March 24-March 31
Ah, what a truly amazing time I have had while in Spain. I arrived at the Madrid airport on Wednesday and was greeted by not only my luggage, but also my friend Nick and his father Juan-Cruz Calleja. For those of you who don’t know the Calleja’s, I met their family and went to high school with Nick in Decatur at LSA.
I am so blessed to have this amazing family let me stay with them during my time in Madrid. They offered to be my own personal tour guides to show me the beautiful scenery, explain the fascinating history, and of course share their wonderful cuisine. Mr. Calleja is a wonderful cook! I now know from experience what all the hype is about with the Mediterranean diet.
First, Nick and I explored the city of Madrid. We saw a beautiful view of the city from the top of a shopping mall. A free view that only a local would know! I learned it is typical to have a small beer, maybe 6oz, in the afternoon which is typically served with tapas. I could admire the beautiful city architecture of Madrid for hours. I felt like I saw much of Madrid on my first day in the city!
Next, we visited the art museums in the city. We saw a Picasso exhibition and observed the works of the Greco, Dali, and so much more. The colors were so vibrant for being painted so many hundreds of years ago. There is a huge park in the city called Retiro where one can find a beautiful place to go for a walk and gaze upon the Crystal Palace. It seems that once you step into the park, the rest of the city disappears.
On Friday and Saturday we took day trips to Segovia and Pedraza, as well as Toledo. These cities are rich in history, far beyond anything I have seen before. It is amazing to see castles that have survived many battles and are still standing today. The vast amount of cathedrals in these cities were surprising, not to mention their magnificent details and beautiful display of art through stain glass, carved wood and stone, and metal-working. I have uploaded photos from the trip, though they hardly do it justice.
Today we checked out the Rastro Market, which occurs every Sunday morning. Lots of little tables and shops with trinkets for sale. There were some very impressive street artists. I think this market was the busiest one I have ever seen.
This has certainly been one of my favorite places to visit. I am not ready to leave Madrid, but my destination awaits me. I leave for Rome very early Tuesday morning. I will keep you all posted on my adventures there!
Ciao for now,
Rachel
Ah, what a truly amazing time I have had while in Spain. I arrived at the Madrid airport on Wednesday and was greeted by not only my luggage, but also my friend Nick and his father Juan-Cruz Calleja. For those of you who don’t know the Calleja’s, I met their family and went to high school with Nick in Decatur at LSA.
I am so blessed to have this amazing family let me stay with them during my time in Madrid. They offered to be my own personal tour guides to show me the beautiful scenery, explain the fascinating history, and of course share their wonderful cuisine. Mr. Calleja is a wonderful cook! I now know from experience what all the hype is about with the Mediterranean diet.
First, Nick and I explored the city of Madrid. We saw a beautiful view of the city from the top of a shopping mall. A free view that only a local would know! I learned it is typical to have a small beer, maybe 6oz, in the afternoon which is typically served with tapas. I could admire the beautiful city architecture of Madrid for hours. I felt like I saw much of Madrid on my first day in the city!
Next, we visited the art museums in the city. We saw a Picasso exhibition and observed the works of the Greco, Dali, and so much more. The colors were so vibrant for being painted so many hundreds of years ago. There is a huge park in the city called Retiro where one can find a beautiful place to go for a walk and gaze upon the Crystal Palace. It seems that once you step into the park, the rest of the city disappears.
On Friday and Saturday we took day trips to Segovia and Pedraza, as well as Toledo. These cities are rich in history, far beyond anything I have seen before. It is amazing to see castles that have survived many battles and are still standing today. The vast amount of cathedrals in these cities were surprising, not to mention their magnificent details and beautiful display of art through stain glass, carved wood and stone, and metal-working. I have uploaded photos from the trip, though they hardly do it justice.
Today we checked out the Rastro Market, which occurs every Sunday morning. Lots of little tables and shops with trinkets for sale. There were some very impressive street artists. I think this market was the busiest one I have ever seen.
This has certainly been one of my favorite places to visit. I am not ready to leave Madrid, but my destination awaits me. I leave for Rome very early Tuesday morning. I will keep you all posted on my adventures there!
Ciao for now,
Rachel