tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16209295539183506332024-02-06T22:04:56.961-08:00Livin la vida loca.. Life as an Au Pair in Madrid!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-69551758637083247152009-05-05T13:15:00.000-07:002009-05-07T08:56:23.825-07:00April showers bring May flowers...but there's only sunshine in Madrid!!Well, so starts my last full month here in sunny warm Madrid. I am amazed at how time has gone by so fast. I still feel like I just arrived! But, alas I will be home in a month and 5 days...I will try to bring the sun home too!! (but no promises!)<br /><br />My Mom and my sister Emily came to visit me April 5-17th. We spent one week in Madrid and the other in Paris. The first day they arrived they managed to stay up till 7pm which is 10am Seattle time. I recommended that they stay up as close to nighttime as possible in order to try to adjust to the time difference as quickly as possible. Here they are the first night, as you can see it is still light out. (P.S. If you click on the pics they will appear bigger, but you have to click the back button to return to the blog, not X)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoX7lXPoM1snXJjGYskeBJAkKeORr1VJM1OWrBAOhv-8A9cMR1HUdLpnOIWKoc8OfC0zN87DDg0iEVwhuSh1RQwVFMp-A3mZJkLSwDGpGm8GbF_I-v-iHreF9n9idK5mO3PnGt6fF4xs/s1600-h/DSCF0021.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeoX7lXPoM1snXJjGYskeBJAkKeORr1VJM1OWrBAOhv-8A9cMR1HUdLpnOIWKoc8OfC0zN87DDg0iEVwhuSh1RQwVFMp-A3mZJkLSwDGpGm8GbF_I-v-iHreF9n9idK5mO3PnGt6fF4xs/s200/DSCF0021.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332437937063710274" /></a><br />Oh, and we got lucky because my host family was out of town the whole week, so my Mom and sis got to stay with me cost free!<br />The first full day(April 6th) was Emilys 25th birthday. We spent the day at the Madrid zoo. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RBdLO20Gkiu2vSSLMQKWmQaeI1ksicLSvsv_om00zLgqlHzA7IT6A44Gsq6Hm6aPFwG6E5wk1mxfNrmxpDmkj27KvGo2ctSBxTYzCIVgmC3WnoJgZZ4O-z1yvZiFT_CLRmKgN1d0P7g/s1600-h/DSCF0065.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4RBdLO20Gkiu2vSSLMQKWmQaeI1ksicLSvsv_om00zLgqlHzA7IT6A44Gsq6Hm6aPFwG6E5wk1mxfNrmxpDmkj27KvGo2ctSBxTYzCIVgmC3WnoJgZZ4O-z1yvZiFT_CLRmKgN1d0P7g/s200/DSCF0065.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332443425821448738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMQfwuguis_Jdeqr8sEEHy3Q8G3yIhK1-RLa3o-vTp5vPeT0Ib_J4iDMQaf5p5FJQH_K9WZASB-hc1TFRr4AXDTXX6VPiwkNZYnbEwcmR65Ye45J5PUQAT7VrNBseiCwwT8mg1jQj-aQ/s1600-h/DSCF0050.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMQfwuguis_Jdeqr8sEEHy3Q8G3yIhK1-RLa3o-vTp5vPeT0Ib_J4iDMQaf5p5FJQH_K9WZASB-hc1TFRr4AXDTXX6VPiwkNZYnbEwcmR65Ye45J5PUQAT7VrNBseiCwwT8mg1jQj-aQ/s200/DSCF0050.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332443346683108850" /></a><br /><br /><br />More from Madrid....<br /><br />We wore our sunglasses on the Metro to avoid the people who have staring problems!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjtTT_PFN5owcPEy0XnthJW45H3cKlCvTo97LBX5UcXkTYgseq6qs3gAH6f3R9jZDJ349rjHxCT8P5v9t34cDbM7uF1E7UFuotY-37zcd4AWy5PihewZP1FqY6LVVaKSDBcaF8GLsNhU/s1600-h/DSCF0023.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjtTT_PFN5owcPEy0XnthJW45H3cKlCvTo97LBX5UcXkTYgseq6qs3gAH6f3R9jZDJ349rjHxCT8P5v9t34cDbM7uF1E7UFuotY-37zcd4AWy5PihewZP1FqY6LVVaKSDBcaF8GLsNhU/s200/DSCF0023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332438953546926898" /></a><br /><br />People watching at Retiro Park.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG_xyS0BRhp8CSwDiFWRhkB0U25pgdjQLTmF3LrD_aLnmYQkLSO6bqd_fEa4xCB5uTzMQItgNMVK0cZJwFtG16zwbvT0FP7mVpvHBlPoyUVMJni3fIlucF3EWM2CmrYKebiEkFbjxnP4/s1600-h/DSCF0067.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmG_xyS0BRhp8CSwDiFWRhkB0U25pgdjQLTmF3LrD_aLnmYQkLSO6bqd_fEa4xCB5uTzMQItgNMVK0cZJwFtG16zwbvT0FP7mVpvHBlPoyUVMJni3fIlucF3EWM2CmrYKebiEkFbjxnP4/s200/DSCF0067.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332443703578360786" /></a><br /><br />We took a day trip to Segovia. They wanted to see the castle. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoUqxF0UxKCWNaKwS7kS5-Pf4cZGbVRlVJXxmuZfm6LhL1eXtb2CtigkNy1-QM_31PV3VMPuNDWciH-GENQMXIEMUEgsbGysJRAjQ2QZ_oEZcZexkPV7w3A_zRy3MEKl9C8TKv0bHZEU/s1600-h/DSCF0095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoUqxF0UxKCWNaKwS7kS5-Pf4cZGbVRlVJXxmuZfm6LhL1eXtb2CtigkNy1-QM_31PV3VMPuNDWciH-GENQMXIEMUEgsbGysJRAjQ2QZ_oEZcZexkPV7w3A_zRy3MEKl9C8TKv0bHZEU/s200/DSCF0095.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332444358133584882" /></a><br /><br /><br />And here we are(without sunglasses!!) being our usual dorky selves, and taking advantage of our big eyes! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVU8TbHoeBjQO6fshut5sTH2WhMCRZIaZrudaHvazGDKiK-y1gxgZJf3TvKnN9NMPVFKtnxFEWy1VnI10oYd_O2yVrzTT65ZD56V89eazpa-W_66Uw24THurXNi1crlTATNPthSIinCxk/s1600-h/DSCF0102.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVU8TbHoeBjQO6fshut5sTH2WhMCRZIaZrudaHvazGDKiK-y1gxgZJf3TvKnN9NMPVFKtnxFEWy1VnI10oYd_O2yVrzTT65ZD56V89eazpa-W_66Uw24THurXNi1crlTATNPthSIinCxk/s200/DSCF0102.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332445116280843234" /></a><br /><br /><br />PARIS! :) The best part of the two weeks!<br />WE stayed in a hotel on Rue Cler, about two blocks from the Eiffel Tower. Rue Cler is a funky street full of great restaurants, fruit markets, wine shops and no traffic!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtdiP7Ahrjr5_v8H48VUQXFK__8r7emluGT-f-DIE8Yl8XKfF05nK_RJLzWFPH7A0eibNnqlVhmD-ZWzHbjyD7-MTdVi4DYBW3Z4jIl1EY1yBe81-HaJ79fpLnNutKgSA5IIFl3hftXQ/s1600-h/DSCF0108.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtdiP7Ahrjr5_v8H48VUQXFK__8r7emluGT-f-DIE8Yl8XKfF05nK_RJLzWFPH7A0eibNnqlVhmD-ZWzHbjyD7-MTdVi4DYBW3Z4jIl1EY1yBe81-HaJ79fpLnNutKgSA5IIFl3hftXQ/s200/DSCF0108.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332446262473933714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0viK2PUiRkMktKGbbHYQu-t-G9QhjCPce9M1zla3ZqjoV2X0magVJvw4MMs-WfuKJbkeS2gG7WvaCnEiBTEAmWOI8c_oJUqhXiMTEyh8fu5A4xEhD8bpagPlydPVFkHz0YUYJdgMj5f4/s1600-h/DSCF0314.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0viK2PUiRkMktKGbbHYQu-t-G9QhjCPce9M1zla3ZqjoV2X0magVJvw4MMs-WfuKJbkeS2gG7WvaCnEiBTEAmWOI8c_oJUqhXiMTEyh8fu5A4xEhD8bpagPlydPVFkHz0YUYJdgMj5f4/s200/DSCF0314.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333102745766114306" /></a><br /><br />While in Paris we saw many things including the Louvre Museum, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Père Lachaise Cemetery(where Jim Morrison is buried), Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral, and the best of all was our trip to Versailles. I could have spent days there! Here are some pics of these places...<br /><br />Jim Morrison's grave in the Père Lachaise Cemetery. We also saw the graves of Oscar Wilde and the famous composer Chopin. It's the biggest cemetery in France.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfbZRbPD6OINMrymQ0iiMm9DNFnXhiM_D4o1DkQP98ZPreg2yVWo7td3KQnPkUYwmfVLek0FRMAAt7_ZFP0eynlCR_8oW1mRDnYFrbw0NGEYoyNiUZwz0MmoH4HuIIUSLmSoOj8gl1k8/s1600-h/DSCF0142.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBfbZRbPD6OINMrymQ0iiMm9DNFnXhiM_D4o1DkQP98ZPreg2yVWo7td3KQnPkUYwmfVLek0FRMAAt7_ZFP0eynlCR_8oW1mRDnYFrbw0NGEYoyNiUZwz0MmoH4HuIIUSLmSoOj8gl1k8/s200/DSCF0142.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332448836177633890" /></a><br /><br />The Notre Dame.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKQxkC13w7Z2SBmgQMdBhuPa3MLZmnx49zUTDULPnaHBQAdAyK5xo4Wa_j8B7UpeJRCOcwxZdCXMunegQMMtyza8aRU4Y_iX_VocYwIu8dlA2MtgWrk8VCCuOJhxSm2at4KhAA6bEU18/s1600-h/DSCF0153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 162px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKQxkC13w7Z2SBmgQMdBhuPa3MLZmnx49zUTDULPnaHBQAdAyK5xo4Wa_j8B7UpeJRCOcwxZdCXMunegQMMtyza8aRU4Y_iX_VocYwIu8dlA2MtgWrk8VCCuOJhxSm2at4KhAA6bEU18/s200/DSCF0153.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332450344895232162" /></a><br /><br />The Louvre museum, standing in front of the Pyramid.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOyjgtKNa7Vq7CrDdNyMcR58CShFR15RGqwWHoZZw61qvcA5qpi-8GSndNtjHKxl5b3kAcZ5wg0PD1kKtv2HgXOt8sPkWcpO17alYG1X6slKgZYNILOziOqM4NFldQMQKvfX9_0AQxrk/s1600-h/DSCF0311.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOyjgtKNa7Vq7CrDdNyMcR58CShFR15RGqwWHoZZw61qvcA5qpi-8GSndNtjHKxl5b3kAcZ5wg0PD1kKtv2HgXOt8sPkWcpO17alYG1X6slKgZYNILOziOqM4NFldQMQKvfX9_0AQxrk/s200/DSCF0311.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332450836203370114" /></a><br /><br />Arc de Triomphe.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVDHQgwO7hu8Gd9yhNNC93Jin0a6ALSGL1RmVxq2BKCJ6sNan8M3AwY5hTr8bI9yU7NJaAjLNBe-W14qXpnpFCiwISd42QgjDYW4sOkvjh2j4RUzejpeP3WcKaskHXiNOSHEDkF1tPzs/s1600-h/DSCF0312.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPVDHQgwO7hu8Gd9yhNNC93Jin0a6ALSGL1RmVxq2BKCJ6sNan8M3AwY5hTr8bI9yU7NJaAjLNBe-W14qXpnpFCiwISd42QgjDYW4sOkvjh2j4RUzejpeP3WcKaskHXiNOSHEDkF1tPzs/s200/DSCF0312.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332451334395819938" /></a><br /><br />Sainte-Chapelle Cathedral(known to have the most light of any cathedral because of it's many stained glass windows)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQc8jiNnuKEMYoIe24bg_MDovIytH1y4xSX6HZUx11qkGeEtMuSoqvLfLB3boL9nocOJlEZsGcE_KrUu08sz3pnnx7CZsDrKknn6rLn5EmV1IEgyeb9WoP0XlCSx-kRUxDHUWdbNo1x4/s1600-h/DSCF0177.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQc8jiNnuKEMYoIe24bg_MDovIytH1y4xSX6HZUx11qkGeEtMuSoqvLfLB3boL9nocOJlEZsGcE_KrUu08sz3pnnx7CZsDrKknn6rLn5EmV1IEgyeb9WoP0XlCSx-kRUxDHUWdbNo1x4/s200/DSCF0177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333099799331025154" /></a><br /><br />Saved the best for last...Versailles! This was the best part! I will go there again one day. This is the palace where Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette resided. Here are pictures of the Palace, the massive Gardens and the Peasant Village that Marie had built on the grounds for her own imaginary pleasure in the 1700's. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ifOw3z3LV4TchrubthmUe4cS0D0-FI34d-FOxPNf3Jx03k3jSb3GKdkBXkxPx-uLcp_n4SF_9NSSB5g94E_qyt7ShyphenhyphenF5a765K0oZ2WclidqrhNGqWx-d1CIgce41xNideB26iX4vy8A/s1600-h/DSCF0275.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ifOw3z3LV4TchrubthmUe4cS0D0-FI34d-FOxPNf3Jx03k3jSb3GKdkBXkxPx-uLcp_n4SF_9NSSB5g94E_qyt7ShyphenhyphenF5a765K0oZ2WclidqrhNGqWx-d1CIgce41xNideB26iX4vy8A/s200/DSCF0275.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333100836577538210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rzlcZxmRg5895kxYj3v7BkJXlwTHVaFQPZAhwhzN9yZGXidi7xiRPH4WLIrDiZqNVW8GxskRgaZbAOaDQXu14_4kBIHDq5iIp6VXfmANEGZSopn7bYcyjHy3hpJ-uscAHGhTaY9unIw/s1600-h/DSCF0222.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rzlcZxmRg5895kxYj3v7BkJXlwTHVaFQPZAhwhzN9yZGXidi7xiRPH4WLIrDiZqNVW8GxskRgaZbAOaDQXu14_4kBIHDq5iIp6VXfmANEGZSopn7bYcyjHy3hpJ-uscAHGhTaY9unIw/s200/DSCF0222.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101063969313778" /></a><br /><br />As you can see the gardens stretch on forever.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgf1hAwioV8XxuYpr2HrJ851vZF8uD41cdXYfUlQ4N1XrVykMU0h9Tw8sfZ-E5LPshlxQCsBBT8ONs45OTPxmH_m8_eEJWpcuv4LcaLvpNhSFhDxUi40xtm-UA4VpyWnUS_UrVgtdWjE/s1600-h/DSCF0224.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRgf1hAwioV8XxuYpr2HrJ851vZF8uD41cdXYfUlQ4N1XrVykMU0h9Tw8sfZ-E5LPshlxQCsBBT8ONs45OTPxmH_m8_eEJWpcuv4LcaLvpNhSFhDxUi40xtm-UA4VpyWnUS_UrVgtdWjE/s200/DSCF0224.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101306948665314" /></a><br />The best part, the peasant village. It was like being in a storybook.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Iwa6R2Ppk_GkQmYFy36m0jgfoTQ5mVBvd37usq0PBH7Z_oWpqzuApmee6i4C2ofdT2hGrwLmBHt0nRiWlLD5CkumP2okAy1pKMy073-A4RWB1P-r9XENyDlwZZM9cwML-3ThIvwKz_I/s1600-h/DSCF0247.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Iwa6R2Ppk_GkQmYFy36m0jgfoTQ5mVBvd37usq0PBH7Z_oWpqzuApmee6i4C2ofdT2hGrwLmBHt0nRiWlLD5CkumP2okAy1pKMy073-A4RWB1P-r9XENyDlwZZM9cwML-3ThIvwKz_I/s200/DSCF0247.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101554732665666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhvBpnNdXjNrGeq7THFqt4UBbDIOtxsWneqzT8nRbaXGc9w9www9-FVEGWnYjzJ-0sllWpi88xsGHzOll_Ib56ztPwSZ-aOIBCgi9ye5PpLghdTryROgCORXe67mEFyrSbkxNPQQOUw8/s1600-h/DSCF0258.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAhvBpnNdXjNrGeq7THFqt4UBbDIOtxsWneqzT8nRbaXGc9w9www9-FVEGWnYjzJ-0sllWpi88xsGHzOll_Ib56ztPwSZ-aOIBCgi9ye5PpLghdTryROgCORXe67mEFyrSbkxNPQQOUw8/s200/DSCF0258.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333101752018420562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC4QXLEKiCFaQ3fXlQOsls87uduW4ZI8soS2tF4gKPDY-2pVYBW-F6s38vjSflqfjPE5NrdMSaOAVusSQYQuSVUv3GeBdDC030mAHoopTZqeRUyNoLzUu-7Ktt2J2hyL0Koc54tz6iCg/s1600-h/DSCF0250.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRC4QXLEKiCFaQ3fXlQOsls87uduW4ZI8soS2tF4gKPDY-2pVYBW-F6s38vjSflqfjPE5NrdMSaOAVusSQYQuSVUv3GeBdDC030mAHoopTZqeRUyNoLzUu-7Ktt2J2hyL0Koc54tz6iCg/s200/DSCF0250.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333102069284692498" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TPH9C7BLLjKY1qNMKjQdTJ5RvC5R1jE8xnsnN60s62AUn8zZmGJLl4ckmrEPGROY21XFI5ImF8w8njiSteDhaBJx-r3EhRC5xBHCGFUQRc5JGm63YrFI-98KRwAl09WVgFIEvIDmVjU/s1600-h/DSCF0249.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_TPH9C7BLLjKY1qNMKjQdTJ5RvC5R1jE8xnsnN60s62AUn8zZmGJLl4ckmrEPGROY21XFI5ImF8w8njiSteDhaBJx-r3EhRC5xBHCGFUQRc5JGm63YrFI-98KRwAl09WVgFIEvIDmVjU/s200/DSCF0249.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333103400631883762" /></a><br /><br />So, that is about it. The rest of April I have kept busy taking care of the kids and enjoying my weekends in Madrid with my friends.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj_krAd4SoQouj19Xgemegikk8hKo2et31SD8ohPAViKODwPSsAqT46SM7bxjzhQmulGiEUkOoZ_F5UnwVZY5dwpQSxgyjLy4n9WPifKkIANDMRexi1RmcQxxDljnu2vybx42Z__PH1Q/s1600-h/DSCF0006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj_krAd4SoQouj19Xgemegikk8hKo2et31SD8ohPAViKODwPSsAqT46SM7bxjzhQmulGiEUkOoZ_F5UnwVZY5dwpQSxgyjLy4n9WPifKkIANDMRexi1RmcQxxDljnu2vybx42Z__PH1Q/s200/DSCF0006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333107972324386930" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAIdukrDOsKef79au5meJG4lBguy3Sv2WfuItKLxbjFacPjUvCVwBAQohIip-4ziHxO4WTsJfmNOsqScgEARU9WNOcc_sEkbs8Wpgt7aEQ2yBGwxzky6QNxcNizbR_JBYaonvl8Q8lTg/s1600-h/DSCF0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAIdukrDOsKef79au5meJG4lBguy3Sv2WfuItKLxbjFacPjUvCVwBAQohIip-4ziHxO4WTsJfmNOsqScgEARU9WNOcc_sEkbs8Wpgt7aEQ2yBGwxzky6QNxcNizbR_JBYaonvl8Q8lTg/s200/DSCF0028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5333108120015478450" /></a><br /><br />Now I have a trip to Portugal to look forward to. I am going with my friend Cynthia(from Tennesee y'all). We are flying into Lisbon May 30th, spending 3 days there, then heading up the coast. We will spend a couple days exploring and will spend our last three days in Porto before returning to Madrid June 7th. Then I will be back in Seattle June 10th!! I can't believe it!!<br />xoxoxoxox<br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" name="flashplayer" src="http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/wafpaf/countdown/swf/fun21.swf?then_year=2009&then_month=5&then_day=10&eventt=Seattle+welcomes+me+home+%3A%29" quality="high" width="340" height="300" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="samedomain"></embed><br><a href="http://www.wishafriend.com/countdown/" target="new">Countdown Clocks</a>, <a href="http://www.wishafriend.com/countdown/fun/" target="new">Fun Countdowns</a> at WishAFriend.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-39084486804079519842009-03-30T12:14:00.000-07:002009-04-17T13:09:26.715-07:00March...where did it go??Wow, so apparently I have been slacking in the Blog Dept. Well this is why..<br />I have been very busy enjoying the weather in Madrid. Spring has sprung and the trees and flowers are all in bloom. Pepe and I have been enjoying a weekly English playgroup and have been having play dates with an Au Pair friend of mine and her little boy. They are so cute together! Here is a great pic, Pepe on the left and Adria on the right, followed by some more fun times.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3qOQWysmM6_u6xLPFfYoyE9742b0XrMyDSC8WdKVEVmG0-YfcgwZSA1BDI_tMCjJG9YIgWV_Xl3IB_jSMKSK3RRtTtp7Z_zRnzFL40UvICAa6hDtQdkgIF_6biDLdSDZTkHufrtJWOM/s1600-h/DSCF0035.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn3qOQWysmM6_u6xLPFfYoyE9742b0XrMyDSC8WdKVEVmG0-YfcgwZSA1BDI_tMCjJG9YIgWV_Xl3IB_jSMKSK3RRtTtp7Z_zRnzFL40UvICAa6hDtQdkgIF_6biDLdSDZTkHufrtJWOM/s320/DSCF0035.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325740294434474338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JpsHTNVFbu_5gBs3hlKwsKQOiptNIdPiuqRn7UMR5kIhrT5jMihdpaHmw-fnx2jtP4Rv2hPa3O7gUDa1lDzxccoFAZFKGYEY1HaBAeUZsLETyJShz5gQj6i5OdQnI5Wm5qnu2IY33v8/s1600-h/DSCF0037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2JpsHTNVFbu_5gBs3hlKwsKQOiptNIdPiuqRn7UMR5kIhrT5jMihdpaHmw-fnx2jtP4Rv2hPa3O7gUDa1lDzxccoFAZFKGYEY1HaBAeUZsLETyJShz5gQj6i5OdQnI5Wm5qnu2IY33v8/s320/DSCF0037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325741451285405170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMznJRI8W9ZpgiZSdhFVuzkW08w8cqTWNJfXU15xU1eB_R01iPNih1fMoUSVgWcnG8DlyirNI3dG8-BZ0EJ_xzHSk0dM9pPLgiifsTpH7kPTTDsnB7UgTy0pUbJOJphkQawNEkUZEKIr8/s1600-h/DSCF0044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMznJRI8W9ZpgiZSdhFVuzkW08w8cqTWNJfXU15xU1eB_R01iPNih1fMoUSVgWcnG8DlyirNI3dG8-BZ0EJ_xzHSk0dM9pPLgiifsTpH7kPTTDsnB7UgTy0pUbJOJphkQawNEkUZEKIr8/s320/DSCF0044.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325741798003207282" /></a><br /><br />The last week of March finally brought Ian to Madrid! We had two days in Madrid where we spent time with my friends in the park and also attended a Real Madrid game, which they won 3-0 against Almeria.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRAM65JZ3b1HbtwnbsMyJC4icJ6-XfFyiuDScB6REU8fPN2_iJo5BDZt5qCZJuC-spZGD0HUMUPajuCCPUoXIpF_VKKouvKs0ZE9lmWVsMsWU8Ac9HbrZ41L-mUTF-82mjNUL9O2GLe0/s1600-h/DSCF0089.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRAM65JZ3b1HbtwnbsMyJC4icJ6-XfFyiuDScB6REU8fPN2_iJo5BDZt5qCZJuC-spZGD0HUMUPajuCCPUoXIpF_VKKouvKs0ZE9lmWVsMsWU8Ac9HbrZ41L-mUTF-82mjNUL9O2GLe0/s320/DSCF0089.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325743927827535202" /></a><br /><br />We then met Elizabeth and Allen(Ian's parents) in Peñíscola. It's a small city right on the coast between Barcelona and Valencia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peniscola<br />There is a beautiful castle in the city with incredible views! Here is a pic of me and Ian at the resort.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf85yxhKAFmtD02sEgZL1ajw_uAU6UK68t0nOBESQubMe163ZAYn31wLQ1Xit3yQ6_b8H3kCETp-KIc7NORs0CjuSKoubzVG2j6bzpNBk9rPMDl5obZV4B5a1WXeIPyT8_jTNKw22KJgE/s1600-h/DSCF0096.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf85yxhKAFmtD02sEgZL1ajw_uAU6UK68t0nOBESQubMe163ZAYn31wLQ1Xit3yQ6_b8H3kCETp-KIc7NORs0CjuSKoubzVG2j6bzpNBk9rPMDl5obZV4B5a1WXeIPyT8_jTNKw22KJgE/s320/DSCF0096.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325744836340856386" /></a><br /><br />Here are some pics of our visit to the castle....and some fun beach photos...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhET-66dpmpiD67Y3l2YusspnOyZ1lwGsrvcrIJJC0Ki21ZvwwUX4Lh4_dUrhujTz3G-5cU5rBJlKadWymO6tXDOfrhACYIVZvuakjkua6EwT8CDcx9mS1ljp-2Iti5HiFEjHM5NSfnS4I/s1600-h/DSCF0131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhET-66dpmpiD67Y3l2YusspnOyZ1lwGsrvcrIJJC0Ki21ZvwwUX4Lh4_dUrhujTz3G-5cU5rBJlKadWymO6tXDOfrhACYIVZvuakjkua6EwT8CDcx9mS1ljp-2Iti5HiFEjHM5NSfnS4I/s200/DSCF0131.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325745908885197618" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1i6XepmFzhr3JnRy1ks67PooHd9wHDl4wTDrR3RzA1YT6_cLJMxXZZ6yKe8KykIRUwruYK97MRsuRl4O1XU4rcTOe-zrbCC0MwaK2tMDfTQ_OTtHW5jD5R1NfHaBEifo3JxY1eCu-l_o/s1600-h/DSCF0138.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1i6XepmFzhr3JnRy1ks67PooHd9wHDl4wTDrR3RzA1YT6_cLJMxXZZ6yKe8KykIRUwruYK97MRsuRl4O1XU4rcTOe-zrbCC0MwaK2tMDfTQ_OTtHW5jD5R1NfHaBEifo3JxY1eCu-l_o/s200/DSCF0138.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325746147002831394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKQGpMMEQTVGYqkwAnH61UdKRAYsjBl7-1FxpVKL3l0_Hxv6b7H2MOXMe-TAKHwuwueLPOX4pIm4_7yrmUbBgqFFipoUcVvIxn3I1NqaJO8_qnpDgbyEZH8WTDQik9WJqT6MjsbTLF8s/s1600-h/DSCF0157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKQGpMMEQTVGYqkwAnH61UdKRAYsjBl7-1FxpVKL3l0_Hxv6b7H2MOXMe-TAKHwuwueLPOX4pIm4_7yrmUbBgqFFipoUcVvIxn3I1NqaJO8_qnpDgbyEZH8WTDQik9WJqT6MjsbTLF8s/s200/DSCF0157.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325746577470894082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPYX2hyZoYuHp42leJWkrMn_UQZZiI7sQUJdtQD5SsCNDyYpP-q-cM91AJhggsnuQqJBPZU4pz-AaaqjpKzVHTs36n7DYYvMy9mtCiMhLbfAw2nVI03pejtf-Ma5f3pdwHBzSUaLst7w/s1600-h/DSCF0169.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPYX2hyZoYuHp42leJWkrMn_UQZZiI7sQUJdtQD5SsCNDyYpP-q-cM91AJhggsnuQqJBPZU4pz-AaaqjpKzVHTs36n7DYYvMy9mtCiMhLbfAw2nVI03pejtf-Ma5f3pdwHBzSUaLst7w/s200/DSCF0169.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325754784307756210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5yCKfXhFSNrqY0_rmIGyzbIMpe_W9cn2vNwYB59CUdPZvwcHr88WKfCLweQ5LtdOdTlJ73oB4oR0TJ1lNRcswR1EELBDASZRT__53SoEFUulvuyaecSwq0V2Z5eF3aPOvN3bNOnVA6o/s1600-h/DSCF0104.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm5yCKfXhFSNrqY0_rmIGyzbIMpe_W9cn2vNwYB59CUdPZvwcHr88WKfCLweQ5LtdOdTlJ73oB4oR0TJ1lNRcswR1EELBDASZRT__53SoEFUulvuyaecSwq0V2Z5eF3aPOvN3bNOnVA6o/s200/DSCF0104.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325747151402553042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4r030kwHTvaL3Ni2FZVjByUVPQEHAxLII6KYkCK-jF5ioFtOTtOrktz0ltH6T2mB-ZxJPD9dOuBx2PMcTmVd8ZB6zrN36cnzkUVYqu-HA4WcugExTP2oFzgZ4dh1FAWn5VwFsXDAf1s/s1600-h/DSCF0109.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4r030kwHTvaL3Ni2FZVjByUVPQEHAxLII6KYkCK-jF5ioFtOTtOrktz0ltH6T2mB-ZxJPD9dOuBx2PMcTmVd8ZB6zrN36cnzkUVYqu-HA4WcugExTP2oFzgZ4dh1FAWn5VwFsXDAf1s/s200/DSCF0109.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325747501726385506" /></a><br /><br />We also were able to spend a day in Barcelona. (After a three hour drive where I swear we paid a million tolls along the way, it was quite comical!) We ate at an amazing tapas bar, visited the Barcelona Cathedral, Sagrada Familia and the Picasso museum. All of this packed into one day with a three hour drive home!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmJ0gstlLobGFZTN32FYowxzUUlyavqPb21iPAEzsvk5-W8RbE80DvgpWBGodAzrBsZw2iy_EmknJ3o18P507qkm9Z27so9Nkx9VfFlnJOuxEP26Fo8wP2jGGX-uq8IJYB0pkodhQzL0/s1600-h/DSCF0175.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmJ0gstlLobGFZTN32FYowxzUUlyavqPb21iPAEzsvk5-W8RbE80DvgpWBGodAzrBsZw2iy_EmknJ3o18P507qkm9Z27so9Nkx9VfFlnJOuxEP26Fo8wP2jGGX-uq8IJYB0pkodhQzL0/s200/DSCF0175.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325748904455540978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPkFe5hJI25LqDHKH5QPtZ44WddZJwvO_KxFf4pRZyhW91cqbKryfgYN1NUeDrjDwjj5xTdX_KD12FKy_gpGWMwm1CKOubKG1yoQUW9j2E4TH2mlUdpfTNFsNfyW_gxPAP-L30IBM4CM/s1600-h/DSCF0180.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIPkFe5hJI25LqDHKH5QPtZ44WddZJwvO_KxFf4pRZyhW91cqbKryfgYN1NUeDrjDwjj5xTdX_KD12FKy_gpGWMwm1CKOubKG1yoQUW9j2E4TH2mlUdpfTNFsNfyW_gxPAP-L30IBM4CM/s200/DSCF0180.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325749173955718338" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYZkY0ZuFGBxa2O9drNwR7MmCjkOeJi5vXhE0h8i0W9YN4FZo_DGU7TM7gsr4kEMwm8BAQCPt-gyns-OjDIaEdXHbwxd53xwBxa5ReW6T5Aa10um1C6PM0XLZZ6ef7zjPGF1S8zOYW_E/s1600-h/DSCF0195.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuYZkY0ZuFGBxa2O9drNwR7MmCjkOeJi5vXhE0h8i0W9YN4FZo_DGU7TM7gsr4kEMwm8BAQCPt-gyns-OjDIaEdXHbwxd53xwBxa5ReW6T5Aa10um1C6PM0XLZZ6ef7zjPGF1S8zOYW_E/s200/DSCF0195.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325749747753448306" /></a><br /><br />On the last day we were able to spend a couple hours in Valencia where we took the Metro into the city to have lunch.....here is a pic on the Metro.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmMb_mbeOvd9mdTcD4oU4M0VYgyQOLujxFqamZivcfCKw1I55r437VTh8a2gPMshxYw0f2i-jg5uA-iKSkFlfXFgfTtLXUVmxXCusBa_5C4qao4ESVVf-suleMDDYIR-wL7Wp0cSxfSQ/s1600-h/DSCF0225.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmMb_mbeOvd9mdTcD4oU4M0VYgyQOLujxFqamZivcfCKw1I55r437VTh8a2gPMshxYw0f2i-jg5uA-iKSkFlfXFgfTtLXUVmxXCusBa_5C4qao4ESVVf-suleMDDYIR-wL7Wp0cSxfSQ/s200/DSCF0225.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325753415976975794" /></a><br /><br />So, with March long gone...bring on April!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-29840150721384165372009-02-23T06:32:00.000-08:002009-02-23T08:22:14.453-08:00February!!!Hello...well almost goodbye February. This marks 5 months. I can't believe it! <br /><br />This weekend I went for a hike an hour outside of the city. I wanted a bit of nature, like back home. It did the trick for now but I really miss forests full of ancient evergreens. This is a pic of me halfway up.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ejkAZY9S7P92PxtUnKPjzKHww6KK2eFpbdt5K3LtAan-3borufxH84o6n3TdXicme2MM2qTRn8n8SoquNMnocxgx6iDyeyMMgGx0CxvWtFStvcFnaAUwgkudNDEn7ZTtLR9UCoO9aTA/s1600-h/DSCF0302.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ejkAZY9S7P92PxtUnKPjzKHww6KK2eFpbdt5K3LtAan-3borufxH84o6n3TdXicme2MM2qTRn8n8SoquNMnocxgx6iDyeyMMgGx0CxvWtFStvcFnaAUwgkudNDEn7ZTtLR9UCoO9aTA/s320/DSCF0302.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306010670303047554" /></a><br /><br /><br />Happy Belated Valentines Day!! I was very lucky to spend the day with good friends and enjoy some good food. We had a gathering at another Au Pairs house(her host fam was out of town, but gave her permission!) where we all brought good food. I made my famous guacamole. YUM! After we dressed up and went out on the town looking lovely!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahNWcXaKDM33v0LoBBVb43ggdB3Vzo4TbPFtED5wOzqj_SPdHjx4e6IIha3L7537iF9eQu4IEwA1zor75K3pI46yTgGbdR5En_MHrOlH8g32zAk_vsv3QfFajiGSDaDa2CsGbnuqYFhY/s1600-h/DSCF0218.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahNWcXaKDM33v0LoBBVb43ggdB3Vzo4TbPFtED5wOzqj_SPdHjx4e6IIha3L7537iF9eQu4IEwA1zor75K3pI46yTgGbdR5En_MHrOlH8g32zAk_vsv3QfFajiGSDaDa2CsGbnuqYFhY/s320/DSCF0218.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306001972084739458" /></a><br /><br />February 4-13 three of my best friends from Seattle came to see me. We spent the weekend in Madrid then went to Granada for the rest of the week. Granada is southeast of Madrid and right next to the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_G45tTiIXfpyJK7kMLZILyNg1ySuNKZY4Xvyjz9Bn_yS-AnxT7nGB9sGhZ5Ikk27xopzs7VUZvWbHvVM2E4FuDTNAOX_eceKA1Q8kmqjuj5Z_XSKNE7B8LC8DCoi94bdxKsAEMPGW1g/s1600-h/DSCF0129.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_G45tTiIXfpyJK7kMLZILyNg1ySuNKZY4Xvyjz9Bn_yS-AnxT7nGB9sGhZ5Ikk27xopzs7VUZvWbHvVM2E4FuDTNAOX_eceKA1Q8kmqjuj5Z_XSKNE7B8LC8DCoi94bdxKsAEMPGW1g/s320/DSCF0129.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306003277320036034" /></a> <br /><br />In Granada we visted the Cathedral, the Albaicín neighborhood and the Alhambra. The Alhambra(literally "the red one") is a palace and fortress complex of the Moorish rulers of Granada in southern Spain. Once the residence of the Muslim rulers of Granada and their court, the Alhambra is now one of Spain's major tourist attractions exhibiting the country's most famous Islamic architecture. All in all, a beautiful wonder of the world in my books!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNpIP0DqAOMZhzhmi3SniMe6U8dVOP4stPlWkF4eJafvUnV6_3RekqNQnOzaGIBPv4m7Tt4o_upMv62Vzygk47noJWGMf3ISVtFHoUaAybE6knIb_6_QwIAH_VSdPAS_FLRf5n6P7qAk/s1600-h/DSCF0200.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUNpIP0DqAOMZhzhmi3SniMe6U8dVOP4stPlWkF4eJafvUnV6_3RekqNQnOzaGIBPv4m7Tt4o_upMv62Vzygk47noJWGMf3ISVtFHoUaAybE6knIb_6_QwIAH_VSdPAS_FLRf5n6P7qAk/s320/DSCF0200.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306005759711277746" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8Z2_ccP8jOJUTq_WdvjYZSEZzpn6DHKEO7fBZBvHF2-k_qsG-chvDskmLZ_vkrm-GqUwF8UcZkVN6t6AvJD0uuhmx6nxyTt6yN_S98xQ49VlhhtLSI1V48ciuy8mJorK7DPo4GU_mQY/s1600-h/DSCF0186.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc8Z2_ccP8jOJUTq_WdvjYZSEZzpn6DHKEO7fBZBvHF2-k_qsG-chvDskmLZ_vkrm-GqUwF8UcZkVN6t6AvJD0uuhmx6nxyTt6yN_S98xQ49VlhhtLSI1V48ciuy8mJorK7DPo4GU_mQY/s320/DSCF0186.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306006286786024258" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvf33MDzONmunpG8_HNb3iv5bNoMqXmZHKACNOhKMv2uMZIFFEFjRqmkiW-OYPFYYjx9JVprAOMI724A3tUfhqYJ4K0Dws97XmVcRzxj1Eyo4YUCheIKQ7zaTcict2uBLHDgChRA3Fto/s1600-h/DSCF0210.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvf33MDzONmunpG8_HNb3iv5bNoMqXmZHKACNOhKMv2uMZIFFEFjRqmkiW-OYPFYYjx9JVprAOMI724A3tUfhqYJ4K0Dws97XmVcRzxj1Eyo4YUCheIKQ7zaTcict2uBLHDgChRA3Fto/s320/DSCF0210.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306006724690086658" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So now I have to wait four weeks till Ian arrives. We will spend the first weekend in Madrid so he can meet my friends, see the city and we'll also attend a Real Madrid football game! Then it's off to Barcelona for a week where we will meet his parents and explore together. I am so excited to see them.<br />A week after Ian leaves, my Mom and sister arrive to spend a week with me in Madrid then we are off to Paris for another week. :)<br />Before I know it I will be on a plane to Seattle. Time flies!! xoxo<br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" name="flashplayer" src="http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg294/wafpaf/countdown/swf/hearts5.swf?then_year=2009&then_month=2&then_day=20&eventt=Ian+visits+me+in+Spain%21%21" quality="high" width="260" height="210" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="samedomain"></embed><br><a href="http://www.wishafriend.com/countdown/" target="new">Countdown Clocks</a>, <a href="http://www.wishafriend.com/countdown/hearts/" target="new">Hearts Countdowns</a> at WishAFriend.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-3254285183823542902009-01-30T01:38:00.000-08:002009-01-30T02:26:57.204-08:00January 2009!Wow, I cannot believe January is ending already! Today marks four months abroad. It's incredible that I am half way through my journey. So since the first snow in Madrid has passed, now mother nature has decided to bring extreme winds. Despite the beautiful blue skies, its still freezing when you're practically being blown off your feet!! I have been getting back into running finally, and it feels great! There is a park I run at near by. There is this steep hill in the middle of the park and Tuesday as I was running up the hill I was practically blown away. The wind was so strong that I had to push so hard to make it to the top as my eyes were watering and my earphones were struggling to stay in my ears. It was insane, but felt great every time I made it to the top.<br />This weekend my friend Jessie and I are going running Friday night and Sunday! I am falling back in love with running after almost a four month rut. It helps having someone who is interested in it as well. Yesterday we ran very far and included hills, sprints and intervals! Today I admit I'm a little sore, but the good kind.<br /><br />I have been taking Pepe to a play group on Thursdays called Sticky Fingers. It is so fun and the highlight for him is riding the Metro(underground subway). The group is for children to learn and play in English. It's fun for me as well because I get to chat with other adults, some who speak only Spanish and others who speak English. I look forward to Thursdays....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEI1JT0fB7sckvbXuQmigNwWi5eZsnFIt6XZ_eHDApWRoXmQvB8cQ4WTvyFAQpsNBRG4OgKInssEeCt4LKsU920p_AAbfFbhafit_ST_ljB98stU1WgJq6vbiHHfezlZWDydau27JZVQ/s1600-h/DSCF0031.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEI1JT0fB7sckvbXuQmigNwWi5eZsnFIt6XZ_eHDApWRoXmQvB8cQ4WTvyFAQpsNBRG4OgKInssEeCt4LKsU920p_AAbfFbhafit_ST_ljB98stU1WgJq6vbiHHfezlZWDydau27JZVQ/s320/DSCF0031.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297027142157358082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tmGYdDA3hNQ5-KahB1BXvTWPBxiN3Dxr6PHt4vJrfQU_F57vaUokvw5E2SRaEnYpleIYbQ_krU5CI808gZtz0ng4Tsd9F_oO8Etyy_r9rUBhmh1R1w8A-8J74Cq-Oj-_CSiRWvARDtE/s1600-h/DSCF0028.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8tmGYdDA3hNQ5-KahB1BXvTWPBxiN3Dxr6PHt4vJrfQU_F57vaUokvw5E2SRaEnYpleIYbQ_krU5CI808gZtz0ng4Tsd9F_oO8Etyy_r9rUBhmh1R1w8A-8J74Cq-Oj-_CSiRWvARDtE/s320/DSCF0028.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297027040691395218" /></a><br /><br />So.... Jan 17 the girls and I went to a concert to see Jeremy Enigk. My Mom dated his Dad over ten years ago and he used to be in a very popular band(out of Seattle) called Sunny Day Real Estate. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLetIUu4QbHUQ537PXe0_PRMOh08Ew5NKPn0JG21mCATYWXtd_4cp_Cm42sBwOUgMYUkqtFLAkfmVewLLRtWIi4E3mgPFusX9Eb5ehRBx60e387dusKTaK02b8zxSdxWf380BH1uTxS3A/s1600-h/jeremy2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 113px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLetIUu4QbHUQ537PXe0_PRMOh08Ew5NKPn0JG21mCATYWXtd_4cp_Cm42sBwOUgMYUkqtFLAkfmVewLLRtWIi4E3mgPFusX9Eb5ehRBx60e387dusKTaK02b8zxSdxWf380BH1uTxS3A/s320/jeremy2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297021497479997698" /></a>I was stoked to see he was playing in Madrid and I had a great time. His music is very moving and the venue it was at, Moby Dick, was perfect!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGS0jJ_ndqdQwykuG3KDNA86tezXpI5SH9qVuhYcifBzg-4tlmFNqeRe74JzeFKJf_584h1nzAlLl5XZiz_LeMPKoTJ-e5aHDT2WafXZ0y8P1yVz6weewrkr8HLZFrfwCaDIvHONIsEc/s1600-h/jeremy.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 113px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGS0jJ_ndqdQwykuG3KDNA86tezXpI5SH9qVuhYcifBzg-4tlmFNqeRe74JzeFKJf_584h1nzAlLl5XZiz_LeMPKoTJ-e5aHDT2WafXZ0y8P1yVz6weewrkr8HLZFrfwCaDIvHONIsEc/s320/jeremy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297021382977853586" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtHctmh3q2C9CmyNPxba4HH1vCUe5wn2szUwN-visuzyANDruG4_USuimdo2gA2cOfthURoxAdmFhB23845enoM3x53rhahfmDKW7Engl1HAflk3TcmV-E-OT3aNh4LhSVpaSgAz_ez8/s1600-h/tn.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtHctmh3q2C9CmyNPxba4HH1vCUe5wn2szUwN-visuzyANDruG4_USuimdo2gA2cOfthURoxAdmFhB23845enoM3x53rhahfmDKW7Engl1HAflk3TcmV-E-OT3aNh4LhSVpaSgAz_ez8/s320/tn.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297021209157265026" /></a><br /><br /><br />Last weekend we walked around the city to see the many painted cows displayed all around. It's exactly like in Seattle when there were pigs all over the city. I'm not exactly sure what the purpose is, but there are over 150 in the city painted by different companies, even one from Microsoft. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGsoyk_OrFxoezYVk1uIpjE8PEetD5YSBNSF-1TEz2FtCIHkUmFlj8kSFqK6I_8VzAZ-V0JI1do5G3wX6MhkxR14uFCBPkH4yRYcRsL5kR1-T9etcCIaTiF9iYF05fzzPmeBt52QX-6Q/s1600-h/DSCF0046.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGsoyk_OrFxoezYVk1uIpjE8PEetD5YSBNSF-1TEz2FtCIHkUmFlj8kSFqK6I_8VzAZ-V0JI1do5G3wX6MhkxR14uFCBPkH4yRYcRsL5kR1-T9etcCIaTiF9iYF05fzzPmeBt52QX-6Q/s320/DSCF0046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297022478407316770" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzXIujZFTt55idEMTxDK0Jmw2Ao-od-sEPSDdWbKhKvRob8j-xd4Q5_6yISpmHF0ZMdH1DfITyzMhoWNZouzrR3tr9HAQb3R3MN7JcsFvU5z0NWVcsyf0-n58NcXtls7s-DAXc-ThSjk/s1600-h/n582344095_1221516_7759.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwzXIujZFTt55idEMTxDK0Jmw2Ao-od-sEPSDdWbKhKvRob8j-xd4Q5_6yISpmHF0ZMdH1DfITyzMhoWNZouzrR3tr9HAQb3R3MN7JcsFvU5z0NWVcsyf0-n58NcXtls7s-DAXc-ThSjk/s320/n582344095_1221516_7759.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297022768132272610" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxBOka5KVdsDhxlN63ZatsmbjchC4ztN_QQ6pKGm8WyRugzoJ63DC10AdcWopAS-w0IIa0G2EG_Q0t5Zq_xvFOGo6sZKNSjqBKoyLliGHFjkHFp06MbMZ7ZNKVsxWEvREIr8rQ7p5uvA/s1600-h/n515407310_1217292_6860.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxBOka5KVdsDhxlN63ZatsmbjchC4ztN_QQ6pKGm8WyRugzoJ63DC10AdcWopAS-w0IIa0G2EG_Q0t5Zq_xvFOGo6sZKNSjqBKoyLliGHFjkHFp06MbMZ7ZNKVsxWEvREIr8rQ7p5uvA/s320/n515407310_1217292_6860.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297022955817658978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR4MNi9vPxdNy0UNbtvY-_Y-P8bT6OC__UKeDqlcfQbL6p9-zSpAvxsLPPxBk1GOKWE2ErmEOdZrSOxDPYI56K_excG5tk3O18i1eCdxmuLJqf33FRJy1PssRifmlTbvyMnJWQRtQILY/s1600-h/DSCF0060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmR4MNi9vPxdNy0UNbtvY-_Y-P8bT6OC__UKeDqlcfQbL6p9-zSpAvxsLPPxBk1GOKWE2ErmEOdZrSOxDPYI56K_excG5tk3O18i1eCdxmuLJqf33FRJy1PssRifmlTbvyMnJWQRtQILY/s320/DSCF0060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297023218118706386" /></a><br /><br />This Saturday night night some of my friends and I have been invited to a Mojito party by one of our Spanish friends. I am very excited, mojitos are soooo good. Sunday we plan on going ice skating!! <br /><br />Wednesday, finally, three of my girlfriends from Seattle are coming! They will stay for a week and a half. We are staying in Madrid from Wednesday the 4th till Monday when we will fly out to Granada. Its South of Madrid and from what I have heard it is one of the most beautiful cities in Spain. So I will definitely have some great pics for my next post.<br /><br />Wishing all a wonderful New Year and a great start to February! xoxo<br /><br />P.S. The kids love baths now that I started putting bubbles in! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RYHLR5_XnnIWFM2MFa2Sc8HvBlEV8EFDCN2Q6EgAxpr5ShjS8bhQb9vdnPEc05xhaEdnjI9C5oHIGsG-E41veEwyMpPgYv4DDLnQElvfXk6EOIieNgTIqK1YjacRs2_JaDFrs0viQ5k/s1600-h/DSCF0043.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RYHLR5_XnnIWFM2MFa2Sc8HvBlEV8EFDCN2Q6EgAxpr5ShjS8bhQb9vdnPEc05xhaEdnjI9C5oHIGsG-E41veEwyMpPgYv4DDLnQElvfXk6EOIieNgTIqK1YjacRs2_JaDFrs0viQ5k/s320/DSCF0043.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297028291949978274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78UppaWDu-dZEXIgI4fwf94b42k0Z1LLNlSvsq0cogNviZ8TQYylPMkAgpfixnIQKj1u2WYBcmIRY-fH290KAqiZJd942k5zsqAUNdw5Uga6P4HzVj7uBYAB0T-KUhbfkaUi4WIa2Bvc/s1600-h/DSCF0041.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj78UppaWDu-dZEXIgI4fwf94b42k0Z1LLNlSvsq0cogNviZ8TQYylPMkAgpfixnIQKj1u2WYBcmIRY-fH290KAqiZJd942k5zsqAUNdw5Uga6P4HzVj7uBYAB0T-KUhbfkaUi4WIa2Bvc/s320/DSCF0041.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297028161406633426" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-75408557043525641972009-01-09T11:18:00.000-08:002009-01-22T09:23:06.276-08:00First "real" snow in Madrid!Today I woke up, looked out the window and was shocked by all the snow on the ground. Pepe and I took advantage of the day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDnog4BBvB66MU4ZCCjh5c3XYkYvGFLzeevPi8mJDWtetzJnzBjPCBtLUxpnwchYqgJoQXb4uFF3WNJfw3IvFdDbSmOl7e3s1vbnNBNSDGvVF_BSzTmqm6JjYj90NRTfU9kVhlZ4I4J4/s1600-h/DSCF0054.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDnog4BBvB66MU4ZCCjh5c3XYkYvGFLzeevPi8mJDWtetzJnzBjPCBtLUxpnwchYqgJoQXb4uFF3WNJfw3IvFdDbSmOl7e3s1vbnNBNSDGvVF_BSzTmqm6JjYj90NRTfU9kVhlZ4I4J4/s320/DSCF0054.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289376111054836562" /></a><br />We found this cool snowman when we went for a walk!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncbIxivTrMKMO7qR3zLzAwMWE8kTAQ7THM0DSn2l9Cp4Al92XFloIRidQralbpwtxH0nSXfsEXDjZdHvB2ZVErAWjqfGWkqNVOCQ7N59abDbfg0ZRS1UrnEkHDulTHhwcPNtNbLdDpx4/s1600-h/DSCF0057.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncbIxivTrMKMO7qR3zLzAwMWE8kTAQ7THM0DSn2l9Cp4Al92XFloIRidQralbpwtxH0nSXfsEXDjZdHvB2ZVErAWjqfGWkqNVOCQ7N59abDbfg0ZRS1UrnEkHDulTHhwcPNtNbLdDpx4/s320/DSCF0057.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289376376855807314" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-67886965847505263472009-01-09T09:48:00.000-08:002009-01-09T11:18:44.623-08:00Italia!I fell in love in Italy...with Italy!! What an awesome, beautiful and charming country. I would love to live there...but don't worry! Maybe one day!<br /><br />ROMA!!<br />My friend Leah(whom is also an Au Pair in Madrid) and I flew out of Madrid very early on Christmas Eve. We started our trip in Rome where we stayed in a great hostel and met many young people from around the world. We spent three days there and on Christmas Eve we were lucky enough to attend midnight mass at the Vatican. Pictured here is my friend Leah(from Wisconsin) and in the middle is our new friend Glauci(from Brazil) whom we met in the hostel.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_95J5PKthOKoe2GZ1DOo8zMlyZll8pDMGG_cGT24AtbtYGE7q3c1UxFRh5jgX3ong9MzPO85ORTBhGOQ3paBtgIPed0evCORsVcK-6rLkXZeuHGBq49cD1hbYe7H6wLjbNUiejP4A4o/s1600-h/DSCF0094.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD_95J5PKthOKoe2GZ1DOo8zMlyZll8pDMGG_cGT24AtbtYGE7q3c1UxFRh5jgX3ong9MzPO85ORTBhGOQ3paBtgIPed0evCORsVcK-6rLkXZeuHGBq49cD1hbYe7H6wLjbNUiejP4A4o/s320/DSCF0094.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289358342759201250" /></a><br />Here are a few more pics from Rome....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzQfAs1NAw_sKV1-fAj5NYXdnXg5he99rJvDT-Fo2p0DD9QbguwQyZhdm8XUfvdCaeiN94zk80KvpK0Sj_3UrYQXDfQsp7l_OSck3IP3ZKT34V_LqLSuPIqXANnAkev6a_RlL6AQJWVw/s1600-h/n13920909_50184135_1246.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzQfAs1NAw_sKV1-fAj5NYXdnXg5he99rJvDT-Fo2p0DD9QbguwQyZhdm8XUfvdCaeiN94zk80KvpK0Sj_3UrYQXDfQsp7l_OSck3IP3ZKT34V_LqLSuPIqXANnAkev6a_RlL6AQJWVw/s320/n13920909_50184135_1246.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289358772812789970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNq3Wx0bbyNL0LmjJE5UzmSayN1U5Bz9E7xwWbrWw51Pi1uwZ2f5AJaHFfhUSL-mnE_tKCgEYbiVYQz1vsqfq4UHnYn7PvaeAcduOfnLR1yhFvU0bo2Fquctl5DHwatoG4xrFmTesIGQ/s1600-h/DSCF0120.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNq3Wx0bbyNL0LmjJE5UzmSayN1U5Bz9E7xwWbrWw51Pi1uwZ2f5AJaHFfhUSL-mnE_tKCgEYbiVYQz1vsqfq4UHnYn7PvaeAcduOfnLR1yhFvU0bo2Fquctl5DHwatoG4xrFmTesIGQ/s320/DSCF0120.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289359567446394786" /></a><br />FIRENZE!!<br />Our next stop was Florence where we were hosted by a really nice guy named Leo. He is from Brazil but is living in Italy where his grandfather is from. We had the best time with him. He plays guitar and sings in a band and we were lucky enough to witness the first show with his new band mates. He also showed us around Florence and took us to a really cool bar in his little town.(He lives 20 min outside of Florence by train in Pistoia)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oOU_ml8nEl5LRGHzuOmTY7KNma5hogD_FZdIOsKFGlRAuXZSw6o5gvuLhFwGIM0S9Y3QNQZm8G_Zvr74PlmAdsD4ndr80DGMUXIZothodDLcmudIH0JpBlOsrNRdU7oUA16-uZcR-6c/s1600-h/DSCF0171.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2oOU_ml8nEl5LRGHzuOmTY7KNma5hogD_FZdIOsKFGlRAuXZSw6o5gvuLhFwGIM0S9Y3QNQZm8G_Zvr74PlmAdsD4ndr80DGMUXIZothodDLcmudIH0JpBlOsrNRdU7oUA16-uZcR-6c/s320/DSCF0171.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289362084463731522" /></a><br />The Cathedral in Florence...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRxuC9iipQywf8eC7NGX-6jaDfhL5p118BjF3D1qeODlkyFa-DsOEwLmOrG38mqm4HHeF1BG-1-YR7wM_hF5o64b0A77PLhRKrCgAEXe9t6XmGIEcaoepDsCNgsI8tZwe081htPV4z08/s1600-h/DSCF3007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRxuC9iipQywf8eC7NGX-6jaDfhL5p118BjF3D1qeODlkyFa-DsOEwLmOrG38mqm4HHeF1BG-1-YR7wM_hF5o64b0A77PLhRKrCgAEXe9t6XmGIEcaoepDsCNgsI8tZwe081htPV4z08/s320/DSCF3007.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289365654073871106" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnf3hyphenhyphenXiTn2Uz69m5fmLIxoLw1mOAGjkQ1jZvf8uwNtSuLF8mEtnDK-p3MtsI3MbHu8jvOrFIi2A9INLn6BGkWiLDbPO9C9NljDvgBZPNh8ZiXq-CX1B3euY76EhEoMnF5JlDRg6dLzs/s1600-h/DSCF3005.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsnf3hyphenhyphenXiTn2Uz69m5fmLIxoLw1mOAGjkQ1jZvf8uwNtSuLF8mEtnDK-p3MtsI3MbHu8jvOrFIi2A9INLn6BGkWiLDbPO9C9NljDvgBZPNh8ZiXq-CX1B3euY76EhEoMnF5JlDRg6dLzs/s320/DSCF3005.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289366085349776834" /></a><br /><br />VENEZIA!!<br />OK so Venice...if you have never been you must go! It is soooooo incredible! We lucked out and found a great hostel the evening we arrived. It was steps from the main canal and we made quick friends with everyone who was staying there. Our original plan was to stay two nights then return to Rome for New Years, but we were having such a great time with our new friends that we decided to stay in Venice! I am so happy we did because it turned out to be one of the best New Years ever!<br /><br />Our first day and its sunny!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi82FZjs3KkQpuY8GDMUE9sDdAnbPMK_-mmS5LQTwT4-7NTAGI8BfHcHm5S27JI6_vJgMfBKvYHcFESr2209C4pHjxJ-G63wpV0AKiipZeY_G5a85PpfHQuTFAS18taiXyxbuqtpNgoI/s1600-h/n13920909_50184395_4722.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 238px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJi82FZjs3KkQpuY8GDMUE9sDdAnbPMK_-mmS5LQTwT4-7NTAGI8BfHcHm5S27JI6_vJgMfBKvYHcFESr2209C4pHjxJ-G63wpV0AKiipZeY_G5a85PpfHQuTFAS18taiXyxbuqtpNgoI/s320/n13920909_50184395_4722.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289368109684659218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPeZPjGysBG6oSVl1M7ErISsZQDCDIa0Az8FG_YyWx8LKZc2NIDT45lrqV1EbmT8d7eNVf_-Dc6e7rIWz-2jYpCOqVqU-7dCTbZ8VV9dsUPylPkA24mGTee-07XHzeIkrjmX0U-zP02A/s1600-h/DSCF3014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPeZPjGysBG6oSVl1M7ErISsZQDCDIa0Az8FG_YyWx8LKZc2NIDT45lrqV1EbmT8d7eNVf_-Dc6e7rIWz-2jYpCOqVqU-7dCTbZ8VV9dsUPylPkA24mGTee-07XHzeIkrjmX0U-zP02A/s320/DSCF3014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289368970803200162" /></a><br /><br />Our new friends...from New Zealand, Australia, Uk and Canada. Our hostel host Gustavo made us authentic Italian dinners every night..we were spoiled!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeYLQkfqigh4Tq4Rj4DPjREjcmTYfo66lmfsG5s2sAw4rUMZLaqFnsPrbUqsPfTmpKUaACip7Wqf5XvOOlU05B6vJPcVflq_xHF4N6FamVAFEkRZJQmGqL9CgqehyphenhyphenIHMtObhni-_C0_s/s1600-h/n13920909_50184582_1492.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeYLQkfqigh4Tq4Rj4DPjREjcmTYfo66lmfsG5s2sAw4rUMZLaqFnsPrbUqsPfTmpKUaACip7Wqf5XvOOlU05B6vJPcVflq_xHF4N6FamVAFEkRZJQmGqL9CgqehyphenhyphenIHMtObhni-_C0_s/s320/n13920909_50184582_1492.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289370576295669282" /></a><br /><br />The island called Burano, known for the lace made there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa9OEg7GdrZj_Gza7Fpy0JRrSuzzhe5W32Q39wresjRrx3O9xi3ww3l61PAx3MXXSMtks64xAn8gvUp0WVpJVhagZqX-gL3OAciCr9hjBu_zuvEaGIX47Zj5UCNd4NaPQ-tvrzeDpdA4/s1600-h/DSCF3073.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSa9OEg7GdrZj_Gza7Fpy0JRrSuzzhe5W32Q39wresjRrx3O9xi3ww3l61PAx3MXXSMtks64xAn8gvUp0WVpJVhagZqX-gL3OAciCr9hjBu_zuvEaGIX47Zj5UCNd4NaPQ-tvrzeDpdA4/s320/DSCF3073.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289371237184856754" /></a><br />Hmmm...which house do I want...pink or yellow??<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszeEMJYtfyGbO7niJBkmLBMjvjr0GSWBxf6RRqlMXH2BXPrjOzHfJxxQHQA3mFBp93LD7oJcme-wAS_fwRs9fkVkC9XO3St184Jywz4A1k3AL25BgLmBkvl_AxG3p2DBr14YyTwXgun0/s1600-h/DSCF3074.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjszeEMJYtfyGbO7niJBkmLBMjvjr0GSWBxf6RRqlMXH2BXPrjOzHfJxxQHQA3mFBp93LD7oJcme-wAS_fwRs9fkVkC9XO3St184Jywz4A1k3AL25BgLmBkvl_AxG3p2DBr14YyTwXgun0/s320/DSCF3074.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289371397652896690" /></a><br />Our friends from Australia..<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2co0Le7v58VhICff5Q6DgPkg3HsbJvCWwM6LVpQA2JZ1ev1DMyrj-7qxxQLOe-AQdS0uVyGq87yl5MX4_R_IoENEGWHT5ANyIvboQGdZJLDuM4ecBwAGjQC9k9C2V3Su2a9pnlW4hMk/s1600-h/DSCF3079.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2co0Le7v58VhICff5Q6DgPkg3HsbJvCWwM6LVpQA2JZ1ev1DMyrj-7qxxQLOe-AQdS0uVyGq87yl5MX4_R_IoENEGWHT5ANyIvboQGdZJLDuM4ecBwAGjQC9k9C2V3Su2a9pnlW4hMk/s320/DSCF3079.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289371533049784706" /></a><br /><br />New Years festivities commence and the beauty of it all...it snowed! For those who are sensitive to pasty white skin, I apologize for the last pic! But, how many people can say they ran around in their undies in the snow on New Years in Venice??? <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWWaz2ToUKQ7P5lXt8emhJBtRy3oEGtYdI62T6v21YqfI1cI6S21QKfqibTNc2wAunZTmPJMATL7Sws6Bef5dKCZrpxhkOC8G85R31Kr7YcQhKHoT8hLRb5vUBKZUJcZcPt5p5sZMOwE/s1600-h/DSCF3084.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWWaz2ToUKQ7P5lXt8emhJBtRy3oEGtYdI62T6v21YqfI1cI6S21QKfqibTNc2wAunZTmPJMATL7Sws6Bef5dKCZrpxhkOC8G85R31Kr7YcQhKHoT8hLRb5vUBKZUJcZcPt5p5sZMOwE/s320/DSCF3084.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289372426929381058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9oC_5emCQCGx-N7i8wfFcgWOCA2JHsZA6dLhssrv7RyBz5n_Y2_ze11ZWqDARyg9oaM5WvLUuOcA2jSswvk7fdTv2xjAb-jpnEz1efHGMRhxfwGlcRkHo8kim2VTA7DKgPetdUXyUaw/s1600-h/DSCF3095.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ9oC_5emCQCGx-N7i8wfFcgWOCA2JHsZA6dLhssrv7RyBz5n_Y2_ze11ZWqDARyg9oaM5WvLUuOcA2jSswvk7fdTv2xjAb-jpnEz1efHGMRhxfwGlcRkHo8kim2VTA7DKgPetdUXyUaw/s320/DSCF3095.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289373038046646850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOJXqwdjcue1h379eSLPCeI5zZzpAknjauU2PmifG_Hw_RE8yNUD6hWcOhHxpnEQpSeGxOYJNXXZtlNbjfzxz-XaUvBjIU7f843fssynvCo4itxYtUjJbo8l4WkVxvlXbMdiH8DzYxY0/s1600-h/DSCF3116.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOJXqwdjcue1h379eSLPCeI5zZzpAknjauU2PmifG_Hw_RE8yNUD6hWcOhHxpnEQpSeGxOYJNXXZtlNbjfzxz-XaUvBjIU7f843fssynvCo4itxYtUjJbo8l4WkVxvlXbMdiH8DzYxY0/s320/DSCF3116.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289373297985359074" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoNoCE1waYAMdIN45uTcu2qMXqTf3zZQMXdoQKCbGlMZpL3LdJOzktrKbrnbJ4LmfeTTqC0OozZhAKrCiyz0tIbROgfn9W4XD_FhxEEjlDZwFlmeJcd8GhbZ-IlB9aewrLfxH1gi5AqM/s1600-h/DSCF3132.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoNoCE1waYAMdIN45uTcu2qMXqTf3zZQMXdoQKCbGlMZpL3LdJOzktrKbrnbJ4LmfeTTqC0OozZhAKrCiyz0tIbROgfn9W4XD_FhxEEjlDZwFlmeJcd8GhbZ-IlB9aewrLfxH1gi5AqM/s320/DSCF3132.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289373507908773042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn4_4Db_-LPrZg8x28aEWsoyQ7NEMhD-MgQccqt1rPI7PeXWx1JeJVD0Mbr561_ZiVFlu7ZbfB0pNSIIu7FPg4Qg1vvpUus4li14CPnLUtpYYut7Xv9i-Z51kEUgnkmSkcIqx6lX0EkI/s1600-h/DSCF3141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhn4_4Db_-LPrZg8x28aEWsoyQ7NEMhD-MgQccqt1rPI7PeXWx1JeJVD0Mbr561_ZiVFlu7ZbfB0pNSIIu7FPg4Qg1vvpUus4li14CPnLUtpYYut7Xv9i-Z51kEUgnkmSkcIqx6lX0EkI/s320/DSCF3141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289374558731457106" /></a><br />If you have Myspace or Facebook you can view all the pics from my trip!<br />Happy New Year!!! xoxoUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-54232163379751980032008-12-17T03:08:00.001-08:002008-12-17T03:23:02.105-08:00SNOW!!Hola! This weekend I saw snow!! Well lets start with Friday...I worked during the day and then met my friend Tina for coffee at Starbucks in the evening and ended the night early. Saturday a few of us ventured out into the rain to go shopping in the tourist district(I hate it!) called Sol. I realized that everyone uses umbrellas here and it is so hard to walk down the street without getting attacked by all of them. Living in Seattle I don't think I ever used them, but here its a fashion statement of something. Or maybe Spanish people are made of sugar?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZbLXUcOO7OKwY1wKiHGhZtB5bOfzriBR_gHuG61JXJQcLeC3YKXSz0vacrarNac8rEeYcXVTRDQzzPzKxf1r7dyox85vOBBCQPGMSDR-CA-cOXag-PSDRoFe2s2jzv83O7CbkgmJFT4/s1600-h/DSCF0003.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ZbLXUcOO7OKwY1wKiHGhZtB5bOfzriBR_gHuG61JXJQcLeC3YKXSz0vacrarNac8rEeYcXVTRDQzzPzKxf1r7dyox85vOBBCQPGMSDR-CA-cOXag-PSDRoFe2s2jzv83O7CbkgmJFT4/s320/DSCF0003.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280715175662986738" /></a><br />Saturday night a couple friends and I went to a little party at a really nice flat in the city. <br />Somehow we managed to get up on Sunday and venture out to the train station. We bought tickets to Cercadilla which is out towards the mountains in search of snow. Well we hit the jackpot. I was so giddy, like a little kid when I saw the first trace of it. But it was only a preview of what was to come.....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxX-DDPVxGi2YdD-7r21eT19nEwv3rpXkWm7oiJ6R5Y6nvFb1bq56DA93ovcbDjKAgJpYgJVZ4zwUVUWg-dD80Tq7RHl6siEWj1GMd19vFggit_fNtHgL-oRoW0h6xarypzAjCKQEazTs/s1600-h/DSCF0045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxX-DDPVxGi2YdD-7r21eT19nEwv3rpXkWm7oiJ6R5Y6nvFb1bq56DA93ovcbDjKAgJpYgJVZ4zwUVUWg-dD80Tq7RHl6siEWj1GMd19vFggit_fNtHgL-oRoW0h6xarypzAjCKQEazTs/s320/DSCF0045.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280715998860758130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMSS8wtl989BSrGb5-ku7wXElqWkVrMBfpOd3iCWITj66i22qZ2Qi2C0fV6HHIbC6gt8xYm2My84ge0SVuqJAwGnU7lyYTKe4RS6Xk73gd3rXKruQe35cefRJt0L1ExbWpEQL8oUU_cs/s1600-h/DSCF0055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMSS8wtl989BSrGb5-ku7wXElqWkVrMBfpOd3iCWITj66i22qZ2Qi2C0fV6HHIbC6gt8xYm2My84ge0SVuqJAwGnU7lyYTKe4RS6Xk73gd3rXKruQe35cefRJt0L1ExbWpEQL8oUU_cs/s320/DSCF0055.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280716776207983906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfndhmrNcV-Hq3dKYd-ZHYja9EX84oPwNPidd6VrNmf-pF6mKXcjQxPFwE8rFIj2KL4g6ZHZ5i44gH-uKLHHiGYTJU4ZfrY2EtX1ugfrT5fdqR8V_6LguWJsndxjG1RJPTxMD25Zv6GY/s1600-h/n502116946_1311391_3389.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSfndhmrNcV-Hq3dKYd-ZHYja9EX84oPwNPidd6VrNmf-pF6mKXcjQxPFwE8rFIj2KL4g6ZHZ5i44gH-uKLHHiGYTJU4ZfrY2EtX1ugfrT5fdqR8V_6LguWJsndxjG1RJPTxMD25Zv6GY/s320/n502116946_1311391_3389.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280716935317019522" /></a><br /><br />P.S. 6 more days till I leave for Italy!!! What did you ask Santa to bring you for Christmas??Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-81401980091218251172008-12-08T12:14:00.000-08:002008-12-17T03:07:38.991-08:00Thanksgiving,..CHINCHÓN...winter in Madrid!OK, so I skipped out on posting last weekend. It was a great Thanksgiving weekend but I am lacking on pics. Let's see, I will start with Thanksgiving. I made pumpkin pies and green bean casseroles, one of each for my host family and for my friends. My host family had never eaten either before and they loved it, especially the pie. As for most of my European friends, it was also their first time to try pumpkin pie and they couldn't stop talking about it! I was happy to be able to share a taste of home with everyone. The Saturday after Thanksgiving my friends and I had our own Thanksgiving at our friends apartment. For many of them this was their first and only Thanksgiving. We each brought something to add to the meal and everything was complete except for the lack of a turkey. The ovens in Spain are small and apparently its hard to find a whole turkey. So we had everything but. We also had this dinner as "Annes going home" party. She's from Montreal, QC and she departed today actually. Her journey in Spain was short but sweet and she is a forever friend in my books! <br />She did not know we had planned any of this and after we went to see the movie "Body of Lies" we took her on the metro where I blind folded her and told her we were taking her to a "surprise restaurant" for her last dinner out with us girls. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagyKMLdDroLuDqUAdJROCtUz3wef3cypIF3r_H7JwCO7u_y4QBgTg1XrCdlg-NJzhk-WJP4Tya_GTrjIzZWdOVUx5nZQtGQg-RqQXLt4SoxMwau01D8g-vt4tt6_YfId_RpkzmIqz46c/s1600-h/n515407310_1001667_3834.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgagyKMLdDroLuDqUAdJROCtUz3wef3cypIF3r_H7JwCO7u_y4QBgTg1XrCdlg-NJzhk-WJP4Tya_GTrjIzZWdOVUx5nZQtGQg-RqQXLt4SoxMwau01D8g-vt4tt6_YfId_RpkzmIqz46c/s320/n515407310_1001667_3834.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277520071837038706" /></a><br /><br />It was really fun and she was a great sport and stayed blind folded all the way from the metro, on the street and all the way to Jessies apartment where everyone was waiting to surprise her. What a success :)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBm7_Vw69C4EszX9aaSRtMRF1wZn2CplYSYJNKqqGZHNjubwOccAgTAMB_k0pemnRwrURfx2RtvWddr_kHx9wEU-D3tmJ92WuSRNbMPiS9j5UDG7ugzmCLM5HQgbaemG45P4Qm4AVljU/s1600-h/DSCF0004.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtBm7_Vw69C4EszX9aaSRtMRF1wZn2CplYSYJNKqqGZHNjubwOccAgTAMB_k0pemnRwrURfx2RtvWddr_kHx9wEU-D3tmJ92WuSRNbMPiS9j5UDG7ugzmCLM5HQgbaemG45P4Qm4AVljU/s320/DSCF0004.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277519618910721362" /></a><br /><br />This Saturday we went to a city called Chincon, 45km southeast of Madrid. It is an elegant little town, with a fifteenth-century castle and a famous Plaza Mayor. Not really much else to say about it...just look at the pics :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXeWsBQ_0hgXIeWtaomKAY4wOLNwvAla3mDMcsphqVZ07A076k4nel4wokCDlWQkBQVQPC5i_D63-llLbTtgKjNIXKXHcJLk7IplMkEl4PrVv6yx-W3uu236k8LqSvJH9oNc32hRs9Ww/s1600-h/n791875480_5038816_8103.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYXeWsBQ_0hgXIeWtaomKAY4wOLNwvAla3mDMcsphqVZ07A076k4nel4wokCDlWQkBQVQPC5i_D63-llLbTtgKjNIXKXHcJLk7IplMkEl4PrVv6yx-W3uu236k8LqSvJH9oNc32hRs9Ww/s320/n791875480_5038816_8103.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277536547353918882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhuZnFoYREVfsQaQGO8hW3-4ztTREP9ZwJWTAK3bKgMt205ziyhyVlXaQ8YZfQboIX0nn0rsWm9Wi5-3M2I-xcrEz0t0YojeiaFSANVWgQOKxgklEuWRT0Z2KncyAuTJtQlNgOZUSEe0/s1600-h/DSCF0015.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhuZnFoYREVfsQaQGO8hW3-4ztTREP9ZwJWTAK3bKgMt205ziyhyVlXaQ8YZfQboIX0nn0rsWm9Wi5-3M2I-xcrEz0t0YojeiaFSANVWgQOKxgklEuWRT0Z2KncyAuTJtQlNgOZUSEe0/s320/DSCF0015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277536776183342658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtiEyFi2kBvpB_5swvc3ra_-4am0DYoFWoGyGDqep3e9etIaBtcRZTnZfvBoJ0zQ4Nudbz_zuZ6GLPbUyNbEKHBBTSEV63mAhZxYLJ5U1e0341_Hmn5PMzLIYQKC9UUxb0GfgaYJIB-A/s1600-h/DSCF0014.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjtiEyFi2kBvpB_5swvc3ra_-4am0DYoFWoGyGDqep3e9etIaBtcRZTnZfvBoJ0zQ4Nudbz_zuZ6GLPbUyNbEKHBBTSEV63mAhZxYLJ5U1e0341_Hmn5PMzLIYQKC9UUxb0GfgaYJIB-A/s320/DSCF0014.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277537179975166194" /></a><br />After Chincon we came back to Madrid and saw 007 Quantum of Solace. Which was a great action film...but I was lost on the plot. In Madrid they are pretty festive for the holidays. I saw many people wearing red Christmas hats and reindeer hats. They also decorate the streets with lights. Unlike the States where we mostly decorate the buildings and trees, they string lights over the streets and have other beautiful decorations. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr8mu3I0YpOMQ6Mm2KQZDKswtiBdF4zKsJ46Vvvu5LtvOYaWKjLX3u02r2PZ-TUfXrkJQr7fF99dp8AXQ3hKg0H3w4rGMpfXuNVZPw1uqp4QL0I03PfXt6ydG42QYMiKik3y0rJb7VX4/s1600-h/n1562240350_78951_2946.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwr8mu3I0YpOMQ6Mm2KQZDKswtiBdF4zKsJ46Vvvu5LtvOYaWKjLX3u02r2PZ-TUfXrkJQr7fF99dp8AXQ3hKg0H3w4rGMpfXuNVZPw1uqp4QL0I03PfXt6ydG42QYMiKik3y0rJb7VX4/s320/n1562240350_78951_2946.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277537392112256434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgKX9FGoBhGOtUPdT9mqcRVekLIcWegMesBi_AI-60EazGi8hb54uLc2QYsFxvx8fPGoDXPAEhLWShl8kvlp4Qx4sEkNtvQLj7B-Xkq3d1nTy4-QW6zKiVqLOe47em7D2-9zaXeW6PiM/s1600-h/DSCF0032.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgKX9FGoBhGOtUPdT9mqcRVekLIcWegMesBi_AI-60EazGi8hb54uLc2QYsFxvx8fPGoDXPAEhLWShl8kvlp4Qx4sEkNtvQLj7B-Xkq3d1nTy4-QW6zKiVqLOe47em7D2-9zaXeW6PiM/s320/DSCF0032.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277537597288926738" /></a><br /><br /><br />Hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season! I miss all the wonderful things about home and Christmas. The list is long but here are a few things I miss: Christmas lights on houses, the Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes, eggnog, Ugly Sweater Christmas parties, the Salvation Army bell ringers(believe it or not), Santa hats, Christmas movies on TV, crowded malls(I know I am strange), Santa Clause, winter ice skating, christmas music, my Moms and Grandmas cookies and candies and most of all family and friends to share the holidays with! Thank goodness I will be in Italy, otherwise I would be sitting around feeling very homesick. XOXO<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeSOu33iYg5AjagYSoczzbK7qpeYRNSgpBbG0oPqZS0p_DESJInqsmWRUFJeJZIolDvXU-Uo2Z12emTQ3rxI6AsBaDRgslOqi_UKgYBLp9Y8bo7j2jNRRK1iRKvjGmbZAEfrQXS6o3b4/s1600-h/n791875480_5039053_5953.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeSOu33iYg5AjagYSoczzbK7qpeYRNSgpBbG0oPqZS0p_DESJInqsmWRUFJeJZIolDvXU-Uo2Z12emTQ3rxI6AsBaDRgslOqi_UKgYBLp9Y8bo7j2jNRRK1iRKvjGmbZAEfrQXS6o3b4/s320/n791875480_5039053_5953.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277537789872396706" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-49146206813385442072008-11-24T09:53:00.000-08:002008-11-25T02:47:38.738-08:00Salamanca!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUZbOfDVWm2XCN8AQC5Z_aDdmOtfbfAJwj6p1xvoAUB4YY7q03aD-9Fx6jtDPSl0hHSFHziVHH2PrKCQ-O9nHGyj_BOasK9G30MADj2Sn21O9O4c97vjqXDvuVlkfSlieImwimx4_Y14/s1600-h/n515407310_978372_6018.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxUZbOfDVWm2XCN8AQC5Z_aDdmOtfbfAJwj6p1xvoAUB4YY7q03aD-9Fx6jtDPSl0hHSFHziVHH2PrKCQ-O9nHGyj_BOasK9G30MADj2Sn21O9O4c97vjqXDvuVlkfSlieImwimx4_Y14/s320/n515407310_978372_6018.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272542688630123106" /></a><br />What a fun weekend. I am so happy we were able to get away for a whole weekend and not just a day. Salamanca was so much fun and full of young people since it is a University town. The night life was spectacular as well which was the main reason we visited. Our youth hostel was a bit farther away from the city center than we thought but luckily was right on the bus line. I was impressed with the hostel. It was nice, clean, comfortable and cheap. I paid 14 Euros! <br />There were six of us Au Pairs. We hopped on the train Saturday at 11 and arrived in Salamanca around 2 in the afternoon. After walking around the city and having lunch we ventured to our hostel where we could drop of our bags, rest and freshen up. Then off to have dinner and go out on the town. We had a great time and met some people from Belgium who had studied in Salamanca the year before, so they were able to show us around and take us to the bars with the best deals.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2_wBUcfNghO6Zon7t7lwzjnSu_YyF2ibH0-v1-qX_hbE7Il1R-ZrqQk3njFsIyaDZ_rrqXNqVmYg8C6pDqhpBL4haZjnygh6SNV2yzjmdDi6INjVwZoWEFQffZz9TnNZp9IL1rmOv6w/s1600-h/sal13.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ2_wBUcfNghO6Zon7t7lwzjnSu_YyF2ibH0-v1-qX_hbE7Il1R-ZrqQk3njFsIyaDZ_rrqXNqVmYg8C6pDqhpBL4haZjnygh6SNV2yzjmdDi6INjVwZoWEFQffZz9TnNZp9IL1rmOv6w/s320/sal13.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272358211173057602" /></a><br />Salamanca is also famous for "la rana de suerte", the lucky frog. As you enter the entrance to Salamanca University (Universidad Civil) you'll see the enormous facade dominated by the Catholic Monarchs in the center and all kinds of floral designs and skulls around them.<br />But can you spot the frog? <br />It is said that if you can spot the frog without any help you'll enjoy good luck and will marry within a year. (Too bad I had help finding the frog ha!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ARXcM899fMCpyU6ZapAHACNxO0AG8TYWcHrJAcXEK7TLeKCiEr5x4-MIEvXU1pS00pabvJulKBbUUtGXTopkhKRtcv07jIlGX6XDxdLQ2GLMqnzzgwcKLuilhJQVK4UPSTtrit26m6Y/s1600-h/sal47.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ARXcM899fMCpyU6ZapAHACNxO0AG8TYWcHrJAcXEK7TLeKCiEr5x4-MIEvXU1pS00pabvJulKBbUUtGXTopkhKRtcv07jIlGX6XDxdLQ2GLMqnzzgwcKLuilhJQVK4UPSTtrit26m6Y/s320/sal47.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272540661509550802" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1YZNq3johP2MKvNqei6DUmFglHviQZnGhGDwRMtLW_HnWbomag0h8ewIwpQeEsk2S1sC-6wowY_3-ndOuthb51BE_NDYci5qLoCE66OzTyU7ekaS14VkLe_nt81NUdubXgj926TA4DE/s1600-h/n515407310_978352_8686.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS1YZNq3johP2MKvNqei6DUmFglHviQZnGhGDwRMtLW_HnWbomag0h8ewIwpQeEsk2S1sC-6wowY_3-ndOuthb51BE_NDYci5qLoCE66OzTyU7ekaS14VkLe_nt81NUdubXgj926TA4DE/s320/n515407310_978352_8686.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272544493887114050" /></a><br /><br />So with Thanksgiving coming up, (which is obviously not celebrated here in Spain) I have decided to make a green bean casserole and a pumpkin pie for my host family. I am excited to have some good ol' American food! My friends and I are also having our own Thanksgiving dinner Saturday night at our friends apartment. We will each make a bring something. American food here I come!!!<br /><br />Oh and some great news! The kids(especially Julia) have taken a great liking to me. Mar, my host Mom says that when she picks the kids up in the evening they are always asking about me, telling her they love me and want to see me. All of the sudden I am getting hugs a kisses in abundance. It's a great feeling and makes my job ten times easier! I actually am quite happy here now, but I am counting the days down until Italy!<br /><center><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowScriptAccess="never" allowNetworking="internal" height="200" width="300" align="middle" data="http://www.criticallayouts.com/Generators/cd-christmas/show.swf?clickURL=http://www.criticallayouts.com/&clickLABEL=MySpace Countdowns&flashLABEL=Critical Layouts&skin=http://www.criticallayouts.com/Generators/cd-christmas/skins/18.jpg&text=Italy%21%20Pizza%20and%20pasta%20here%20we%20come%21%21&untilColor=65280&textColor=13434828&datesColor=13369344&year=2008&month=11&day=24&hour=0&minute=0&second=0&x=6&y=77"><br /> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="never" /><br /> <param name="allowNetworking" value="internal" /><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.criticallayouts.com/Generators/cd-christmas/show.swf?clickURL=http://www.criticallayouts.com/&clickLABEL=MySpace Countdowns&flashLABEL=Critical Layouts&skin=http://www.criticallayouts.com/Generators/cd-christmas/skins/18.jpg&text=Italy%21%20Pizza%20and%20pasta%20here%20we%20come%21%21&untilColor=65280&textColor=13434828&datesColor=13369344&year=2008&month=11&day=24&hour=0&minute=0&second=0&x=6&y=77" /><br /> <param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><br /> <param name="quality" value="high" /><br /> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff" /><br /></object><br /><small><a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmNyaXRpY2FsbGF5b3V0cy5jb20v">MySpace Countdowns</a></small></center>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-2784153721661442572008-11-17T08:57:00.000-08:002008-11-17T11:12:48.120-08:00Ávila!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdq-b1VBY5cjm4agEf6P3kYPXUx0czG2GZeGVnxkpcW_KGtoJ2zgpVbZnyg8TvY5nt2JhTUT_qAwc_O9GSxRcLQWNWNfLgU-mfmCmX5_5iWhMIZ9OVdRSbNd45NDW4sRAWpGmM6aMANM/s1600-h/n1562240350_55976_7665.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdq-b1VBY5cjm4agEf6P3kYPXUx0czG2GZeGVnxkpcW_KGtoJ2zgpVbZnyg8TvY5nt2JhTUT_qAwc_O9GSxRcLQWNWNfLgU-mfmCmX5_5iWhMIZ9OVdRSbNd45NDW4sRAWpGmM6aMANM/s320/n1562240350_55976_7665.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269701558450710994" /></a><br />This weekend I visited Ávila which is located slightly NW of Madrid. It was about an hour and twenty minutes by train. The cool thing about Ávila is the fortress wall surrounding the city. These protective walls were built in the 12th century. Extending for 2,500 meters (8202 ft.) and encircling the old town, the massive walls are punctuated by ninety, heavily fortified stone towers. The things I have been seeing in all the places I have visited I thought only existed in fairy tales and movies. But behold, this weekend I was walking on a stone fortress wall! <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn5NlCI4CFNSAuD0k_OBb9JhHIIyMoVN4cxOh1JNbd1UEnVi7PiSnLR22WHCmsRLmf_NHLRw9mvj3ctFr1J_pcnvj3UqWBgGuHIxlG8QQuqLZbBDHNJCtM-USFbghRqyRn3V4FFNtXuI/s1600-h/n791875480_4838948_4606.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn5NlCI4CFNSAuD0k_OBb9JhHIIyMoVN4cxOh1JNbd1UEnVi7PiSnLR22WHCmsRLmf_NHLRw9mvj3ctFr1J_pcnvj3UqWBgGuHIxlG8QQuqLZbBDHNJCtM-USFbghRqyRn3V4FFNtXuI/s320/n791875480_4838948_4606.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269701661230185250" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7nWKiPDziWP3HZ8bUbKUKgRhPCZAXsfTXhOTknLfl2D-WvzJRc9syW-at7Xq7h-_rMSD7mCbotBSoTFi3qJZRGe0lvd5em0slYmd75jXMOJnch1c_a-ptYx8Gevyf6s9_nEw0gEy6BY/s1600-h/n791875480_4838933_191.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7nWKiPDziWP3HZ8bUbKUKgRhPCZAXsfTXhOTknLfl2D-WvzJRc9syW-at7Xq7h-_rMSD7mCbotBSoTFi3qJZRGe0lvd5em0slYmd75jXMOJnch1c_a-ptYx8Gevyf6s9_nEw0gEy6BY/s320/n791875480_4838933_191.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269704851799433186" /></a><br />We also visited a very cute restaurant located right near a small river where we had Zumo de uvas(grapejuice that was yellow and VERY good!) and free tapas. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEQQ1VOTCMQ6RT4DvPLP5YKA7qBi3WuK4XzhzMjF-RUz8nEMjWpsd6dwM-SYcGp4s_ZeCDqNODRvC-IQIkaxhHYRfcsznkA2v6XZYbRQtaTqaSy8gGntklvBw-V5u0DcxlEKaD-p6nE8/s1600-h/n1562240350_55973_4475.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEQQ1VOTCMQ6RT4DvPLP5YKA7qBi3WuK4XzhzMjF-RUz8nEMjWpsd6dwM-SYcGp4s_ZeCDqNODRvC-IQIkaxhHYRfcsznkA2v6XZYbRQtaTqaSy8gGntklvBw-V5u0DcxlEKaD-p6nE8/s320/n1562240350_55973_4475.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269702125705335330" /></a><br />Then when it was time to head back to Madrid we ended up catching the wrong train(but on the right route) and we had to sit in the corridor of the train! UGH! But we made if to Madrid in one piece.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZF2fjOcZYC81siJD5_lVUUerDstDHejOarjBWhlncaOgZPSAoV9F4hNnWVlESwyNvCDo4Z2Bb8z1MJdVUZ4hjWRxRf07Ukm3F1Amq0kun6WD0N11kraBUR4d_9biq2mcVf9Zk8xmTVtw/s1600-h/n1562240350_55978_1746.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZF2fjOcZYC81siJD5_lVUUerDstDHejOarjBWhlncaOgZPSAoV9F4hNnWVlESwyNvCDo4Z2Bb8z1MJdVUZ4hjWRxRf07Ukm3F1Amq0kun6WD0N11kraBUR4d_9biq2mcVf9Zk8xmTVtw/s320/n1562240350_55978_1746.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269702627015998146" /></a><br />Sunday we visited two Au Pair friends who live about 40 mins outside of Madrid by train. It is a town called Alcala de Henares and it is a University town. There were many young people and many Spanish families who also had come to visit for the day. I don't have pictures uploaded yet but will post them as soon as I do. Another really cool thing were the numerous Storks who had HUGE nests settled up top of the old buildings. They were everywhere and very beautiful. <br /><br />Some funny things I have thought of about my life in Madrid:<br />1) I have not paid a bill in almost two months! (Because I don't have any:)<br />2) I have not driven a car in almost two months! (walking a lot!)<br />3) I don't have to balance my checkbook every week because I have not been using my saved money! (yay!) Which has also saved me a lot of stress!<br />In conclusion: less stress and less hustle and bustle!<br /><br />Great things I know I need to appreciate while I am here! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-61992229116661412832008-11-10T04:19:00.001-08:002008-11-10T12:46:17.304-08:00A weekend actually spent in Madrid!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8ockKrFYuHgTNWdAFY2fUQceGlO7U_xX7l4IZi_4X71qfFXQVnMFm-vleK8O0vskrvPzcoRYsOgyQgzBRRM0j___ma2wBfTX0x9Uf9MJ4E6lp8wSH59_N1Al1Rm2s_skLYvIM1YMgUQ/s1600-h/park10.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF8ockKrFYuHgTNWdAFY2fUQceGlO7U_xX7l4IZi_4X71qfFXQVnMFm-vleK8O0vskrvPzcoRYsOgyQgzBRRM0j___ma2wBfTX0x9Uf9MJ4E6lp8wSH59_N1Al1Rm2s_skLYvIM1YMgUQ/s320/park10.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267014124848717298" /></a><br />This weekend was a great adventure and we didn't even leave the city. I think I had the most fun this weekend than any other. It was spent with my friends exploring new things Madrid has to offer.<br />Friday night my friend Leah and I were craving a little American culture, so what better way to satisfy our craving than to go to The Hard Rock Cafe! We arrived there around 9:30pm and there was a 1hr20min wait. No Problem! We ventured to another restaurant to grab a drink and appetizer then went back. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_pXNitKTtJ0H_g4hrD-mffJoylauvA7ftzIFTY-WVZ4GdChp7jHJ_nbjuHT3JvDmDoUrW8QEHSkqFANEy4DF3sAZ9a1WcsKPnnJgRsrMz0Npzei-tTrulCZlGJM34xZc-rIfEy6d-rM/s1600-h/hardrock2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1_pXNitKTtJ0H_g4hrD-mffJoylauvA7ftzIFTY-WVZ4GdChp7jHJ_nbjuHT3JvDmDoUrW8QEHSkqFANEy4DF3sAZ9a1WcsKPnnJgRsrMz0Npzei-tTrulCZlGJM34xZc-rIfEy6d-rM/s320/hardrock2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267008085195639826" /></a><br />The Hard Rock was so fun(and loud!). I love music and they were playing all the top 40 hits with music videos on all the TV's. I ordered a veggie burger with a salad. We were so happy because sitting on the table were French's mustard and Heinz ketchup...and the best thing yet, they had ranch salad dressing! An example of little things taken for granted in the states!<br /><br />Saturday I slept in, YAY!! I met with my friend Anne-Mari and we went to Casa de Campo. The Casa de Campo is a large urban park situated west of central Madrid. It was formerly a royal hunting estate. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdnO48lL-Y58a2aJc_vV2clmQhPzLAZ2YQqH-1AoKIoqLODs0kbIsiMWFYjtZjjQhiR_bK5vt09Rfwohs2tB_dWqTLanybo2mw7KEhmi0x6iPsejww9TbFR3cWHbRbuo-fQG48jnRT1I/s1600-h/gondola1.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggdnO48lL-Y58a2aJc_vV2clmQhPzLAZ2YQqH-1AoKIoqLODs0kbIsiMWFYjtZjjQhiR_bK5vt09Rfwohs2tB_dWqTLanybo2mw7KEhmi0x6iPsejww9TbFR3cWHbRbuo-fQG48jnRT1I/s320/gondola1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267008462598397474" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><br />From the city side we took the gondola over to the park. It was a beautiful day, perfect for great views! My friend Anne-Mari had three free tickets to the Parque de Atracciones(amusement park). So our friend Tina met us there where we relived our childhood. We went on a big roller coaster, the ferris wheel, another kiddie ride and even shared Algodon de azucar(cotton candy). I have not laughed so hard in such a long time. I think its important to let go and be a kid again!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvtbu-FTRB4v7dp5T4OZR8qLQDnM-xpkCDi1BYdG2uwc-WtfNw7TZ6YrbXiGGVyf9MvAzhoOzWo56NN1nola0Pg7P5MTRBsU5-E7xTINJFmWeYn5BAW96x5keZ3wLFvTYlzzgDNBI_mk/s1600-h/park18.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqvtbu-FTRB4v7dp5T4OZR8qLQDnM-xpkCDi1BYdG2uwc-WtfNw7TZ6YrbXiGGVyf9MvAzhoOzWo56NN1nola0Pg7P5MTRBsU5-E7xTINJFmWeYn5BAW96x5keZ3wLFvTYlzzgDNBI_mk/s320/park18.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267014584283818322" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyFNLQZ0pRFTaXVCR3gHMwfPRUT_qaUSl0dLw9vIKG1umS-9NUe9IP8KG7vyEWEWu7pd5XKG_Jyx8VoQtQ4pD9FngtpK1T5bg5XXnBvJo6Tt40G_o3pCIhqzzW8XTt6tdRFbEJKDjxzk/s1600-h/park22.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlyFNLQZ0pRFTaXVCR3gHMwfPRUT_qaUSl0dLw9vIKG1umS-9NUe9IP8KG7vyEWEWu7pd5XKG_Jyx8VoQtQ4pD9FngtpK1T5bg5XXnBvJo6Tt40G_o3pCIhqzzW8XTt6tdRFbEJKDjxzk/s320/park22.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267014973136028434" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAqCiJmGP2xDP10QwdpQB57x_4wDGDvbKanxxXvhRQPoKiW3n0FCKYhD36No82Zn4XMHaJUjx4htQAzdbLPr02sgXchRVn3XawbHtD9WOkjlq2x8Y9Ftf1Vmw4hk_Tdl0VxWEiQ-ksx4/s1600-h/park30.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAqCiJmGP2xDP10QwdpQB57x_4wDGDvbKanxxXvhRQPoKiW3n0FCKYhD36No82Zn4XMHaJUjx4htQAzdbLPr02sgXchRVn3XawbHtD9WOkjlq2x8Y9Ftf1Vmw4hk_Tdl0VxWEiQ-ksx4/s320/park30.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267015135815154882" /></a><br /><br />That night I met with some other girlfriends and we hit the town, venturing with my friend Dee who lives here in Madrid. We had a great time and as usual, my Spanish got better with every beverage(or so I think it did!).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQsUf3gtbCozDg5HTZgpM9qqM3jIDVwaubbxoRktkdcQRewEe-AKSWKh4jZNFImyA9oqcr2eiLNzqgUEkpg0LWqN3BI6t7aUC-S7pIyE1ZG9sxDDQCnPmprKqGWAhmrSjeQZ5zW7E-Wo/s1600-h/nightout1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQsUf3gtbCozDg5HTZgpM9qqM3jIDVwaubbxoRktkdcQRewEe-AKSWKh4jZNFImyA9oqcr2eiLNzqgUEkpg0LWqN3BI6t7aUC-S7pIyE1ZG9sxDDQCnPmprKqGWAhmrSjeQZ5zW7E-Wo/s320/nightout1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267012729926562226" /></a><br />Sunday we had a picnic at Retiro park. It was such a beautiful weekend and I could not believe we were able to have a picnic in November!<br />Now of coarse I am suffering from the Monday blues! But soon it will be the weekend again, thank GOD!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HARw9BiLUXxpai3Rffw-2DLJKKDQTtX9epyn9OiTKTp20DYpJ-JNlzUK3JN5ucX83NEAcKfFAvtr_ygWtXGB7VJ5PynbDlXZ4j37xbA-Zu3eBX1Tdd8F3TMxFCX6tjfh_4R0exdlBjs/s1600-h/n888915256_4657340_9563.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HARw9BiLUXxpai3Rffw-2DLJKKDQTtX9epyn9OiTKTp20DYpJ-JNlzUK3JN5ucX83NEAcKfFAvtr_ygWtXGB7VJ5PynbDlXZ4j37xbA-Zu3eBX1Tdd8F3TMxFCX6tjfh_4R0exdlBjs/s320/n888915256_4657340_9563.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267010244618852226" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-35712563477484815052008-11-03T01:45:00.000-08:002008-11-03T06:12:44.425-08:00Cuenca and new friends!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyTHmSNR8HgBGAE5JrBXcnjBd5LY6p0GqOribJ2XfBNW4Mve-j2IjKhzXi7pUvfuA7c513cPgFHlzKbhA8aqeXDDQaGhes3OeY3kOuYwS9sIlHSMhVIjwNQCD7NjP4F4up8c-JT8I0uo/s1600-h/n582344095_898116_5775.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivyTHmSNR8HgBGAE5JrBXcnjBd5LY6p0GqOribJ2XfBNW4Mve-j2IjKhzXi7pUvfuA7c513cPgFHlzKbhA8aqeXDDQaGhes3OeY3kOuYwS9sIlHSMhVIjwNQCD7NjP4F4up8c-JT8I0uo/s320/n582344095_898116_5775.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264368527478778338" /></a><br />This weekend was great. I live for the weekends when I can escape and frolic with my fellow Au Pairs :) We have so much fun together and it is amazing how we all get along so well. <br />Saturday we all got up bright and early to meet and catch an 8:50 am train to Ceunca. Cuenca is 100 miles east of Madrid. It was a 2-1/2 hour train ride. Cuenca is more famously known as the Eagles Nest due to its position - atop a hill. The city is separated by a mysteriously large rock where the Huecar and Jucar Rivers meet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzssJnvmbC_5YtxUAVZERAQamBD7wKszO1xDt8myNLcQjwMdeQOwyk6_dsgHPr28uAqRrjY1BjHGbpPhAfUa6p9rya8xm3AqT4zzsB0zmHSmtR10nZUrm9VNZ93OgYLfyQLZYl821KbbE/s1600-h/n791875480_4712975_6548.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzssJnvmbC_5YtxUAVZERAQamBD7wKszO1xDt8myNLcQjwMdeQOwyk6_dsgHPr28uAqRrjY1BjHGbpPhAfUa6p9rya8xm3AqT4zzsB0zmHSmtR10nZUrm9VNZ93OgYLfyQLZYl821KbbE/s320/n791875480_4712975_6548.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264433905145194402" /></a><br />Originally resided by the Arabs, this provincial city is divided into two obvious parts - the modern and the old part. Obviously, the modern part of Cuenca includes new residences, apartments and tower blocks. On the other hand, the old part is considered one of the most magnificent cities of Spain. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztYSaYYL70dRzJ5ZKdvxM7KYRydbk-DU3LsQkjPRq3qUht9st0W-QgUeyAuNsaPwQySp0KKvHNURe3u6_uKzAoU9zhUWTfTXaJbVsELcTi7td_BqHg9JFbbR1fbipCR-J9Mv1sfU-PPs/s1600-h/n502116946_1157589_4101.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiztYSaYYL70dRzJ5ZKdvxM7KYRydbk-DU3LsQkjPRq3qUht9st0W-QgUeyAuNsaPwQySp0KKvHNURe3u6_uKzAoU9zhUWTfTXaJbVsELcTi7td_BqHg9JFbbR1fbipCR-J9Mv1sfU-PPs/s320/n502116946_1157589_4101.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264433671596374946" /></a><br />When we exited the train station we were put into the modern part of the city and we were all thinking "this is it? We can see this stuff in Madrid!". But thankfully we found a tourism booth and the guy gave a us a map and directed us to the "old" part of Cuenca. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba0bP4_ziGcoXjIE4LSO3SPl2TCqhlMV0F5Wt81BjU8HSQH_hxqez8n1v7eWKOtkj96sXCkD5xIlh4KUw86SaXZJxSETFcTOpKrTRZAfbRHsn0MH6DuTm4mCZMn1zr6UKdNn0L7ujo9o/s1600-h/n791875480_4712965_4085.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhba0bP4_ziGcoXjIE4LSO3SPl2TCqhlMV0F5Wt81BjU8HSQH_hxqez8n1v7eWKOtkj96sXCkD5xIlh4KUw86SaXZJxSETFcTOpKrTRZAfbRHsn0MH6DuTm4mCZMn1zr6UKdNn0L7ujo9o/s320/n791875480_4712965_4085.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264433130331762130" /></a><br />We all agreed that so far Cuenca is our favorite place. It sits up high so the views are amazing! There are "hanging houses" that are built right on top of the cliff, like an extension. Amazing but I don't know if I would want to live in one!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkDFWsIHelS-Sh1ZJwQ5Vex5gruzA5XxMZ0poPNiKjxgGwVMSMFI0N5bF0SCaKHDwtPHNs9jE3uiDwZGHe1oJwSbiaaUHMmgk4KvAo-B8dp1MBSuvYleInIAE5SzbVYJ_7KE9LGg7HRI/s1600-h/n736954806_1002476_6863.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkDFWsIHelS-Sh1ZJwQ5Vex5gruzA5XxMZ0poPNiKjxgGwVMSMFI0N5bF0SCaKHDwtPHNs9jE3uiDwZGHe1oJwSbiaaUHMmgk4KvAo-B8dp1MBSuvYleInIAE5SzbVYJ_7KE9LGg7HRI/s320/n736954806_1002476_6863.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264432826428857810" /></a><br /><br />Sunday I met with (ready for this?) My Grandfathers neighbors granddaughter. The day before I left for Spain I attended my Grandparents 50Th wedding anniversary where I met their neighbor Tom. He found out I was going to Madrid and insisted I contact his granddaughter who lives in Madrid. Her father is Toms son. So yesterday I met Lola and we went shopping, had lunch and spent the whole afternoon walking around the city. It was great and we got a long very well. It's exciting to have Spanish friends. I practiced my Spanish with her a bit but we mostly spoke English. <br /><br />All in all a great weekend!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-65760994344932480262008-11-03T01:25:00.000-08:002008-11-03T06:37:57.137-08:00The Kiddos, Julia and Pepe!So I guess since this is an Au Pair blog I should probably mention quite a bit more about the kids. Aaah yes the kids....Julia and Pepe. I can tell you one thing: HANDFUL...of fun!?<br /><br />They are fun most of the time but like any children they have their moments. Julia is 4 and can be very loving and can also be a little mean to her brother. Pepe is two and a half and like most kids his age he is very busy! They both WHINE a lot!! I am used to parents not allowing their children to whine but here they let them. It really attacks my eardrums!! But they also have moments where you wanna grab them and kiss them! They love to be tickled and have the cutest laughs. There are more good moments than not!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRX6rWFoTTFSrMiacUxY0qetVSOeY3yawhyphenhyphenWI2S9Ta9lvu5e-XsGPpNakeLYzqEvmvQzdZYF3szDiPJ5fLCvUqQQo27EtIgV8Nhv7XIRSD_SESrNhclAnCpR80luMGTw8o1iYggMW5gk/s1600-h/Pepe+block+hat.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiRX6rWFoTTFSrMiacUxY0qetVSOeY3yawhyphenhyphenWI2S9Ta9lvu5e-XsGPpNakeLYzqEvmvQzdZYF3szDiPJ5fLCvUqQQo27EtIgV8Nhv7XIRSD_SESrNhclAnCpR80luMGTw8o1iYggMW5gk/s320/Pepe+block+hat.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264440105152240770" /></a><br /><br />My schedule with the kids is like this:<br />8am- Wake up Julia, take her to the living room and put on a cartoon for her. That way she is distracted and wont protest what clothes I put on her. Then I give her a bottle(yes she still drinks milk from a bottle) with milk and some ground cereal mixture and a touch of Nesquik chocolate mix. <br />8:30- Off she goes with her father and I am left with a screaming Pepe "Papi, Papi!!!"<br />He calms down quickly thankfully.<br />8:30-1pm- Pepe and I hang out. Depending on the weather we either get outside, go to the park, play with toys inside or watch Thomas the Train, his favorite.<br /><br />I am free from 1pm till about 7:30.<br />7:30-9-Bath(every other night) and help the parents feed them dinner.<br /><br />I enjoy my time with the kids but I have come to the realization that when I come back to Seattle it is time to find a new career. I feel my candle of patience burnt out a long time ago and I don't enjoy taking care of kids as much as I used to. Don't get me wrong, its a great job but after taking care of kids for over 15 yrs I feel in order to gain back a desire to have my own children I need to take a break!<br /><br />So I will enjoy my time here with the kiddos knowing that they will be my last charges for a time to come. It is bittersweet I know.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6xH4xf3Eol14NYrkFg6axQ4y2hstsGrV-ATNCgblVxXdQQbANVEGCzxu86qRVkVBeF5v5pxNs6KFyOI79KTXoF_dFn0veslfsI6RD_FJZQO-2CgBV6uCX6sWIgcofQps_-3ienACYc4/s1600-h/My+primera+semana+es+Espana+046.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6xH4xf3Eol14NYrkFg6axQ4y2hstsGrV-ATNCgblVxXdQQbANVEGCzxu86qRVkVBeF5v5pxNs6KFyOI79KTXoF_dFn0veslfsI6RD_FJZQO-2CgBV6uCX6sWIgcofQps_-3ienACYc4/s320/My+primera+semana+es+Espana+046.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264364607334717954" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-36516408609960606592008-10-31T05:39:00.000-07:002008-11-03T06:44:30.633-08:00One month...check!I have been here in Madrid exactly one month and one day. Let me tell you this has been one emotional roller coaster of a month. The first week and a half I was so enthralled by everything, so new and exciting. But to my dismay all that was once new and exciting became not so new...or exciting but just an every day part of my new life.<br />I then began experiencing extreme mood swings and home sickness. One day I would be so happy and enthusiastic and the next I would feel empty and sad and long for the comforts of home.<br />But luckily that has all passed and I am looking positively forward to whats to come.<br />I have made quite a few new friends here. All from different countries as far as Montreal QC, Sweden, Finland, Germany, UK and of coarse America. We have taken advantage of each weekend and ventured away from the city to see other villages and monuments. I love the weekends!<br />So far I have visited El Escorial, Valle de los Caidos, Segovia, and many sites in Madrid. This weekend we are venturing out to Cuenca. It is to the east of Madrid and two and a half hours away by train! Bring it on!<br />P.S. Happy Halloween!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoNjCyGwspjRer9pbuFf0tZ_NXyyD0VR1o3ts_MYx-bEBkCaZsMUU_3ZnGp_1BSo9m-6jJw1Ldo_rv9X53kpXQ8nOPbnRbdnLYFem9tY4Kr4Di2n6DtpyQyDkh3vkzfHkSUWARR2zZiw/s1600-h/n582344095_879376_6604.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCoNjCyGwspjRer9pbuFf0tZ_NXyyD0VR1o3ts_MYx-bEBkCaZsMUU_3ZnGp_1BSo9m-6jJw1Ldo_rv9X53kpXQ8nOPbnRbdnLYFem9tY4Kr4Di2n6DtpyQyDkh3vkzfHkSUWARR2zZiw/s320/n582344095_879376_6604.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263302950600880834" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-90480921813362231822008-10-20T05:18:00.000-07:002008-11-10T05:39:42.713-08:00Segovia!The whole "homesick" feeling has been haunting me a little the past week. It's probably because the whole "new and exciting" feeling has worn off. This is week 4 believe it or not! It's just the little things that put me in a homesick slump. For example I was cooking an egg the other day and all I wanted was a little Pam spray! :) Plus I miss all my family and friends and being able to just see them whenever.<br />So...I need to get over that because I am in Spain for goodness sake!!! Enough of that. Let me tell you about Segovia!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhs2S0aU00GbpRVA2YGJBypQY7PG0HdUH98lVT23ANd8dO9MwC_dqyHCZatV1Fl9G1JWLKmAADynX-EBFR8WJ6c8C-85WzKsvRkuvkwPC9EhN_RBOL1HAcS6mDsJpIH73WBW9Pmk0AZA/s1600-h/n791875480_4531845_750.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhs2S0aU00GbpRVA2YGJBypQY7PG0HdUH98lVT23ANd8dO9MwC_dqyHCZatV1Fl9G1JWLKmAADynX-EBFR8WJ6c8C-85WzKsvRkuvkwPC9EhN_RBOL1HAcS6mDsJpIH73WBW9Pmk0AZA/s320/n791875480_4531845_750.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267019188233496658" /></a><br /><br />Saturday, five of us went on the train to Segovia, a gorgeous ancient city. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPUAQaxqlyJWj4XphGcNnBzGM1IGBCkhpjxRTWdBSmvu-FGTZxX8JL1rg41RxO75iMF80zx2TOhfCA73gPqGMD1hlYu_i4wGGzZvBwHiLeKXxWprDA0_4njB1-VCCbj6cXrKlKNhMHQg/s1600-h/Sogovia+040.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEPUAQaxqlyJWj4XphGcNnBzGM1IGBCkhpjxRTWdBSmvu-FGTZxX8JL1rg41RxO75iMF80zx2TOhfCA73gPqGMD1hlYu_i4wGGzZvBwHiLeKXxWprDA0_4njB1-VCCbj6cXrKlKNhMHQg/s320/Sogovia+040.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267020930713746658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg130BDvmcoLia8oRWtHOlkKx-PqZtn3WW0599weLAd2rNV1N9coFOcsEQ_p2ZrQ-RFDvGI9H_q3RCLr4-TvWeluC4Ezm2AEpKDxCFP9Icx8dN2ZgZwEM_fybkjhTNffEpHRZPuYDti560/s1600-h/Sogovia+051.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg130BDvmcoLia8oRWtHOlkKx-PqZtn3WW0599weLAd2rNV1N9coFOcsEQ_p2ZrQ-RFDvGI9H_q3RCLr4-TvWeluC4Ezm2AEpKDxCFP9Icx8dN2ZgZwEM_fybkjhTNffEpHRZPuYDti560/s320/Sogovia+051.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267022146448467090" /></a><br />It is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen. The castle alone made me feel like I was in a fairy tale. Apparently it was this castle that inspired Walt Disney. Looking at the picture you will see what I mean. We toured the inside of the castle and also got to climb the tower to the top. It was 157 seven steps up a small stone spiral stair case.<br /><br /><br />Also posted are pictures of the Roman Aqueduct built over 2000 years ago and a picture of the Cathedral. It is awe inspiring!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXbgPsWKgK3l72Yk5I2Qmf9ZclmjI4j9DvGU_p-0cqs6IBi50COBFISV3tGmJBmVKobHNxWczsTamjW0qkmTV3vGv8yiTWFjppam5K2lQtHYHw0CpH7ChK0dquVpoP0zfPhI63KZgw2k/s1600-h/Sogovia+026.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiXbgPsWKgK3l72Yk5I2Qmf9ZclmjI4j9DvGU_p-0cqs6IBi50COBFISV3tGmJBmVKobHNxWczsTamjW0qkmTV3vGv8yiTWFjppam5K2lQtHYHw0CpH7ChK0dquVpoP0zfPhI63KZgw2k/s320/Sogovia+026.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267019725572756866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY7yTW4fkvH1InEUTYBWPOgdUeiBFFcRX2f75iTQe9l8weKCLLxkRWFNNVrri8d5kXQRQ67B8CEZQ3mWNwqxlVcfCAlyBZ6hIpoopt7Aph42vW8pWvvIYJ_iBM0aAriirjVVPMTARvQI/s1600-h/Sogovia+037.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEY7yTW4fkvH1InEUTYBWPOgdUeiBFFcRX2f75iTQe9l8weKCLLxkRWFNNVrri8d5kXQRQ67B8CEZQ3mWNwqxlVcfCAlyBZ6hIpoopt7Aph42vW8pWvvIYJ_iBM0aAriirjVVPMTARvQI/s320/Sogovia+037.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267020366584094722" /></a><br />Yesterday my friend Anne and I went shopping for clothes. There is an H & M here which is mostly where I bought all my findings. Later that night we met a friend at and Irish bar called Dubliners. We ate dinner and watched American Football!! I was very excited :)<br /><br />Also Friday night I finally got to try Spains famous Churros and Hot Chocolate at Chocolateria San Gines, rumored the best in Madrid!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6zEtVqjYQOJd4FYe2g5TYrKD5NRHHC4fDXziv6oPMY09tigb7tTOJSVZmaCJ_gVz8ps7MGTlajSuYxiNSR7f-f1CXtaL4A_YABLv5yOw2ESuKFeSmCBgWb6ZWeOX9g9ZujhUCgOBjmM/s1600-h/Sogovia+009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6zEtVqjYQOJd4FYe2g5TYrKD5NRHHC4fDXziv6oPMY09tigb7tTOJSVZmaCJ_gVz8ps7MGTlajSuYxiNSR7f-f1CXtaL4A_YABLv5yOw2ESuKFeSmCBgWb6ZWeOX9g9ZujhUCgOBjmM/s320/Sogovia+009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267022834522200882" /></a><br /><br />I finally start some more Spanish classes tomorrow(Tuesday). The classes are Tuesday and Thursdays from 5-7 pm. I cannot wait to get started. I know it will be a big help...so much for all the Spanish I took in high school and college. I don't know what happened?!?!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-56414203497597660132008-10-11T17:39:00.000-07:002008-11-03T06:45:23.419-08:00Two weeks...almost!So It will be two weeks since I have been here on Friday. <br />What have I accomplished in these two weeks? Let's see...<br />I have mastered the Metro system, signed up for Spanish classes that cost<br />more than I wanted to spend but will be worth it hopefully. I have made a few friends<br />and have had a couple social outings, I have adjusted to the time difference.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KNK_7ZFNs9M9QRCYz7vh0Mk27n4oF75wYOTj41-DR97xaLekBobHmdPfminLPdwnNTB03KlfppzQWbvEss2jtztknsl1dnXt_WOVZYJn4L8HMmly3hd9ZJ52jAXwwdvylPEAlSwDav0/s1600-h/my+first+beer!!.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0KNK_7ZFNs9M9QRCYz7vh0Mk27n4oF75wYOTj41-DR97xaLekBobHmdPfminLPdwnNTB03KlfppzQWbvEss2jtztknsl1dnXt_WOVZYJn4L8HMmly3hd9ZJ52jAXwwdvylPEAlSwDav0/s320/my+first+beer!!.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264441166010793218" /></a><br /><br />I am starting to get used to "Spain Spanish".(Much different from "Mexico Spanish") In fact yesterday someone called for Alvaro(the host Dad) and I was able to communicate and supply the caller with Alvaros mobile #. That felt pretty good I must say.<br /><br />I am going to meet a guy named Gerardo who wants to do a language exchange. I am looking forward to<br />it because I definitely need the practice. Also tomorrow I am meeting with Choosas(Alvaros sister-in-law) brother, Ignacio, for an exchange. Hopefully these exchanges will give me a grasp on communicating without getting all nervous about it. <br /><br />Today is my first day of actually feeling homesick. I thought I would not get like that but it could be the fact that I am home doing nothing and I am going to start my period in a few days, or maybe I am just missing home. Probably all of the above!<br /><br />Tomorrow is a national holiday here. I am not sure which one I will have to ask. But there is supposed to be a festival in the city. It may rain so we may not go, we'll see.<br /><br />I just Skyped with my Mom and when Emily comes over in a bit I will Skype with the both of them. That will be good!<br /><br />Off I go!<br />xoxo<br />~R<br />My first outing away from Madrid at El Escorial in San Lorenzo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZJhqLKZH_dRNuImkEOBjy9eanxEOc5URKSBjm4HdDJ-diSfJAKYowRChouvgeUG2QjEuPQEjiFvaftodipiIJD3fpqoqHJC4LW6oP78P27Rgjhq7ORH4QLDSx3mhMrkxnQMS7lLqKxE/s1600-h/My+primera+semana+es+Espana+015.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZJhqLKZH_dRNuImkEOBjy9eanxEOc5URKSBjm4HdDJ-diSfJAKYowRChouvgeUG2QjEuPQEjiFvaftodipiIJD3fpqoqHJC4LW6oP78P27Rgjhq7ORH4QLDSx3mhMrkxnQMS7lLqKxE/s320/My+primera+semana+es+Espana+015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263303676947360866" /></a><br />October 11, 2008 8:39am(Seattle time)Saturday Madrid Spain(5:39pm)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1620929553918350633.post-77440213917711510672008-09-30T10:09:00.000-07:002008-10-31T05:27:24.854-07:00Frankfurt airport. 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name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:1; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-format:other; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 0 0 0 0 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; 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mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Sept 30th 10ish am Frankfurt<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >Thank God the long haul is over. Ten hours on a plane is not fun especially when I cannot seem to fall asleep in the sitting position. I watched three movies: Made of Honor, Leatherheads and ...can't seem to remember the third. Must have been a good one!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >I am craving a nice warm bed. This time change thing is going to be tricky at first. I was weird having breakfast served on the plane when in my head it's ten p.m. It didn't help that the lady sitting behind me couldn't stop talking and loud enough to let everyone know her business. I felt bad for the poor guy sitting next to her whom she kept blabbing to. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >The girl sitting next to me reminded me of Emily because she twirled her hair for the duration on the whole flight! I am not kidding. She only got up once in the ten hours and the rest of the time she was reading a book and twirling away. Sometimes with two hands and only the hair on top of her head so her hands were elevated above her head the whole time. Talk about OCD!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >So now I am sitting here in the airport and my flight does not leave for another three hours. My stomach has been bloated and I have had bad gas pains for a few hours now and I can guess it's from the Mexican food I had with Mom in Seattle. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >So now what? I want to sleep but the Frankfurt airport has all hard floors, no carpet :(<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >I want to lie down!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >It will be hell getting to Madrid on no sleep and having to be all chipper and such. I wonder if they would mind if I go to bed for the first few days! ha!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >adios!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >~R<o:p></o:p></span></p> Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2