Hot Chocolate and Churros

      After eating the usual breakfast of fruit and a piece of bread, my roommates and I, along with our Señora, went on an adventure to go change our US dollars to euros. We tried one bank and they said no. We then went to her bank, and after a long process we got our euros exchanged. I got about 95 euros for my $130 dollars...what a bad exchange rate!    Afterwards our Señora took us into a grocery store (supermercado) which was really small but packed with all kinds of things. There were counters and workers to help give you fruit, vegetables, breads, sweets, fish, meat, and of course ham (jamón). I didn't realize they still kept the entire thigh and leg along with pig hoof intact...not very appetizing.

      We then returned to our apartment and decided to go explore the area. We found Retiro Park which is very big and well-known, but decided to save it for a warmer day. When we stopped to look at map of the metro, a nice old man asked us (in Spanish) if we needed any help. We said that we were not looking for anything particular, but then we figured he would not be satisfied until he actually helped us. So, we asked him where Puerta del Sol was (NOT Plaza del Sol he corrected us), and he explained how to get there on the metro. So, we walked the way he pointed to make him happy and went on our way. We eventually made it to SLU Madrid by taking the metro, after another pit stop at our apartment so roommate Brittany could fix her schedule...it is really confusing that MySLU allows you to sign up for classes in St. Louis when you are going to school in Madrid. We met up with some other people and went to find Cervecería 100 Montaditos where they have everything for one euro on Wednesdays and Sundays. It took us about 30 minutes to find it because we got turned around, but when we found it we were really happy! The sandwiches were tiny, but the bread tasted so good! I ended up getting 2 little chicken sandwiches and then a hotdog because I was so hungry!
      We then made our way back to SLU Madrid to go to El Prado, which is where the Royal Palace of El Pardo is...I think it was last occupied when Spain still had a dictator in the 70s. We got onto one of 4 large tour buses, and since we were one of the last ones to get there (after confusing word of mouth information about time) we sat in the front seats of the bus. The entire time Claire and I were quite scared because it looked like the bus driver was going to hit cars and people. Once we got out of the city the drive was pretty with hills, wavy pine trees, and trees that looked like the Whomping Willow. We then got out at a cute little restaurant and reception place and went into a big tent to have hot chocolate and churros. The hot chocolate was really thick, and the churros were fried dough, without the sugar and cinnamon. We went outside and explored a small little garden area complete with playground and elephant fountain. We talked, met friends of friends, and wondered what we were going to do next. We all thought we would actually get to see El Pardo, but apparently due to time constraints and confusion we did not visit the palace. 
      We got back to SLU and went to Cervecería 100 Montaditos again with some of Claire's friends. Claire and I both got tinto de verano, which is red wine with lemon-lime soda. After two or three sips we had both had enough...it was not as good as everyone else said it was, and was super bitter. 
      We ventured our way back to the metro and to our apartment, the first time in the dark. Our Señora made us mixed vegetables and tuna empanadas for dinner.

Things I have learned in Spain:

• Dog sweaters. People like to put sweaters on their dogs
• The metro has a lot of escalators and stairs to take
• Space is not wasted in Spain - a lot of buildings with little shops and apartments on top
• Cars park both ways on the street, so yes they park facing each other
• Madrid has a random assortment of cars - from European brands, to Toyotas, to Jeeps, to even Fords...oh and I have seen my old Volvo at least 2 times now!
• The older generation likes to dress nicely with fur coats and nice pants, and go on daily walks around the city
•  Random people on the metro - a guy playing a violin
•  There is no library at SLU Madrid (yet)

¡Adios!