Soria!

Last Saturday I went with the same friend Emily to another small town outside of Spain that she had read about in the New York Times--Soria. It is a very pretty, quaint town that resembles most other small Spanish cities until you get across the bridge...

To the gorgeous, gorgeous, 12th century monastery!

Consuegra!

Last Friday my friend Emily and I went to the town that historians originally believed was Cervantes' inspiration for the windmill scene in Don Quixote. They found out later that a different town probably inspired him, but it was still a gorgeous place nonetheless! It was nice not to be around herds of tourists and corny Don Quixote gifts. 

Franco

Tonight at dinner my Sra was talking to us about her childhood under Franco. She went to a special school that posed as a Franco-law-abiding establishment when the inspectors were around, but then functioned as a really progressive anti-Franco school during normal school days. For example, Franco demanded boys and girls be separated in school, but in her school they mixed genders. Patricia also had to live as a woman, obviously, under Franco, and that was literally the equivalent of living in the middle ages. She had to ask her father or her husband's permission to get a passport or to work. The Spanish also had to salute Franco with the "Hitler" greeting.

It was really eye-opening that something like this was happening in the 60's and 70's.

Toledo!

Here are a few pictures from my trip last Friday:

Toledo is where El Greco painted a lot of his famous works and is just a pretty little town. It used to be the capital of Spain before it was moved to Madrid.

Spring Break Update!

I just bought a train ticket from Berlin to Rome!

On April 17th at 2:40 pm I board a train to Munich, then transfer to a train to Rome. I arrive at 9:20am the following day! I am very excited!

I also just bought a ticket to go to Paris the weekend of March 25th. A few friends are joining me there!

I will also be attending...

The Royal Wedding! At least I will watch the procession go by from somewhere! It is all very, very exciting!

There is an NYU Sponsored day trip to Toledo this Friday and will keep the blog updated!

Spring Break Shapes Up...

Hello! I have started to plan and book flights for my fabulous, unbelievably luxurious, go-NYU(!), two-week-long-spring break.

First: April 8th at 10:00am I arrive in London!

And then on Thursday April 14th at 9:30pm I arrive in Berlin to see and stay with my Freshman roommate Jessica who now lives there!

And then possibly to Rome!

Avila

Avila is a town with an entire medieval wall still surrounding it's downtown. It is an amazing sight.

You can walk along the wall for only 1.50e which is amazing:

The rest of the town was beautiful too. It was by far my favorite excursion out of Madrid.