Segovia, España with MARIE!

The weekend with Marie in Spain was a blast! The weather was beautiful all weekend - only a couple showers. Marie's host parents hosted me and they treated me so well - lots of food, but I think that was mostly because I couldn't convince them (in Spanish) that I didn't need much to eat. I got used to the eating schedule pretty quickly and adapted as best as I could to the 2-ish hour siesta in the middle of the day. It's hard to take naps. We walked around a lot during the days - saw Marie's school and the Alcazar, a big old castle in Segovia. We also got tapas one evening and had plenty of movie nights (as usual!). It was hard to believe that we were in another country because we were together, and it felt just like at Saint Ben's, only with Spanish game shows during supper.

That's the Aqueduct in the background. And me in the foreground.

The Segovia Cathedral

The Alcazar

This was our day trip to Madrid - the Royal Gardens

a Mariachi

Plaza Mayor - lots of crazy people trying to get money from you. This is where we ate the bocadillos her mom made us (barely in peace)

Atocha Train Station - bombed by terrorists in 2004

Neptune's Fountain

North Station at night

Alcazar from the bottom of a big hill

It's greener than Ireland!

Marie, Marie, Here I Come

On Thursday (after Paddy's Day) I'm flying to Madrid to see Marieeeeee! For those of you who don't know, Marie is my best friend and roommate at Saint Ben's. (See photo at right, shown here somewhere in Spain.)

I'm staying with her and her host family in Segovia, Spain, until Monday.

I think this semester has been one of the longest times we have been apart since we've known each other. So sad. But she's going to take me to all the best spots in / around Segovia and Madrid and serve as my translator. Right, Marie? :)


In other news:
I'm still anticipating the activities of Wednesday, the 17th. There's going to be a parade in Cork City and Mag and I are working on securing some Heineken for our St. Patrick's Day celebration. I've heard some rumors that the celebration here isn't as intense or "festive" as in the States, particularly in NYC. According to her accounts (and the fact that there is a huge Irish population on Long Island, where she's from), St. Patrick's Day is crrrazy there with lots of food and parades and general hootenanny. I guess corned beef and cabbage is a big deal for Mag and her family, so if we can't find any around town on Wednesday, we're going to make some so I can get an "authentic" Paddy's Day experience. I'm still looking for a good outfit to wear - thinking about heading to the euro store to get some green stuff. All classes are canceled on Wednesday (UCC shuts down for the day) so we should have a grand time. Don't worry... my flight to Madrid doesn't leave Dublin until 5 pm on Thursday.