Procrastin8ing

I have so much to do and so little time.  Butt... I need a little break.  Thursday morning at like 5 am I leave for the airport to go to (drumroll) OKTOBERFEST!  Yayy!  I remember planning this trip and feeling like it was so far away.  And now it's in 2 days.  Crap.  I need to prepare, and sleep, and do homework, and sleep some more.  Especially since I'm kinda sick (sorry mom you have to reaad this).   It's because all of a sudden the weather said "screw sam, lets turn from super caliente to muy frio and make her sick".  So now I have a stuffy nose and congested head.  I'm consuming vitamins, on vitamins, on vitamins so hopefully I'll wake up Thursday morning and feel like a million bucks.  If not, oh well.  No holding back at Oktoberfest.  Whats the worst that can happen?  YOLO.  I'm super freakin excited.  But first I must complete all my duties.  Gahh why does there have to be so much to do all the time?

Last night I went to the movies and saw Tadeo Jones with Charlie.  Cutest freakin Spanish movie.  Not sure how much of the dialogue I understood but I enjoyed watching the childish, cartoon action of course.  Plus the soundtrack was in english, like all the music they play here (which is the strangest thing ever).  But overall it was a fun time.  Then I came home and Carmen had potatoe and vegetable soup waiting for me and a ham and cheese pizza.  I went to town, to say the least.  Today for lunnch it was also incredible.  We had chicken noodle and egg soup (perfect for my sickness), steak, bread and salad.  Then for dessert she made the most delicious arroz con leche.  I'm in heaven right now.  I wish I wasn't so congested so I could enjoy the taste even more.

I've been listening to a lot of country music today.  What a strange day.  It's got to be something to do with this obnoxiously cold weather.

Oh, I have bball tryouts tomorrow!  Yayyy!! Hopefully the coach doesn't think I'm retarded, since I'll probably suck since I'm sick, and since I barely speak any Spanish.  Hahaha It shall be interesante.  And tonight I am going to see a play through the Duke program.  It's called La vida es sueno.  I told Carmen about it and she said "oh no, that's a very difficult play.  You probably won't understand it because it is in Shakespearian writing.  You will probably be bored." Hahahha score, I can catch up on sleep during the play.  Thanks for the permission momma!!

Now I must leave to go to a cafe and be productive.  Because me attempting to do any homework while laying in my bed either leads to downloading music, watching breaking bad, falling asleep, or blogging.  All while facebook chatting.  Not very productive.

Adios<3

segoviaa... and other cool stuff

This weekend has been loonnngggggggg.  Never endinggggg.  Thursday was a half school day and Friday we went to Segovia for the day with the program.  I loved it there.  Such a neat and historical place.  My favorite place we've visited so far.  I'm more a small city kinda girl, therefore I feel in love with the cute but ancient little town of Segovia.  The Aqueduct.. That blows my mind.  Coolest manmade structure I've ever seen.  These people waaaay back when needed water.  So they had to think of someway to build a structure that would supply water to the town and that would actually work.  What I can't get over is that somehow they did the math to build this aqueduct, and that somehow the math they did actually worked out and they succeeded.  How crappy would it be if after all the time it took to find the rocks, then carve the rocks, then place the rocks on top of each other, then connect it to the water, and whatever else they had to do and then BOOM, it doesn't work.  Fail.. However, it did!  Humans are amazing, and so is God.  Just like the Bible says, start digging the ditch and acting on your faith and God will supply the rest.  Everything always works out.  And it's really cool because this Saturday morning I had my own little church in bed and watched a sermon from Elevation Church where Pastor Steven preaches about his new book and he explains the story in 2 Kings about Elisha ordering the town to dig ditches and to act on their faith rather than sitting around and doing nothing.  I was able to picture the people in Segovia back in the day doing just this, and then God doing just what He promises to do.  It's so cool to me when I can witness stories from the Bible playing out in real life.  There's my encouraging piece of advice for the week.

So where was I?  Segovia was awesome.. we toured a palace I wish I could someday live in.  If I was a fairytale princess, La Alcazar en Segovia would be my castle of choice.  Guaranteed.  After Segovia we got home around 7:30 and I have been feeling a little under the weather, so I made a fantastic life decision for once and stayed in.  Did some homework, listened to music, slept.  Just what I needed.  And I definitely made up for Friday night by raging extra hard Saturday night.  So the world is balanced once again.

Saturday night began with a botellion at Principe Pio where there was a huge concert.  A botellion is where thousands upon thousands of young Spanish kids go and bring their own bottles of booze and just drink in the streets.  We never ended up making it to the concert though and wandered around to different bars and obviously ended our night at Star Studio, where Antonio was waiting to bring us in for freee with free drinks as well.  Our fav place.  It ended up being a late night/ early morning kinda thing, getting home at like 7 and then falling asleep at 7:30.  I planned a hiking trip for today (Sunday), yet didn't wake up to even go.  I feel like I let everyone down becasue I definitely dropped the ball on that one.  I even set 5 alarms.. I don't understand why I wouldn't wake up by 10 when I go to bed at 7:30..  Oh well, it rained today anyways.  Wouldn't have been a good hking day.

Today was the perfect day to do absolutely nothing.  Slept in until 2, ate some food, facebooked, found a starbucks, did homework, read, facebooked, watched breaking bad, watched football, facebooked, ate more food.  Just a perfect lazy Sunday.  The accomplishment was getting out of the house for a couple of hours.  I love walking to where ever I am going here.  Screw the metro.  Walking is fantastic because it helps me link the city together and discover cool places I never normally would have found.  And as much as I love going and chilling out in a coffee shop, the Starbucks I went to today was not my ideal scene.  It felt very madrileno, but not very Sebashhh.  I like quietier, more relaxing cafes, but this starbucks was bustling with spaniards all speaking as loudly as they could.  My headphones in, blasting classical music fullblast from my computer couldn't even drown out the world around me.  It was still fun though.

But this day is coming to a close.  Oktoberfest is next weekend!  Yipppe!! I'm very excited but first I must survive this school week.  Hasta luego<3

The Amazing Aqueduct

 My apartment complex!

The castle I want to live in

 My cafe I study in

Sleep is for wussies

I haven't slept in a few days.  Atleast that is what it feels like.  Sleeping in Spain is definitely overrated.  Besides the fantastic siestas in the middle of the day, I don't get much sleep at night.  It's cool though.  I'll survive.

Yesterday was a long day.  I had 4 classes all back to back.  Like BOOM BOOM, BOOM BOOM.  It kinda sucked, but I also learned a lot.  However, then I drank a lot last night and everything I learned kinda went to waste.  Probably lost some brain cells.  YOLO.  I do enjoy my classes though and feel like my spanish is improving.  Thank God.

After my long day of classes and a necessary siesta, Charlie and I went on a date to TGI Fridayssss.  Very American and very perfect.  Wings and nachos and some delicious oreo ice cream dessert, and American drinksss.  It doesn't get much better.  And when you're in Spain anything remotely American sounds amazing.  So that happened.  We also found other people and played pool, or billiards, or whatever its called.  And it was another looooooooooong never ending night that turns into the next day kind of thing and ends with me coming home for lunch the following day.  Carmens cool with it though.  She knows I'm only young once.  Also she wanted to hear all about my chico and she was the cutest thing.  I love my new mamaaa.  I think she assumes I sleep in the park because last time I was out until the next day she asked Alexandra if I decided to sleep in the park.  I guess that's what the Madrilenos do.  Graduation requirement?  I think yess.

Today was another long day.  Had class for 2 hours and then went straight from there to an event for Americans called Rock the Vote.  All of us Duke kids were invited and it was in the 7 story club called El Kapital.  It was a nice event and we watched a political debate take place.  It got me in the voting spirit for sure.  And it also made me realize how much I don't know about politics and need to read in order to make my voting decision.  I did find it all very interesting though.  And then they offered free snacks and an opportunity to register to vote.  Overall, I'm really glad I attended that event even though I am so incredibly tired.  Afterwards, a bunch of us went to dinner at this cheap and awesome sandwhich and beer spanish place called 100 Montaditos.  It was a nice time and we all sat around and bonded and drank.  Classic Duke in Madrid.  Tomorrow we leave at 9 am for Segovia.  Its another class field trip for the day.  I'm excited but definitely need to go to bed.  Gotta be well rested to tour the thousands of churches and teemples and palaces we are visiting tomorrow.  It will be the most fun.  I'm thrilled.

Goodnight todos<3

Also, quick shout out to this chicaaa!! Mi hermana y mi amiga mejor.  I love you and miss you so much wittle Noonieee. 

poor life decisions

I'm a fool.  I was offered tickets to the Real Madrid v Manchester Uniteed game for only 45 euros and I said "no, gracias".  Who in their right mind does that?  Come on Smashhh, breaking my rule about the never say no thing.  How lame of me.

Anyways, tonight was the game at home in Santiago Bernabeu stadium.  Alexandra and I wanted to meet up with people to watch the game outside the stadium on the big screens since we heard that was so fun... Apparently the big screens do not exist.  We arrived to the stadium only to be teased by all the people entering the stadium with their tickets wearing their real jerseys and looking all excited. Never did we find the big television screens.  We did however accomplish some of our homework and we interviewed the police officer and two drunk guys about their opinions of "franquismo".  Thats a plus.  After meeting up with Kristin and Emily we decided to go to a bar and watch the game with the locals.  We ended up running into a bunch of Duke kids in the NYU program, which was a lot of fun.  The game was super intense in the last 20 minutes when all 5 of the goals were scored.  It was a tied game, 2-2, with one minute left of extra time when  Madrid scored to win the game.  GOAAALLL.  That was almost as intense as when Duke beat UNC with Austin Rivers game winning shot.  But not quite.  Nothing compares to my Duke boys.  But still, very very epic.  But I am currently punching myself in the face for not buying those tickets and being their in person to witness that incredible win.

After the game we all chilled and attempted to celebrate but it is very obvious that we are not locals because we could not seem to find the right places with a crazy, excited atmosphere.  And obviously at that point its around 11 pm and I'm getting hungry.  Nothings ever as exciting when I'm hungry.  Carmen did make Alexandra and I some awesome homemade sandwiches.  Picture this: panini pressed bread, layer of queso, layer of deli meat, another panini pressed slice of bread, fried egg, then another panini pressed bread!  Heaveeeen.  But you can only imagine that by 11:00, homegirl is hungry again.  Never did I find food tonight.  I ate cheese and bread as soon as I got home.  Which it is now 2 am and I have class at 8.  Word.. Another poor life decision.  Blogging, then homework, then bed.  Priorities.  I may switch that list up and do bed before homework.  Or throw some Breaking Bad in there.  Idk, just livin in the moment.  I can always siesta tomorrow.  I live for those siestas.  Also, I ran today.  The poor decisions I make get cancelled out with the fact that I ran today.  Therefore, I am now winning.  But I really should go to bed.  I have four classes all boom, boom, boom, boom tomorrow.  It shall be fun.  Wings for dinner and karoke at night will be the only thing getting me through the long ass day in the hot ass classroom.  Wish me luck.  Tootles<3

PS, the final poor life decision of the day:  I found a tattoo in my cheetos bag and decided to put it on my bac left shoulder blade.  Not sure what the design is.  I think I am now walking around with a fake cheetoh tattoo on my back.  Oops

I want this so badlyy

Aranjuez

Mi madre is adorable.  This weekend Alexandra and I met up with our host mom on Saturday after her
strike ended and then we took the train from Madrid to Aranjuez.  Aranjuez is a cute little town with a beautiful Royal Estate where the kings and queens go for springtime vacations.  It was fantastic and so historical.  Our mom took us on a tour and told us all about the history of the palace.  Then outside there are beautiful gardens with magnificent fountains.  We walked throughout the entire thing taking pictures at every stop por supuesto.  Our mom also packed the cutest picnic lunch with bocadillos and frutas and galletas and empanadas.  So adorable, until the bees attacked.  But we had fun anyways.  We explored the little town and found icecreaaaam.Chocolate blanco y nata are the best flavors in the world (white chocolate and cream, delishhh).  Also, we decided to check out El jardin Principio, the largest freakinn garden in Europe.  I gotta say, I'm not the biggest fan.  I appreciate the nature of the garden and the habitat it provides for wildlife.  But I honestly don't ever need to walk through that garden again.  Wayyyyy too stinkin big with not enough to look at.  I'm telling you, after we found el Casa del Labrador (which was closed once we finally arrived to the way back of the garden) we then proceeded to speed walk about 5 miles back to the train station to catch the 8:00 train.  Super fun...

But overall, it was an awesome day and Alexandra and I bonded like sisters and Carmen definitely acted like our cute little madre.  I would love to spend more days with my new familia.

We're practically sisterssss

Picnic

Life as a Spaniard

Not sure if I can keep up.  It's been about 3 weeks since I've arrived in Madrid and I'm definitely getting my ass kicked.  I love it here though and I try to keep up, but this lifestyle is intense.  8 am classes and quizzes the first week, discotecas until 6 am, dinner at 9 everynight, alcohol all the time, necessary siestas, walking everywhere..  the list goes on and on.  it's exhausting.  I feel like by the time I get used to this way of life it will be time to head back home to los Estados Unidos.  (Where Bojangles and Chipotle await me<3)

But enough complaining.  I'm a trooper.  They don't call me coach sebash for nothing.  I will survive my time here in Madrid and I will love every freakin second of it.  I mean whats not to love? No class on Friday, three day weekend, discotecas until 6 am, delicious food prepared by my host madre por gratis, legal drinking age, necessary siestas, walking everywhere, the ability to travel whenever I feel like it.. What more could I need?  Well, if only they had sweet tea here then I would be completely set. But either than that, I do love it and I will look back on these 4 months as the most exciting and craziest 4 months ever.


The first week of school is over and it's already a three day weekend.  Today is Friday and I spent the day sleeping in until 1:30 pm, waking up and eating lunch with my host momma, chillin, going on an hour and a half run with Alexandra and getting incredibly lost in the city, and then playing pick up ball with the other guys in the program.  Pretty good day I must say.  Besides the getting lost part.  The park we ran through was beautiful, except it's hugeeee.  We ended up getting all turned around and running to the opposite side of the park and then tried to wander back home through random streets.  Great adventure though.

Last night we went to a discoteca filled with international students because they were letting us all in for free. It's called Club Joy and it was a blast.  Probably everyone from the Duke program was  there and then every other American in Madrid.  Need to have a low key night tonight to make up for it.  But the low key ones always are the best anyways.. atleast you can remember what happens those nights.

Tomorrow Alexandra and I are going with our mom Carmen to a place outside of Madrid called Aranjuez.  It is one of the royal estates of Madrid.  We are meeting her in the morning at the train station and she is packing sandwiches to eat in the gardens at this beautiful place.  I am so excited!! Spending quality time with our host mom :)

Pues, ahora es tiempo por Sangriaaaa.  Hasta luego<3

Es tiempo por los estudios

Today we chose and registered for our clases. It was a huge day, to say the least. Orientation began at 10:00 en la manana and the professors went over the class choices with us and explained to us how terrible and stressful this process it. Then proceeded to tell us that we would receive an email at 3:00 and we would have to register then. It was 12:00 when they shared this information with us. I'm pretty sure everyone was freaking out trying to decide in such a short time period what class to take. Thankfully they pushed the registration window back to 5:00 pm instead, but still. However, it all worked out. That's life. Hakuna matata, yo. So my clases are:

Core Course: Spain in the 21st century
Special Course: Mythography of the Contemporary City: Madrid through literature and film
Special course dos: Communication Skills
Course through CEU(la universidad): Contemporary History of Spain

Yayyyyyy! I got what I wanted. But I'm not excited for class in the morning. 8 am bright and early, yeehaw.

Today after that frantic registration, Alexandra and I went and blew off some steam on a run through Madrid close to our house and the school. We then met up with some of the other Duke dudes and balled for a while on the courts at CEU. Muy divertido. I haven't touched a basketball in way too long. I'm terrible now, but I deserve to be. Kinda sad. I used to have a sweet ass jumpshot. Maybe I still have it in me. I know the baller girl is there somewhere. Considering I spent over 9 years of my life purely committed to basketball, I really hope I can find the touch again. It's a big bummer that I got blisters from today though. Like huge, obnoxious, painful blisters. And they are everywhere. Stupid running shoes. Good thing I brought my bball shoes. Gotta wear those from now on. With my baller socks and baller shorts. Thank god for mi madre Carmen. She came to the rescue again, this time not just with great food but also bandages to help heal my blisters. They are feeling better already. That makes up for ruining my cool yellow pants in the wash. Which was totally not her fault but she feels so bad and it is such an awkward situation. Mis pobres pantallones armarillos. It's all good though. At first they turned a little blue in the wash, then she worked her magic and now they have orange sports all over. Not sure how she managed that, but they do look kinda sweet. I hope she doesn't feel too badly.


Pero, es tiempo por Breaking Bad and bedtime. My first class in the morning at 8 am, Contemporary History of Spain! It's with CEU and lasts until 10 I believe. Solo clase de mi dia! Wahoo. Then I gots the whole day to chill. Practice my bball skills possiblmente.
Buenas noches todas!! <3

Tearing up Andalucia

Wow. Just finished the longest week of my life.  With all the students in the program, we traveled for a week through Andalucia.  Our first stop was Granada, then hit up Sevilla, traveled over to Cadiz, and then made our way back to Sevilla where we ended our journey and came back to Madrid.  Lots to cover.

Day 1: Granada
Left Madrid via autobus around 8:30.  Made our way to the beautiful city of Granada.  We toured some cool chapel (la Capilla Real) and then we went off on our own adventures.  For dinner Duke was kind enough to take us to this incredibly beautiful restaurant where we had this awesome view of the Alhambra which is a huge Moorish palace located above the city of Granada.  I'm pretty sure we had a 7 course meal at this restaurant, along with 3 bottles of wine per table.  Living the life.  Our hotel was also incredible.  Duke goes for real.  We don't play around with our dinners and hotels.  The next day we toured La Alhambra which was muy bonita.  Tengo muchos fotos.  After that, we took off for Sevilla.

Sevilla.
Many interesting things happened in this beautiful city.  There were many tours of many incredible chapels and palaces and what not.  We saw La Alcazar, we learned how to flamenco dance, we went to a Flamenco dance, and we had one of the fanciest dinners I've ever had.  Our first night there, Duke took us again to a spectacular dinner on the Rio Guadalquivir.  We had a lot of scrumptious bread and wine, and also a very good meat dish.  I, however, was not a fan of the duck liver or shall I say the Foie Gras.  I am proud of myself for trying it though.  Never say no.  That's my motto.  And hakuna matata.  So after dinner, a bunch of us enjoyed the nightlife in Sevilla, drinking and chatting along the river.  It was great.  Our hotel was again, very fancy and comfortable.  The second night in Sevilla was fun as well.  Let's just say, I'm a fan of the wine and I love el Rio Guadalquivir.  It is very beautiful.  Also, shout out to my new friend Pedro!  Hola mi amigo.   Sevilla was great.  Not sure if I am the biggest fan of the flamenco, but I certainly do love that guitar.

Cadiz. Vamos a la playaaaa
Me encanta Cadiz!  The beach is beautiful, the people are friendly, the weather is perfect.  I'm a fan.  This part of the trip was not a part of the Duke in Madrid program.  A large group of decided to extend our stay and live in hostels in Cadiz and Sevilla for a couple of nights.  In Cadiz, I stayed in my first hostel called Cadiz Inn Backpackers.  7 of us girls stayed in this hostel together.  We met some great people and definitely had a bonding expereince.  4 of us had a room together with some other random roommates who turned out to be pretty awesome.  We met lots of people in this hostel: Johnny Depp, the awesome and sexy receptionist who made us feel very welcome, Troy,  the world traveling Australian with a brilliant accent, Cara, the cute hostel employee who makes dank sangria, and my two new brothers, Marcello and Simon from South African, whom I now consider family (which is Facebook official, very legit).  There were many other Duke students living in another hostel and we spent a lot of time with them on the beach Friday.  Tanning, swimming, sleeping, drinking, playing futbol, laughing.  It was a grand ole time.  Friday night we also rang in Joe's 21st birthday.  Happy birthday Joseph!!!  That night the entire Duke in Cadiz group took over my hostels Pubcrawl and made our way through the city of Cadiz with our new hostel friends, celebrating and laughing and going jamon of course.  Found out they drink Absinthe in Spain, which I totally thought was illegal but I was quickly proven wrong.  We did some green bomb alcoholic thing that is scary and on fire and should not be allowed around drunk people.  Overall, it was a successful night.  Saturday we passed out by the beach and realized that Andalucia had gotten the best of us.  We had to make it one more night, so we packed up and took off on the train back to Sevilla for the night.  Adios Cadiz, it was real.

Sevilla (again)
Stayed at another hostel, Sevilla Inn Backpackers.  Same company as the one in Cadiz.  But this night only 3 Duke students stayed here and we are all a bunch of scrubs and ended up in different rooms. Lame.  This hostel was really nice though and had better bathrooms, thank god.  Me, Alexandra, and Charlie finally found sushi in Sevilla.  I might not have survived another day without it.  And it definitely hit the spot.  It was fantastic.  We met up with this cool chic Lee who is living in Sevilla with her UNC program and she took us out to this crazy street filled with bars and people.  I was kind of dying from the long week so I wasn't able to go as loco as I wanted too.  Proud to say I have tried Agua de Sevilla, which was delicious but could ruin your night too quickly.  Gotta stay away from that one.  Went to bed relatively early (3am) and woke up and headed back to Madrid where mi madre Carmen was waiting for us with a table full of her delicious Spanish cooking.  I truly am living the life.

Now I back in my bed, resting and attempting to watch football in hopes of keeping up with my Fantasy team.  Very unrealistic.  But I'm coming for you Block 8.  We start class tomorrow morning.  A little excited and nervous for that.  I'm excited to go sleep in my bed in my new home in Madrid with my favorite roommate Alexandra now.  Adios chicossss

La Alhambra

Granada

Gettin artsy in Cadiz

My new south african brothers

Night out in Sevilla on el Rio Guadalquivir

Cadiz<3

And we're off..

Tomorrow we leave for our first program trip to Andalucia! Estoy emocionada!! We are leaving for a week and then once we come home we start classes.  We have to meet tomorrow at 8:30 am and then we are driving 5 hours to Granada and staying there for the night.  Tuesday we take off for Sevilla for 2 nights and after we do tours and stuff with the program, we are on our own for Thursday, Friday and Saturday.  A bunch of us extended our trip and I am traveling Thursday to Cadiz by train with a bunch of Duke students.  Then we are spending two nights at the beach there in a hostel and we head back to Sevilla on Saturday and staying in a hostel there for the night.  We head back to Madrid on Sunday.  It will definitely be a lot of fun.  My blog should be very interesting when I return from that trip.  I can't wait for storiessss!

But I do have a few things to share about this past weekend.  First of all, story of the week: I walked into a door.  My face hurts constantly because last night I walked straight into a door after leaving a bar.  Embarrassingggg. And when I say walked into I mean slammed into.  Like BOOM.  No bueno.  It's all good though.  I got right back up and continued on with my night.  Which was a fantastic night by the way with many crazy stories that are not to be shared via blog.  I did stay out until 6 am though when the metro opened back up.  It is quite cool because I am just going home to go to bed and many people are up and dressed and headed to work to begin their day.  Esta loca!!  It's not good though because I slept in until like 2 today.  Can't keep doing that.  Gotta get my life together, yo.

Some other interesting things:
A few of us went to a bullfight tonight.  It was very sad and not too much fun, but definitely an experience.  I like to try something out before I make an opinion of it, so I am glad I went to something like this because now when I say I don't support la corrida de toros I have a legit reason to not like it.  I thought I may be able to appreciate the culture of it and see the excitement in the crowd, but nope.  It just all sucked.  And then I named the bulls Billy and Oero.  So you can only guess that when they were stabbed multiple times and finally died I was definitely freaking out a little.  It was very gruesome and cruel. 12 of us went to it and after they killed one bull, we decided it was time to leave.  Billy might have survived but poor Oreo is someones dinner tonight unfortunately.
Also, I tried paella for the first time today and loved it! Best spanish dish ever.  Mi madre es una buena cocinera.  She also made something awesome for dinner tonight too, but I always forget the names of these things after she says them.  I gotta work on that.

It's time for bed since I gotta be up soon anyways, crap.
Buenas noches mis amigos. Palabra<3

                            

Our first and last bullfight

Coach Sebash and her map

Livin the Life

Oops... It's 1:30 and i just woke up... Atleast I am catching up on sleep right? That's an acceptable answer.  I guess staying out until 5:00 am will do that to you.  It was well worth it though.  GREAT night.  Our orginial plan was to make it to El Kapital (the 7 story club with a different type of music on each floor) but instead we just went bar hopping, which was a great idea.  I could get used to this free drinks for girls thing.  Paying 12 euros for a drink and 20 euros for a cover charge fee is not what I'm all about.  Little local bars are more my thing.  And I kinda fell in love with a Madridian last night, so I'm definitely enjoying myself here.  We both had blonde hair and green eyes and he taught me how to Spanish dance which was the cutest thing in the world!! Lo me gusta!!  Maybe one day we will meet in the future and it will work out between us, but probsss not.  Oh well.
Also, yesterday we went running in el Parque Retiro which is absolutely beautiful!!! It was a very nice run too.  There is this lake with all these people paddle boating and it is gorgeous.  We would stop and take pictures of things while running and I definitely cannot wait to go back.

Quote of the night:
Sam to Julie- "If you don't wanna talk to someone say 'No hablo espanol' in the most American way possible."
Random guy on the street- "Goodnight"
Julie- "No hablo espanol"
Random guy- "I said goodnight.  Tu hables ingles si"
hahaha opps

Parque Retiro

super awkkk