For our Día de San Valentín, we spent all day in class listening to sappy Spanish love songs and writing equally sappy valentines to each other in Spanish. If you have time, go listen to Solamente Tú by Pablo Alboran, and prepare to be utterly twitterpated. Later that night we had a dessert night for a YSA activity, and Elizabeth and I made cake balls! They actually turned out pretty good, considering we had to do a little improvisation involving magdalenas and nutella en vez de actual cake and frosting.
I failed to recount our trip to Segovia, but it was wonderful, even with the frigid temperature! We got to see the wonderfully-preserved aqueduct and el Alcazar, which was basically Sleeping Beauty's castle. The stairs up to the top of the highest tower were like giant cheese-wedges designed specifically to reveal how ridiculously out of shape we are.
Last week we got the chance to go to ArtMadrid. There was some art there that I wish with all my heart I could afford to buy, and some that I wish I could erase from my memory. But it was so fun to just wander through all the displays and take it all in. I saw this particular piece towards the end, and immediately I thought of my aunt Andi. She makes the most amazing bread, in huge, round loaves with clever sayings written in flour. It sounded exactly like something she'd put on her bread, so I showed it to her on facebook. It was even more perfect because the addition of "pan" instead at the end of "preocupen" would be so punny!
The next day she uploaded this picture of her fantastic creation to facebook. I LOVE IT!
Cuenca wasn't originally on our list of trips, but I'm so glad the Larsens decided to add it for us! The city was breathtaking; I absolutely loved las casas colgadas (hanging houses), and getting barked at was a fun, new experience as well.
Temple de Debod, a super old Egyptian Temple in the middle of Madrid. We got there right as the sun was setting, and the view with the reflections off the water was really amazing. Just me and Anna walking like Egyptians, of course.
Last week we got the opportunity to go to the Madrid Temple as a group! It was such an incredible experience to attend the temple in another country, and still feel the comfort and power of the Spirit that comes from temple work. We've seen some of the most ornate, majestic, and historically significant buildings in the world on this trip, but this one is my favorite. By miles. No contest.
Finally ventured out to Parque del Retiro! It is a sprawling, scenic park in Madrid that I had heard so much about, and it definitely lived up to the expectations. Felt like I was straight outta Gossip Girl or something. Spotted: Little J eating lunch on the Met steps.
To celebrate (or mourn, not sure which) getting to the halfway point in the program, we decided to make a trip out to a store called Taste of America, to indulge in some of the finer things the U.S. has to offer, that unfortunately we don't have frequent access to over here. Namely, Dr. Pepper and Root Beer, Reese's, Pop Tarts, and Milanos. Halle-freakin-lujah, 'twas grand.
Next post will be about Barcelona. I will have to gather up all the blogging energy and prowess that I possibly can, because there is so much to tell!
NSP moment:
helado. gelato. ice cream.
enough said.
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