Hello hello! So I didn't get to go to the parque del retiro, instead we went souvenir shopping. It was fun, but I still would've liked to see the park. I guess that just gives me more of a reason to go back to Madrid someday :p It was a pretty boring night. We found a great place to eat for just 6 euros a person and then no one really felt like going out. Janna and I were hoping to go out, but once 12 o clock hit we decided to give up on the idea and we stayed in for the night. That doesn't mean we went to bed any earlier than usual though :p The most I've slept this week (well, until last night) was about 4 hours a night. We've taken naps here and there on bus trips, but it's not a solid amount of good sleep.
On the 16th, we had a really busy and long day. We went to Escorial to see the monastery (which was really pretty!) then to Toledo where we went to some churches and museums. They say it takes 3 days to see Toledo, so we had to make the most of our time there to see how much we could fit into a few hours of walking around and tours. It was also extremely hot out today! At night we called up a guy called Abel who's cuban and worked at a tapas place we went to for dinner one night and he told us about a flamenco show that would be 25 euros with his discount. So we went and it was amazing! So full of passion. I really want to learn! There was even a male flamenco dancer that Janna, Daisy, and Aiyahna took pictures with. After that Abel told us that he worked for a club and it would be free for ladies, but that we would need ID to get in and some of us didn't have ID so we had to go to the hotel first. He told us to be at the club by 1:30. We got there at 1:33 and we called him and asked the bouncers for him. We couldn't get in touch with him. Then finally he comes and sees us, but by then it's 2 o'clock and we can't get in for free, so we pay 15 euros. It still wasn't bad and we got to cut the whole line and at that point we didn't mind because we just wanted to enjoy our last night in Madrid. We had planned on going to the club Kapitol which was right next door to Abel's club, but the line to get in was enormous. Faena Madrid was a lot of fun though! Great music.
On Sunday I woke up earlier to pack up and then we had a few more tours to go on before going to the airport. We went to the Royal Palace and then to the Prado Museum.We were all so exhausted from walking so much this week and not getting too much sleep, but our tour guide (Manuel aka Manolo) was really understanding. At 2 we got back to the hotel and had time to eat. I really wanted kebaps and there was a place right next to the hotel so I went to get kebaps and then pretty much everyone in the group ended up going too. I'm sure the restaurant was happy with the amount of customers they had that day! haha. We got to the airport at 4 and waited in line for check-in til 5:30. We thought for sure that some of us wouldn't make it to the flight on time, but the flight got delayed by like 20 minutes. My luggage was overweight again, but they let me pass without paying (thank god for having women at the check ins who understand!). The flight was good, but man is the weather in Santiago de Compostela so different from Madrid. It's just been so so dreary. We got in last night, got our rooms (I'm in a single room - they're not too bad), and then ordered pizza for dinner at 11:30 at night. Then I unpacked a bit and went to bed.
This morning we couldn't find the cafeteria for breakfast and even the graduate assistant that's supposed to be helping us didn't know where it was in our dorm building, but finally we found it. Breakfast was different that what we're used to. It was just like a big pastry and coffee/juice. Then we went to our placement exam and the written part wasn't bad, but I was so nervous for the oral part. Speaking spanish is not as easy as writing it because writing it gives me more time to think about the correct grammar and to look over it to see if it's ok. When I went in for the oral exam she told me that I spoke well at the beginning, but at the end of the exam she told me "less partying and more studying". It's just ironic considering I don't really party and I'm always studying. It's just made me want to work harder to prove to her that I'm just rusty but that I'm not as stupid as she made me feel. I don't know, I think I'm taking it too much to heart, but it's also motivating me to learn Spanish better and prove her wrong. Afterwards we walked around the city a bit and it is really pretty! I just wish there was some sun and a little less rain :p I did realize that I do need to get some warmer clothes because the jackets I have aren't warm enough. Maybe I'll buy a sweatshirt from the university later! Hasta luego amigos :)
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