REAL MADRID, Churros, teleférico...

I experienced my first professional soccer game this week on Wednesday. Actually, I'm pretty sure it's the first soccer game I've seen since my older cousin Joel's soccer game when he was about 10 and I was 8. Anyway, there is nothing like a packed stadium of crazy REAL MADRID fans to get you pumped. The fact that we were sitting in the second highest tier did not faze us--or the Madrileños who surrounded us. 

That was the best part of the game--listening to the commentary of all of the other Spanish fans. I was surprised by the wide range in age of the fans, too. The man sitting next to me was probably around 60 years old and was as enthusiastic as ever, making comments throughout the game (and I should know--the left side of my cheek got sprayed various times during the night...). As Phoebe would say, "I asked for the news, not the weather." 

Anyway, before the game started Raphael Nadal came out onto the field to a standing ovation because he won the U.S. Open. It was so unexpected and thrilling and a great way to start the game. And the best way to end it--with a two nothing win from REAL MADRID! 

Friday I had my first taste of chocolate con churros from a very famous café in Madird--Chocolatería de San Ginés. The rich delicious chocolate is brought out in a coffee cup and the warm churros on a plate. Must say--loved the chocolate, but I think the churros are a bit overrated. Although if someone asked me to go with him/her I likely would not refuse...

Deeeelish! (Okay, I know it sounds picky and might be seriously over doing it...but I wish the churros had sugar and cinnamon...although I realize that is not a Spanish thing :( )

Finally...the Teleférico...which is a gondola that goes over Madrid. Funny story--didn't realize the receipt is also the ticket and so I threw it out. Whoopsies. When I told the woman at the ticket booth what had happened (or at least tried to explain in Spanish) she proceeded to get out from behind the booth. I thought she was going over to tell the men loading the passengers into the cars that I could get on even though I didn't have a ticket. But no. She fished the ticket/receipt out of the garbage! Spaniards are too nice. If I had known that was what she was going to do, I would have done it myself! It did not help that the men loading the passengers saw this entire incident and didn't hold back their laugher as I got into the car. Regardless, the views of Parque del Oeste are great and for under 6 euro roundtrip it is totally worth it. 

Blair and me on the gondola

Ashley and Meghan on the gondola

Next week...Portugal and Salamanca! Can't wait. My personal quest to fill up my passport pages begins :). 

Mi camino a la escuela

Esta semana nos doy photos de las cosas que veo durante mi camino a la universidad:

1. La entrada (entrance) de mi apartamento (pues el apartamento de mi señora)

2. Los taxis de Madrid que veo cada mañana, cada tarde, y cada noche

3. Mahou es una cerveza (beer) de España que todos les gusta beber (pero a mi, no) 

4. Una tienda de frutas, frutas secas (dried fruit), y nueces...todas las cosas que me encantan :)

5. Sí...es el Estadio Santiago Bernabéu en el que juega...REAL MADRID! (The fútbol stadium where the REAL MADRID team plays :))

6. La universidad

7. Un bar que tiene empanadas riquísimas y una ensalada con pimientos y ventresca (una parte de atún increíble)

¡Gracias por venir conmigo a la universidad! Thanks for coming with me to school! 

¡Las clases comienzan!

This week was the first week of classes--I'm taking: Islam and Spain: Past and Present, Masterpieces in the Prado Museum, Spain Through Cinema, and Arabic (at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid).

I know picking favorites is a no-no with a lot of things, but with classes (and let's be honest, most other things) it's inevitable. I think I've already decided...the class about Islam and Spain is eye-opening for me because it combines perfectly my two interests, Arabic and Spanish. I can pick out some of the Arabic words and it's so exciting to see how inter-related the two cultures are. I can't wait to go to Morocco!

The professor for the Prado Museum course could be my grandmother, she's so adorable and her love for art is so obvious when she's teaching. I'm hoping to gain a better appreciation for museums, because, if I were to be completely up-front about things, I'm not much of a museum-goer. Perhaps this class will help change that.

And the cinema class. What can I say? I certainly don't mind watching Volver for the third time is it...?

Notice how I haven't mentioned my Arabic course. Well...there are two problems. First, I have an hour class on Friday which may come between me and traveling on Friday mornings. Second, although I'm positive I will get credit for the class, I'm not positive it will count towards my minor. NYU red-tape...

But besides that...still loving life in Madrid. It's very similar to NY, but has a bit of a slower pace, which is nice for a change.

Tonight...off to La Latina, a barrio (neighborhood) in Madrid.

Hasta luego!

Almost a full week in Madrid!

Joan (my roommate) and me on the bus ride to Segovia

Highlights from this week include:

Amazing food from Elena (tortilla española...who knew eggs and potatoes could be so delicious?, homemade carrot soup...no words, and I also found out that I do like muscles...or at least the way these were prepared)

Plaza Mayor (a great place to walk around, although I must warn it is a bit touristy)

Reina Sofía (Seeing Guernica was a moving experience. The massiveness of the painting itself parallels the gravity of the moment so well that colors are not necessary--it allows the black, white, and grey of the painting to show the destruction without needing a bit of red blood. Before a person decides to declare war he or she should be required to take a look at this painting, I think it could prevent a heck of a lot of bloodshed)

Segovia (No words can describe the cathedral and castle. It's no wonder the Disneyland castle is based off of this castle. It truly looks like a movie set. I thought it would be more of a tourist hot-spot because of this, and yes of course there were tourists. However, the town itself seemed so unassuming, as if saying, "Sure, we have this beautiful castle and cathedral, and sure you can take a look if you'd like." But I didn't feel like it was exploiting these structures at all--I wish I could say the same about the Empire State Building.)

Segovia!

Tonight, I'm off to a jazz club. It's so funny, I live in New York and have never been to the Blue Note Jazz Club and I come all the way to Madrid and where do I go? A jazz club!