Thanks for all of your responses to the first update from Spain. I like hearing from all of you. :)

So we left with my visiting the Roman bridge in Toledo. It turns out that after that, we went out to the Irish pub again. This time, Paulencia and Lauren (the birthday girls from last time) actually came. I didnīt have as much fun this time without the people I talked to before, but I did try a sip of a malibu pineapple and that was pretty good. Unfortunately, the next morning after breakfast, I realized that I hadnīt bought any postcards from Toledo the whole time I was there. So I ran out to the closest store to see if it was open, but none of them were (it was just after 9:00 AM) and we had to leave at 9:15. So oh well, right? Well, when I ran back to the room and got my bag, I accidentally dropped my camera. I picked it up and dusted it off and it looked ok. On our way to the bus, I stopped to take a picture and the camera wouldnīt turn on. Turns out the battery must have fallen out when I dropped the thing, and there was no time to get another one. On the way out of the city, the bus stopped at this turn in the road and there was a beautiful view of the entire layout of Old Toledo. But of course, my camera wasnīt working. Very frustrating. This added to the fact that I forgot night clothes and my contacts case when I packed for Toledo, so I had to sleep in what I was wearing all day each night and I had to wear my contacts for three days and two nights straight. Bleh.

We got back to Madrid and it had warmed up considerably. (You know what that means...the purple jacket has made its official Spanish debut) We had some free time before another class, so instead of eating I wandered the streets around the Fundacion trying to find a battery, but to no avail. Our class was over the political situation in Spain. The professor spoke rather quickly in Spanish, and I was proud of myself for being able to pick up almost everything he said. Of course, one of the girls in the back of the room complained and he slowed down, started speaking in English, and repeated what he said during the last 10 minutes. Grr. Afterwards there was a small lunch in the library of the Fundacion where we could meet the other professors. I listened to a conversation between Bentsen and the professor of the Management Ethics class (Prof. Tennant, from the Cox business school, and who doesnīt speak any Spanish) and it sounded like his class would be really interesting. I have never taken philosophy or ethics before cause it didnīt sound like something Iīd like, but I wondered if maybe I should switch out of the art class into that one. After that, I left with some others to look for mobile phones. We went to El Corte Ingles, which is like a massive department store. There are shops all over Madrid. Anyway, it was a bit of a walk from the Fundacion, and once we looked at the phones, we figured we could get a better deal elsewhere. But at least I got a camera battery. Later I ended up buying one for a much better deal at the Alcampo supermarket near my apartment. Alcampo has like everything. BTW, the number is 660 909 194, but I guess you have to dial Spainīs country code, but not Madridīs city code or something. Itīs free for me to receive calls on it, and sending text messages is way cheap, so thatīs how all of us have been communicating.

That night, about 11 of us went out again. I really didnīt enjoy it because I didnīt feel like drinking, so I looked at all the pictures on the walls and took up space doing what I have named Jaguar duty (jacket guarding). Eventually Kristin convinced me to get a vodka with Fanta Limon and it was like having something in my hand made me feel like I belonged. Unfortunately, someone said we were going to be leaving soon, so I drank the thing down rather quickly. I felt lighter on my feet but I could still do long division in my head (I checked) so I guess I wasnīt drunk :) but maybe Iīll set one as my limit. The group went to another bar later and I left cause I just wanīt enjoying it. Plus we were supposed to be at the school early the next day.

The next morning (Saturday) we met at the Fundacion and all took the Metro (my first time in Spain) to Old Madrid and Noemi showed us some of the historical parts of the city. We saw the royal theater and opera house, the royal palace (which isnīt used by anyone except for entertaining foreign dignitaries), Madridīs cathedral (each city has itīs own and itīs own name for the Virgin Mary) and a street where a king and his wife were attacked by a bomber on their wedding day. We also saw the Plaza Mayor which had a huge square surrounded by shops. There was a group of street musicians playing Let it Be, so we gave them money. The Tourist Information Office was also there, so we got info about things to see and do in Madrid. The tour ended in Puerta del Sol, the social center of Madrid. The biggest dance clubs are close by and there are many shops and restaurants there. It also has one of the busiest Metro stops. After the tour ended, Paulencia, Lauren, and I had lunch at a Mexican restaurant :) and walked all around the area. We wanted to see a movie in Spanish, but each time we found a theater, nothing was starting for another 2 hours. Since we didnīt have anything to do Sunday, we planned to see the Botanical Gardens.

Well, I set my alarmīs time but definitely didnīt turn it on, so I missed the botanical gardens (apparently nothingīs growing yet anyway) meeting time. I caught up with Paulencia and Lauren after lunch and we decided to walk from the gardens to the IMAX. Wow, that was a walk. Turns out the IMAX isnīt in the nice part of town either. I hadnīt eaten so we stopped in something like a convenience store and I got a sandwich. It was also a pasteleria, where cakes and pastries are sold, but all the yummy-looking sweets were sold by the pound. We finally got to the IMAX and saw Space Station 3D. It was supposed to be narrated by Tom Cruise, but I guess he doesnīt speak Spanish, cause it sure didnīt sound like him :). Paulencia said we had to come back the next day to see Cirque du Soleil. Unlike the OMNI theater in Dallas, this IMAX is all 3D, so we had glasses to wear. It was pretty cool.

The next day we three met at the Fundacion and walked to El Retiro, a huge park in the middle of the city. We walked around a big lake in the middle. They say you can rent paddleboats and go out on it, but it didnīt look like the stand was open. The park has a Metro stop in it, so we took it to the IMAX neighborhood instead of walking this time and came out right in front of the sandwich shop. It was Laurenīs and my first time to see Cirque du Soleil (Journey of Man) and it was pretty good. Since it was Sunday, though, absolutely NOTHING was open. No shops, no restaurants, no nothing. I was worried about what we would do for food. What do Spaniards do on Sundays?? Luckily we found a single open restaurant and ate. I got a hamburger, but I donīt think it was beef...maybe actual ham? Paulencia got a sandwich with queso manchego, which is apparently like a traditional Spanish cheese. Very salty. On the way back from the IMAX, this girl on the very crowded Metro definitely tried to take my wallet. I shooed her away, but I think she already had two rolls of film from my camera bag. Arg. I need to be more vigilant.

Other differences between Spain and the USA: "cafeteria" is a place that sells coffee, crowded streets are a sea of brown-haired people instead of blond, there are too many plazas to count, they use down arrows instead of up ones to say "keep going straight" (that was confusing since the first one I saw was actually right next to an escalator), they donīt sell Skittles anywhere (no European country Iīve been to has Skittles), there is a lot more PDA, the buskers here get on the trains and greet people before playing a song that lasts the exact amount of time it takes to get to the next stop, the mailboxes on street corners are yellow instead of blue, and the cars are freakishly small.

Monday was the first day of classes. The professor for my first class (Intro to Hispanic Lit) was not there because of the flu, which apparently weīll all get some time before we leave. Next was Art History. The teacher is kind of scary, and I never really liked art anyway, so I figured Iīd switch to that business class. I had a break so I thought Iīd go to the US Embassy and register with them like we are supposed to do. Yeah, I definitely walked all the way over there and found out it was closed for MLK Jr. Day. After lunch, I went with Kory and Kelle and they showed me this Internet cafe. Itīs like a 15 minute walk from the Fundacion. The ethics class was very interesting, so I switched my schedule.

Tuesday was the second day, and I had Spanish Phonetics. We are supposed to read the newspaper and be able to talk about whatīs going on in Spain. Later in the afternoon we had our first culture and civilization class. We have presentations to do in there including talking about the history of one of the streets in Madrid and talking about one of the villages in this autonomous region (like states). I also finally picked up an international phone card, so I can call home. I talked to Dad and he was happy to hear from me.

Yesterday we had class as usual. Afterwards, Paulencia and I went to Alcampo to buy peanut butter and jelly because eating lunch at restaurants all the time is expensive. In the evening, a bunch of us went to a local dance club, Azucar (means "sugar") for salsa lessons. Some of the girls had gone on Monday (they are Mondays and Wednesdays at 10:15 PM). The cost for an hour and a half lesson and a free drink is 8 Euros. It was a great deal and we had so much fun, it was crazy. In case youīre wondering, I just got a Coke. It was totally awesome, and I plan on going again in the future.

Thatīs about it for now. Sorry for the length again. Tomorrow we take a day trip to Segovia. Let me know whatīs been going on with you. ttyl

Anand