Madrid!

After a long overnight flight from Philadelphia, I joined my study abroad group API in Madrid, where we will be staying for several days! It has been such a long day I don't even know exactly where "today" began. Long hours of waiting and moving luggage finally landed us in our hotel near Plaza Mayor at the very heart of Madrid, and literally, the very center of the country. It is really fascinating here; the streets are all cobblestone, which I'm told is a European norm, and where we are is a touristy place with lots of shops and walking streets. It's hard to tell which streets are for driving and which are for walking!

We have been warned about pickpockets and other dangers, especially after dark, of the area and although we won't be here for very long can hopefully familiarize ourselves with some of the ways of life here before settling in Granada.

I met my roommate for the semester and my 2 API suitemates! They are really awesome; we bonded very quickly and have spent some time together already. It looks like a fun semester ahead, what with traveling and spending time in our resedencia and meeting their friends throughout Europe. One roommate is Puerto Rican and knows many people abroad; one has family and friends in Spain; and one spent a summer in Salamanca and traveled in Italy prior to arriving here, so I'm pretty much the one with the least travel abroad experience, but that's okay. We seem to be getting along well so far!

Tomorrow I'm going to the Prado Museum, which holds the royal painting collection (collected by Spanish monarchs between 1400-1700). This museum houses many masterpieces from artists such as Velàzquez, Goya, El Greco, and Italian and Flemish artists. We also have a trip planned to visit the Royal Palace, built for Bourbon King Phillip V after the Alcàzar burned down. It will be a busy day! Later in the week we will visit el Escorial, the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial, and visit Toledo before bussing out to Granada! Pictures to come.