arrived, he drove for about 3 minutes to another stop and stood there for more than 10 minutes. He was reading or talking on the phone. YES, this happens almost everywhere, from Detroit to D.C. to Palma de Mallorca. I was flabbergasted!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
"Cuando no hay hombres, no hay guerra"
The guys were unable to make it this morning, so it was just us chicas. We took a bus ride up north to Alcúdia to visit the Roman ruins called Pol-léntia or Pollença. This included la Portella, el Forum, and el Teatro. We were literally standing in the middle of ancient history! After, we toured the surrounding city and local market. It was crowded, but nice to see all the vendors, locals, and many tourists. This northern part of Mallorca is popular amongst tourist of all walks of life. Luckly, with great timing, we were able to experience a mass in the local Catholic church. I was right back in Ms. Bucci's Spanish class, "En el nombre de Padré, el Hijo, y el Espíritu Santo."
When we were done taking in all the history and crowds, we headed to the beach of course, La Playa de Alcúdia. I love how the weather is perfect on every beach here even when the sun isn't shinning. It came and went throughout our stay. I mostly walked along the beach and took photos of the view. I tried to capture all the colors and landscape but still did it no justice. It was that pretty!
Leaving Alcúdia, we went to Formentor, also known as the top of the island. It was unreal, breath-taking. We were able to drive up so high and then walk higher to take in all the beauty. I loved every second of it. Check out the video:
In Formentor, we went to a second beach, una playa especial. We actually drove to a higher altitude to get to it! It was just as lovely.
When we were done taking in all the history and crowds, we headed to the beach of course, La Playa de Alcúdia. I love how the weather is perfect on every beach here even when the sun isn't shinning. It came and went throughout our stay. I mostly walked along the beach and took photos of the view. I tried to capture all the colors and landscape but still did it no justice. It was that pretty!
Leaving Alcúdia, we went to Formentor, also known as the top of the island. It was unreal, breath-taking. We were able to drive up so high and then walk higher to take in all the beauty. I loved every second of it. Check out the video:
In Formentor, we went to a second beach, una playa especial. We actually drove to a higher altitude to get to it! It was just as lovely.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Biking Palma!
We had a blast today riding along the Mediterranean coast. We biked for about an hour up the coast to another beach near the airport. There, we had some delicious refreshments and relaxed on the beach before returning to central Palma.
Get READY,
Get SET,
Get GELATO!
Get READY,
Get SET,
Get GELATO!
From campus to the beach
We took the Metro to campus to see it for the first time, La Universitat de Les Illes Balears (UIB). Here is the School of Hotel Management.
We had lunch then hit the beach, la playa!
We had lunch then hit the beach, la playa!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
¡Reunión con mi familia!
Once we finally began our day, a little behind scheduled, we walked, walked, and did a little shopping. Some people bought a minute phone for domestic calls. I did not purchase one because I'm waiting to find the best deal. Eventually, I will want to dial domestically. Pero no sé ahora.
We walked some more, had lunch, and then returned to the hotel. It was here we had about 3 hours of an orientation presentation by Antonia and Susan. It was very informative and interesting, but I had to fight to stay awake. I won, sort of. After speaking about safety in Palma, practical matters, independent travel, and our planned activities for the semester, we were given info about our homes and families. Listening to all the do(s) and don't(s), I was starting to get so nervous. They showed us a map of the area and where our homes were located in relation to each other. It seemed so far and impossible to find each other. The suspense was killing me. Where was I living? Are these people patient? Strict? I really didn't consider these things all summer.
Finally, after all the worrying, I was introduced to my Señora, Marisa. Susan introduced us in the lobby, then my mind went blank. I didn't know what to say to her at first due to my choppy spanish. She eased my nervousness and asked me questions about my trip and home. I was finally able to ask her what she did for a living. To my surprise and delight, she is a professional chef and teaches cooking out of her kitchen! She didn't need to say anything else. For me, it was love at first sight! As recommended, I brought a gift for my family. However, I waited until the last minute to buy it. I was so mad at myself for not getting something from the GW bookstore. I didn't know what I was going to buy in Detroit. I was desperate and just happened to find a Williams-Sonoma Kitchen store. So, I bought some basic utensils and a special American sauce. It was totally worth it of course. She was ecstatic and used the pot holder that night for dinner. She's really sweet like that. We were paired together by the Susan because she is an amazing cook, especially vegetarian cuisine.
From the hotel we took a taxi to her apartment. She stays on a higher floor, so we had to carry my luggage up the stairs one at a time. My bags weigh a ton, but we made it just fine and drank some water when we were done. It was kind-of embarrassing but funny, typical me. Her apartment is beautiful with three balconies, two bedrooms, and one bathroom. I love it, and I love my room too. Its the perfect size, and yes, all my crap does fit in the room. She has wireless, so I am all set. ¡Estoy contenta, Sí!
Pictures of my room:
This is the view from my bedroom window. Having no screen on the window is so liberating!
This moth blended in with my bed! No worries. It was one of very few insects.
We walked some more, had lunch, and then returned to the hotel. It was here we had about 3 hours of an orientation presentation by Antonia and Susan. It was very informative and interesting, but I had to fight to stay awake. I won, sort of. After speaking about safety in Palma, practical matters, independent travel, and our planned activities for the semester, we were given info about our homes and families. Listening to all the do(s) and don't(s), I was starting to get so nervous. They showed us a map of the area and where our homes were located in relation to each other. It seemed so far and impossible to find each other. The suspense was killing me. Where was I living? Are these people patient? Strict? I really didn't consider these things all summer.
Finally, after all the worrying, I was introduced to my Señora, Marisa. Susan introduced us in the lobby, then my mind went blank. I didn't know what to say to her at first due to my choppy spanish. She eased my nervousness and asked me questions about my trip and home. I was finally able to ask her what she did for a living. To my surprise and delight, she is a professional chef and teaches cooking out of her kitchen! She didn't need to say anything else. For me, it was love at first sight! As recommended, I brought a gift for my family. However, I waited until the last minute to buy it. I was so mad at myself for not getting something from the GW bookstore. I didn't know what I was going to buy in Detroit. I was desperate and just happened to find a Williams-Sonoma Kitchen store. So, I bought some basic utensils and a special American sauce. It was totally worth it of course. She was ecstatic and used the pot holder that night for dinner. She's really sweet like that. We were paired together by the Susan because she is an amazing cook, especially vegetarian cuisine.
From the hotel we took a taxi to her apartment. She stays on a higher floor, so we had to carry my luggage up the stairs one at a time. My bags weigh a ton, but we made it just fine and drank some water when we were done. It was kind-of embarrassing but funny, typical me. Her apartment is beautiful with three balconies, two bedrooms, and one bathroom. I love it, and I love my room too. Its the perfect size, and yes, all my crap does fit in the room. She has wireless, so I am all set. ¡Estoy contenta, Sí!
Pictures of my room:
This is the view from my bedroom window. Having no screen on the window is so liberating!
This moth blended in with my bed! No worries. It was one of very few insects.
Becoming oriented in paradise
Its very easy to get distracted with so much beauty everywhere. I have to keep asking myself, "Is this real?" After having lunch and meeting each other, we received our own folders filled with information, maps, and schedules. Oddly, I smiled when I saw the Calendar of Activities for this semester. Finally, I'm back to an academic, intellectually stimulating, color coded schedule. How great it is to have a plan of action of how I will accomplish and see so much. Yes, its a nerd/ type A personality thing. No, I can't help it. Moving on.
Five minutes after we got our pertinent info, we walked, walked, and walked around the immediate central area. It is beautiful, but treacherous. First street knowledge I gained was to be aware of the cars. There are no sidewalks, some curbs here and there. The streets will trick you into believing that it is suppose to be a sidewalk for pedestrians because they are the same size or smaller than the sidewalks in the States. Falso! Cars can go anywhere that they can fit. If they can't fit, listen out for the mopeds and motorcycles as well. Here are some photos of the streets, and these are unusually large.
After all that walking, we enjoyed our first meal together. It was a form of tapas, but not exactly. Sorry, I didn't catch the name, but I will find out. We used bread and tomatoes as utensil and enjoyed several dishes. It was perfect. I was so tired from the tour that I just ate what was in front of me, sin carne por supuesto (without meat of course). Yup, I am going strong, and I really don't notice a difference between my meal and everyone else's meal. There are always so many options on the table at EVERY meal, and EVERYONE is so helpful and understanding. I feel fortunate and satisfied después de cada comida (after each meal)!
So we finished eating at about 10:30. Even though it was a Tuesday night, we HAD to go out and welcome ourselves to Palma. We toasted to the semester, and made it our own fiesta. Again, it was a Tuesday night. Palma does sleep, especially during the week. The bars and clubs were bare, but it was still a good time. We stayed at a place called Funky Buddha. It was a fun, long night, on top of the day of traveling and inevitable jet lag!
As a result of our evening/morning, we did not make our 10 o'clock meeting Wednesday morning. Sadly, the guys made us look bad, as both rooms of ladies overslept. I was shocked. Oversleeping on the first day?!? I set an alarm. I remember hearing it, but I just didn't respond. At 10:08, we awoke to the phone ringing, which was right next to my head. It was a our "Guardian Angel (GA)", like a peer mentor, Allegh. We scrambled and stumbled to get ready; nevertheless, my two roommates and I were actually able to make it down by 10:25. We were all impressed with our efficiency.
Lesson Learned: A full DAY of travel+An eventful NIGHT out=DEEP sleeping!
This is the front of our very eco-friendly, charming hotel and restaurant. It kind of reminds me of somewhere else.
Five minutes after we got our pertinent info, we walked, walked, and walked around the immediate central area. It is beautiful, but treacherous. First street knowledge I gained was to be aware of the cars. There are no sidewalks, some curbs here and there. The streets will trick you into believing that it is suppose to be a sidewalk for pedestrians because they are the same size or smaller than the sidewalks in the States. Falso! Cars can go anywhere that they can fit. If they can't fit, listen out for the mopeds and motorcycles as well. Here are some photos of the streets, and these are unusually large.
After all that walking, we enjoyed our first meal together. It was a form of tapas, but not exactly. Sorry, I didn't catch the name, but I will find out. We used bread and tomatoes as utensil and enjoyed several dishes. It was perfect. I was so tired from the tour that I just ate what was in front of me, sin carne por supuesto (without meat of course). Yup, I am going strong, and I really don't notice a difference between my meal and everyone else's meal. There are always so many options on the table at EVERY meal, and EVERYONE is so helpful and understanding. I feel fortunate and satisfied después de cada comida (after each meal)!
So we finished eating at about 10:30. Even though it was a Tuesday night, we HAD to go out and welcome ourselves to Palma. We toasted to the semester, and made it our own fiesta. Again, it was a Tuesday night. Palma does sleep, especially during the week. The bars and clubs were bare, but it was still a good time. We stayed at a place called Funky Buddha. It was a fun, long night, on top of the day of traveling and inevitable jet lag!
As a result of our evening/morning, we did not make our 10 o'clock meeting Wednesday morning. Sadly, the guys made us look bad, as both rooms of ladies overslept. I was shocked. Oversleeping on the first day?!? I set an alarm. I remember hearing it, but I just didn't respond. At 10:08, we awoke to the phone ringing, which was right next to my head. It was a our "Guardian Angel (GA)", like a peer mentor, Allegh. We scrambled and stumbled to get ready; nevertheless, my two roommates and I were actually able to make it down by 10:25. We were all impressed with our efficiency.
Lesson Learned: A full DAY of travel+An eventful NIGHT out=DEEP sleeping!
This is the front of our very eco-friendly, charming hotel and restaurant. It kind of reminds me of somewhere else.
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