Córdoba Day #1

Last weekend was a three day weekend so we headed out for some site seeing. We arrived in Córdoba around 11am and checked into our hotel. Our hotel was inside the old city walls and a minutes walk from la mezquita. We were feeling pretty lazy so after walking around for a bit and having lunch we took a nap.

Later we went to el alcázar. They don't have much of the castle on display for visitors but you can still see the old wall and walk around the gardens which are absolutely beautiful! Next we tried to go to la sinagoga but it had already closed for the day. On the way back to the hotel we passed a Salón de té. It looked really fun inside and we weren't quite ready to sit around in the hotel so we headed in and ordered a pot of té Baghdad and some pasteries. Delicious! The side rooms had little couches with people relaxing with some hookah. We continued to walk around and window shop and then got ready for dinner.

After diner we headed back to el alcázar for a light, music and historical re-telling of the history of Córdoba. It was pretty entertaining. After the show we walked arcoss the bridge to get some night shots of the city.

Real Madrid Estudiantes vs. C.B. Valladolid

Last Saturday, Ben and I had the chance to go to a university basketball game here in Madrid. A teacher that I work with had some extra tickets and they were passed on to me. It was fun to go experience something new here and to be quite honest, I was a little surprised at the number of people at the game. Also, we won!

Tapapiés

Last Friday Ben and I went to check out an International Tapas Tour, called Tapapiés, in Lavapiés, a neighborhood near ours. Almost every single bar on Calle Lavapiés was participating in the fair. We got to go from bar to bar trying different tapas and they were only one euro each. It was a lot of fun and we got to try a lot of good stuff. Some of it we weren't quite sure what it was but out of the 6 or 7 places we went to, we got to try a large variety of tapas. As we were walking from place to place, I realized what a blessing it has been to live abroad for a bit and to be able to experience a different culture.

It is nights like that one that will make me miss living here. Where in the States can you go to a bar and get a good sized portion of food for a dollar?!

Settling In

Well, Ben and I have been back for about a month and a half now. It is hard to believe it has only been a month and a half. It almost feels like we never left. Our summer back home in the States seems like a distant memory. I think it is because, after spending a year here and making good friends and finally figuring out the layout of the city, well... Ben figured it out, I just follow him, Madrid feels like home.

Most of you know we have moved to a new neighborhood. We love it! Everything we could possibly need is a five minute walk away including, three grocery stores, a church, a gym, Retiro Park and the metro and train station. This new neighborhood has been a blessing. Although, we went and visited a friend in our old neighborhood and it made me kind of miss living so close to the center. However, it is nice to know we are only a couple of metro stops away.

All in all, life is going well over here. Ben finally started school at the beginning of October and while he is still waiting on a permanent schedule, he really enjoys his new school and the students he has met so far. I have a lot of different classes this year. Last year I was in all English language classes. This year I am in a variety of PE, music, technology and English classes. It is fun to have some variety to my classes and to interact with the students in a different classroom setting. I am continuing with the oragami class. The other day we made a cardinal. Also this year one of the teachers is teaching Sevillana dance. It is a part of flamenco which I really wanted to learn last year but never had the chance. It is a little difficult but a lot of fun too.

Other than work, we are beginning to settle into some semblance of a routine. Work during the week, we try to go to gym in the afternoon and the mercado on the weekend for groceries. Now that we found a church a five minute walk from our house, it is easier for us to go to church too. A friend that I meet with to practice Spanish goes to the church and told me about it. It is nice for Ben because he gets a good dose of Spanish but the service is only an hour long and it is good for me because the pastor has an Andalucian accent so iI get to practice listening to a new accent. Although he is more difficult to understand when we leave, I feel like I've gotten something out of the sermon but my head isn't about to explode!

Over all, things are going well here for us. We have planned some trips to Córdoba, Valencia and Amsterdam and are in the process of trying to plan a trip to Greece. The weather is awesome, it still gets to the 70s in the afternoons so I really can't complain. Life is good. :)

Aranjuez

I started school this last Monday and Ben and I decided that before work starts up for both of us we wanted to go on a trip. So on Sunday we picked a city close to us, hopped on a train and headed off to Aranjuez for the day. I am glad we decided to go here while it was still warm and everything is still green. We went and saw the Royal Palace while we were in Aranjuez but the huge draw for me were the extensive gardens behind the palace. They were beautiful! There were so many little hidden spots, where if I lived closer, I could see myself going there with a good book for an afternoon of relaxation.

After going through the palace and wandering through the gardens we headed off in search of some asparagus. Aranjuez is known for their asparagus and strawberries. Unfortunately it wasn't strawberry season anymore. Ben had found a restaurant online that looked pretty good so we went there and I had some of the best asparagus I have ever eaten. We also tried white asparagus, which to be honest kind of freaked me out but it tastes pretty similar to the green kind.

I have been in school on and off this week. Some of my teachers haven't quite been ready for me so I haven't really worked a full schedule yet. So far though and I am enjoying my classes and am looking forward to the year.

Why this man has the audacity to pull out a fake gun like this in the middle of a popular tourist site for his wife to take a picture of him is beyond me!

Home Sweet Home

Ben and I were fortunate to have some friends over here offer to let us stay with them while we apartment hunted. After four days we found a place, signed a contract and said adios to our friends.

We are living south of the center but it is still only a 20 minute walk to Sol. We also live super close to Atocha, one of the main train stations in Madrid. We have been at our apartment for about a week now and have enjoyed walking around and exploring our neighborhood.

Our place is a bit smaller than last year. Ben noticed that ever since we moved into our first apartment in Bellingham we keep downsizing when we change places. I hope we break the trend when we move back to the States because I really can't imagine living in something smaller than this.

Small though it is, it meets our needs perfectly. There are fewer walls than last year's apartment so it actually feels a bit roomier. One odd quirk about the apartment, there are a total of 9 chairs. Why two people would need nine chairs in our little apartment, we have not a clue. Fortunately we were able to shove 3 of the stools in a cupboard and the director chair collapsed and fit quite nicely under the bed. We still have a big wicker chair that kind of gets in the way sometimes but Ben has found it to be pretty comfy to sit in while playing League of Legends.


"A" marks the spot. Calle Canarias #38

The view as you walk in the front door. The door in the front on the left is the bathroom and the door in the back on the right leads to the bedroom. To the right of the table and chairs is a little nook with a window where there are two couch like chairs.

During our exploring one day we found a bakery that sells these huge chocolate covered cream filled pastry things. Yum. 

Running of the Bulls

We are currently staying with some friends in Pozuelo, which is about a 20 minute bus ride to Madrid. Last week was a festival week and so Ben decided to join in the traditional running of the bulls. Afterwards we went into the arena and watched as people tried to touch the bull's head.