3000 years of history in a week

Well it's been a long week!

Orientation wasn't all a fun time like I expected. We had to get up at 8 every morning to get there on time and then had "conferences" which is a fancy word for starting classes a week early. We had a Spanish course, learning about the differences between Spain and home from food, to bars, to just life in general. It was helpful and I learned a lot of new vocabulary. Then there was the history class where they jammed in 3000 years of history in 3 days. It was such an information overload, and all of us were still trying to get over time differences and messed up sleep schedules.

They also took us on a walking tour of Old Madrid where we were split up based on Spanish level and I was on a tour in all Spanish. Our guide (an NYU professor) Angel was so much fun. He did a great job of making it interesting and factual, but relatively short and to the point. It was evident that the area around the Plaza Mayor is where he spends a lot of time and he provided us with lots of fun places to check out (like 1 euro tapas and chocolate y churros). There are so many BEAUTIFUL buildings, it's hard to describe. I had to restrain myself from taking pictures of every cute little street I saw because they are everywhere. One of the most interesting things we did was going to the nunery. There's a secret phrase you have to know to get in (some sort of prayer) and you go and buy jerez cookies (sherry cookies). The nuns have taken a vow to keep their face hidden from the outside world, so you had to use a revolving table to pay for and pick up your cookies. It was very mysterious hearing the nun's voice coming from the other side of the revolving door. Angel took us for a coffee break to enjoy the cookies and treated us to everything.

Yesterday we had a day trip to Segovia. It was a very laid-back city with many striking features. One was the Alcazar castle which many kings lived in. Then there was the Roman Aquaduct, built with absolutely no cement, and the Cathedral, one of the later Gothic churches built in the time.

Once I got home I took a nice long nap and woke up to go out and check out Madrid's nightlife that everyone has been talking so much about. Most places don't open until midnight at the earliest and no one really goes out until about 1. Then of course no one goes home until 6 in the morning but I headed home around 5 when my feet hurt til the point of walking funny. Today I've been so tired, even after waking up at 2 PM, I guess I'll have to get used to this crazy lifestyle.