A Born Explorer

Well I’m not sure I deserve that title buuuuuuuut I have done quite a bit of exploring recently! It’s funny because I am the first person to go on the world’s most death defying theme park ride but when it comes to exploring a new/unknown city I am absolutely petrified! And it does not help that Madrid is ridiculously huuuuuuuuuuuuuge! Up to now I have had no trouble what so ever with Spanish! It seems I can ask just about anything and read the signs fairly well but the accents here are weird, the slang is different and people tend to talk at the speed of light! Hahha >.<

My first great feat. was braving the metro! (or subway) I wanted to book my bus ticket online to Murcia but the site woudn’t accept my card so I was like hmm I can either risk turning up on the day or I’ll go now and buy my ticket! So I had to make my way to the south city transport system and the easiest way seemed like taking the subway! and Holy Heck! It was like a flippin labyrinth down there! Soooo many connecting routes and levels and I was like ummm walked down there and was like how do I even get a ticket but I figured that out pretty quick and then was praying I was on the right train! Then I had to switch and I got on the train and realized I was going the wrong way and was like eeeeek! So I got off and was like how am I suppose to get to the otherside?!! But I got there in the end and arrived at the bus station! Long story short I am now an expert at navigating the Madrid metro! *cough cough not really*

I have to say it’s more like being in Mexico again simply because of the amount of people here! They are everywhere and the streets are crowded, just part of everyday here in Spain! I like it though!

 Palacio Real

 Tour Bus

 Home of Real Madrid

 Little Corona! lol

 Puerta del Sol

Moving on! Madrid is the most B-E-A-utiful city I have ever been in! I was blown away by the architecture in Mexico but here my mouth is literally open all the time! Buildings are all at least 4-5 stories here so it’s hard to get any bearings because you can’t see any further then the street you are on! Yesterday I went on the Madrid city tour and I say it was 20Euros well spent! Omgosh Madrid is magical! I took sooo many photos so believe me when I say it’s hard to choose which ones to put up here! I couldn’t remember where my friends recommended I go but some of the awesome places were El barrio Salamanca, Palacio Real (incredible!!!), Plaza mayor, Puerta del sol, Museo Reina Sofia, museo de esculturas and many more! If any1 comes to Spain we absolutely must do Madrid! :D I also went to the soccer stadium which is home to Real Madrid, evenone was sooo excited and I was like cool! XD I think it’s called the Bernabau? Someone may be able to tell me! ^^

Then this morning I moved hotels and am now staying in the the Hotel Convencion for my orientation with all the other conversation assistants, there are a lot more then I expected! Hahah I am sharing a room with 2 people! One called Sam who is really cool from England whose Spanish is not fantastic and another called Jordin who is French but doesn’t speak a word of English and is fluent in Spanish. 2moro I start my course which is to my surprise only 1 day and is probly going to be more like a series of information lectures. I’m not sure when I’ll next have internet! Seems like you have to pay ridiculous amounts for it here so I’m using my roomies internet XD and then the plan is to take a 6hour bus trip to Murcia on sat! wish me luck people!

Final note: The KFC here incredible! Finger Licking good! :D