Discovering Madrid

Many tiny miracles have occurred in the past couple days, and I am so grateful!  This week went by quickly for me at my job, but I definitely had no shortage of things to do.  I am still uploading audio files onto the digital books, editing manuscripts, and I will possibly be making my own manuscript of some activities in English for a Religious Education textbook!!  I come alive at the chance to create.  I may also be uploading interactive activities onto the digitized books, so that will be a major tutorial in the technology department for me!  I am also setting up interviews for my thesis which is nerve-wracking but also extremely exhilarating since I am finally starting my primary research.

On Friday after work we went into Madrid and met up with my friend Almu who studied at UD this past year and is from Madrid!  She showed us around her favorite places in the city.  First we got to see El Parque Retiro, a massive park next to the Prado.

Kaitlyn and I by the lake!

Almu and I by the Rey Alfonso XII monument!

We went to the Real Jardin Botanico (The Royal Botanical Garden), but were saddened to see that there were not very many flowers, and the flowers that were there were quite shriveled.  Oh well, we just ventured on and went to the "barrio" of Chueca to a well-known tapas bar in the area called "El Tigre."  What a miracle of a tapas bar, because all you have to do is order your drink,and then they give you three plates of delicious food for free!! We received some paella, roasted potatoes with a tomato-like salsa, and a plate with bread, jamon and queso, AND croquetas!! So delicious!! 

Then, I decided to face my fear of heights and go to the city hall with Almu and Kaitlyn and take the elevator to the observation deck!  Last summer I climbed a 12th century bell tower to see the views of Oxford.  This summer I got to the see the "vistas hermosas de Madrid."  Here is a photo of me at the top of the tower:

Do you see me holding onto that steel bar for dear life?! Yes, I was quite nervous, but very happy that I decided to face my fear anyways.  That's what life is all about right?  Facing your fears and then being blessed with the results - knowing that you can do whatever you thought you couldn't do.

We then walked through the bustling center of Madrid, Sol, and then onwards to the Palacio Real (my FAVORITE area of Madrid by far)! 

Yesterday was a leisurely day reading and reflecting (as always).  In the evening we went back into Madrid to meet up with a young editor from work to go to the Bollywood Festival in Lavapies, a melting-pot of a barrio with many immigrants and a beautiful array of cultures.  After having some drinks, we went to where there was a massive stage set in front of this old structure that looked like a castle!  We saw some Bollywood dancing, and then they played a movie that was in English, but the actors had thick Indian accents, so we actually relied on the Spanish subtitles to understand what was happening!  The atmosphere was contagious - so many people just relaxing and having fun right in the present moment!  This type of lifestyle is so appealing, something I think Americans really need to adopt more often.

We grabbed the last train out of Madrid, and when we got to the train station to get the taxi, there were no taxis in sight.  I became extremely nervous and literally looked up and said "Dear God, please let there be a taxi coming soon!"  And what do you know, two seconds later a taxi comes shooting down the street right to where we were standing!! What a miracle, thank you God, and we got home safe!

This morning I also experienced the miracle of getting my internet back after it decided to go away for a day and a half!! And also, the family I'm staying with just got a new Golden Retriever puppy! Pictures to come as soon as I can catch him sitting still! :)