Sobre arco iris...

It's hard to believe that our time in Madrid is quickly coming to an end. What I have learned in my Spanish classes these past three weeks has helped me immensely in the "real world." I have had the privilege of traveling to several non-English speaking countries, and honestly communicating has never been a problem because so many people speak English. I feel, however, that here in Spain the Spaniards expect you to know Spanish, so you are forced to communicate in their native tongue. I really appreciate this. They are patient when you struggle through the language and they are willing to provide you with words, but they expect you to work it out.

I knew that my Spanish was going to improve. What I wasn't expecting was just how much I was going to fall in love with the country, the culture, and the people of Spain. As I am typing this the bar/restaurant below has every table filled with the neighborhood gente. Children are playing in the play set just yards from where their parents are drinking cold beverages (most likely tinto de veranos) and eating an array of tapas. Almost every night for the past two weeks we have been serenaded by sometimes a trio of musicians (guitar, saxophone, and bass player) or just the solo sax player. Tonight it was just the sax player. As I write this, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is crooning outside. The days and nights have been quite warm here in Madrid, but tonight we have a nice breeze going and it is rustling the leaves of the trees outside our balcony.

We have seen, done and learned so much while here in Spain. Ordering food, asking for directions, figuring out bus and train information, buying groceries, and just sight seeing have all helped to build our Spanish language abilities. One of the things that I noticed as well, is that unless you pay extra for the English audioguides, very little in this country is written in English. This has also helped tremendously with learning Spanish. Good thing for Google translator! :)

Below are just snapshots of some of the many experiences we have had...

El Palacio Real where the monarchy of Spain used to live.

 

This little Spaniard was galloping his way along the sidewalks of Madrid...too cute!

 

Cervantes's characters Don Quixote and Sancho Panza are seen everywhere in Madrid. Here is a larger than life statue of the two friends near our apartment in Plaza de España.

 

We had the privilege of hearing this Spanish musician playing the gaita while we were walking along the tree lined paths in Madrid's Parque de el Retiro.

 

Palacio De Velazquez, a building in the middle of the park, was filled with modern art. The "water" at the bottom of the dock was thousands of strips of canvas painted to resemble water.

 

The modern art was definitely interesting and created by the same artist...

 

The teepee in the center is covered with thousands of pieces of Brazilian paper currency. The "sticks" were actually bones and the white wall surrounding the piece was thousands of candles stacked on top of each other.

View from inside the giant wooden tube you saw in the same picture as the teepee.

"Amerikkka" is the title of the piece you see below.

 Guess this gives us insight on how the artist views the U.S.

 

 

bottom of the art piece

top of the art piece

 

 

We spent last Saturday Segovia, Spain. For such a small town, there was a lot to see.

 

The Cathedral de Segovia

Roman aqueducts

The day we arrived was the same day they were having a folkdance festival. We were able to not only see some traditional costumes, but we saw them dancing. The French looking dude, in about 1 minute after this picture was taken would grab Dorothy and include her in the dancing (sorry I missed the photo op).

 

Traditional dress of Segovia

 

Entering the Alcazar of Segovia

 

One of the rooms in the Alcazar. You really can't tell, but the row above the red walls are actually wooden carvings of the kings (and some queens) of Spain.

Prepared for battle.

 

 

This statue is located in the epicenter of Madrid at Puerta de Sol. If you want to experience all that Madrid has to offer Puerta de Sol is where you begin.