This is still fun!

I haven’t been able to post for a few days for several reasons, primarily because I have less time now (between school, prowling around neighborhoods in the city center and where I’m staying, and the fact that I’m finally starting to be able to sleep at night—yeah!), but also because my access to WiFi has become more limited.

School’s good. The other 7 students in my class are from Poland, China, and France. I’ve decided I really like the sound of Spanish with a strong French accent…or maybe it’s that the French just sound so cool no matter what language they’re speaking. ;) I don’t want to tackle another language, but I do enjoy listening to the 2 French students conversing during break time. Our instructor, Beatriz, keeps the class interesting with lots of activities and I’m getting plenty of listening and some speaking practice. Of course, I’d have to live here for awhile, like G, to really improve, but this week is good for refreshing my memory regarding some of what I’ve forgotten in the last couple of years.

I can’t say I’ve mastered the Metro (Madrid’s subway system), but I am pretty comfortable navigating it now. Once you figure out the signage—where to find it and what to look for—it’s really pretty well marked. Choosing the correct exit can be problematic, but still, I’m getting to be quite a fan of the system. I met G at his apartment Tuesday evening after he got off work at 9 pm, going there and back via the Metro. At 9 o’clock there were lots of Metro passengers and the streets were full of people shopping, chatting, strolling, etc. Even when I was en route “home” at almost midnight there were plenty of “normal” people on the Metro. In the mornings, of course, it’s quite full, but the trains come every 3 or 4 minutes (about every 7 or 8 minutes at night), so you don't have to wait for very long.

While G cooked dinner Tuesday, I searched the Internet for info regarding bus schedules, tours, etc. After much discussion regarding our various travel options, we finally decided not to go to Granada, but to stay in Madrid and take some short day-trips to Segovia, Toledo, and/or El Escorial. He’s doing some research on travel arrangements and my assignment is coming up with what to see and/or do at each location.

I must admit that periodically something happens, e.g. hearing a siren, and it dawns on me once again that I’m actually in Europe and I just can’t help grinning. A little later something else reminds me, so I spend much of my time with a foolish grin on my face. I’m sure people think I’m a little abnormal (no comments, please) or maybe they just think, “Ah, another one of those Americans.” At any rate, I’m still having a ball!