catchup

I barely have time to sleep, so I'm going to have to play catchup on this thing.  I've only been in Madrid for 2 weeks, but it feels like it's been MUCH longer. Although, my Spanish gives me away-- there's no fooling anyone. Madrilenos don't speak any English which makes things a little tricky. We still manage to get around the city though, and it's been great exploring the different barrios to see what Madrid has to offer (A LOT). So far my favorite places nearby:
El Tigre--6euro for a mojito the size of my head and a plate of food.
100 Montaditos-- another cheap place, for 2euros you get a giant beer or tinto verano and a little sandwich
Retiro Park-- giant, beautiful park on the west side of the city
Mercado de San Gabriel-- in Sol, cool market where you can buy produce, meat, sweets, etc. and they sell really yummy food like croquettes and thee most delicious potatoe chips i've ever had in my life.

Last week we toTHe ok a day trip to Toledo which is just an hour outside of Madrid. It poured ALL DAY but it was really cool and old, and I found the church I am going to get married in. I will probably have to marry some spanish guy with famous relatives or something because it's a famous old church.. but I do whatever it takes. On Tuesday we went to a bullfight.. never.again. I'm glad I saw it, but it was bloody and sad. The only thing that kept Maya and me from crying was that they donate the bull meat to charity haha yikes. uhh lets see, what else... I feel like I'm in high school again with all the hours of class every day.. going out at night until 4 or 5 in the morning, and then waking up for a day of school is terrible. but so worth iiit.
I can barely keep my eyes open right now so I'll say, hasta luego!

ee-kay-ya

Pretty much the first thing we did after moving into our cubicle in Principe Pio was getting on the computer and  googling Ikea (prounounced eeekayyah in Spain).  About a thousand metro stops later, bc it's on the outskirts of Madrid, we arrived in a strange ghost town/newly developed area with no people inhabiting it, and made a weird sort of pilgrimage to eekayyah. There is nothing in this area "Las Suertes" but a GIANTMASSIVE mall, with eekayyah attached. and everyone that gets off at this metro station is headed in one direction. Masses of people, all going to the mall, and nowhere else in this very strange and deserted area.  Our room is now organized.. more or less.

side note: I've never seen so many faux-hawks in my life. soo euro.

Last night was our first real night out. We started out by breaking the cardinal rule-- going out in a large group of loud americans. ISA is very concerned that we will be loud, obnoxious, english speaking drunkards running loose in the city.... I have NO clue where they'd get that idea from... hahaha well we have to start somewhere, right? We ended up making friends with the bar tender at a wine bar, and he took us to some places nearby.  haha he goes (in spanish, duh) Come with me and my friends to this bar, its really close, we can all walk together. Literally, we all starting gathering/walking out the door, and he just makes a hard right into the place next door. Thanks guy, I think I could have found that myself. Just bc my Spanish isn't good doesn't mean I'm stupid!  It was great though. we all stayed out till 4. can't.do.that....wait, YES I CAN.

side note 2: Our house mom, Coro, is a great cook, and also loves to give us papas fritas. I will come back to the US, 50lbs heavier. good thing I brought my "jeggings"

I need about 9 hours more sleep.. but its time to get up and be a real human. class starts today...  WAITASECOND, I have to work here? Reality check. This isn't a 3month long party? crap....