Back from Spain!

I'm back from Spain! My sister and I were (barely) able to leave Chicago for Madrid on Wednesday afternoon. We arrived in Madrid shortly after 11am Thursday and had a wonderful time with our host family and other friends we met there. I'll maybe go into more detail later, but all I have to say is I wish I could have stayed at least a week longer and I hope to be able to go back and visit again before too long!

And now, I have to unpack my stuff and sort out all the souvenirs I bought... :)

Edit: Pics are up! Also, I've copied over the blurbs about the trip that I posted on my personal website...

Day 1 - July 25, 2002: Today we arrived in Spain, met Sandra's family, had lunch, took a siesta :) and then set out to see Alcala de Henares. We met up with Sandra's friend Dani who accompanied us around town. We visited a church down the street from Sandra's flat, Cisneros University, Plaza de Cervantes (the main town square in Alcala and a very popular gathering place), and other places around downtown Alcala. That night we saw a performance by the Ballet Raza dance troupe which presented a series of folk dances from different regions of Spain.

Day 2 - July 26, 2002: Today Sandra and Lorena took us to Sandra's university campus in Alcala. We toured the building she takes classes in. We then met their mom in Plaza des Irelandeses for a snack, then we walked home to have lunch. After lunch, we met up with Dani again, and Sandra's dad drove us to Parque Corredor, a large shopping mall nearby. We bought a bunch of souvenirs there and had some refreshments as well. We then caught a bus back to Alcala and had dinner at Sandra's home.

Day 3 - July 27, 2002: Today Sandra and her parents drove us to Segovia, a city about one hour drive from Madrid. Among other things, we saw a gorgeous cathedral, a huge castle, and an ancient aqueduct. After enjoying a nice lunch, we visited a palace built by a former king, which featured a huge garden area with several ornate fountains, some of which were turned on for the visitors' enjoymenet. On the way back to Alcala we drove into the mountains near Madrid.

Day 4 - July 28, 2002: Our sightseeing today took place in Madrid and El Escorial. Lori and I went with Lorena and her dad. We first went up Faro de la Moncloa, an observation tower in Madrid from which you can take in a great view of the city. We also saw a former presidential retreat, where leaders from other countries stay when they visit Spain. Next we traveled to El Escorial where there is a large monastery. After touring the monastery and grabbing lunch in El Escorial, we drove back to Madrid and rode in Teleferico (a "sky-ride" over part of the city). Later we walked/drove around the downtown area and other interesting sites.

Day 5 - July 29, 2002: We spent today shopping for souvenirs and checking out other sites in and around Alcala. We visited Dani's university campus, stopped by El Corte Ingles (a large upscale mall nearby), and walked around our favorite areas in Alcala. Then we enjoyed one last dinner with Sandra and her family before sitting, chatting, listening to music, and reluctantly getting ready for our trip home the next morning.