Living the Life

Today was very busy. It started at 8:00 AM breakfast with Ana. We convinced her that coffee and a banana were okay to eat together for breakfast. She laughed at us and conceded. After a 3 hour orientation at the University - rules and regulations, insurance, and transportation - we took a tour of Alcala. It was very interesting information...at least the parts that I could take in from Carlos' (university staffperson's) broken English.

After the tour, we were quite tired and decided to eat at an outdoor cafe for lunch. The rather chubby middle-aged waiter spoke no English, and the abbreviated menu during the time we wanted to eat was all in Spanish. So (after about 15 minutes of trying to communicate with him and then getting our food) I ended up with two fried eggs over a bed of soft-crouton-like-bread-pieces! But, it was actually not that bad. Kara and Kristi however ended up with clam soup AND another course of a huge fish fillet. While it was not what they had imagined and far more food than they bargained for, they both said that it was tasty. Samantha on the other hand ended up with whole fish (sardine type things) with heads intact and eyes looking at us!!! This was their rendition of the "vegetarian" dish. Thankfully, there was delicious bread - free and plentiful :)

Next we were off to Madrid where we went on a walking tour of the city. It is very beautiful. We passed the Royal Palace, Puerto del Sol, and the Plaza Mayor. The Plaza Mayor was my favorite! Plazas like it have been in many American movies. The first scene in Vantage Point looked exactly like this one! There were about one hundred tables in the outdoor plaza surrounded by beautiful buildings and white tents for shopping. I can't wait to go back.

Tonight we went ate with Ana and went out for a glass of Sangria with other Price kids - at an Irish bar called The Black Clover. It was super fun!

On the table for tomorrow: Back to Madrid for churros and chocolate, Prado Museum, and inside the Palace. At night we will be watching the soccer finals in Madrid. I'm sure it will be an adventure.

Today's Interesting Fact: We are studying at Instituto Franklin of the University of Alcala. It is the "College of North American Studies" and was named after good ole Ben Franklin. The university as a whole was established centuries ago. Back then, if students passed their final exams, a three-day party was thrown for them. If students failed their final exams, they were spit on in the city as people hurled tomatoes at them!