Snow in Madrid

Hola!!!

Ok so; life has bit pretty epic here.  Yesterday, I slept in for a bit, and then Jillie came over and we planned our huge european adventures.  I'm pretty excited...even tho i'm gonna be real poor after i return...whateves ;).  Then we went to the GIANT mall by my house, bc my roommate, Patricia (she's totes a spanish baller) works at Zara.  I ended up buying a shirt for 3.95 euros, which aint that bad :).  Then, i got home, ate dinner, and met Ryan, Katie, Christy, Katie, and Jill at La Latina for a night of Spanish vino fun.  We met Katie's hottie friend Edu and one of his friends, and i ended up getting pretty happy after 2.5 glasses of lovely spanish wine.  Love it eternally.  I caught the last metro home, and was back by 2:30am...an early night by madrid standards.

Today, I woke up balls early with the intent of going to El Rastro, which is a giant outdoor marketplace that takes place every sunday...however, it was raining outside.  But we decided that rain wasn't gonna stop us, so i peaced outta my house at 10am, and was on the metro.  However, 45 mins later when i arrived at Estrecho Metro stop...I realized the rain had turned to SNOW.  EPIC snowfall in madrid...and it was balls freezing.  So, i waited for Kara, and we attemped to find a Barclays bank while waiting for our friend Sara.  However, we got epically lost and the in only Barclays we found, the ATM was out of service.  So we stopped and had coffee in a cafe and bitched about the weather and bipartisanship...typical. 

Then, we headed to Corte Ingles to ask for directions, and eventually found our way to another cafe for lunch, which we split bc it was so expensive, and watched the epic Australian Open tennis match (which the Spaniard won), so that was pretty cool.  I had no idea that in europe, Tennis is the SHIT.

Then i went home, did some epic facebooking, and we just booked our hostel for Sevilla during Semana Santa.  It was literally crazy.  We're all split up bc we couldn't find any rooms together.  Literally, every last place is BOOKED solid, bc the famous Semana Santa celebration and the Feria de Abril celebration fall on the same weekend. EPICA.

Tomo i start school..with a test.  UGH.

Hasta Luego!

Toledo- Where you can be biffles with the old Sword Maker Guy

Hola Todos!

Today we headed out really early to Toledo, the old Capital of Spain, about a 50 min bus ride from the city center.  It was glorious.  I started reading this book called La Tesis de Nancy.  It's pretty awesome.  When arrived at Toledo, and much to my dismay, it was a bit cloudy.  We grabbed the bus to the downtown area, and made our way to the GIANT cathedral in the middle of the city.  The streets in Toledo are a joke; they make Rome's streets seem like 8 lane highways.  I've learned that cars and buses WILL NOT STOP for pedestrians, literally not even slow down.

Also, I've learned that dog shit is EVERYWHERE, and that one must always look when one takes a step. 

After almost dying and avoiding poo, we arrived at the Cathedral, which was built in the 12th century.  It was amazing; however there was no photos allowed, which really pissed me off.  The place was HUGE and had tons of hall ways and Saint's rooms and prayer rooms and stuff.  Also, there was SO MUCH gold in the entire thing.  It was basically as epic as every church i went to in Rome, which is saying a lot.  However, it wasn't super enjoyable because it was like 5 degrees C in the church, which meant it was warmer outside.  After the church, we made a pit stop in a Cafe, and roamed the streets a bit, looking at all the adorable shops.  We then headed to the oldest Goldworking shop in Toledo, where the guy actually makes everything by hand with 24 ct gold.  We saw him working; his name is Luis, and he's AWESOME.  The shop is owned by this 75 year old couple, who have the CUTEST love story.  The hubby owned it before she came along, and she was british tourist; they fell in love when she was visiting his shop in Toledo, and they later married and now co own the shop.  LOVE STORY!!!

We became biffles with this man, and by we, i mean Ryan...because they were CLOSE.  So, he called his fav restaurant in Toledo and reserved a table for us.  We ended up getting 2 courses, wine, bread, and dessert for 12 euros, which is remarkable.  Our Goldsmith friend showed up and bought Ryan and Kevin Drinks, and his wifey chilled with us, leaving us with the parting advise of "you only live once; so do what you wanna do."  Epic.

We then went to pit stop to pee in a different cafe, but the ppl were like theres no bano aqui.  So we went back to the metal store, where the guy walked Ryan down the street and yelled at the people and then we were allowed to use the bano.  I ended up buying beautiful earrings, and Ryan bought an 80 euro Sword, bc Toledo is famous for swordmaking.  Epic.  

We caught the bas back to the bus station, and then the bus back to Madrid.  Overall it was an epic day. I caught the metro back with some of the ladies, but i heard that Ryan got stopped by Metro Police because of the sword.  Luckily, they let him keep it, after the wrapped it up and tied his jacket around it...even more epic.

Hasta Luegoooooo

The Epic Adventures of Jeannette, Kevin, and Gin&Tonic

Well, My life has been so epica, to say the very least...

where to start....

Yesterday, we went to the Sorolla Museum, which is an off the beaten track art museum that was created inside Sorolla's beautiful mansion.  The outdoor gardens are precious, and make me love this city even more.  The artwork was beautiful, late impressionist, which is quickly becoming one of my favourite styles of painting.  After the museum, we stopped for a mid morning snack, and then metroed to my fav place on the planet earth, El Parque de Buen Retiro.  I first heard about it in a short story I read in my Fresh year Span Class, but this place is truly beautiful.   Like a safer Central Park with a Hyde Park/pseudo Parisian feel, the park is giant, filled with fountains, caves, animals, a large lake thing where you can paddleboat, monuments, and greenhouses.  I desperately want to fall in love somewhere in that park. Seriously. 

After that, the Gang and i split and found an ADORABLE Italian restaurant, and comer-ed mucho. We slowly worked our way home, getting slightly lost, which is becoming the story of my life, and decided to meet up at 11pm for a crazy night out in Madrid.  I ate a quick dinner and met a 'happy' Kevin McConnell at his metro stop.  We ended up at a 1 euro everything Bar, I met a hottie Spaniard, chillaxed with Kara's roommate Rachel and her awesome friends, went to a club, got free shots, got my dance on, and then we decided to catch the late metro.  

However, Kevin and I decided that we werent ready to end the fun...so I got off at his stop, and we attempted to find a bar.  After some epic fails, we ended up boozing it up in his front lobby.  After a 3am walk to see if we could find anything to point me in the right direction home, we decided I'd crash at his place...however his host 'sister' was unhappy with that choice, and we ended up back on the street.  Then, we got HOPELESSLY lost trying to walk back to my place, ended up walking 45 mins outta they way, and eventually we found ourselves on a bench in front of a construction site, waiting till places started opening at 5am.  By chance, at 530am, we eventually found my house, and in essence, i was out the entire night, up to no good.  SO EPIC.

Today, Jill and i got 4euro lunch at Plaza Mayor, bought Pashminas, found Ryan and Kara, went shopping, perused Corte Ingles, got wine and tapas, and called it a night.

Toledo is tomorrow...I'd better get some sleep :)

Madrid, Dia 5

hola todos!

Hoy, fue EPICA.  oh i love spain.  i had cereal filled with nutella for breakfast...its a good thing im walking around a lot, or else i'd be SUPER gorda.  Today, we met at Ave. de Americas to catch the bus to a little town on the outskirts of Madrid to see La Catedral de Justo.

It was amazing...this 80 year old monk started building it 40 years ago because God told him to...and he did the whole thing by himself with recycled products.  its sooooo cool!  And it's pretty big too...we saw him working down in the chapel. So Cool

we had lunch out there too, all together as a group, which was as per usual an epic affair.

we then found our way back to the bus into the city and went a bit shopping.  LOVE it.

Lola made this awesome chicken dish for dinner, which rocked my socks off...but i'm so freaking tired that i'm gonna simply haveto call this an early night!

hasta manana!!!!

BESOS

Madrid, DIA CUATRO!!! :)

Ay dios mio.

Well today was EPICA, to say the least...in a good way tho.  I was up and out of the house by about 840am to catch the metro, conveniently located across the street from me..lucky lol.

after a 30 min ride, i was in the centro of la ciudad...and walked around a bit, doing some exploring.

We all met up and had churros con chocolate..aka like melted hershey's chocolate in a cup for bfast, and did a walking plaza tour of madrid, which was awesome, and ended with a stop in Corte Ingles, like a GIANT everything store..think Walmart meets Macys lol.

We split up and me and ;'las chicas (incluyendo Ryan) and our friend Katie went to get tapas, beer and wine at a little spanish restaurant.  after that...i was a smidge happy (the wine is SO intense here....2 glasses lol...typical), we spilt up again to go shopping for phones....we ended up getting a bit turned around, but found an AWESOME shoe/bag store on Gran Via, that's super cheap, and had cafe con leche.  Then we meandered to find out where Kara lives, stopping for directions in a Spanish version of a UPS store, where the guys behind the counter were like "they speak English and they're pretty...let's help them!!!"

Kara's host mom is GLORIOOUS, and LOVES Tennis, which is really really funny.  After that, i headed home on my 45 minute metro ride on the light blue line... Dinner was quite the affair here. my host mom made like pork chop things, and her vecino, a HOTTIE named Miguel came over...they're TOTES a thing and i highly approve.  My little sister loves to chillax with me, and she came in going "do u know that a long time ago, Spain was in a war with England?  But I wasn't alive back then, so it's not that important"  I LOVED it.  Also, when i came home...at like 730pm, and told my host mom we were gonna go out, she was like....no one goes out here on a monday night...and her like bf Miguel said so too...so here i am, blogging and putting up photos of my LIFE.

tomorrow i register with the embassy..good...in case i get arrested lol!

Hasta Manana!!

Madrid, Dias 1-3

Hola a todos!

So i'm settled in my little apartment with my host family, and we've just finished cenaring. Tomorrow, i have to get up balls early and commute...to the city center.  Kevin and I are on the fringes of the light blue metro line, in the 'nature' (aka outskirts) of madrid.  A fact which mildly freaks me out, as its DEAD silent here, and its only 10:28pm, but whatever...as long as i dont die lol.  

Overall, i love madrid...the small winding streets remind me alot of Roma, which is awesome.  The spanish is taking a little getting used to...the accento Castellano es poco mas dificil!

My fam is cute...my little five year old sis Claudia and i are slightly biffles, which is nice.  Her moms a pretty funny lady too...i just need to work up my spanish some more so i stop making such an ass outta myself lol.

Madrid is literally like a fiesta city.  Last night, we went out to a few bar whilst tapas hopping...which is lovely, because if you order a drink, you get free food...thats the name of the game :).  The other americans on the program are pretty cool as well, which is really nice.

I also have like a fellow student living here, but shes 23 and Spanish and going to another school...but i'm hoping we'll become fast friends and that she'll show me around. 

Stay tuned for more adventures..,like when i get lost on the metro tomo lol!

Ireland, Day 8, 1/7/09

Today, we were up at 450 am, and left our hostel on the 5:30 bus to the airport.  It was really sad to leave Ireland, especially because I had such a great time, and also because I effin hate planes. 

Things ran smoothly at the airport, and before I knew it we were in the air.  However, the flight was horrific and we hit 3 hours of turbulance, which BLEW me.  I hated it and was itching to land.  When we finally touched down I was just so ecstatic to be off the damn plane.

It's now the 8th, and I'm attempting to upload all my pics and vids and post them on facebook and on photobucket :).  Enjoy all, and look forward to my Spanish blog, starting 1/23 :)