Exploring Espana: First Saturday in Spain

This post is out of order, It should have come before the Toledo one, but because of technical difficulties (inability to upload photos/connect to the internet) I am posting it now as is. On Saturday September 8^th, I explored around Madrid with my roommate, and permanent student, Maureen. She took me to this Spanish kebab place close to where we live that she discovered by chance one day. It was really good. They had huge hunks of meat on these big rotating, stick-things and they just sliced it off fresh for the kebabs. The kebab actually reminded me a lot of gyro, because they put it on pita bread and put lettuce and special sauce on it.

After we go the kebab’s she showed me this park called Parque de Oeste, which translates into Park of the West. It’s a huge park with a great view of the city of Madrid. There were a lot of people there just laying-out, reading, walking around or playing on the playground. It was really pretty and had palm trees. It looked a bit tropical. There was also this big old building made of stone that is some kind of museum. Unfortunately it was not open when I went there but since its pretty close to where I live Il go back another time and see it.

After visiting the park, my roommate had to work so we both went home and I took a siesta. I’ve been taking at least one nap everyday since I’ve been here and its really nice. Since a lot of stores close from around 2-6 pm it’s the perfect time of day for a nap. Its usually reaches the daily high at that time too, about 90 degrees, so there is no need or reason to go outside anyways.

Since our host parents were gone most of this week, dinners were really fun. Dinners are always kind of fun because everyone gets together to talk but it’s easier when we can all talk in English. Jorge, our host brother also likes to talk to us and practice his English and he is quite a riot. He makes jokes and his accent is funny when we try and teach him new words.

At the cave bar

posing in front of my door

eating my first spanish kebab

kebab meal

Parque de Oeste

Parque de Oeste

That night we went out with all the roomies for the first time. It was super casual, and we went to this bar right by our house that we’ve gone to before, it’s called El Chapandaz or The Cave Bar, for us Americans. It’s called the cave bar because the inside of it looks like a cave, its very cool. It was really fun to go out with all the roomies for the first time, usually it is just me and other two girls studying abroad this semester because our permanent student (my actual roommate, that I share a room with) is taking 18 credits plus she works so she is usually two busy. I got this drink called “tinto verano” which means “summer wine” in Spanish and is basically red wine mixed with sprite, or the equivalent. Its called tinto verano because it is light and refreshing, ideal for Spain’s hot summers. We got back pretty early because two of us, Kendall and I, were both going to Toledo in the morning but it was a fun night.