MADRID
FREE WEEKEND
June 1 & 2
All students decided to go to Benalmadena- Málaga during their free weekend. During that weekend I went to Madrid to pick up Jeremy (my husband) who spent the last 2 weeks of the program with us. The students had a wonderful time at the beach. They were delighted at how how cheap and beautiful their ocean front hotel was. Jeremy and I also had a great time in Madrid. However, it was quite a different experience. As soon as we got out of the metro at La puerta del Sol we witnessed a huge protest against Bush, the war in Iraq and Condoleezza Rice. It is worth to mention that the protest was not violent at all, people were expressing their ideas aloud and carrying all kinds of pamphlets. |
We spent 2 days and 1 night in Madrid. We stayed in an old though very pretty and conveniently located hotel called El Principe Pío. It is right behind the Real Palace. It could not et any better. Madrid is a fascinating city. It is very cosmopolitan and very interesting example of old and new architecture . There is so much to do. Students divided up in groups and visited the sites they were interest in. The first night we went together to La Gran Vía to enjoy a musical by Nacho Cano, the leader of the 80's band, Mecano. The musical is extremely funny. There is lots of humor and a great sound effects and lyrics . It describes very well what is like for someone to move from the country side into a new modern city. It was funny though that it as so long that after 2 hours when they announced intermission a lot of people, including myself thought it was the end. What else could they possibly add?? I am afraid that we all missed the ending, some because they did not understand it was over, others because they gave up after 2 hours of Spanish and myself who had to meet a good friend from town and that was my only chance. |
HOY NO ME PUEDO LEVANTAR MUSICAL
 La Gran Vía |
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LA PUERTA DEL SOL
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LA PLAZA MAYOR
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PLAZA ESPAÑA & PALACIO REAL
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PARQUE DEL RETIRO
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JARDIN BOTANICO
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El PRADO MUSEUM
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| Our last dinner together was very special. We went to a restaurant that was in La cuesta de San Vicente, very close to our hotel. We all dressed up and enjoyed wonderful appetizers and entres. |
