Hola todos! (Hello everyone!)
Since my escapade to El Escorial and Madrid, I have been spending some time in Salamanca. I figured out the local bus system (which is complicated and expensive, I would rather walk), ventured to the mall, and went shopping. I also found a lovely church about 10 minutes from my dorm, so I went to mass today. I understood about 40% of what happened, but the church was absolutly gorgeous, so I guess i just got lost in it's beauty. When I have time, I will take some pictures. I have also been doing homework. The profes (teachers) loaded us up for this weekend. Don't they understand that this is study abroad? We're suppose to be doing cultural learning instead of book learning? haha. oh well!
In an attempt to be exposed to Spanish more, I have decided to watch movies in spanish. I started today with Shrek. We'll see how far I actually get. It's a good practice to be in though. Now it's time for me to continue reading a polisci book that's due this week. If anyone has any suggestions for places to go next weekend, I would gladly take them!
Abrazos a todos!
Ashley
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
El Escorial
So today, I found a friend, and ventured on a day trip to El Escorial, the palace of the Spanish Kings. Not only was it a good 5 hour trip from Salamanca, but it was also very cold. Needless to say, it was breathtakingly beautiful. Sadly, pictures on the inside were not allowed and very strictly monitored, so I couldn't even sneak a few.
Starting my day at 5am..we ended up at El Escorial at 12ish..(delays, etc) and the building greeted me by saying, "hello little ant. I will swollow you whole. Welcome to my belly of stone and art and dead spanish royalty." We decided to do the audio tour instead of the human guided tour (great idea) because we wanted to spend more time there. Little did we know we would be in there for 4 hours looking at italian originals, crypts of spanish royalty, and the basilica.
El Patio De Los Reyes (the patio of the kings)
One of El Escorial's 9 tours. We climbed one of them to get a view of the town, the surrounding mountians, and a giant mural comparable to Versailles' Hall of Mirrors painted to look like a tapestry depicted all of the great Spanish battles.
The secret entrance to the Basilica that we found. Luckily, the spanish kings let the wind die down just long enough for me to get a picture with what is one of the most beautiful churches that I have seen my whole entire life (Better than Notre Dame!).
Yeah. The town is that beautiful. The sky was that blue.
The biggest picture I could get of El Escorial. It was just to big to caputre on film.
After find out that Valle de los Caidos (where Franco is burried and a civil war monument) was closed, we decided to head back to Madrid and find the Museo de Trajes (a clothing museum which dates spanish fashion from 1500's to today). Well, we got lost and with a coffee and tortilla to give us energy, we did what girls do best in a big city: shop.
I finally found where there was gluten free food in Spain, so I stalked up as much as I could and then we realized that we were going to miss the 7pm bus. So a quick 30 mintue metro trip, we get there to reserve our ticket and have to wait 2 more hours for the 9pm bus. So, after a 2 hour wait and a 3 hour bus ride home, I am clearly exhaused (but well fed, thanks to el Corte Ingles). I will leave you with a picture of how really windy it was today. Tomorrow I plan on exploring Salamanca a bit. Maybe off again next weekend! I'm liking this travel around Spain thing.
Besitos y Abrazos,
Ashley
Starting my day at 5am..we ended up at El Escorial at 12ish..(delays, etc) and the building greeted me by saying, "hello little ant. I will swollow you whole. Welcome to my belly of stone and art and dead spanish royalty." We decided to do the audio tour instead of the human guided tour (great idea) because we wanted to spend more time there. Little did we know we would be in there for 4 hours looking at italian originals, crypts of spanish royalty, and the basilica.
El Patio De Los Reyes (the patio of the kings)
One of El Escorial's 9 tours. We climbed one of them to get a view of the town, the surrounding mountians, and a giant mural comparable to Versailles' Hall of Mirrors painted to look like a tapestry depicted all of the great Spanish battles.
The secret entrance to the Basilica that we found. Luckily, the spanish kings let the wind die down just long enough for me to get a picture with what is one of the most beautiful churches that I have seen my whole entire life (Better than Notre Dame!).
Yeah. The town is that beautiful. The sky was that blue.
The biggest picture I could get of El Escorial. It was just to big to caputre on film.
After find out that Valle de los Caidos (where Franco is burried and a civil war monument) was closed, we decided to head back to Madrid and find the Museo de Trajes (a clothing museum which dates spanish fashion from 1500's to today). Well, we got lost and with a coffee and tortilla to give us energy, we did what girls do best in a big city: shop.
I finally found where there was gluten free food in Spain, so I stalked up as much as I could and then we realized that we were going to miss the 7pm bus. So a quick 30 mintue metro trip, we get there to reserve our ticket and have to wait 2 more hours for the 9pm bus. So, after a 2 hour wait and a 3 hour bus ride home, I am clearly exhaused (but well fed, thanks to el Corte Ingles). I will leave you with a picture of how really windy it was today. Tomorrow I plan on exploring Salamanca a bit. Maybe off again next weekend! I'm liking this travel around Spain thing.
Besitos y Abrazos,
Ashley
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Clases
So the past few days, I have been getting started with my IES classes. I decided to take mostly IES classes (with the exception of one UPSA course) seeing as I wanted and easier semester. Let's see if this wish comes true or not.
LAS CLASES (CLASSES)
1. Advanced Grammar and Usage I (MTWR)
Our profesor's name is Javier. He's about 40 with a three year old and likes to make fun of american's spanish accents. He's really useful when it comes to learning culture phrases and situations. This class is only an hour long, but it's my favorite class of the day.
2. Women's Literature (MT)
We have a very involved professor who doesn't care about research/concrete sources, only our opinion. There is only one boy in the class (pobrecito), we'll see how long he lasts. Honestly, I feel like this class will be easy. Many of the stories we're reading I've read before, so I actually have an opinion!
3. Spanish Literature and Politics of the 20th century (MW)
This class is going to be alot of work. The professor is very young and dynamic; therefore he requires more out of us as students. The class is alright. I think it will progress to be more interesting...at least I hope!
4. Contemporary Politics of Spain and Portugal (TR)
This class is from 9am to 10:30. Needless to say, there are only 10 people in it, soon to be 5. The professor is a bit eccentric, but she's vowed to teach us some portuguese so I'm going to stick with her (not like I have a choice). Maybe only having a few people will end up being good; I mean how can you fail when there are only 5 people in the class?
So those are my classes so far. Besides reading animal farm in spanish (which I did today), I think things are going to get along fine. Now I just need to figure out how to cook. Today I attempted tortilla espanola and ended up with runny egg whites and partially cooked potatoes soaked in olive oil which fell out of the pan and ended up smoking up my kitchen. SO, I turned to my saftey (nutella and orange). The only place nutella has failed me is in my wasteline. hehe.
Adventuring to Madrid tomorrow (university Holiday) to explore El Escorial a bit. Will post pictures!
Besitos,
Ashley
LAS CLASES (CLASSES)
1. Advanced Grammar and Usage I (MTWR)
Our profesor's name is Javier. He's about 40 with a three year old and likes to make fun of american's spanish accents. He's really useful when it comes to learning culture phrases and situations. This class is only an hour long, but it's my favorite class of the day.
2. Women's Literature (MT)
We have a very involved professor who doesn't care about research/concrete sources, only our opinion. There is only one boy in the class (pobrecito), we'll see how long he lasts. Honestly, I feel like this class will be easy. Many of the stories we're reading I've read before, so I actually have an opinion!
3. Spanish Literature and Politics of the 20th century (MW)
This class is going to be alot of work. The professor is very young and dynamic; therefore he requires more out of us as students. The class is alright. I think it will progress to be more interesting...at least I hope!
4. Contemporary Politics of Spain and Portugal (TR)
This class is from 9am to 10:30. Needless to say, there are only 10 people in it, soon to be 5. The professor is a bit eccentric, but she's vowed to teach us some portuguese so I'm going to stick with her (not like I have a choice). Maybe only having a few people will end up being good; I mean how can you fail when there are only 5 people in the class?
So those are my classes so far. Besides reading animal farm in spanish (which I did today), I think things are going to get along fine. Now I just need to figure out how to cook. Today I attempted tortilla espanola and ended up with runny egg whites and partially cooked potatoes soaked in olive oil which fell out of the pan and ended up smoking up my kitchen. SO, I turned to my saftey (nutella and orange). The only place nutella has failed me is in my wasteline. hehe.
Adventuring to Madrid tomorrow (university Holiday) to explore El Escorial a bit. Will post pictures!
Besitos,
Ashley
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Bienvenidos a Toro y Zamora
Hoy (today), we went to Toro and Zamora.
TORO
We went to a winery to see how wine is made and had a wine tasting. For what is Spain, if there were no wine?
Sold in the US and around the world. They make great wine.
Me with a barrel of stage 2 fermentation....
Now it's time for the Cata (kah-tah) or wine tasting.
White wine wins!
ZAMORA
Zamora is apparently the second poorest city in Spain. We basically saw a castle, a cathedral, and walked around in the rain. Gotta love Spain Winter.
Zamora is known for it's Romanic Cathedrals. There are only 3 domes like that in the world and one is in zamora.
This is a castle that was built in the 11th century, then destroyed, then rebuilt, then destroyed...I think you get the picture.
The castle was a gift from King Ferdenand to one of his daughters. His son, being a machismo spainard, put her castle under seige because women shouldn't own their own properties. Needless to say, the queen was about to die, so she got one of her minions to escape through the castle walls, stab her brother, and then return to the castle ending the seige. Quite a controversial event.
After being wet, we went to an underground bodga in the middle of the boondocks spain where we basically ate fresh, smoked pig. Pig ribs, pig sausage, some people pig cheeks..pig..i don't even know what that was....
To top it all off, the area looked like the shire from Lord of the Rings. Needless to say, you would never know that this land is full of underground resturaunts......
Now I am in the dorm, I have taken a 3 hour nap, and I am going to get ready to go out. Bienvenidos a Espana (Welcome to Spain!)
Abrazos,
Ashley
TORO
We went to a winery to see how wine is made and had a wine tasting. For what is Spain, if there were no wine?
Sold in the US and around the world. They make great wine.
Me with a barrel of stage 2 fermentation....
Now it's time for the Cata (kah-tah) or wine tasting.
White wine wins!
ZAMORA
Zamora is apparently the second poorest city in Spain. We basically saw a castle, a cathedral, and walked around in the rain. Gotta love Spain Winter.
Zamora is known for it's Romanic Cathedrals. There are only 3 domes like that in the world and one is in zamora.
This is a castle that was built in the 11th century, then destroyed, then rebuilt, then destroyed...I think you get the picture.
The castle was a gift from King Ferdenand to one of his daughters. His son, being a machismo spainard, put her castle under seige because women shouldn't own their own properties. Needless to say, the queen was about to die, so she got one of her minions to escape through the castle walls, stab her brother, and then return to the castle ending the seige. Quite a controversial event.
After being wet, we went to an underground bodga in the middle of the boondocks spain where we basically ate fresh, smoked pig. Pig ribs, pig sausage, some people pig cheeks..pig..i don't even know what that was....
To top it all off, the area looked like the shire from Lord of the Rings. Needless to say, you would never know that this land is full of underground resturaunts......
Now I am in the dorm, I have taken a 3 hour nap, and I am going to get ready to go out. Bienvenidos a Espana (Welcome to Spain!)
Abrazos,
Ashley
Friday, January 22, 2010
OLE!
So, I just got back from a Flamenco class, which ended up being more of a rumba type gig, but that's okay. I had a good time and met some fun people. The lady cracked me up on the inside though. She was liek 60 years old and quite eccentric dancing around telling us all to stick our boobs out, if we have them or not. Oh dear.
That is probably the most interesting thing that has happened to me in a few days. Found a gluten free food shop, so I finally got some cereal. I mean, I love oranges and gluten free bread, but I can only take it for so long. I actually need to start cooking.
I tried real spanish coffee the other day. During our break, some of us went to a tapas/cafeteria bar that is in this secret passageway up the plaza mayor to the second floor where you can get a coffee or cana (a small beer or wine) and a pincho (like a spanish tortilla or shrimp) for 1.80 euro. The view of the plaza and location are priceless. However, the coffee here is STRONG. Oh dear it's crazy. I am going to have to get to like this stuff sometime.
This weekend we are goign to Toro and Zamora. Expect some picture updates on Saturday. We are having a residence hall meeting tonight to decide where we're going to go next weekend and other trips (we have learned to book ahead). Maybe skiing in the pyranese (or falling on my butt in the snow in the pyranese)? Maybe seeing some cool arquitectura in Barcelona? Or maybe tour of the north?
Who knows! Any suggestions would be helpful!
Besitos!
Ashley
That is probably the most interesting thing that has happened to me in a few days. Found a gluten free food shop, so I finally got some cereal. I mean, I love oranges and gluten free bread, but I can only take it for so long. I actually need to start cooking.
I tried real spanish coffee the other day. During our break, some of us went to a tapas/cafeteria bar that is in this secret passageway up the plaza mayor to the second floor where you can get a coffee or cana (a small beer or wine) and a pincho (like a spanish tortilla or shrimp) for 1.80 euro. The view of the plaza and location are priceless. However, the coffee here is STRONG. Oh dear it's crazy. I am going to have to get to like this stuff sometime.
This weekend we are goign to Toro and Zamora. Expect some picture updates on Saturday. We are having a residence hall meeting tonight to decide where we're going to go next weekend and other trips (we have learned to book ahead). Maybe skiing in the pyranese (or falling on my butt in the snow in the pyranese)? Maybe seeing some cool arquitectura in Barcelona? Or maybe tour of the north?
Who knows! Any suggestions would be helpful!
Besitos!
Ashley
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
My feet are very happy....
Sorry I haven't updated over the past few days. My days have been filled with the intensive grammar classes from 9 until 2 and then usually lunch followed by a series of "charlas" or "talks" about oreintation things. We really haven't been doing much besides this, so I felt that it was boring for me, and therefore it would be boring for you all to read about.
Little by little I am using my Spanish more. My friends and I have started switching from pure english to spanglish...or more spanish than english. So that's nice. I have also had some random talks with the locals, so I am feeling a bit more comfortable.
Today we had registration. I am going to be taking the following classes:
Spainsh Literature from 19th to 20th century
Contemporary Spanish Women's Literature
Political Systems of Spain and Portugal
Advanced Grammar and Usage
Specialized Abnormal Psychology (maybe atleast another Psych if not)
Next week start all of my classes but the Psychology, so it'll be nice to be on a schedule. Today I went shopping for like 4 hours and finally found a comfortable pair of boots in my size!!!!!!!! (it's like searching for a needle in a haystack)and I bought a black over the shoulder bag for notebooks for class seeing as people see my jansport backpack and immediatly say...American...
That brings me to the people here. I like them, but I don't think they like me. The spanish people are much more serious than latin americans. Almost a little cold. I guess it will take some getting use to.
As for ways to improve my Spanish, I am looking to join the Chorus at the university and do a few intercambio meetings. We'll see how everything goes!
Well, I am off to do some homework. Bleh. Chao for now!!!
Ashley <3
Little by little I am using my Spanish more. My friends and I have started switching from pure english to spanglish...or more spanish than english. So that's nice. I have also had some random talks with the locals, so I am feeling a bit more comfortable.
Today we had registration. I am going to be taking the following classes:
Spainsh Literature from 19th to 20th century
Contemporary Spanish Women's Literature
Political Systems of Spain and Portugal
Advanced Grammar and Usage
Specialized Abnormal Psychology (maybe atleast another Psych if not)
Next week start all of my classes but the Psychology, so it'll be nice to be on a schedule. Today I went shopping for like 4 hours and finally found a comfortable pair of boots in my size!!!!!!!! (it's like searching for a needle in a haystack)and I bought a black over the shoulder bag for notebooks for class seeing as people see my jansport backpack and immediatly say...American...
That brings me to the people here. I like them, but I don't think they like me. The spanish people are much more serious than latin americans. Almost a little cold. I guess it will take some getting use to.
As for ways to improve my Spanish, I am looking to join the Chorus at the university and do a few intercambio meetings. We'll see how everything goes!
Well, I am off to do some homework. Bleh. Chao for now!!!
Ashley <3
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Vamos a Segovia!
Today we went to Segovia! It is about a 2 hour bus ride from Salamanca northward. I slept the whole way there, but I awoke to a world out of the 1500-1700's.
The first landmark we saw was the Aquaduct, built by in romanic style from the 1500's in order to bring water to the king in his castle.
Rumor has it the aquaduct was built by the devil in trade for a little girl's soul. However, when the little girl awoke, there was one stone missing, and a virign mary in it's place showing that the virgin saved her soul.
We ended up taking a walking tour of the city seeing numerous cathedrals, plazas, and strange archetectures.
However, the crown jewel of the city is the Palacio Alcazar. It was constructed in teh 1500's and was home to many of a king and queen. It was frigid on the inside, but it's beauty was overwhelming. The exterior was said to have inspired Walt Disney to create Cinderella's Castle. A few phtos of the exterior and ceilings are below.
After freezing our butts off in the Castillo (Castle), we got to explore for a few hours. Then they took us to a Rancho to eat lunch (their biggest meal of the day). I was sufficiently stuffed after a 4 course meal and coffee. Now I am in my dorm, finished uploading pictures and scoping out possible alternate classes. I think it is time to give this rainy day girl a shower and try and watch something on TV.
Chao for now!
The first landmark we saw was the Aquaduct, built by in romanic style from the 1500's in order to bring water to the king in his castle.
Rumor has it the aquaduct was built by the devil in trade for a little girl's soul. However, when the little girl awoke, there was one stone missing, and a virign mary in it's place showing that the virgin saved her soul.
We ended up taking a walking tour of the city seeing numerous cathedrals, plazas, and strange archetectures.
However, the crown jewel of the city is the Palacio Alcazar. It was constructed in teh 1500's and was home to many of a king and queen. It was frigid on the inside, but it's beauty was overwhelming. The exterior was said to have inspired Walt Disney to create Cinderella's Castle. A few phtos of the exterior and ceilings are below.
After freezing our butts off in the Castillo (Castle), we got to explore for a few hours. Then they took us to a Rancho to eat lunch (their biggest meal of the day). I was sufficiently stuffed after a 4 course meal and coffee. Now I am in my dorm, finished uploading pictures and scoping out possible alternate classes. I think it is time to give this rainy day girl a shower and try and watch something on TV.
Chao for now!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
ESTOY EN ESPANA!!!!!!!
OKAY. So I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update. The past few days have been a blur, but now that I have successfully gotten home by-myelf and succesfully unlocked my blog, I can tell you about it.
Spain is aweosme. THe buildings are awesome. My dorm is awesome. I am living in a residencia which is a dorm, on the equivalent to south campus. My neighbors are all IES students, except the ones to my left which are chinese. Haven't met them yet, but I am sure they are fine. We eat lunch in the cafeteria. Yesterday, I ate conejo (bunny). Tastes like chicken. Just gotta get over the fact that I ate Thumper. We had a city wide scabventger hunt that my team won. Yay for free shirts! I bought a comfoter and a mattress pad today so the peice of foam that I am sleeping on is slightly more comfortable. Actually, I would rather be sitting in it than anywhere else.
As for the Spanish people, I have met some that are helpful and others that are just rude. I guess it depends who you are with and where you are going. If i'm by myself talking and asking questions, they are usually pretty chill, but if i'm with a big group they kind of raise their nose to americans. Oh well, I am sure it will come with time.
These past few days have been full of charlas (talks), examenes (tests), and siestas (naps). Tomorrow we are going to Segovia, a nearby town, to look at some old churches, castles, and eat at a typical asado resturaunt. Should be exciting! Let's just cross our fingers that it isn't raining as hard as it was today!!! ( I got soaked!!! )
Adios y Hasta Luego!
Ash
Spain is aweosme. THe buildings are awesome. My dorm is awesome. I am living in a residencia which is a dorm, on the equivalent to south campus. My neighbors are all IES students, except the ones to my left which are chinese. Haven't met them yet, but I am sure they are fine. We eat lunch in the cafeteria. Yesterday, I ate conejo (bunny). Tastes like chicken. Just gotta get over the fact that I ate Thumper. We had a city wide scabventger hunt that my team won. Yay for free shirts! I bought a comfoter and a mattress pad today so the peice of foam that I am sleeping on is slightly more comfortable. Actually, I would rather be sitting in it than anywhere else.
As for the Spanish people, I have met some that are helpful and others that are just rude. I guess it depends who you are with and where you are going. If i'm by myself talking and asking questions, they are usually pretty chill, but if i'm with a big group they kind of raise their nose to americans. Oh well, I am sure it will come with time.
These past few days have been full of charlas (talks), examenes (tests), and siestas (naps). Tomorrow we are going to Segovia, a nearby town, to look at some old churches, castles, and eat at a typical asado resturaunt. Should be exciting! Let's just cross our fingers that it isn't raining as hard as it was today!!! ( I got soaked!!! )
Adios y Hasta Luego!
Ash
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Otra Vez!!!!!!!!!!
Hello All!
Welcome back to the ever-so-popular travel blog! Guess what? I am going to Spain this semester (Just incase you haven't heard beforehand). I will be in Salamanca, and I can't wait to totally improve my spanish and explore all that europe has to offer. I can't promise that updates will be as often as the Chile extravaganza but I can sure try. I leave in less than a week, and have just realized the extent of things that I need to do. Yikes! Anyways, fun things are going to occur, along with strange ones, awkard ones, but amazing ones as well. I will let you know if there is any herbalife on the other side of the atlantic.
Until later!
Ashley
Welcome back to the ever-so-popular travel blog! Guess what? I am going to Spain this semester (Just incase you haven't heard beforehand). I will be in Salamanca, and I can't wait to totally improve my spanish and explore all that europe has to offer. I can't promise that updates will be as often as the Chile extravaganza but I can sure try. I leave in less than a week, and have just realized the extent of things that I need to do. Yikes! Anyways, fun things are going to occur, along with strange ones, awkard ones, but amazing ones as well. I will let you know if there is any herbalife on the other side of the atlantic.
Until later!
Ashley
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