ToLeDo!

Welcome to Toledo!

Today was an incredible day! We met everyone at the train station, and from there we took a hour and a half bus ride to Toledo. I slept the whole way :) I woke up to the loud voice of our guide- yes, quite startling. 

I was overwhelmed by the beauty in Toledo. There were castles everywhere and beautiful buildings and rivers and GREEN trees. 

Breathtaking, no?

Our guide told us that every time "El Greco" painted anything in Toledo, he painted on a cloudy day and that today was a perfect "El Greco" painting day!

Our guide took us around (on the bus first) all of Toledo and she let us stop and actually exit the bus to see/take pictures of this...

I can't believe that people just live in this city. It is totally normal for them! I would kill to live in a city like this. 

Toledo is known for Mazapan. It is in every little store and in every shape and size. They even had a castle made out of it in a window! It reminded me of Christmas time and the ZCMI windows and all of the different things made out of candy! 

And this beautiful building is the main cathedral in Toledo. It is stunning. I couldn't believe the architecture and the art inside. It is just as big as it looks outside on the inside. 

Toledo was beautiful and I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have had to see just a fraction so far of the country. I have already fallen in love with it - even though it will never take Mexico's place :) 

Me and my friend Audi

I love my family and I LOVE SPAIN! 

Love always,

Natalie Christine 

The Joys of Free Time

Hey, quick little post tonight! One thing that I am definitely learning more about the culture everyday is that Spaniards are just love to chill. They just hang out everywhere! Tonight, Rikki and I grabbed a bit to eat at a restaurant called "El Morado". I ordered a "sandwich mixto" which is just a ham and cheese sandwich basically. Rikki, on the other hand went above and beyond and ordered a "sandwich mixto con huevos"- which is the same thing that I got, just with eggs. What came out on the plate, neither of us were expecting. 

Yes. The egg is like...in the sandwich... There was a piece of bread, ham and cheese, another piece of bread, an very gooey egg sunny side up and then another piece of bread with a hole cut out of it (displayed for decoration). Needless to say...it was hilarious. Possibly one of those "you had to be there moments"...but it's okay, we laughed! :)


Much love from Spain! 


Love always,
Natalie Christine 

Maps, Trains, Art and MAPS.

Today was quite the day. We woke up and went to class which was awesome. It was quick paced but very interesting. I am taking two classes- 321 and 345. I have not gone to my 321 class yet, but I went to my 345 class today. My 345 class is all about the history of Spain, as well as Spain's art, literature etc. My professor is so sharp and I just love it! Don't worry either, I took a first day of school picture!

Me, Rikki, Hope, Kylie, Rylie and Audi

This is picture is me outside the school and by the main sign!

After a successful first day of school, we hung out in the Plaza de Cervantes for a little bit- which was very relaxing! Then, I had to get me and three others girls to the train station. Train station? What train station? So, I whipped out the map that María (my mom here) gave me and got us there. I was pretty proud of myself to tell you the truth. Once we got to the train station, we met up with the rest of the group once they arrived and we got on the train. It is just like getting on a metro in New York. It was a forty minute ride and then we were practically face to face with this...

and this...

and this...

Incredible right?

From 6-8 p.m. the Museo del Prado was open and was free of charge. The biggest artists there are Velázquez, Goya and El Greco. It was so awesome! 

Natalie and Rikki outside the Museo del Prado

After the museum, we went back to the train and went home. Needless to say, once we were out of the train station and had to head home, we got lost. We were walking home with some girls that live kind of close to us (we live the farthest away out of everyone) and then they were home and Rikki and I had to decide if we wanted to walk home or walk back to the Plaza de Cervantes and pay a euro for the bus. We were going to take the bus and then all of the sudden we were closer to home than the bus, so we just headed home...until all of the sudden we were in the Plaza de Cervantes. Don't ask me how that happened. Regardless- we ended up taking the bus and got off when it was the last stop...but the wrong street because he decided not to take the full route. So, on a street called Ávila, we had to wind our way back home. Finally we got home expecting to find a very distraught mother (María) and daughter (Alba). But no- there were just finishing their cena...at ten thirty. Of course, that makes perfect sense right? We walked into the kitchen and were greeted with a hello and they asked all about our day. They are awesome :)

On the bus after a long LONG day...and we thought we were almost home, but no.

I love my family here and at home! 

Love always, 

Natalie Christine

 

La Plaza de Cervantes

Sorry, I tried to post this yesterday, but I didn't have a good enough internet connection, so this is yesterday's post!

Today we went back to the Plaza de Cervantes and toured a little bit of the city so that we could at least be somewhat knowledgeable and at least think we knew what we were doing. But we didn't considering the walk back home from the plaza took us a little over an hour and it should have taken us 30 minutes. We barely made it back in time for comida- which you are on time for, no questions asked. 

Anyway, more about the tour! The city of Alcalá de Henares is centered all around Miguel de Cervantes.  Miguel de Cervantes was born in Alcalá de Henares in the home pictured below. 

There is also a statue of Miguel de Cervantes in the Plaza de Cervantes. 

The Plaza de Cervantes is pretty small and is the center of Alcalá de Henares. Below are two pictures of the plaza from a distance. 

P.S. Rikki and I got a picture with Don Quijote and his minion Sancho Panza. Jealous? 

Mom- I thought of you today when I saw this house (pictured below) because I knew that you would think it was so cute and beautiful and that if we were all together you would have pointed it out! 

Last, but not least, I live on a calle called Valencia! The neat thing about that is that all of the streets in this area are named after other cities in Madrid! Like Valencia :)

I love my family!

Love always,

Natalie Christine

Meet The Crew!

Meet the Me and Myself.

On April 25th at 8:30 a.m. I set of on an adventure of a lifetime. A study abroad has always been a dream of mine, and after the nightmare that security is when you are chosen to be randomly selected to be wanded and the checking/weighing of bags, that dream became a reality.

Meet Moss.

Rikki (Erika) Moss is my roommate for my study abroad. We are the same age, we love spending time together, and we have a great time together! She is from Minnesota and pronounces the word "bag" like it is spelled

"bayyyyg". :) We are a dynamic duo and I dare say we complete each other.

Finally, meet a little bit of my new home for the next 2 months.

Madrid.

This is a shot just to the left of the house that I am staying in. It is so beautiful and lush and green here! And, it is a lovely 68 degrees and no clouds outside. :) 




Just to give you a little more background on what I am doing here. I am here because I am minoring in Spanish. I am taking three classes here, two of which will get my closer to completing my minor. I also wanted to improve my speaking skills, naturally, as well as have the experience of living abroad and growing on my own. While living in Madrid, all of the students are living with different families. Rikki and I are staying with María and her daughter Alba. They have both already been so good to us and we are very grateful to them!

I am so grateful for this opportunity that I have to grow and to progress. I am also grateful for the little miracles that I experienced today- I know the Lord is watching over me. 


I love my family and I miss them like crazy! XOXO! 


Love always,
Natalie Christine