This is what happened today.

Paige and I put it back together and we're going to wait until someone else sits in it to blame them.

No, I dont feel bad about it because I was just sitting in it--It broke on ME!!!

I would just like to put out there that this is just my own series of unfortunate events...

Forgetting to tell Encarni that my pink scarf was new and hadn't yet been washed before throwing it in the dirty clothing hamper:

(Turned all of the other laundry pink)

Accidentally eating Edu's (my 21 year old spanish brother) arroz con leche for breakfast:

(For a 21 year old, he is quite the pouter)

And on the second day upon arriving in Spain, I ran my head into the attic cealing causing a rather large dent:

(Encarni found out yesterday)

**DISCLAIMER**

None of these incidents are my fault. Even the arroz con leche mishap becuase Edu should have eaten it when everyone else was eating it instead of leaving it in the fridge in the home of 3 very hungry college girls. That is all.

So, today was eventful.

First off, my roomates and I were stuck in the worst traffic jam EVER on our way to school. We waited for the bus to come for about 20 minutes before we were just about to start walking-then it came.

We got on the bus and we hadn't even gotten to the next stop when we were in a traffic jam. We sat on the bus for another 20 minutes before we looked around to the front to see what was ahead of us--cars as far as the eye could see, all the way up onto the freeway.

We got off the bus and walked.

Three reasons for this strange happening in Alcala:

1. Some Saint celebration in Alcala that calls for a pilgramage

2. Busdrivers on strike

3. It rained (lack of drainage on roads=accidents)

In the end, we were only 45 minutes late for class.

ANYWAYS...

Spain lacks alot of flavor. I noticed that when I eat things here, I only taste to different flavors at once, at most. So, we decided it was time to make a little guacamole to excite the tastebuds. After much searching, we found the last avocados of the season at an open air market held only on mondays in the middle of nowhere in Alcala. We also got tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and lemons. However, there were no hot peppers to be found...we decided to go to Carrefour (Spain's Wal-mart).

For the first time since arriving in Spain though, Carrefour dissapointed me. No hot peppers whatsoever. You wouldnt believe it, but they have a WHOLE ENTIRE ISLE DEDICATED TO ASPARAGUS, yet no peppers hotter than a bell. Yes. It's true.

The point is, my guac was good, but not excellent.

As if this weren't bad enough, I had Encarni try my guacamole (which she has never had). I was so excited for her Spanish tastebuds, but alas, she hated it. She didn't even pretend to like it. Your should have seen her face.

A Day in Madrid

So, I’ve been to Madrid plenty of times, but yesterday was really good for lots of simple reasons. We went for the purpose of eating at a little café dubbed “The Hemmingway Café” just because Hemmingway ate there—not that that should really matter anyways because Hemmingway is a sexist, amoral fiend. But continuing…we found it and ate much too expensive tapas and limon granizados.

After this we decided to try our hand at the metro (I should probably mention that by “we”, I mean Paige and Bill and I). Our goal this time was to find “The American Store”…Bill really needed some grits…
Anyways, we found it and I got some cake mix, pancake mix, and syrup to make for Encarni (our Señora). Success.

Our next stop was the Parque de Retiro. It’s this gorgeous park in the middle of Madrid with a pond and ancient statues and such—since everything in Spain is ancient…
There were lot of street performers and painters and people selling jewelry and what not. I bought a really cute shell necklace for 3 Euros that I’m very proud of :)

What I really enjoyed about this park though was the overall atmosphere. We just sat in the shade of the edifice and watched people boating in the pond and read Don Juan Tenorio…or at least tried :) No hurry, No worries.

Time to switch subjects…

Water shortage

Spain apparently doesn’t have a lot of water. Much to my frustration, a good chunk of my money goes to my personal hydration purposes. Lets say I buy a water bottle for 1,50 € and within 2 ½ minutes its gone. Well, I still have to walk around such and such city all day—what shall I do? Let me tell you something; there are NO drinking fountains ANYWHERE, so I can’t refill. In fact I’ve only seen 2 since being in Spain…My only option is to go to buy another water bottle for another 1,50 €.

I know, frustrating huh? If I don’t die of being hit by a bus, I’ll die of dehydration.

Which reminds me—last week our bus hit a car. Ya, cool huh?

That also reminds me—Paige and I defied death today by crossing 6 lanes of traffic in Madrid…NOT on the crosswalk. Bill was too scared to join us, needless to say :) In fact he jumped the first 3 lanes to the island, then got scared and jumped back leaving us there by ourselves…actually no, there was a strange French man who joined us even though his wife and daughter were on the other side, clearly upset by his actions…or maybe the French are always upset at something.

A morning in Alcala

So this morning started off well, though it started at 4:30 in the morning.
Ive recently discovered the joys of roomates. This morning Miss wheez N snort across the room and Miss Harley Davidson right next to me, made it next to impossible to sleep in until my 7am alarm. So, like a good roomate, I slowly pushed down the idea to smother them both in their sleep, and came up with the new idea to just get up...by this time it was 5am.

I took a nice, hot shower then went downstairs to make breakfast. Also as a sidenote Id like to add that I continued with my whole morning in utter darkness, at least when it came to the bedroom and stairwell (or as we like to call it, the spiral deathwell). Rather than fill my stomach with the ever pleasent, 100% fiber cereal, I made myself a scrambled egg sandwich with tomatoes and mayonaise on a baguete. For my readers sake, I would like to point out that, next to brushing your teeth, this is the best way to start out the morning.

After I finished getting ready, I headed down the street. However, I realized that it was only 7am, and that the school didnt open until 8:20. I decided to walk the 2 or so miles rather than take the bus. It was still dark out and a little chilly, but there were a few others (who I only assume are up because of THEIR roomates).

I reached the school around 7:30...too early.
So I sat outside in the plaza watching the pigeons and trying to get some reading done. Here in Alcala, things are loud, so I was pleasently surprised by the morning silence. I sat and listened for about a half an hour before I realized my toes were about to fall off from the cold. Suddenly, I heard church bells. I watched as a few nuns hobbled past me to the other opening of the plaza. The church bells kept ringing...so I decided to follow these nuns.

I reached a little cathedral just outside of the plaza and opened the door. There were a few people, and they were all staring at me, so I just popped in and sat in the back row.

DEAD SILENCE...and warm.

After a few minutes, more people started coming in and the bells chimed again. All of a sudden, everyone stood up and a man in a HUGE red robe walked in and stood at the pulpit. He began reading scriptures out of the bible and everyone would cross themselves and repeat certain words. So at this point Im feeling a little silly because I am the only one sitting down and gawking. But whatever, I thought. It was a very nice service and by the time I left and walked back to the school, it was exactly 8:25.

Soria stinks but Silos is swell

So this weekend we went to Silos and Soria in northern Spain. Silos was wonderful! we got to listen the world famous at this gorgeous monastary conected to this convent...

It was actually pretty cold out which was a nice change from Alcala.

Soria however was not so great. We stopped there overnight and it honestly stunk, literally. Like manure and there was not a farm to be seen....but whatever, at least we dont have to stay there.

On our way back to Alcala on Saturday we stopped at this sweet gorge to hike through it. The name of it translated to "throat of a vulture" or maybe turkey or something, cant really remember...
anyways it was really pretty and a nice break from the ever breaking nerves of tour bus life.

We also hit up a place called Numancia where they have really cool (that might be an exageration) ruins of another "last stand against the Romans" village. Well, I suppose I was just dissapointed that they were recreations rather than ACTUAL structures...also, the scenic view was awsome, so heres another jumping picure...

One of the stops I did find really awesome though was this cathedral we stopped at...

It almost looks like a castle on a hill, but its actually a structure built around the mountain. You actually enter through a cave entrance and climb up through the mountain at the same time youre in the cathedral. I know, sweet huh!?

NORTHERN SPAIN

As many know, I have a smallish family. Therefore I see no reason that the following dream cant come true.

Last week we visited northern Spain studying prehistoric stuff, up until Pelayos last great stand against the Arabs (which by the way was fruitful). Anyways, ive decided to live there in the mountains where it is always beautiful and green and rainy, and untainted by most modern conveniences such as cars or supermarkets :) Im bringing my family with me, and anyone else who wishes to join me.

To Begin…
Hey everyone! Here’s my blog FINALLY! I just wanted to let everyone know that getting on the internet here is REALLY HARD. I don’t have a lot of options and so you’ll just have to be patient and not get offended if I don’t write you for a while :)
Also, until (and if) we figure out our home internet situation, I’ll be writing on a word document until I can copy and paste onto my blog—kind of and FYI.
Flight…
I left the house around 7:30 to catch my 9:50 flight to JFK airport. I shuffled around with my Dad until I reached my terminal of separation. Of course, he made me cry though, so it took a while before I could get through… :)


On the upside however, my very first plane ride in memory was greeted with a full body pat down by a nice security guard lady when I didn’t make it through the metal detectors.

As a nice surprise, dear ol’ dad was there to greet me at the gate—the lady at the security desk gave him a pass because he “looked nervous as he watched me go”. Coltan was also there which also made me feel better—even though we’d never actually met before…yay for facebook friends!!! (he’s also in the program, but he goes to BYU-I).

I sat by a very nice couple who were vacationing in Utah and were going back home to NY. They offered me some of their peanut m&m’s while I offered them some dried apples. We are now, needless to say, bosom friends.

At JFK, Coltan introduced me to his friend that he met on the plane ride (I really can’t pronounce her name—but it’s something to the effect of Chalupa). Picture



Anyways, she was wonderful! Originally from Spain, living in the UK, coming back from vacation in Honolulu. She stayed with us (since she’s flying on the same Spain flight as us) and we all had a very belated lunch together. Between the three of us, there was lots of laughing! It took me two hours to finish my sandwich because we were all talking so much!

So, while waiting for the plane in JFK, I decided to run to the bathroom really quickly and left my stuff with Coltan and Chalupa. As I was walking, all of a sudden, there was this whoosh of air behind me and I felt something hit my head—what do you think it was? Well a pigeon of course! I mean, what else would hit me in the head inside of an airport?!? I’m not gonna lie—it scared the crap out of me. And everyone just pointed and stared…I daresay I will be scarred for life…

HOWEVER, I’m pretty sure this horrifying lack of security was caught on camera, and traced back to MY poor head. The airport undoubtedly contacted Delta and had them upgrade me to business class free of charge. Well JFK, I am much obliged—the Grilled Chicken Ras el Hanout was delicious, I’m not sure why you heated the peanuts; but cool, I love my complimentary leather bag, and why, no thank you—I don’t drink champagne. I’d continue this blog entry but my reclining leather lazy boy type seat and down pillow are calling. The man sitting next to me is very nice and is showing me how things work in “first-class” but I’m thinking after a few more sips of that Greek wine, I’ll be showing him how to work the recliner.




First Day!
The house we're staying at is soooo cute! The three of us live in the attic room of the house--It’s as big as the living room and kitchen put together! we have a desk and and exercise thing--not that we need it since we walk like 20 miles a day--NO JOKE. My feet look like big red tomatoes :) Yesterday when we were coming back from getting lost in the city, we realized that we took the right bus and got off at the wrong stop. All of the houses look EXACTLY the same around here, so we walked around for 2 hours until we found it--it had only been raining and lightning for about 10 minutes, and we got home before 9:30......

The Family is wonderful, but the senora makes us all of our meals and washes our clothes--it drives us kind of nuts because she ABSOLUTLY won’t let us do anything--not even take the plates from the table; she has a fit! The senora talks about 100 miles an hour and my other two roommates just stare at her when she talks, and I’m the only one who understands enough to answer. I swear, half of my energy is spent focusing on what she is saying--her poor husband can only get like one or two words in :)
Today, we went to Madrid and walked and walked and walked........
We went to the archeological museum and then walked and walked and walked..........
Many pictures…but less than I could show you…











(Me and my buddy Cervantes…)




Our group decided to come back to Alcalá a little early because they're having a fair all week, and we didn’t want to miss anything--Madrid is always there, and we can go whenever we want. The big city though is HUGE and we were a little overwhelmed and kept getting stuck in tourist traps! I LOVE Alcala! It’s so quaint--all the little shops and the people are wonderful! Yesterday we found a little sweet shop where they have zumo, which is like jugo (juice), except this shop made them right in front of you with fresh fruit--they basically throw piña and fresa with some ice and sugar in a blender and charge you 2 euros!!! I LOVE zumo!!! Oh, but ya, we found this shop yesterday, and wanted to find it again today, but of course we got lost and walked around for a few hours until we found it 2 minutes from the place we started....gaaaaaa!!!! mis pobres pies......

Segovia & La Granja

Okay, so we went to Segovia last weekend—and if you are unfamiliar with Segovia, it’s the one with the castle and Roman aqueduct





The town was gorgeous! It would have been even better though if there were not so many tourists—but I guess we didn’t really help the problem…

My best story yet though, takes place at La Granja
In La Granja, there is a place where they have gardens full of these huge/ancient fountains.




Well anyways, we were waiting there with I promise, thousands of Spaniards, for the fountains to turn on (since they do it one at a time) when all of a sudden, people started jumping in! We watched to police thinking they’d stop them, but more and more people started jumping, and they didn’t do anything! Well, when in Spain……we had to do it too. here’s a fun video


Yep. Pretty much one of the best moments of my life 


Dogs in Spain

Everybody in Spain has a dog. Our family has one, and the majority of the neighbors have one.

What’s really cool though is that people are sincerely interested in training their dogs too—there’s a park just a minute away from where we live dedicated to dog training with hoops and everything! It’s crazy! The only thing that is a little weird is that people here let their dogs go to the bathroom wherever they want, usually right on the sidewalk…however, if you think that’s weird, people also let their kids go wherever they want. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen parents helping their kids take a number one in a tree in the middle of the plaza! But that’s not it—yesterday, some little kid was taking a number 2! Ya, so now we cant help but wonder what species that little plop of poop on the sidewalk came from…..


Alcalá Fair

So when we first arrived here, the fair was going on—like art city days, only I think much better Instead of scones, there are churros the size of your head bathed in chocolate and filled with sweet cream. Instead of selling birdhouses and “made in china” Native American wear, they sell sweet Spanish jewelry, clothes, and bags. I bought the coolest pair of Jeanie pants—and no, it wasn’t a waste of money because everyone and their dog wears them here in Spain. They’re the BOMB!

Along with all of this cool stuff, they have roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and spend your money archery games.


There is a constant parade going on too. At first I was way bummed that I’d missed the parade one day, until I saw it again 3 hours later. It never stops, it just winds its way through every street in Alcalá.