Looks like I'm back...

 "Yeah, Laura, she's one of those people you can't forget because she'll never forget about you." She's like that sweet, annoying character in that tacky 80's movie."  I like to think this is how some people perceive me.  At the same time, I like to think of myself as Julia Roberts' character in Erin Brockovich, which is based on a true story.  She is sweet, determined, and tells it like it is.

 It is probably about time I started writing.(Also, I can't sleep) I do not have anything important to say, but I suppose that is not what is really important here.  However, what is important is the fact that I am writing.  First, I should probably tell you a little about myself.  Not that you (the reader) care about me or who I am, but I think it will be fun for me to describe myself.  I rarely stop and think about who I really am as a person.  I mean, who truly sits and thinks about what makes me...me?  When I asked myself this question a few weeks ago, I realized that is why I am standing where I'm standing.  It's because I don't know myself very well.  Frankly, I was scared.  Then I started to really think.  I decided I better figure it out or at least try because I am responsible for my own happiness.

Writing.  This is what is going to help me in ways I can not begin to fathom at this point. The English written language has particularly never interested me in the slightest.  I always dreaded English class which included lessons over grammar, punctuation, and all that other boring stuff. I have never thought of myself as a good writer. Probably because I rarely listened in class. People always pegged me as a good student in school, which always struck me as odd.  I would daydream in class and then go home and have to reteach myself what we went over in class.  Gosh, I was a dumb sometimes. I like complication.  It's like I feed off of the most complicated situations. As long as I can remember, I have always been this way.  I suppose that is why I tend to analyze every detail of every little detail.  However, I am realistic.  At least most of the time.

I like driving my car and I always have the music turned up.  I only turn music on when I'm by myself though.  That's because I have ADD and I flip the radio stations constantly. I turn the stations a minimum of probably twenty times in one car ride.  Most people would find this to be extremely annoying, so I just don't do it when I have people in the car.  I just can't help myself.  I will listen to rock for a few minutes, then I'll listen to maybe a stupid pop song or something. I also sing and I do not sing well.  So really, I'm sparing you...you should be thanking me.

Okay, so I had fun typing this random assortment.  I'll probably do it again.  I can just go with the flow and get off topic. I don't care what anybody thinks.

Spain

Adventures in Spain!

On May 9, 2012, I departed for Madrid, Spain.  In 11 days, I traveled to eight different cities throughout the beautiful country of Spain.  I went to Madrid, Toledo, Merida, Seville, Cordoba, Granada, Barcelona, and Figueres. My class of thirteen from IU East traveled with two other U.S. universities on the tour.  Our tour director and tour guides were all wonderful and made this experience very enjoyable.  It was a fast-paced trip that involved traveling by plane, bus, train, bike and on foot. I am not sure how many miles we walked/ran, but it was quite a lot.  Honestly, walking around was the best way to experience everything Spain had to offer.  Walking through the bustling streets was probably one of my favorite things.
  I will try to include everything I did this past week or so, but honestly I did so much I may forget something along the way.  My only regret is that I should have kept a better journal, but I would not change anything else.  Overall, it was definitely an amazing experience that I will always remember.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I will return at some point after I learn to speak some more Spanish.  I have learned how important language is to one's culture, and how we don't realize how important it is until it is taken away.  The most difficult thing for me was not being able to communicate with people in Spanish.  I learned a little while being there, but it was still a struggle.  This helped open my eyes to how important communication is to survival.  This whole experience has influenced me to start learning another language.  It has definitely inspired me to look at things in a different light.

Madrid, Spain
May 10th to May 13th
Touring the capital of Spain

We arrived in Madrid on May 10, 2012 after about an 8 to 9 hour flight out of JFK International Airport.  After arriving at the hotel in the morning, we proceeded to go on a short walking tour near our hotel.  The hotel was located in Plaza Emperador Carlos V.  We walked through a part of the Parque del Retiro, which was very green and beautiful.  People come here to jog, bike, or eat a picnic lunch.

 Parque del Retiro

This is a photo of the Bosque del Recuerdo in Retiro Park.  It is a memorial garden to remember those who died in the 2004 Madrid train bombings. 

This was one of the first places I went to in the city of Madrid.  It was emotional for me standing there because I knew that this place held a lot of meaning to so many people.  It especially has a lot of meaning to those who visit this park to remember their loved ones.  I wish we could have walked around the park more because it was very peaceful and beautiful.

May 11, 2012
On our way to visit the Palacio Real, we stopped at the Plaza de Espana.

 This is a statue of Miguel de Cervantes and below him is Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.

Plaza de Espana

 Visited the Palacio Real on May 11, 2012

The Palacio Real is the royal palace of Madrid.  It is located in downtown Madrid which is called "Old Madrid."  It was built by Spain's first Bourbon kings and is the largest palace in Europe.  It has almost 3,000 rooms, and we were able to tour some of them while we were there.  The rooms were lavishly decorated and reflected the tastes and imaginations of Carlos III and Carlos IV. The palace also includes works of Francisco de Goya and Velazquez.  I found the dining room to be most impressive because of the enormous table and the 15 chandeliers that hung from the ceiling.

Scarlet, Shantel, Me, Piedad, and Julien at the Palacio Real

Visited the Prado Museum on May 11, 2012

Statue of Franciso de Goya outside of the Prado Museum

This museum displays many great Spanish paintings ranging from the 12th to 19th centuries.  Famous works of art include masterpieces by Goya and Velazquez.  It also has Italian and Femish works of art too. I was able to see Goya's masterpiece The Naked Maja, and his series of "Black Paintings."  I enjoyed seeing all of the paintings, but I liked The Garden of Earthly Delights by Bosch in particular.  I believe I liked it the most because it is complex and the detail makes you want to examine it closer.  

The Garden of Earthly Delights - it is called a triptych because it is divided into three sections

Left- Adam and Eve, center- The Garden of Delights, right- depicts dark torments of hell

 Two Old Men Eating Soup by Goya

Bullfight at the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas
May 11, 2012

Visited the Museo Reina Sofia on May 12, 2012

This is the view from my hotel balcony.  It is the Museo Reina Sofia which houses 20th-century art.  It is best known for its most most famous exhibit Picasso's Guernica.  The painting depicts the tragedy and suffering that is caused by the Spanish civil war, and particularly how war affected civilians during the time of the war from 1936 to 1939.

  Guernica

Pablo Picasso

Photographs were not allowed in the Guernica exhibit, but I did take some other photos of Picasso's work.

Lunch time in Spain

I ate Paella mixta outside a cafe near my hotel

Paella consists of rice, vegetables and either pork, seafood or both. Bread is always served with all meals.  During lunch time (1:00 to 5:00pm), restaurants serve Menu del Dia.  The Menu del Dia may include a salad, main dish, dessert and drink.  It may also include more than one main dish.  This is the most economical way to eat in Spain because lunch is their biggest meal of the day.  Lunch usually costs around 10 to 15 euro. You can choose to eat inside or outside at a restaurant.  Many people choose to sit outside to eat under the shade of an umbrella.  Sometimes your table is situated between a busy sidewalk and a street filled with cars so there is always entertainment as you eat your lunch.

Tables, chairs, and umbrellas were common along all the streets in Spain.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Several people from our tour group went to a restaurant and ate Tapas. Tapas is a variety of different dishes.  People at one table share different traditional dishes instead of each person having their own individual dish.   We were served a Tortilla de patatas, which was delicious along with sangria.     I have no complaints in regards to all of the food I ate.  It was all very good.

Tapas Restaurant

Protest beginning to form near the Reina Sofia and down the street.  Thousands gathered in Puerta del Sol to protest against the government.  Spain's unemployment rate is over 20% and is the highest in Europe.   Puerta del Sol is considered to be a major gathering place in the heart of Madrid and is considered "ground zero" for this protest.  Overall, from what little I saw, it appeared to be a peaceful protest. I have some video of some of the people gathering outside of the hotel and the Reina Sofia.  If it is good, I may try to upload it.

I imagine this to be a typical day in Sol

Carlos III monument in Puerta del Sol