Weekly Update 3-30 to 4-14
Today you get to read about my Spring Break in Italy and the week Matt came to visit!!!
3-30 MY FIRST TASTE OF ITALY
Today started at 11am. We found a pizza vendor and had our first piece of Pizza in Italy. After the pizza, I decided to have some gelato-which was absolutely amazing! We took our time and wandered around Rome and ducked in and out of shops. On our way, we saw a lot of old buildings, government buildings, and churches. Around 2pm we arrived at the front of the Vatican City. We went through the church and tombs for the next few hours. The structure and art work were incredible and just gorgeous. Every little detail was in place and I do not think they could have done any more to enhance the buildings. After the Vatican City we found something for dinner and then went to the store to buy things to make sandwiches for the next few days. Around 10pm we got back to the hostel and at 11pm I went to bed.
3-31 ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY IN ROMA
Today started at Piazza della Repubblica which is a plaza that has Santa Maria degli Angeli (a church) in it. We went through the church and saw some wonderful sculpture, even one done by the Swarovski crystal company. Next stop was Palazzo delle Esposizioni. On our walk towards the tomb of the unknown soldier we saw several churches and sculptures (which is such a cool part of Rome). From the top of the monument we had a great view of the city, especially of Foro traiano, so I stayed up there for a while and took a bunch of pictures. After walking for about a block we began walking through the part of the city with all the ruins, called Foro di Cesare and ended this walk at the Colosseum. It was such a cool thing to see, we even got to walk through it and were there for over an hour just in awe. It was so cool to think that people used it sooo long ago. We learned that it was a giant amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome that was originally capable of seating 45,000-50,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Our last stop of the day was Piazza di Popolo. Near that plaza was an exhibit for Di Vinci but it was closed. The Piazza del Popolo is one of the most famous places in Rome and the name in modern Italian literally means "piazza of the people". Before the age of railroads, it was the traveler's first view of Rome upon arrival. For centuries, the Piazza del Popolo was a place for public executions, the last of which took place in 1826. There was a road to get to the top of a hill that over saw the plaza so we went up there for a while and enjoyed the scenery and the little carnival that was taking place up there. After dinner and a long walk/bus ride back to our hostel I was ready to call it a night.
4-1 NAPOLI
So, Naples was really cool! We took a two hour train ride from Rome to Naples and got there around 1pm. I saw Castel Nuovo, put my feet in the Tyrrehnian Sea, go to the Castel dell’Ovo, walk through Piazza Plebiscito and the Umberto Gallery. It was such a cool place and a lot different from Rome-more suburbish. We even got some amazing Lasagna and Wine. It was such beautiful weather too I wish I could have stayed there a little longer, but we had to catch a train back to Rome around 7:30pm. After getting back to Rome, we hopped on a bus back to our hostel and once again got a full nights sleep. Getting so much sleep is really making this feel like a vacation-no rushing around, I love it!
4-2 ANNIV. OF THE POPE’S DEATH-WHO KNEW? NOT US
So today was our last full day in Rome and we really wanted to make it to the Vatican City museum to see the Sistine Chapel. However, when we got to the front of the museum the line was 5 blocks long and we had no clue why. Someone told us that it was the second year anniversary of the pope’s death so the museum was going to be very busy for most of the day. So we decided to see some more things before coming back and standing in line for a few hours. First we went to the Pantheon, then Piazza Navona to look around and have lunch (where I finally got Naples Pizza-cheese and black olives). The Sistine Chapel was very gorgeous and the sculptures and paintings were amazing. After we walked through the whole museum we saw some more ruins at Circo Massimo and Palatino. We stopped for some dinner and then when it started getting dark we went back to the Colosseum because at night it lights up-how cool is that?!?! After watching and ‘ooo-ing’ and ‘ahhh-ing’ we headed back to the hostel for a very early night since our tomorrow morning was going to start before the sun was out.
4-3 BACK TO MADRID
Got up at 5:30 so we could leave the hostel by 6:15am to get to the airport. Rick had a 9:30 flight and mine was at 11. So, once we got there I sat and wrote post cards and walked around all the shops that were in the airport-it was like a mall. Got on my flight and was back at the apartment by 3pm. I unpacked a bit, had a snack, and watched Sex and the City for a while. I dozed on and off and went to bed around 2am (way too late).
4-4 RECOVERING
Today I slept in until about 1pm and just kind of lounged around all afternoon. I finished unpacking and played a lot of sudoku today. I took a nap for a while and then ate and played on the computer until it was time to go to bed for the night.
4-5 MORE RECOVERING
I once again slept in until 1pm (my life’s boring when I am not on vacation or in class, sorry). I began doing some homework and I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, it was 7:45 and my senora was asking me when I wanted to eat dinner. Oh well, so much for doing homework. After dinner, I caught up on emailing and journaling, and listened to some music. Then I hit the sack around 1am.
4-6 HOMEWORK…BOOOORING.
Today I slept in again and tried to get ahead on some homework since Matt will be here and it will be hard to get a lot done, I am sure. I worked on some of my papers and took a nap before dinner. After I ate, I spent some time online and did a last minute check on his flight before I went to bed.
4-7 MATT’S HERE!
This morning I went to the airport to get Matt at 10am. Once I found him, we went to check in at his hotel and he took a nap while I watched some American TV in ENGLISH! Afterwards, we went to my house, I showed him around and we walked around for a while. We went to TGIFriday’s for dinner and then I helped him find his way back to his hotel around 10 so he could get some sleep, which I am sure was much needed
4-8 EASTER
This morning we got up and went to breakfast at a church and then we had mass. Breakfast was really good, lots of bread- crumb cake, blueberry, and something with chocolate chips and nuts. There was also a lot of fruit salad and eggs. Not as good, as breakfast at my US house (as I later found out) but better than the normal cereal and toast. The service was nice, but not what I am used to on Easter. In addition to the normal mass, there was a ‘giving of a child to the church’ and adult baptisms. After we hung out at my house for a while and went in search of dinner around 6pm. After dinner, we walked around for about an hour and then I needed to go home so I could finish some more homework (especially since there isn’t much to do around here on a Sunday).
4-9 DINNER AT MY HOUSE
This morning, since I did not have class until 1pm, Matt and I did a little sightseeing on the way to my school. Then we went to lunch at a place called “VIPS” right across the street from school. After my delicious chicken club sandwich (yummmmmmm!), we went to school. I had class and Matt hung out in the computer lab for a while. Once class was over, I went back home to get some work done and Matt ‘wandered’ for about an hour around the area of his hotel. I went to tutoring, picked up Matt from his hotel around 8pm, and we turned around and went to my house. My senora said she would cook for him one night while he was here and she made pasta and meat patties with cheese-it seemed more like an American meal. It was delicious, so I am not complaining! We chatted for a while after we had finished eating, then Matt went home, and I shortly headed to bed since I would have class at 9:30am tomorrow.
4-10 CLASS
I had class from 9:30- 2:30pm today so Matt decided to take the tourist Spain book and do a bit of sightseeing. He went to the Reina Sofia Museum in the afternoon and I met up with him after classes were done and we went to find a place to eat since we were both hungry. After our snack we walked around and went past things like Palacio Real and Sol which he is going to get to see on the tour we take this coming Friday. At nine, we headed back to the hotel to hang out and I had to finish up some homework that is due in the next few days. I am really trying to stay ka bit on top of things because the semester is wrapping up but there is a lot of work to be done with in the next two weeks!! O, and today I started counting down!!! 25 days until I am home! I can’t stand it!
4-11 I SPY
Matt and I did a bit of walking around this morning and around 1pm I decided to head to the library to try to use it for my upcoming research paper. After that, I had something to eat real quick to hold me over until dinner, then went to tutoring. Today at tutoring I taught Paula the game I SPY. They have something just like it in Spanish called Veo Veo-but there’s a bunch of lines that go back and forth between the two people that rhyme. We had a lot of fun doing that in the park. After tutoring I came back to my Senoras house, had dinner, did some homework, talked on-line for a little but and then went to bed kind of early.
4-12 OUCH
I had class at 9:30 today but did not go because my back was in a lot of pain when I woke up. So, instead I took some Aleve and laid down for a while before getting up for breakfast and my class that started at 1pm. After my class I met up with Matt at his hotel and we went to do some shopping. I took him to the Sol/Gran Via area and he looked for some souvenirs. We ate around 10pm and then just hung out a little bit before heading to bed. I was exhausted and knew that tomorrow would be busy with the tour bus.
4-13 THE TOUR BUS
Today we did the Madrid Vision Double-Decker bus tour (the same one as I took with my family). We hopped off the bus at the Templo de Debod and the Palacio Real. The rest of the day we just rode the buses and listened to the history of each place. For dinner we went to this place that looked like a bar but apparently had a restaurant attached. So we went in the back part and were served us a bunch of appetizers (that were FREE!) and then I had salad and Matt had paella…yes he finished the entire pan (a dish usually for at least two people). After dinner we went to O’Connell’s and watched some basketball, baseball and just hung out. Around 12:30 we both headed home since we had to be up real early for his flight in the morning.
4-14 BYE MATT
Today I got up and met Matt at his hotel at 8:30am so I could get him to the airport on time. We got there about 9:45am and he checked in and went through security to his gate in plenty of time. After I dropped him off I went to the post office to pick up my packages which made me just about the happiest girl in the world. I finally got my package from my mommy and one from my grandma both with lots and lots of candy :-) since they were Easter packages. From my grandma I got…Hershey chocolate bars and almond bars and gummy bears and...FUDGE!!!!! From my family I got.... lots of jelly beans but not the normal ones but the ones that look like different colored robin eggs and chocolate eggs, FRUIT SNACKS!!!, money, and the bunny that is usually attached to the beginning of the string that leads to my basket at Easter time. After all of that excitement I got my things together to head to the library. The people who work there were pretty nice it just stunk because it took me like 30 minutes to even be able to go in and then i was using the online catalogue and found a few things I want read through but when the library closes at 2, so you can check things out after 1. So since it was about 1pm, just looked for a few more books and wrote them all down then headed out. Once I got home, I cranked out some journaling and a homework assignment for my grammar class. It’s not due until the final week but I have so much that is going to be due that week I figured I would get the little busy work assignments out of the way so I could focus on the bigger projects when I have chunks of time this week. After my nice nap, I finished one of my assignments and sent it to my teacher to be corrected. Dinner was empanadas, eggs and French fries with an apple for dessert. After dinner I began my persuasive essay for grammar and finished updating my journal so I could post it online. EXACTLY THREE WEEKS UNTIL I AM HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (can you tell I am a little excited?)
3-30 MY FIRST TASTE OF ITALY
Today started at 11am. We found a pizza vendor and had our first piece of Pizza in Italy. After the pizza, I decided to have some gelato-which was absolutely amazing! We took our time and wandered around Rome and ducked in and out of shops. On our way, we saw a lot of old buildings, government buildings, and churches. Around 2pm we arrived at the front of the Vatican City. We went through the church and tombs for the next few hours. The structure and art work were incredible and just gorgeous. Every little detail was in place and I do not think they could have done any more to enhance the buildings. After the Vatican City we found something for dinner and then went to the store to buy things to make sandwiches for the next few days. Around 10pm we got back to the hostel and at 11pm I went to bed.
3-31 ANOTHER GLORIOUS DAY IN ROMA
Today started at Piazza della Repubblica which is a plaza that has Santa Maria degli Angeli (a church) in it. We went through the church and saw some wonderful sculpture, even one done by the Swarovski crystal company. Next stop was Palazzo delle Esposizioni. On our walk towards the tomb of the unknown soldier we saw several churches and sculptures (which is such a cool part of Rome). From the top of the monument we had a great view of the city, especially of Foro traiano, so I stayed up there for a while and took a bunch of pictures. After walking for about a block we began walking through the part of the city with all the ruins, called Foro di Cesare and ended this walk at the Colosseum. It was such a cool thing to see, we even got to walk through it and were there for over an hour just in awe. It was so cool to think that people used it sooo long ago. We learned that it was a giant amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome that was originally capable of seating 45,000-50,000 spectators, and was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles. Our last stop of the day was Piazza di Popolo. Near that plaza was an exhibit for Di Vinci but it was closed. The Piazza del Popolo is one of the most famous places in Rome and the name in modern Italian literally means "piazza of the people". Before the age of railroads, it was the traveler's first view of Rome upon arrival. For centuries, the Piazza del Popolo was a place for public executions, the last of which took place in 1826. There was a road to get to the top of a hill that over saw the plaza so we went up there for a while and enjoyed the scenery and the little carnival that was taking place up there. After dinner and a long walk/bus ride back to our hostel I was ready to call it a night.
4-1 NAPOLI
So, Naples was really cool! We took a two hour train ride from Rome to Naples and got there around 1pm. I saw Castel Nuovo, put my feet in the Tyrrehnian Sea, go to the Castel dell’Ovo, walk through Piazza Plebiscito and the Umberto Gallery. It was such a cool place and a lot different from Rome-more suburbish. We even got some amazing Lasagna and Wine. It was such beautiful weather too I wish I could have stayed there a little longer, but we had to catch a train back to Rome around 7:30pm. After getting back to Rome, we hopped on a bus back to our hostel and once again got a full nights sleep. Getting so much sleep is really making this feel like a vacation-no rushing around, I love it!
4-2 ANNIV. OF THE POPE’S DEATH-WHO KNEW? NOT US
So today was our last full day in Rome and we really wanted to make it to the Vatican City museum to see the Sistine Chapel. However, when we got to the front of the museum the line was 5 blocks long and we had no clue why. Someone told us that it was the second year anniversary of the pope’s death so the museum was going to be very busy for most of the day. So we decided to see some more things before coming back and standing in line for a few hours. First we went to the Pantheon, then Piazza Navona to look around and have lunch (where I finally got Naples Pizza-cheese and black olives). The Sistine Chapel was very gorgeous and the sculptures and paintings were amazing. After we walked through the whole museum we saw some more ruins at Circo Massimo and Palatino. We stopped for some dinner and then when it started getting dark we went back to the Colosseum because at night it lights up-how cool is that?!?! After watching and ‘ooo-ing’ and ‘ahhh-ing’ we headed back to the hostel for a very early night since our tomorrow morning was going to start before the sun was out.
4-3 BACK TO MADRID
Got up at 5:30 so we could leave the hostel by 6:15am to get to the airport. Rick had a 9:30 flight and mine was at 11. So, once we got there I sat and wrote post cards and walked around all the shops that were in the airport-it was like a mall. Got on my flight and was back at the apartment by 3pm. I unpacked a bit, had a snack, and watched Sex and the City for a while. I dozed on and off and went to bed around 2am (way too late).
4-4 RECOVERING
Today I slept in until about 1pm and just kind of lounged around all afternoon. I finished unpacking and played a lot of sudoku today. I took a nap for a while and then ate and played on the computer until it was time to go to bed for the night.
4-5 MORE RECOVERING
I once again slept in until 1pm (my life’s boring when I am not on vacation or in class, sorry). I began doing some homework and I must have fallen asleep because the next thing I knew, it was 7:45 and my senora was asking me when I wanted to eat dinner. Oh well, so much for doing homework. After dinner, I caught up on emailing and journaling, and listened to some music. Then I hit the sack around 1am.
4-6 HOMEWORK…BOOOORING.
Today I slept in again and tried to get ahead on some homework since Matt will be here and it will be hard to get a lot done, I am sure. I worked on some of my papers and took a nap before dinner. After I ate, I spent some time online and did a last minute check on his flight before I went to bed.
4-7 MATT’S HERE!
This morning I went to the airport to get Matt at 10am. Once I found him, we went to check in at his hotel and he took a nap while I watched some American TV in ENGLISH! Afterwards, we went to my house, I showed him around and we walked around for a while. We went to TGIFriday’s for dinner and then I helped him find his way back to his hotel around 10 so he could get some sleep, which I am sure was much needed
4-8 EASTER
This morning we got up and went to breakfast at a church and then we had mass. Breakfast was really good, lots of bread- crumb cake, blueberry, and something with chocolate chips and nuts. There was also a lot of fruit salad and eggs. Not as good, as breakfast at my US house (as I later found out) but better than the normal cereal and toast. The service was nice, but not what I am used to on Easter. In addition to the normal mass, there was a ‘giving of a child to the church’ and adult baptisms. After we hung out at my house for a while and went in search of dinner around 6pm. After dinner, we walked around for about an hour and then I needed to go home so I could finish some more homework (especially since there isn’t much to do around here on a Sunday).
4-9 DINNER AT MY HOUSE
This morning, since I did not have class until 1pm, Matt and I did a little sightseeing on the way to my school. Then we went to lunch at a place called “VIPS” right across the street from school. After my delicious chicken club sandwich (yummmmmmm!), we went to school. I had class and Matt hung out in the computer lab for a while. Once class was over, I went back home to get some work done and Matt ‘wandered’ for about an hour around the area of his hotel. I went to tutoring, picked up Matt from his hotel around 8pm, and we turned around and went to my house. My senora said she would cook for him one night while he was here and she made pasta and meat patties with cheese-it seemed more like an American meal. It was delicious, so I am not complaining! We chatted for a while after we had finished eating, then Matt went home, and I shortly headed to bed since I would have class at 9:30am tomorrow.
4-10 CLASS
I had class from 9:30- 2:30pm today so Matt decided to take the tourist Spain book and do a bit of sightseeing. He went to the Reina Sofia Museum in the afternoon and I met up with him after classes were done and we went to find a place to eat since we were both hungry. After our snack we walked around and went past things like Palacio Real and Sol which he is going to get to see on the tour we take this coming Friday. At nine, we headed back to the hotel to hang out and I had to finish up some homework that is due in the next few days. I am really trying to stay ka bit on top of things because the semester is wrapping up but there is a lot of work to be done with in the next two weeks!! O, and today I started counting down!!! 25 days until I am home! I can’t stand it!
4-11 I SPY
Matt and I did a bit of walking around this morning and around 1pm I decided to head to the library to try to use it for my upcoming research paper. After that, I had something to eat real quick to hold me over until dinner, then went to tutoring. Today at tutoring I taught Paula the game I SPY. They have something just like it in Spanish called Veo Veo-but there’s a bunch of lines that go back and forth between the two people that rhyme. We had a lot of fun doing that in the park. After tutoring I came back to my Senoras house, had dinner, did some homework, talked on-line for a little but and then went to bed kind of early.
4-12 OUCH
I had class at 9:30 today but did not go because my back was in a lot of pain when I woke up. So, instead I took some Aleve and laid down for a while before getting up for breakfast and my class that started at 1pm. After my class I met up with Matt at his hotel and we went to do some shopping. I took him to the Sol/Gran Via area and he looked for some souvenirs. We ate around 10pm and then just hung out a little bit before heading to bed. I was exhausted and knew that tomorrow would be busy with the tour bus.
4-13 THE TOUR BUS
Today we did the Madrid Vision Double-Decker bus tour (the same one as I took with my family). We hopped off the bus at the Templo de Debod and the Palacio Real. The rest of the day we just rode the buses and listened to the history of each place. For dinner we went to this place that looked like a bar but apparently had a restaurant attached. So we went in the back part and were served us a bunch of appetizers (that were FREE!) and then I had salad and Matt had paella…yes he finished the entire pan (a dish usually for at least two people). After dinner we went to O’Connell’s and watched some basketball, baseball and just hung out. Around 12:30 we both headed home since we had to be up real early for his flight in the morning.
4-14 BYE MATT
Today I got up and met Matt at his hotel at 8:30am so I could get him to the airport on time. We got there about 9:45am and he checked in and went through security to his gate in plenty of time. After I dropped him off I went to the post office to pick up my packages which made me just about the happiest girl in the world. I finally got my package from my mommy and one from my grandma both with lots and lots of candy :-) since they were Easter packages. From my grandma I got…Hershey chocolate bars and almond bars and gummy bears and...FUDGE!!!!! From my family I got.... lots of jelly beans but not the normal ones but the ones that look like different colored robin eggs and chocolate eggs, FRUIT SNACKS!!!, money, and the bunny that is usually attached to the beginning of the string that leads to my basket at Easter time. After all of that excitement I got my things together to head to the library. The people who work there were pretty nice it just stunk because it took me like 30 minutes to even be able to go in and then i was using the online catalogue and found a few things I want read through but when the library closes at 2, so you can check things out after 1. So since it was about 1pm, just looked for a few more books and wrote them all down then headed out. Once I got home, I cranked out some journaling and a homework assignment for my grammar class. It’s not due until the final week but I have so much that is going to be due that week I figured I would get the little busy work assignments out of the way so I could focus on the bigger projects when I have chunks of time this week. After my nice nap, I finished one of my assignments and sent it to my teacher to be corrected. Dinner was empanadas, eggs and French fries with an apple for dessert. After dinner I began my persuasive essay for grammar and finished updating my journal so I could post it online. EXACTLY THREE WEEKS UNTIL I AM HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (can you tell I am a little excited?)