Friday, July 10

All is continuing well at school we have talked about a lot of cultural things. Like eating 12 grapes with every strike of the clock in Puerta cel Sol here in Madrid as a countdown to the New Year. We have talked about the Recorriendo of San Fermin, the running of the bulls in Pamplona, which is this week.
Our host mom told us a funny story about that actually. She and her family we traveling through the north on a motorcycle, her dad was driving and he mother, two other sisters and she were in the side cart. They entered a small city and found it deserted, no one could figure out where the people were and her father was rather pleased with the lack of traffic when they rounded a corner and nearly ran smack into a giant bull. They had to quickly turn and speed away but were all screaming and very shaken.  This story was at lunch today. It's been nice this month because Amanda and I have been able to participate more and as a result direct the conversation to topics we are familiar with and can talk about in Spanish.

After lunch Amanda and I took a very long siesta...4 hrs long. This sounds absolutely awful, and it felt that way too, but I didn't budge until then. 

As a result we too were dead set upon doing something out and about in Madrid.  Unfortunately, no one else was really up to it apparently.  Megan has been feeling a little under the weather, Catherine had to study or something, who knows about Abby, and Alice was video chatting with her mom and her sister.  So we too went out alone.  We first went over to the neighborhood where our movie theater is to see about an event that was to be taking place in a big courtyard as part of a huge summer series of exhibitions, theater productions, movies, and more.  We found the terrace but it appeared that tickets were sold out and there wasn't much else to do.  So  from here we went to Plaza del Sur where we eventually had dinner at the same little Japanese restaurant we went to last week. We each had a big bowl of noodles and split a Vegetable Tempura.  After that we went over to the Chueca area, not far from Sol and went to a rooftop terrace for a glass of sangria and I suppose just a more sophisticated atmosphere...It is something that is suggested in many guide websites and books.  We were lucky enough to snag a small couch and were able to sit and talk for quite a while comfortably despite the crowds of people.  Made it home by 2 for bed.