I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written here, I guess I just kept forgetting about it. So here's an update!
After La Vendimia, it was time to get back to the daily grind and start dedicating my time to school, teaching English (two times a week to 2 youngsters and a college student), volunteering, and learning how to juggle activities and schoolwork while in a completely different setting than Bloomington. It's certainly been an adjustment, but it's been a great time doing so.
A couple weekends ago, myself and three friends went to the nearby town of San Lorenzo de El Escorial on a bus for a day trip and had a great time. It was a beautiful day and seeing the monastery was truly a pleasure. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site a few years ago, and is also the final resting place of the Spanish royal family. The mausoleum is underneath the monastery and is absolutely beautiful, albeit a little creepy. However, no matter the severity of goosebumps I received in the mausoleum, it was very awe-inducing to see the names of the kings we've been learning about and know that this is where they lie. To avoid redundancy and for the sake of brevity, here's a link to the wiki page for the monastery: San Lorenzo de El Escorial There are also the gardens just outside of the monastery, and they were astounding as well. I don't think there is a bad angle of that place. I'll definitely be visiting it again. It's only 45-60 minutes on a bus from Madrid and goodness knows it was refreshing to get out of the city for a day and experience something different on a day as nice as the one we went out there.
Last weekend, a friend and I went out to Valencia to visit the Mediterranean and see my host family from when I studied abroad here in 2011 with the IU Honors Program. It was a pleasure seeing them again and I already can't wait to go back and spend another weekend with them. I'll add our "family portrait" below. We stayed in a hostel downtown and saw all the historic sites on a walking tour and through guiding ourselves. What I remember of the city seemed much different this time than the last time I was there in 2012 but it was so great seeing it again. Visiting Valencia and my host family always revitalises me. That trip came at just the right time.
Classes have finally started picking up and in my class with the local university, I have a group composed of myself and 4 Spanish classmates to write a paper and demonstrate a final presentation. It sounds like it'll be a lot of work but they seem to really know what they're doing so I'm sure it will be great. Also, a group with Spaniards. It's been hard for us so far to assimilate and make friends, so this is my opportunity to get my foot in the door, so to speak, and make some friends.
I don't have much else to say other than that it's been hectic! I'll share some photos below with the brief descriptions, as per usual. Please do no hesitate to comment or contact me! :)
Un abraç fort i mil besos des d'Espanya (Un abrazo fuerte y mil besos desde España), in the Valencian dialect: A strong hug and a thousand kisses from Spain,
Emma
The basilica of El Escorial.
The plaza outside of the monstery.
The pond next to the gardens.
One of my favourite pictures-- El Escorial with the gardens in the foreground. The sky is beautiful too.
A fountain oasis in the middle of one of the garden mazes.
The view from the edge of the gardens, looking out over the city of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.
The city hall building of Valencia at night. What a city.
The tower, El Miguelete, in downtown Valencia which you can ascend and have a breathtaking view of the city from above.
La Plaza de la Virgen by night.
The back end of the cathedral and a really neat old car with which a woman dressed in traditional Fallera Mayor clothing was taking pictures. ( Fallera Mayor )
The fam!! :)
Torres de Quart by night.
The inside of La Lonja near the Mercado Central-- the columns and structures above were meant to appear as palm trees.
Above and below are photos taken from atop El Miguelete. It was the first time I've climbed this tower and I regretted not a second of it. The view is 100% worth it.
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