Segovia/Alex's visit!

James left on Monday, and my best friend Alex arrived on Thursday! What a great week for me. Alex and I had met up in Barcelona, and this weekend she came to see me in Madrid! It gets better: in 2 weeks I'll be in Rome to celebrate her birthday as well.

We were maybe going to check out Kapital on Thursday night-a 7 story club that is free for ladies on Thursdays. I'm probably the only person who hasn't gone yet! I'm just always traveling. But then by the time we got home from the airport it was already 1:30 AM, and watching the office just seemed more appealing to both of us. I'm so grateful that my senora Casi let Alex stay for free, because many households in my program would not allow it. But I'm well taken care of over here.

Friday morning we had to be at my school at 9:30 am because my 4th and final program trip was to Segovia, Spain. It's just over an hour outside of Madrid. Upon arriving we were greeted with the view of a gorgeous fairy-tale castle. In fact, it was this very castle, the Alcazar, that inspired the Disney castle!

Alcazar and all its majesty

 The first stop we made was into Vera Cruz church, wich dates back to the thirteenth century. Since everything is done in Spanish on my program, I had to translate for Alex while our program director told us about everything around us.

Alex and I in Vera Cruz church.

Next we saw the most well-preserved Roman Aqueduct in Europe. It was totally functioning until the 1950s when the pollution from cars nearby damaged the stones that held it all together. I couldn't believe it was made without cement!

Next we walked around central Segovia and visited a synagogue with Muslim design that is now a Christian church.

Cathedral

That's right. I ordered dessert for lunch. We ate out side in the main plaza and it was so sunny out I got a sunburn!

Going inside the castle was simply amazing. It was my first time inside one in Europe! Ferdinand and Isabel, the Spanish kings who sent Columbus, lived there for a while. On the inside they had depictions of Spanish kings going all the way back to the 700s. It was a gorgeous day outside but freezing inside the castle. I can't imagine how cold it is during the winter!

Alex and I on a castle tower!

That night me, Alex, and my friend Justin went to an urban Mexican restaurant. It was super delicious apart from the drink I ordered. It was called a Michelada. It is a mixture of corona, chicken broth, and tobasco with ground chili peper on the rim. I have no idea why I ordered this! It was really gross though. After that, we did what most Spaniards do on weekends: drink in public. I'm not sure if this is legal, but it's completely socially acceptable. Plazas all over the city are filled with youth enjoying an inexpensive way to spend the night.

On Saturday, after sleeping in, we ate at Museo del Jamon for lunch. You can get a ham sandwich, a piece of fruit, and a drink for 2 euro. I've known about this place since I arrived in Madrid but it was my first time there and I am now obsessed with it! Then we went on the free walking tour of Madrid. I loved the tour so much I didn't mind going again, and we had a different tour guide so it was still a new experience for me. After that, I took Alex walking down Gran Via-the 5th Ave of Madrid, if you will.

On the free tour when they mentioned a pub crawl they were having that night, Alex and I exchanged glances and we knew that's what we were doing that night! So we rushed home, got ready, had a quick bite to eat at a lovely establishment known as Burger King, and headed to the pub crawl. It was much better than the one in London! The night would have been flawless had it not been for Alex's camera getting stolen. Thank God I uploaded her Segovia pictures onto my computer before we left, so at least those were saved.

On Sunday we headed to the Rastro-the market that happens every Sunday in Madrid. It was my 3rd time going, and honestly I'll probably go again before I leave!

El Rastro!

decisions, decisions. I'm definitely going back to pick out a tapestry for my apartment next year!

Alex and I had a great time together exploring Madrid and Segovia! On Thursday I leave for my 2 week spring break trip in Italy! What a long blog post that's going to be...