Hannah the tour guide

As soon as my parents got here I got way to busy to write, so I'll fill you in on our time together. Sunday we woke up to a rainy morning. We got ready anyway and headed out to El Rastro, Europe's largest flea market. By the time we got there it was done raining and the sun came out! El Rastro is in the streets and it is a million little stalls, many of which sell the exact same thing. We looked around for a while and baught some souvinears. That afternoon we had lunch with my Senora. She made a vegetarian paella, which was delicious. It is usually a rice and seafood dish but she made it with vegetables instead. Then we had a traditional Madrid dessert but I forgot the name. It was a lot like french toast. We wanted to go to the Prado that night, but by the time we were done with lunch and back to the appartment it was already 6:30 and it is only free until 7. Me and my mom did some shoping instead and my dad rested at the appartment. We cooked some dinner and I headed home for the night.

Monday I only had one class so I decided to bring my parents to school with me. We took the train out to Getafe where the university is and I showed them around the city a little. I helped them to buy lunch at a famous little sandwhich shop and went to class while they ate. After class we went back into the city and went to the Retiro park. We rented a small row boat on the lake and paddled around for a while. In one of my tourist books we found this convent that has cloistered nuns that make sweets. We went there and had to say a password to get in. Then we had to put our money in a lazy susan contraption and out came our cookies! It was very strange. I showed my parents Plaza Mayor, which is quite a site. Then we went to the grocery store and got dinner supplies. We went back to the appartment and cooked and ate and I went home.

Tuesday I had class all morning so my parents were on their own. They were planning to go to the Royal Palace, but it was closed for a royal function until 11. In the meantime, they saw a cathedral and got some good views of Madrid. At 11 they got to go inside the palace, which I think is one of the coolest things I have seen here. After class, I met them at the appartment for lunch. My mom and I headed out for the clothing museum. My dad thought this might not be his scene so he went to take pictures around the city instead. We got a little lost on our way to the museum, but found it in pleanty of time. It was a really cool museum and very hands on. You got to see the evolution of Spanish clothing as well as try on some fashion trends from the past. We met up with my dad at the Prado and went to see some famous paintings. We saw Velazques, Goya, El Greco and a few others but that museum is huge! By 8:00 our feet were exausted so we left and went back to the appartment for dinner.

Wednesday I had a big test at 1:00, so I went to school early to study and my parents were on their own in the city. My test went well and then I met up with my parents at my senora's appartment. We gave her a present and they got to say goodbye. Then we went and saw where Goya is burried. It is kind of far away but it is in a little church covered with his frescos. It was absolutly beautiful. We planned to go out for dinner at a vegetarian restaurant, but no restaurants open until at least 8:00. We had some time to kill so we wandered around the city a bit and then decided to walk to the restaurant instead of take the metro. It turns out it is really far and it was really windy and cold. We finally got there and it was closed, even though it said it opened at 8. We opted to go to an italian resturanted instead since they definitly had vegetarian food. It was a DELICIOUS meal. I had four-cheese ravioli with spinich. I haven't eaten a dinner out in Madrid since the first night here because my senora cooks for me every night. It was sooo good. Then I went home to sleep.

This morning I helped my parents check out of their appartment and took them to the metro that would take them to the airport. I couldn't take them all the way there because I had class, but I'm sure they made it fine. I headed off to school and had a regular day. I am super exausted. It is hard to go to school and play tour guide but it was definitly worth it. It was sad to say goodbye to my parents and even sadder to think that the next time I see them I will be in Wisconsin. I guess now I can look forward to Emily's visit over Easter!

Tomorrow I am going on a field trip to Segovia for my enviornment class. I am really looking forward to it except that we are stoping in the mountains and it's going to be really cold!! I do not miss the snow! I'll let you know how it goes!