Well my laptop hasn't worked for the past few weeks so I haven't been able to update anything on here, but I finally got it working so I can fill you all in. (I will update a packing list sometime next week as all of my stuff is currently exploding out of spacebags).
Transport
There were a few issues with travelling to Spain. First, when we arrived at the airport in St Louis, the check-in staff was unable to print Megan and my boarding passes from Toronto to Madrid and told us to print it at the gate there, which proved easier said than done. After being held up at customs in Canada trying desperately to prove that I was, in fact, on the flight we made our way to the gate, where we waited in line for a gate agent for what seemed like (and in fact was) hours. Our flight was delayed so they were in no hurry to head out. Luckily we stayed in line as the flight had been oversold. Unfortunately, they didn't have seats together, but who cares we all made it to Spain.
When we left the airport we decided to take the Metro to the apartment my parents rented for the week. Between the five of us we had five approximately 50 lb bags, two rolling carry-ons, two purses, and four backpacks. This made the metro quite difficult. The metro has very few elevators, quite a few of the stations don't have escalators and there are multiple flights downstairs quite often. After dragging our bags and getting a bit lost the apartment ended up being beautiful. Although the trip there was slightly hectic, the flights were wonderful, the city is gorgeous, and the company is great :) I am so happy to be here.
Here are some pictures I stole from Mrs. Belsha on facebook :)
When we left the airport we decided to take the Metro to the apartment my parents rented for the week. Between the five of us we had five approximately 50 lb bags, two rolling carry-ons, two purses, and four backpacks. This made the metro quite difficult. The metro has very few elevators, quite a few of the stations don't have escalators and there are multiple flights downstairs quite often. After dragging our bags and getting a bit lost the apartment ended up being beautiful. Although the trip there was slightly hectic, the flights were wonderful, the city is gorgeous, and the company is great :) I am so happy to be here.
Here are some pictures I stole from Mrs. Belsha on facebook :)
Toledo
Day two we went to the city of Toledo on the high speed train. It is gorgeous. Spain reminds me a lot of Southern California, scenery-wise. Outside of the city looks like an ever so slightly greener rural San Marcos. I cannot put in to words how gorgeous Toledo was. We walked around the entire city and then some. As it is on top of a hill the views were spectacular. The Cathedral was incredible. I do not know how else to describe it so prepare for quite a few pictures. Ha :)
La Tomatina
I had so much fun at La Tomatina, the giant tomato fight each year in Buñol. We started out the day by missing our 4:30 am bus. We learned the hard way that our alarms were not set to Madrid time. However, we were able to catch a train. We got to Valencia and were able to catch a bus to Bunol. When we got there we fought our way into a crowd with bags in arms (we didn't have time to make it to the lockers). It was so crowded we were pushed from the outskirts in almost to the middle. It was madness. I cant even explain. Megan took some pictures on a disposable camera. Hopefully, those turn out well enough and I am able to scan or upload them somehow to show you the madness. I have one faint bruise on my neck and two spots on my face from getting hit by a tomato in my goggles. Megan has a bruise on her leg but other than that we were unharmed.
We then went to the showers. Which were thick PVC piping with holes drilled into it. We lined up ten to fifteen deep and waited our turn to scrub the tomato out of our hair with ice cold water. It was FANTASTIC. Spain is so hot right now, around 90 degrees...I'm not actually sure as my phone switched to Celsius...but its hot. it currently says 31.
All in all, despite a disappointing tour group and waking up late the trip was so fun. La Tomatina is so fun definitely worth it and absolutely totally gross.
We then went to the showers. Which were thick PVC piping with holes drilled into it. We lined up ten to fifteen deep and waited our turn to scrub the tomato out of our hair with ice cold water. It was FANTASTIC. Spain is so hot right now, around 90 degrees...I'm not actually sure as my phone switched to Celsius...but its hot. it currently says 31.
All in all, despite a disappointing tour group and waking up late the trip was so fun. La Tomatina is so fun definitely worth it and absolutely totally gross.
Segovia...kinda
Today we got up to go to Segovia and ended up at the wrong train station. The hope is to make it there tomorrow morning. We ended up just doing a bit of sight seeing around Madrid. My camera was not working and my phone was dead, so I'll have to go again and post pictures later. But we did go to the Prado today, one of the best museums (second only to the Louvre according to my Dad). It was so beautiful. Did you know that a student of Da Vinci's painted the Mona Lisa simultaneously? ...because I saw it today. ha The Prado is beautiful. If you have a student ID in Europe from an accredited university make sure to flash it around a little. We got into the Prado free and there are TONS of other unadvertised student discounts we have yet to take advantage of.