Tapas with Suffolk!

Buenos tardes amigos!

Last night I went I went with the Disfruta Madrid Club to four restaurants to try their tapas, which are a light appetizer to go with drinks. I didn´t know what to expect of tapas, having never tried any before, but it was amazing! I had croquetas at the first restaurant, and the rest of the group had cod fish. Then at the next place there we had tortilla, meatballs (not me!), and olives. Another place we went to had shrimp sautéed in garlic and olive oil with jumbo shrimp deep fried and breaded. There was plenty of food and I was so full by the end of the night all I wanted to do was rest.

                                                   Chi and I sharing tortilla in Sol

                                         Lea stealing a bite of tortilla

                                         Everyone crowding around the tapas

                                          Pretty lights at night

                                   Bear and Tree Statue in Sol, symbol of Madrid

                             Graffiti/art outside an optometrist´s office/eye care store in Sol

I had a lot of fun last night and I am definitely going back to some of the tapas bars and restaurants we visited with the school. Silvia was a wonderful tour guide and it only cost 5 Euros for tapas! I took some pictures while we were in Sol and wandered around for a bit. Silvia pointed out where we should go to get churros and chocolate in Sol, so that is another place for me to relocate.

Tonight I am leaving for Santiago de Compostela, so that means finding some 120 film for my Holga and batteries for my flash, it´s picture time!

Adios amigos,

 Jenny

Parque del Retiro y Museo Nacional del Prado!

Retiro Park and Prado Museum!

Hello lovely readers! Friday I went on a tour of the nation museum Prado in Madrid. I saw the works of Goya, including the black paintings (Goya´s disturbing last paintings), the paintings (mainly court-style portraits) by Antonio Moro, and my favorite, The Garden of Earthly Delights, el bosco 1500 – 1505 or El Jardin de Las Delicias. I recommend you Google search the image because it is a beautiful painting. It is hard to imagine how old these paintings are, many of them dated before the discovery of “The New World”.  You could not take photos inside the museum, but I got some lovely photos of the outside and of Retiro Park, which was very close to Prado Museum.  In Spain, students under twenty-six can get into any Museum free, so I will be sure to take advantage of that resource.

     

Derek and I modeling in Retiro Park

                                        A church with an interesting roof (thanks Tom!)

 

In Retiro Park

 

                                           Just outside Prado Museum

 

Gate at Retiro Park

Yesterday I was very happy to receive a package from my mom at school. She sent me a very useful water bottle, which I lost almost immediately after I opened the package. Still lost, so let me know if you find it SUMC students! But she also sent me my HOLGA film camera with a color-flash! I am so excited to have the camera, and I am very excited to use it to take photos of Madrid!

                                                   MY CAMERA!!

 

Delicious dinner prepared by Marta, homemade onion rings and spinach lasagna, yum!  

That is all for now, but I will write more later...Jenny

Diurno, Intercambio, and Flan!!

Diurno, Intercambio, and Flan: Madrid Life

Hello!

                I have already seen so much since I last blogged. Tuesday, I took the metro to the restaurant/video rental Diurno at the stop Banco de España. At Diurno, the school had arranged an intercambio , where we got to practice our Spanish speaking skills in a restaurant setting. As soon as I got off the metro, I was spellbound by the architecture of the buildings. I took plenty of photos of El Banco De España (similar to the Federal Reserve buildings in the United States), the fountain, and several other local government buildings. I had a lovely time at Diurno and was able to practice my Spanish speaking skills in an almost embarrassment-free environment. 

   

                Yesterday, I tried flan for the first time. My mother loves flan, but I was always skeptical of it. I may not be the best food critic, but I approve of flan. The texture is a bit hard to get used to, but the flavor is very sweet. For dinner Marta made us an eggplant, zucchini, and tomato dish. It makes me hungry just thinking about it actually.

                Today in Suffolk University 101, Ms. Silvia Salazar gave a presentation about volunteering and community service. As part of our weekly assignment we had read about philanthropy, charity, and volunteering and what makes them different. Ms. Silvia Salazar shared personal experiences in her own community service and volunteering and explained volunteering opportunities to us.  I was moved by her personal testimonies and I am now considering volunteering while I am here in Madrid. I want to work with elementary school children, and as an added bonus I have been told that working with or being around children can improve your Spanish! 

I must go now, but I will write more later, 

Hasta luego!

First Post!!!

First Post!

                Hello world! Welcome to Vagabunda En Madrid! How about a little biography on myself?  My name is Jenny.  I am a student at Suffolk University Madrid Campus and I am an English Major. If you are considering studying abroad (especially at Suffolk University Madrid Campus) I can give you a good idea of what the campus is like and what the city of Madrid has to offer you.  Today I thought I would show you rather than tell you about my life in Madrid. 

 As a vegetarian (4 years and counting!) it was very important to me that my specific food needs would
be fulfilled. My host mother Martha has been very accommodating. Here is a bean and rice soup with a traditional food, croquetas (on the right).

Near the metro stop Tribunal, I found an enormous candy store!

 

 One of my favorite meals so far! Green beans in tomato sauce, french fries, and soup!

 My first shopping in Madrid! While in Sol, I found affordable clothing. Those shoes were only 5 Euros! 

 

Shopping in Tribunal was very expensive, but I was able to find a backpack for school as well as scarves

and a camera case in a discount store. On the camera case are little black bulls!

 There is always something to do in Madrid. I hope you enjoyed my first post! I will write more later, but for now....

¡Hasta luego!