Week Two

Passing the week mark, I have sort of mixed feelings. In some ways it feels like we´ve hardly been here at all-there is so much left to do and see. But in other ways it feels like we´ve been here ages-we´re starting to know the area, comfortable in our new Madrid ¨home.¨ We´ve made friends with some of the local cafe waiters, who are fabulously hilarious. I feel so much more confident in my Spanish (though definately not perfect, or even close to perfect) and am learning so many new words and phrases. I am absolutely LOVING it here.

Everyone is preparing for a weekend away. My roommates and 3 more girls from the SU are going to Barcelona. I´m considering Paris if I can find flights under 50 € one way. But won´t have to pay for a hotel since I have a friend there. Also, they speak French, so I´d feel better about getting around. Waiting for online prices to drop!

Getting really close with Maria (our señora). Living with her has far exceeded my expectations- I feel so at home. Plus she is hilarious. Kas, Erika, her, and I have the best dinner chats--lasting over 2 hours sometimes--where I think we laugh more than we talk. Lots of good times and its only been a week!

I am loving to check on here to see all y'alls comments- makes my mornings so bright! Hopefully my ramblings aren't too trite or seem too outrageous. Don't worry mom and dad- we're being very safe. I'm not drinking that much wine! And I'm always in a pack of 3 (Erika, Kas, and I never leave each others' sides!)

So ciao for now from a very sunny day in Madrid!

Iberia 1, Chelsea 0

Madrid: my new favorite country!

Iberia: my new enemy.... who left my luggage in Miami.. so I have nothing. ¡Gracias, Iberia!

Erika y Kas: my two roommates who are fab

Maria: mi señora, who we live with and we are all in love with already. When we arrived, we talked for 2 hours over lunch about Madrid, food, politics, discos, and chicos guapos. She is so fun; Erika and I have sworn that we are going to have to party with her at 4 story disco near our flat.

Puerta del Sol: the plaza very near where I live that is a very popular place apparently. We went to have tapas (pan con tomate y queso de manchego---bread with tomato and manchego cheese) y vino tinto de verano (red wine of the summer, aka wine with limon soda) at a cafe here. ¡Delicioso!

El Museo de Jamon: a funny musuem just down the street from our flat

Madrid´s Broadway: a little classier than the museo de jamon, Madrid´s Broadway is also just down the street from our flat (the other direction). All the musicals are lined up as well as a bunch of movie theaters. Mamma Mia anyone?

Bums: We have a regular homeless band down the street from our flat, too. Very odd group complete with scraggly dogs, but they don´t bother us much.

Funny problems: We´ve already almost broken the toilet handle.. yay us. And I think I called home a million times trying to get in touch.. can´t wait to see what that charges me!

y History: I cannot believe how much history is around in Madrid. THere is always some extravagent story to go along with almost every building!

More news soon!