tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25616565805305525502024-03-13T15:06:46.835-07:00Mary in MadridMaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-6981290989172907642009-01-20T11:45:00.000-08:002009-02-02T00:34:41.954-08:00ToledoDecember 5: Day Trip to Toledo<br /><br />I travelled to Toledo for a day with my good friend, Estelle, and her Spanish host mother. We had a wonderful time!<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYp5_OCE2I/AAAAAAAAFxI/DUhW9m2Czp8/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+003.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYp5_OCE2I/AAAAAAAAFxI/DUhW9m2Czp8/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Just outside Old Toledo<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYp6KD6_kI/AAAAAAAAFxQ/Wyh87U0AIVA/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+004.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYp6KD6_kI/AAAAAAAAFxQ/Wyh87U0AIVA/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYp6j_H7cI/AAAAAAAAFxY/YDIjsAd27t4/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+008.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYp6j_H7cI/AAAAAAAAFxY/YDIjsAd27t4/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Old Toledo and the Tagus River<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYp6qnbl9I/AAAAAAAAFxg/0LUaiSHvWaY/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+012.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYp6qnbl9I/AAAAAAAAFxg/0LUaiSHvWaY/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+012.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqu4j1n-I/AAAAAAAAFzY/ZxY7LvK0kAA/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqu4j1n-I/AAAAAAAAFzY/ZxY7LvK0kAA/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465396965646306" border="0" /></a>Courtyard in <a name="desc"></a>Museo de Santa Cruz</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqtqPmIVI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/ELqAXZYver0/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+019.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqtqPmIVI/AAAAAAAAFzQ/ELqAXZYver0/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+019.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465375942779218" border="0" /></a>La Catedral de Toledo<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqtVkirBI/AAAAAAAAFzI/SwH-jxBxxfI/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+025.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqtVkirBI/AAAAAAAAFzI/SwH-jxBxxfI/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+025.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465370393488402" border="0" /></a>Adorable window display with <span>baking </span><span style="font-style: italic;">monjas</span> (nuns)!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqtMsdt_I/AAAAAAAAFzA/JKsXRPnQaiQ/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqtMsdt_I/AAAAAAAAFzA/JKsXRPnQaiQ/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465368010799090" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Mar%C3%ADa_la_Blanca">Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca<br /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqs1nLWNI/AAAAAAAAFy4/6f8G-eGoxGU/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqs1nLWNI/AAAAAAAAFy4/6f8G-eGoxGU/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465361814608082" border="0" /></a>Monasterio de San Juan de los Reyes<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqh0WiHEI/AAAAAAAAFyw/eA9HEf4paYc/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqh0WiHEI/AAAAAAAAFyw/eA9HEf4paYc/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465172497800258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqhSymYnI/AAAAAAAAFyo/yDtUmrxQEig/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+046.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqhSymYnI/AAAAAAAAFyo/yDtUmrxQEig/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+046.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465163488715378" border="0" /></a>Hi, Estelle!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYrp0EECxI/AAAAAAAAFzg/Q8eG73uqY0c/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+051-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYrp0EECxI/AAAAAAAAFzg/Q8eG73uqY0c/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+051-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293466409370913554" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqgl74UHI/AAAAAAAAFyY/-TC-pB_NNV0/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqgl74UHI/AAAAAAAAFyY/-TC-pB_NNV0/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465151448043634" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqgZ5kjtI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/Oj0OIWlSqlE/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+075.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqgZ5kjtI/AAAAAAAAFyQ/Oj0OIWlSqlE/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+075.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293465148217134802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqUO4_YXI/AAAAAAAAFyI/2BfbnfgGsqw/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+080.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqUO4_YXI/AAAAAAAAFyI/2BfbnfgGsqw/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293464939103478130" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqT6_9-cI/AAAAAAAAFyA/C8amFBBbCkQ/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+088.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqT6_9-cI/AAAAAAAAFyA/C8amFBBbCkQ/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+088.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293464933764037058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqTssgUII/AAAAAAAAFx4/d3qEu73q4Hc/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqTssgUII/AAAAAAAAFx4/d3qEu73q4Hc/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293464929924305026" border="0" /></a>Main Square in Toledo<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqTB5kAhI/AAAAAAAAFxw/YuLmwWSVyd0/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqTB5kAhI/AAAAAAAAFxw/YuLmwWSVyd0/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293464918436348434" border="0" /></a>Christmas is almost here!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqTJpIyuI/AAAAAAAAFxo/UzFDKAmFMR4/s1600-h/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+100.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXYqTJpIyuI/AAAAAAAAFxo/UzFDKAmFMR4/s320/Madrid+with+Tena+Boys+100.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293464920514939618" border="0" /></a>Posing with Miguel Cervantes! :-)<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-25852044382306227432009-01-19T01:02:00.000-08:002009-02-02T00:35:25.997-08:00Rome<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">November 28 - 30: ROME<br /></div><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRBtH_UxbI/AAAAAAAAFpk/ocjNqFt10f4/s1600-h/Rome+105.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRBtH_UxbI/AAAAAAAAFpk/ocjNqFt10f4/s320/Rome+105.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">The Famous Terminal 3 at Madrid Barajas Airport<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRBtWy5baI/AAAAAAAAFps/QtDHKXkqmGE/s1600-h/Rome+115.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRBtWy5baI/AAAAAAAAFps/QtDHKXkqmGE/s320/Rome+115.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">First meal in Italy: PIZZA!<br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRBteTq2cI/AAAAAAAAFp0/N_IOh2aGJv0/s1600-h/Rome+136.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRBteTq2cI/AAAAAAAAFp0/N_IOh2aGJv0/s320/Rome+136.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Coliseum! It was amazing... we were lost and turned the corner and... BAM! There it was!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRBtuyJUTI/AAAAAAAAFp8/gVjhiF0xyps/s1600-h/Rome+166.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRBtuyJUTI/AAAAAAAAFp8/gVjhiF0xyps/s320/Rome+166.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Inside the Coliseum. I have a funny story about this day...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIWUEoPpI/AAAAAAAAFw8/dsWsjnSdVQ0/s1600-h/Rome+188.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIWUEoPpI/AAAAAAAAFw8/dsWsjnSdVQ0/s320/Rome+188.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292935010249621138" border="0" /></a>Raining cats and dogs at the Roman Forum<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIRTipstI/AAAAAAAAFw0/5F88XL9eBsc/s1600-h/Rome+195.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIRTipstI/AAAAAAAAFw0/5F88XL9eBsc/s320/Rome+195.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934924207764178" border="0" /></a>Roman Forum<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIRNQtSiI/AAAAAAAAFws/hJXrAy41iPw/s1600-h/Rome+199.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIRNQtSiI/AAAAAAAAFws/hJXrAy41iPw/s320/Rome+199.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934922521889314" border="0" /></a>Roman Forum<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIQxza-AI/AAAAAAAAFwk/OVmZ2_fgK1g/s1600-h/Rome+243.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIQxza-AI/AAAAAAAAFwk/OVmZ2_fgK1g/s320/Rome+243.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934915151296514" border="0" /></a>Friends: Daniel, Carlos, Stacie, Russell, Brian (L-R)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIQhSqq5I/AAAAAAAAFwc/BstOOqc2M7k/s1600-h/Rome+249.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIQhSqq5I/AAAAAAAAFwc/BstOOqc2M7k/s320/Rome+249.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934910718946194" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Clouds<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIQQbmaMI/AAAAAAAAFwU/4dCD422Dg6c/s1600-h/Rome+250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRIQQbmaMI/AAAAAAAAFwU/4dCD422Dg6c/s320/Rome+250.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934906193012930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH9sV4eVI/AAAAAAAAFwM/PokhAfz8t3k/s1600-h/Rome+261.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH9sV4eVI/AAAAAAAAFwM/PokhAfz8t3k/s320/Rome+261.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934587267709266" border="0" /></a>Roman Forum<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH9fmp5WI/AAAAAAAAFwE/9HS53OoJtKs/s1600-h/Rome+266.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH9fmp5WI/AAAAAAAAFwE/9HS53OoJtKs/s320/Rome+266.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934583848396130" border="0" /></a>Strange birds formation in the sky.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH9Ffsd1I/AAAAAAAAFv8/jwD5KifoDHg/s1600-h/Rome+301.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH9Ffsd1I/AAAAAAAAFv8/jwD5KifoDHg/s320/Rome+301.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934576839882578" border="0" /></a>OMG. Trevi Fountain!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH8wr9NfI/AAAAAAAAFv0/yE-AHRrbt44/s1600-h/Rome+304.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH8wr9NfI/AAAAAAAAFv0/yE-AHRrbt44/s320/Rome+304.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934571254167026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH8sk5k7I/AAAAAAAAFvs/dBpWTF8qOOU/s1600-h/Rome+312.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRH8sk5k7I/AAAAAAAAFvs/dBpWTF8qOOU/s320/Rome+312.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934570150826930" border="0" /></a>Beautiful. Check out me making a wish in the fountain <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4HtGC1mwvU&feature=channel_page">here</a>. And yes, I actually did ask if it made it in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHt5N0f_I/AAAAAAAAFvk/8J6Vcl7YlSs/s1600-h/Rome+317.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHt5N0f_I/AAAAAAAAFvk/8J6Vcl7YlSs/s320/Rome+317.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934315845648370" border="0" /></a>Mmm... Delicous spinach and ricotta ravioli with Italian bread!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vatican</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHtvUqDXI/AAAAAAAAFvc/Oe2TrzeaPcQ/s1600-h/Rome+331.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHtvUqDXI/AAAAAAAAFvc/Oe2TrzeaPcQ/s320/Rome+331.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934313189969266" border="0" /></a>St. Peter's Square and the Vatican: A lifelong dream come true!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHtHLraKI/AAAAAAAAFvU/MLoNtxhaBNM/s1600-h/Rome+352.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHtHLraKI/AAAAAAAAFvU/MLoNtxhaBNM/s320/Rome+352.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934302414891170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Pieta </span>by Michaelangelo<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHs_QoeMI/AAAAAAAAFvM/VqqUnMNNHNY/s1600-h/Rome+379.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHs_QoeMI/AAAAAAAAFvM/VqqUnMNNHNY/s320/Rome+379.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934300288186562" border="0" /></a>These grates were amazing: Under the floor of St. Peter's Basilica, there were seminarians singing! We could hear it as we walked through the basilica.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHsouWBLI/AAAAAAAAFvE/y1X2TiwScIM/s1600-h/Rome+380.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRHsouWBLI/AAAAAAAAFvE/y1X2TiwScIM/s320/Rome+380.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292934294238790834" border="0" /></a>View from the very, very top. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFkKu4PSI/AAAAAAAAFuE/y4YxycjVGO8/s1600-h/Rome+400.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFkKu4PSI/AAAAAAAAFuE/y4YxycjVGO8/s320/Rome+400.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292931949725760802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRGd78zrvI/AAAAAAAAFu0/wQbFYcLZUF8/s1600-h/Rome+412.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRGd78zrvI/AAAAAAAAFu0/wQbFYcLZUF8/s320/Rome+412.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292932942190063346" border="0" /></a>On top of St. Peter's Coppla<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRGdgc36HI/AAAAAAAAFus/Fb6tOkYffZY/s1600-h/Rome+420.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRGdgc36HI/AAAAAAAAFus/Fb6tOkYffZY/s320/Rome+420.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292932934808365170" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRGdDQgBeI/AAAAAAAAFuk/6JdxvPe8flU/s1600-h/Rome+450.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRGdDQgBeI/AAAAAAAAFuk/6JdxvPe8flU/s320/Rome+450.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292932926971839970" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRGczC9R1I/AAAAAAAAFuc/8GPvUOgON7Q/s1600-h/Rome+453.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRGczC9R1I/AAAAAAAAFuc/8GPvUOgON7Q/s320/Rome+453.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292932922620069714" border="0" /></a>Swiss Guard<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFkroL3wI/AAAAAAAAFuU/7XDZvTzdQAQ/s1600-h/Rome+458.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFkroL3wI/AAAAAAAAFuU/7XDZvTzdQAQ/s320/Rome+458.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292931958556057346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFkdttZvI/AAAAAAAAFuM/IhXxwV041rU/s1600-h/Rome+463.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFkdttZvI/AAAAAAAAFuM/IhXxwV041rU/s320/Rome+463.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292931954821129970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Vatican Museum</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFj1kP4WI/AAAAAAAAFt8/Y-_vuEfcsKk/s1600-h/Rome+507.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFj1kP4WI/AAAAAAAAFt8/Y-_vuEfcsKk/s320/Rome+507.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292931944044028258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFjlQTlOI/AAAAAAAAFt0/-1Lp3M45hlc/s1600-h/Rome+513.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRFjlQTlOI/AAAAAAAAFt0/-1Lp3M45hlc/s320/Rome+513.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292931939665417442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREUx7_CEI/AAAAAAAAFts/9MOWPUEVYTk/s1600-h/Rome+524.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREUx7_CEI/AAAAAAAAFts/9MOWPUEVYTk/s320/Rome+524.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930585860180034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREU8oOySI/AAAAAAAAFtk/4hj9q9bLrOw/s1600-h/Rome+554.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREU8oOySI/AAAAAAAAFtk/4hj9q9bLrOw/s320/Rome+554.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930588730116386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREUrZyUeI/AAAAAAAAFtc/e3ssdvpCC4M/s1600-h/Rome+574.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREUrZyUeI/AAAAAAAAFtc/e3ssdvpCC4M/s320/Rome+574.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930584106127842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREUc3pLDI/AAAAAAAAFtU/Hdhhtes4GW4/s1600-h/Rome+579.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREUc3pLDI/AAAAAAAAFtU/Hdhhtes4GW4/s320/Rome+579.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930580204825650" border="0" /></a>School of Athens! I have had this painting in my college dorm room as a poster for three years!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREUIPhwBI/AAAAAAAAFtM/hH_P_6fzZrQ/s1600-h/Rome+594.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREUIPhwBI/AAAAAAAAFtM/hH_P_6fzZrQ/s320/Rome+594.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930574667857938" border="0" /></a>Sistine Chapel<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREFoSU_WI/AAAAAAAAFtE/zZI-lO2IlDk/s1600-h/Rome+603.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREFoSU_WI/AAAAAAAAFtE/zZI-lO2IlDk/s320/Rome+603.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930325571501410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREFdu0y0I/AAAAAAAAFs8/YCMByITXov0/s1600-h/Rome+623.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREFdu0y0I/AAAAAAAAFs8/YCMByITXov0/s320/Rome+623.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930322738236226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREFPwHGtI/AAAAAAAAFs0/hGUCCb7RrF8/s1600-h/Rome+630.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREFPwHGtI/AAAAAAAAFs0/hGUCCb7RrF8/s320/Rome+630.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930318985534162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREE-HtOtI/AAAAAAAAFss/F15z9jVVgxk/s1600-h/Rome+646.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREE-HtOtI/AAAAAAAAFss/F15z9jVVgxk/s320/Rome+646.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930314252663506" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREEZetWsI/AAAAAAAAFsk/iKSLQqOR4Ek/s1600-h/Rome+652.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXREEZetWsI/AAAAAAAAFsk/iKSLQqOR4Ek/s320/Rome+652.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292930304417028802" border="0" /></a>Pantheon<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDeph1PMI/AAAAAAAAFsc/1W8TfyZ5gTg/s1600-h/Rome+665.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDeph1PMI/AAAAAAAAFsc/1W8TfyZ5gTg/s320/Rome+665.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929655890066626" border="0" /></a>Italian Pastry and Espresso<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDebxARdI/AAAAAAAAFsU/Ye6Px1s-CVA/s1600-h/Rome+683.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDebxARdI/AAAAAAAAFsU/Ye6Px1s-CVA/s320/Rome+683.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929652195608018" border="0" /></a>Raphael's Tomb inside the Pantheon<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDeFJptBI/AAAAAAAAFsM/obcQree9k3g/s1600-h/Rome+686.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDeFJptBI/AAAAAAAAFsM/obcQree9k3g/s320/Rome+686.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929646124971026" border="0" /></a>Pantheon<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDdxpzeeI/AAAAAAAAFsE/BKDfqzXm-rU/s1600-h/Rome+718.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDdxpzeeI/AAAAAAAAFsE/BKDfqzXm-rU/s320/Rome+718.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929640891120098" border="0" /></a>This Christmas tree made us all very homesick!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDcnWMBKI/AAAAAAAAFr8/IU80pl-WRRw/s1600-h/Rome+749.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDcnWMBKI/AAAAAAAAFr8/IU80pl-WRRw/s320/Rome+749.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929620944618658" border="0" /></a>The next day (Sunday), I returned to the Vatican for Mass and Pope Benedict XVI's Sunday address at noon.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDN9-XUeI/AAAAAAAAFr0/zu3tDj4rdws/s1600-h/Rome+751.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDN9-XUeI/AAAAAAAAFr0/zu3tDj4rdws/s320/Rome+751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929369320673762" border="0" /></a>A hidden statue near the rear of the Vatican: St. Josemaria Escriva<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDNkrfQ9I/AAAAAAAAFrs/6t-2NMJeCP0/s1600-h/Rome+762.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDNkrfQ9I/AAAAAAAAFrs/6t-2NMJeCP0/s320/Rome+762.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929362530616274" border="0" /></a>Gorgeous canopy over the main alter.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDNQfX4pI/AAAAAAAAFrk/L8j3xFQHxnQ/s1600-h/Rome+774.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDNQfX4pI/AAAAAAAAFrk/L8j3xFQHxnQ/s320/Rome+774.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929357111091858" border="0" /></a>Pope Benedict XVI!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDNFcCaRI/AAAAAAAAFrc/YuZPZPEeBvk/s1600-h/Rome+777.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDNFcCaRI/AAAAAAAAFrc/YuZPZPEeBvk/s320/Rome+777.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929354144311570" border="0" /></a>So excited about the Pope that I could not manage to brush the hair out of my eyes!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDM1k1Z7I/AAAAAAAAFrU/5YOmyjc2lkM/s1600-h/Rome+797.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRDM1k1Z7I/AAAAAAAAFrU/5YOmyjc2lkM/s320/Rome+797.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929349886240690" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Museo Capitoline</span></span><em></em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC72jasWI/AAAAAAAAFrM/Pm-u0Gyar4E/s1600-h/Rome+809.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC72jasWI/AAAAAAAAFrM/Pm-u0Gyar4E/s320/Rome+809.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929058090955106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC7gG95NI/AAAAAAAAFrE/sURunlkXcDM/s1600-h/Rome+811.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC7gG95NI/AAAAAAAAFrE/sURunlkXcDM/s320/Rome+811.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929052066047186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC7qULzfI/AAAAAAAAFq8/IjoyIgxiLu0/s1600-h/Rome+814.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC7qULzfI/AAAAAAAAFq8/IjoyIgxiLu0/s320/Rome+814.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929054805839346" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Venus<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC7ULyn4I/AAAAAAAAFq0/VfHz_ZLSTk8/s1600-h/Rome+830.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC7ULyn4I/AAAAAAAAFq0/VfHz_ZLSTk8/s320/Rome+830.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929048865054594" border="0" /></a>Wounded Slave<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC69udWKI/AAAAAAAAFqs/naZHEDw5Hio/s1600-h/Rome+847.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRC69udWKI/AAAAAAAAFqs/naZHEDw5Hio/s320/Rome+847.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292929042836445346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRClKQWjoI/AAAAAAAAFqk/dwY1iIyA9as/s1600-h/Rome+862.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRClKQWjoI/AAAAAAAAFqk/dwY1iIyA9as/s320/Rome+862.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292928668242710146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRCkjscnCI/AAAAAAAAFqc/jE198gq_fAU/s1600-h/Rome+867.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRCkjscnCI/AAAAAAAAFqc/jE198gq_fAU/s320/Rome+867.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292928657891564578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRCkeogZoI/AAAAAAAAFqU/gkSbhAJ5kFs/s1600-h/Rome+869.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRCkeogZoI/AAAAAAAAFqU/gkSbhAJ5kFs/s320/Rome+869.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292928656532858498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRCkGedPiI/AAAAAAAAFqM/UNZ4_lUudNs/s1600-h/Rome+884.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRCkGedPiI/AAAAAAAAFqM/UNZ4_lUudNs/s320/Rome+884.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292928650048257570" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRCj-giXCI/AAAAAAAAFqE/Qm4JU3npvcU/s1600-h/Rome+893.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SXRCj-giXCI/AAAAAAAAFqE/Qm4JU3npvcU/s320/Rome+893.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292928647909497890" border="0" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-16697291492179666332008-11-10T09:46:00.000-08:002008-11-10T13:56:41.123-08:00LeonNovember 7-9: Bing Trip to Leon, Spain<br /><br />Mr. and Mrs. Bing donate a great deal of money to Stanford every year, usually enough to pay for a special trip for each Stanford Overseas Studies Program all over the world. (To put things into perpective, the Bings have their own wing of the Green Library, appropriately named the Bing Wing.) Our Bing trip was to Leon, Spain.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiJK-wwNcI/AAAAAAAAEfw/9GKIanh0SW0/s1600-h/Leon+053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiJK-wwNcI/AAAAAAAAEfw/9GKIanh0SW0/s320/Leon+053.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267110585948976578" border="0" /></a>Thank you, Mrs. Bing!! <a href="http://www.parador.es/en/tratarFichaParadorCabecera.do;jsessionid=160BC6085A4540B7D99BEA86BF427EDF?parador=102&LANG=en&SM=true&fechaDesde=&fechaHasta=&codigoIdiomaOrigen=es">Hostal de San Marcos</a> was baller. It used to be a monestary and a hospital primarily visited by pilgrims traveling on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James">Camino del Santiago</a>.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiISu4V8sI/AAAAAAAAEe4/geuj6Rtmd2E/s1600-h/Leon+087.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiISu4V8sI/AAAAAAAAEe4/geuj6Rtmd2E/s320/Leon+087.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267109619613168322" border="0" /> </a>The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral_of_Leon">Catedral de Leon</a> is especially famous for its beautiful stained glass windows, many of which are being restored.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRia4y8lxQI/AAAAAAAAEgA/ipRAEsmx1Zk/s1600-h/Leon+077.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRia4y8lxQI/AAAAAAAAEgA/ipRAEsmx1Zk/s320/Leon+077.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267130064749053186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRhz6CUl6SI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/76k6CZ55D_A/s1600-h/Leon+352.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRhz6CUl6SI/AAAAAAAAEbQ/76k6CZ55D_A/s320/Leon+352.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiIVEiBC0I/AAAAAAAAEfY/JCotSrZw8Pw/s1600-h/Leon+080.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiIVEiBC0I/AAAAAAAAEfY/JCotSrZw8Pw/s320/Leon+080.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267109659784842050" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE_Dzu5WI/AAAAAAAAEes/Ey4BdvzIoCs/s1600-h/Leon+069.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE_Dzu5WI/AAAAAAAAEes/Ey4BdvzIoCs/s320/Leon+069.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267105983098709346" border="0" /></a>The Royal Symbol of Leon<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE-hLWGmI/AAAAAAAAEek/WZ8VBYA7TS8/s1600-h/Leon+064.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE-hLWGmI/AAAAAAAAEek/WZ8VBYA7TS8/s320/Leon+064.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267105973802506850" border="0" /></a>View from the Balcony<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiJKkNGSRI/AAAAAAAAEfo/-l7bmBRvX2Q/s1600-h/Leon+076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiJKkNGSRI/AAAAAAAAEfo/-l7bmBRvX2Q/s320/Leon+076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267110578820106514" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Un Angelito</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE-PIDdgI/AAAAAAAAEec/ur3rkTv_Yvc/s1600-h/Leon+089.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE-PIDdgI/AAAAAAAAEec/ur3rkTv_Yvc/s320/Leon+089.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267105968956864002" border="0" /></a>Friends! Estelle, Anh, and I<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE9oq2VoI/AAAAAAAAEeU/rfkYTQYYe1w/s1600-h/Leon+086.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE9oq2VoI/AAAAAAAAEeU/rfkYTQYYe1w/s320/Leon+086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267105958633821826" border="0" /></a>Plaza in front of the Cathedral at Night<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiIUHUbUWI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/Ztc56Oad_3M/s1600-h/Leon+098.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiIUHUbUWI/AAAAAAAAEfQ/Ztc56Oad_3M/s320/Leon+098.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267109643353280866" border="0" /></a>Dinner at <span style="font-style: italic;">La Cueva</span> (The Cave) Restaurant<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE8-1frNI/AAAAAAAAEeM/xc9kH127koY/s1600-h/Leon+105.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiE8-1frNI/AAAAAAAAEeM/xc9kH127koY/s320/Leon+105.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267105947404184786" border="0" /></a>Amazing Breakfast at Hostal de San Marcos<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiBLuSgqAI/AAAAAAAAEdY/EzEoDcnQz9s/s1600-h/Leon+106.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiBLuSgqAI/AAAAAAAAEdY/EzEoDcnQz9s/s320/Leon+106.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267101802614007810" border="0" /></a>Courtyard in Hotal de San Marcos<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiITM0sIjI/AAAAAAAAEfA/53MtXsC1L2A/s1600-h/Leon+156.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiITM0sIjI/AAAAAAAAEfA/53MtXsC1L2A/s320/Leon+156.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267109627650908722" border="0" /></a>Nikki, Stacie, and I at the Monastario de San Miguel de Escalada<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRia4a9Sz4I/AAAAAAAAEf4/881f9wTFfYQ/s1600-h/Leon+153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRia4a9Sz4I/AAAAAAAAEf4/881f9wTFfYQ/s320/Leon+153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267130058309554050" border="0" /></a>El Monastario<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiBLBgUcWI/AAAAAAAAEdQ/bkix0zmcm6c/s1600-h/Leon+121.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiBLBgUcWI/AAAAAAAAEdQ/bkix0zmcm6c/s320/Leon+121.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267101790592332130" border="0" /></a>We arrived at about 10:00 in the morning, and there was a beautiful fog over the land. It reminded me of San Francisco.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiIThzpgTI/AAAAAAAAEfI/UEnuZ78cdag/s1600-h/Leon+144.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiIThzpgTI/AAAAAAAAEfI/UEnuZ78cdag/s320/Leon+144.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267109633283686706" border="0" /></a>Amazing spider webs drenched in dew and sunlight in the fields near the monestary...<br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiBKPCR-EI/AAAAAAAAEdA/Zk3BiXJ7zDA/s1600-h/Leon+172.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiBKPCR-EI/AAAAAAAAEdA/Zk3BiXJ7zDA/s320/Leon+172.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267101777044568130" border="0" /></a>Monastario Cisterciense de Santa Maria<br />A convent we visited where I bought two boxes of <span style="font-style: italic;">galletas</span>, delicous cookies the nuns make and are reknowned for.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiBJ81Iz0I/AAAAAAAAEc4/efgQfWqDQTc/s1600-h/Leon+199.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiBJ81Iz0I/AAAAAAAAEc4/efgQfWqDQTc/s320/Leon+199.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267101772157603650" border="0" /></a>After the monestary and convent, we hiked on the side of a mountain. We walked for about an hour and saw so many beautiful sights.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh86HTRgXI/AAAAAAAAEcw/YmVoCEEL660/s1600-h/Leon+213.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh86HTRgXI/AAAAAAAAEcw/YmVoCEEL660/s320/Leon+213.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267097102043939186" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh85mbWcLI/AAAAAAAAEco/hw9lv0RJSTo/s1600-h/Leon+216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh85mbWcLI/AAAAAAAAEco/hw9lv0RJSTo/s320/Leon+216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267097093219446962" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh84mppm-I/AAAAAAAAEcg/8MG0Zglev0E/s1600-h/Leon+227.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh84mppm-I/AAAAAAAAEcg/8MG0Zglev0E/s320/Leon+227.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267097076099554274" border="0" /></a>Russel, Brian, Enoch (in the background), and I enjoying the spectacular view.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh84ILVuiI/AAAAAAAAEcY/iG3zMrBs4nQ/s1600-h/Leon+221.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh84ILVuiI/AAAAAAAAEcY/iG3zMrBs4nQ/s320/Leon+221.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267097067919358498" border="0" /></a>I adore this photo of blue sky, green earth, snowy mountains, and the calm river.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh83kFHyZI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/ZCwFoAk3dZk/s1600-h/Leon+269.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh83kFHyZI/AAAAAAAAEcQ/ZCwFoAk3dZk/s320/Leon+269.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267097058229602706" border="0" /></a>A view from the bus driving further outside of Leon after lunch. I fell asleep for about an hour and when I woke up, we were at the top of a mountain range covered in SNOW! I was seriously SO EXCITED. We all jumped off the bus and proceeded to have a 30 minute snow ball fight, during which Santy (the Stanford in Madrid Program Director) dropped a HUGE snow glacier on me.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4hpc_FcI/AAAAAAAAEcI/yp7K7bDnDwk/s1600-h/Leon+281.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4hpc_FcI/AAAAAAAAEcI/yp7K7bDnDwk/s320/Leon+281.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267092283668239810" border="0" /></a>Hi, my name is Mary, and I'm FREEZING and WET!<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4hFqAraI/AAAAAAAAEcA/GywlTGb1lI0/s1600-h/Leon+283.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4hFqAraI/AAAAAAAAEcA/GywlTGb1lI0/s320/Leon+283.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267092274059193762" border="0" /></a>Some of us took another little hike into the snow cover mountains. I was wearing my Nike tennis shoes and jeans and knew I was going to be soaked afterwards, but I really could not pass the opportunity up. :-)<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4gts563I/AAAAAAAAEb4/PAY3uyywYQc/s1600-h/Leon+285.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4gts563I/AAAAAAAAEb4/PAY3uyywYQc/s320/Leon+285.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267092267628882802" border="0" /></a>Snowy Self Portrait<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4gSPMbMI/AAAAAAAAEbw/V3ntspJ_bXw/s1600-h/Leon+300.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4gSPMbMI/AAAAAAAAEbw/V3ntspJ_bXw/s320/Leon+300.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267092260256509122" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRhz5mrh75I/AAAAAAAAEbI/kKNSr5uwknI/s1600-h/Leon+292.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRhz5mrh75I/AAAAAAAAEbI/kKNSr5uwknI/s320/Leon+292.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Breathtaking view from the top! Pictures really do not do the view justice! How I missed my loved ones at this moment...<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4gBgg5rI/AAAAAAAAEbo/-ufvI4jXE14/s1600-h/Leon+315.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRh4gBgg5rI/AAAAAAAAEbo/-ufvI4jXE14/s320/Leon+315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267092255765751474" border="0" /></a>During our decent, Alycia (a young administrator for the Stanford in Madrid Progarm) threw a big snowball at me and ran down the mountain. Of course, I could not let this slide. After chasing her down, I tackled her <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAaLhzRSzac">Dumb and Dumber style</a>. [Viewer discretion is advised: start at 35 seconds to avoid questionable material. :-) ] Afterwards a bunch of us ambushed Santy with a hail of snowballs.<br /><br />I also made a new friend!<br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRhz6YmpScI/AAAAAAAAEbY/KYCLXdh66Wk/s1600-h/Leon+373.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRhz6YmpScI/AAAAAAAAEbY/KYCLXdh66Wk/s320/Leon+373.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">El Rastro</span>, the Flea Market in Leon<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRhz6sixaAI/AAAAAAAAEbg/15tIBoZyH3k/s1600-h/Leon+379.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRhz6sixaAI/AAAAAAAAEbg/15tIBoZyH3k/s320/Leon+379.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Autumn afternoon in Leon near the river...<br /><br /><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-37704379763683784502008-11-04T14:00:00.000-08:002008-11-10T14:37:07.374-08:00Weekend in MadridOctober 31 - November 2: Madrid<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />I stayed in Madrid the weekend of Halloween. It was fairly uneventful... I grabbed a coffee with friends Brian and Russell on the 31st and attended All Saints Day Mass the following day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi2GHGy4hI/AAAAAAAAEiY/uKOku24-pKo/s1600-h/Madrid+1+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi2GHGy4hI/AAAAAAAAEiY/uKOku24-pKo/s320/Madrid+1+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267159980312814098" border="0" /></a>I also visited Palacio Real, which was really beautiful, but I could not take any pictures inside [changes to English accent] <span style="font-style: italic;">as they were stictly prohibited</span>. :-(<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi0mVRQUqI/AAAAAAAAEh4/Q5gfvpcIfXE/s1600-h/Madrid+1+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi0mVRQUqI/AAAAAAAAEh4/Q5gfvpcIfXE/s320/Madrid+1+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267158334847341218" border="0" /></a>After being here for 5 weeks, I decided that might be a good time to take some pictures of the area where I live. This here is a little sidewalk I take to get to the Metro.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi0nYLxILI/AAAAAAAAEiI/grdjHiS3xLA/s1600-h/Madrid+1+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi0nYLxILI/AAAAAAAAEiI/grdjHiS3xLA/s320/Madrid+1+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267158352809500850" border="0" /></a>The famous Cuatro Torres (Four Towers) in the nothern part of the city reside down the street from my apartment. When any other Stanford student sees the Four Towers, they know that they're lost. I on the other hand, know that I'm home.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi0m4fuj4I/AAAAAAAAEiA/8lPwcQE4da8/s1600-h/Madrid+1+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi0m4fuj4I/AAAAAAAAEiA/8lPwcQE4da8/s320/Madrid+1+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267158344303284098" border="0" /></a>The front of my apartment building.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi0l4J9FII/AAAAAAAAEhw/7ZeAotcvb0E/s1600-h/Madrid+1+015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRi0l4J9FII/AAAAAAAAEhw/7ZeAotcvb0E/s320/Madrid+1+015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267158327032091778" border="0" /></a>Lobby<br /></div></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRivalCOPSI/AAAAAAAAEgw/TNKgeiKAf78/s1600-h/Madrid+1+040.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRivalCOPSI/AAAAAAAAEgw/TNKgeiKAf78/s320/Madrid+1+040.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">In other big news, I bought boots! I'm not sure that I have the legs for them, but you're only young once (which is what I tell myself when I start to feel buyer's remorse).<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiva05795I/AAAAAAAAEg4/jOXSSgw-6dM/s1600-h/Madrid+1+060.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiva05795I/AAAAAAAAEg4/jOXSSgw-6dM/s320/Madrid+1+060.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Finally! Pictures of my wonderful host family! Isabel, my host mom, myself, and Irene, my host sister (23).<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRivbKmne0I/AAAAAAAAEhA/yt0VDV44mHg/s1600-h/Madrid+1+067.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRivbKmne0I/AAAAAAAAEhA/yt0VDV44mHg/s320/Madrid+1+067.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-75191996919277095202008-10-29T14:22:00.000-07:002008-10-29T14:47:24.602-07:00Mary Elizabeth BarcelonaOctober 24-26: Barcelona!<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjY-NUY0zI/AAAAAAAAEYo/bTDUc_xa7FI/s1600-h/IMG_1209.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjY-NUY0zI/AAAAAAAAEYo/bTDUc_xa7FI/s320/IMG_1209.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262694727821087538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjUgjo9bvI/AAAAAAAAEYI/0uaJ_IAeoWw/s1600-h/IMG_1186.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjUgjo9bvI/AAAAAAAAEYI/0uaJ_IAeoWw/s320/IMG_1186.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjUhFZ77PI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/g1er1jCLjNU/s1600-h/IMG_1199.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjUhFZ77PI/AAAAAAAAEYQ/g1er1jCLjNU/s320/IMG_1199.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjUhNGwhWI/AAAAAAAAEYY/k1t9V8o7z1c/s1600-h/IMG_1212.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjUhNGwhWI/AAAAAAAAEYY/k1t9V8o7z1c/s320/IMG_1212.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjUhU44R1I/AAAAAAAAEYg/8pKQyzrxuB8/s1600-h/IMG_1269.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjUhU44R1I/AAAAAAAAEYg/8pKQyzrxuB8/s320/IMG_1269.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjZAmKhM2I/AAAAAAAAEZI/o_cMj27F7Mo/s1600-h/IMG_1419.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjZAmKhM2I/AAAAAAAAEZI/o_cMj27F7Mo/s320/IMG_1419.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262694768850318178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjY_9a5MdI/AAAAAAAAEZA/UXw-RFD1IhY/s1600-h/IMG_1417.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjY_9a5MdI/AAAAAAAAEZA/UXw-RFD1IhY/s320/IMG_1417.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262694757913145810" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjY_UNj7HI/AAAAAAAAEY4/FcBecWUyDZU/s1600-h/IMG_1286.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjY_UNj7HI/AAAAAAAAEY4/FcBecWUyDZU/s320/IMG_1286.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262694746851372146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjY-2j3DnI/AAAAAAAAEYw/B2kFtI1mYQg/s1600-h/IMG_1350.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQjY-2j3DnI/AAAAAAAAEYw/B2kFtI1mYQg/s320/IMG_1350.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262694738891837042" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-69431159317250660362008-10-20T16:39:00.000-07:002008-11-10T14:10:55.946-08:00GranadaOctober 17-19: Weekend Trip to Granada in Andalucia<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQejG0wijtI/AAAAAAAAETc/bApqtRQ_Zfo/s1600-h/IMG_0790.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQejG0wijtI/AAAAAAAAETc/bApqtRQ_Zfo/s320/IMG_0790.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Moracoan Streets of Granada<br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQejHaxu7kI/AAAAAAAAETk/2rxGVVVYugo/s1600-h/IMG_0792.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQejHaxu7kI/AAAAAAAAETk/2rxGVVVYugo/s320/IMG_0792.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">A park at the top of the city...<br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQejHY-M9HI/AAAAAAAAETs/gFpF5-L5enk/s1600-h/IMG_0795.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQejHY-M9HI/AAAAAAAAETs/gFpF5-L5enk/s320/IMG_0795.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">We can see the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra">Alhambra</a>!<br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQejHisxoSI/AAAAAAAAET0/MicOdltogVI/s1600-h/IMG_0809.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQejHisxoSI/AAAAAAAAET0/MicOdltogVI/s320/IMG_0809.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />The most amazing Lebanese restaurant in the world. We went back a second time for the delicious humus and lamb! Mmm!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem3DH3bOI/AAAAAAAAEVE/3yQtFfclRJw/s1600-h/IMG_0815.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem3DH3bOI/AAAAAAAAEVE/3yQtFfclRJw/s320/IMG_0815.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262358154267028706" border="0" /></a>Statue of Christopher Columbus at the end of Gran Via. They really love Columbus in Spain, and I'm not sure why...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem2k6J4EI/AAAAAAAAEU8/hTcd0UKGzHg/s1600-h/IMG_0822.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem2k6J4EI/AAAAAAAAEU8/hTcd0UKGzHg/s320/IMG_0822.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262358146156453954" border="0" /></a>Moracan Tea House<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem2YozyEI/AAAAAAAAEU0/szGn6335B0o/s1600-h/IMG_0840.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem2YozyEI/AAAAAAAAEU0/szGn6335B0o/s320/IMG_0840.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262358142862477378" border="0" /></a>I had Egyptian tea! My friend Thais had <span style="font-style: italic;">te de mil noches y una</span> (a thousand and one nights). We're not tourits. For reals, yo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem2JVy4eI/AAAAAAAAEUs/Ub2c3zL0wGk/s1600-h/IMG_0871.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem2JVy4eI/AAAAAAAAEUs/Ub2c3zL0wGk/s320/IMG_0871.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262358138756194786" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granada_Cathedral">Cathedral of Granada</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem1w2Sp7I/AAAAAAAAEUk/mpVu4D_RrNM/s1600-h/IMG_0876.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQem1w2Sp7I/AAAAAAAAEUk/mpVu4D_RrNM/s320/IMG_0876.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262358132181608370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeq16VD6YI/AAAAAAAAEVs/0oUCDxHSGws/s1600-h/IMG_0887.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeq16VD6YI/AAAAAAAAEVs/0oUCDxHSGws/s320/IMG_0887.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262362532773095810" border="0" /></a>The Annunciation<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeq1ewkgLI/AAAAAAAAEVk/YOPPwvFR4Zw/s1600-h/IMG_0906.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeq1ewkgLI/AAAAAAAAEVk/YOPPwvFR4Zw/s320/IMG_0906.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262362525372285106" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeq0hY62YI/AAAAAAAAEVc/wcGjuSzxMOA/s1600-h/IMG_0908.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeq0hY62YI/AAAAAAAAEVc/wcGjuSzxMOA/s320/IMG_0908.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262362508898523522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeq0ZfXo-I/AAAAAAAAEVU/NgPDICaE3_s/s1600-h/IMG_0924.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeq0ZfXo-I/AAAAAAAAEVU/NgPDICaE3_s/s320/IMG_0924.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262362506778092514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeqz1ofv2I/AAAAAAAAEVM/uEBUqFMOlDA/s1600-h/IMG_0925.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeqz1ofv2I/AAAAAAAAEVM/uEBUqFMOlDA/s320/IMG_0925.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262362497152696162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuCWHn8ZI/AAAAAAAAEWU/O2z-XGuOpnM/s1600-h/IMG_0936.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuCWHn8ZI/AAAAAAAAEWU/O2z-XGuOpnM/s320/IMG_0936.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262366044926243218" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuCAg9JkI/AAAAAAAAEWM/zs14xzU1ySg/s1600-h/IMG_0942.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuCAg9JkI/AAAAAAAAEWM/zs14xzU1ySg/s320/IMG_0942.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262366039126910530" border="0" /></a>Plaza in front of the Cathedral<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuBpBYLXI/AAAAAAAAEWE/5-jWmZ8Rlso/s1600-h/IMG_0944.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuBpBYLXI/AAAAAAAAEWE/5-jWmZ8Rlso/s320/IMG_0944.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262366032820448626" border="0" /></a>Not quite sure what this is... Just very pretty!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuBVAzX9I/AAAAAAAAEV8/Uuk-ONoRJ-8/s1600-h/IMG_0955.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuBVAzX9I/AAAAAAAAEV8/Uuk-ONoRJ-8/s320/IMG_0955.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262366027449327570" border="0" /></a>Fountain in the Plaza<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuBG0-lbI/AAAAAAAAEV0/TZf5LPMBC8s/s1600-h/IMG_0974.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQeuBG0-lbI/AAAAAAAAEV0/TZf5LPMBC8s/s320/IMG_0974.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262366023641634226" border="0" /></a>Finally, la <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alhambra">Alhambra</a>!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe2sYChZuI/AAAAAAAAEW8/7hbj2aVElGc/s1600-h/IMG_0978.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe2sYChZuI/AAAAAAAAEW8/7hbj2aVElGc/s320/IMG_0978.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262375563089241826" border="0" /></a>Beautiful fountains in the gardens!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe2r2zvEBI/AAAAAAAAEW0/LNrXFZz6BLc/s1600-h/IMG_0990.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe2r2zvEBI/AAAAAAAAEW0/LNrXFZz6BLc/s320/IMG_0990.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262375554168852498" border="0" /></a>Breathtaking!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe2rpaQv7I/AAAAAAAAEWs/SRnZat7gPbA/s1600-h/IMG_0995.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe2rpaQv7I/AAAAAAAAEWs/SRnZat7gPbA/s320/IMG_0995.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262375550572347314" border="0" /></a>This was pretty awesome: stairs with flowing water banisters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe1GuaQXKI/AAAAAAAAEWk/y6f0XT2ffqw/s1600-h/IMG_1015.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe1GuaQXKI/AAAAAAAAEWk/y6f0XT2ffqw/s320/IMG_1015.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262373816747711650" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe1GBy88UI/AAAAAAAAEWc/spQkYDxmEGs/s1600-h/IMG_1027.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQe1GBy88UI/AAAAAAAAEWc/spQkYDxmEGs/s320/IMG_1027.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262373804771701058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwsRulx_I/AAAAAAAAEho/jSK87bzWIPc/s1600-h/IMG_1032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwsRulx_I/AAAAAAAAEho/jSK87bzWIPc/s320/IMG_1032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267154038929344498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwqesaxCI/AAAAAAAAEhg/EnVsU31wXF4/s1600-h/IMG_1034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwqesaxCI/AAAAAAAAEhg/EnVsU31wXF4/s320/IMG_1034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267154008050156578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwp-E6ipI/AAAAAAAAEhY/qnRVXX9RT3s/s1600-h/IMG_1045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwp-E6ipI/AAAAAAAAEhY/qnRVXX9RT3s/s320/IMG_1045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267153999294532242" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwprSFBuI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/rcYNwDHhoj8/s1600-h/IMG_1049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwprSFBuI/AAAAAAAAEhQ/rcYNwDHhoj8/s320/IMG_1049.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267153994249471714" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwpERidbI/AAAAAAAAEhI/Uiu8mE-2RRw/s1600-h/IMG_1050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRiwpERidbI/AAAAAAAAEhI/Uiu8mE-2RRw/s320/IMG_1050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267153983778223538" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit7-N_XxI/AAAAAAAAEgo/LXQiot2lmcQ/s1600-h/IMG_1060.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit7-N_XxI/AAAAAAAAEgo/LXQiot2lmcQ/s320/IMG_1060.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267151010035359506" border="0" /></a>A beautiful little fountain in a garden...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit7uS3SYI/AAAAAAAAEgg/zBo4MhYB50I/s1600-h/IMG_1071.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit7uS3SYI/AAAAAAAAEgg/zBo4MhYB50I/s320/IMG_1071.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267151005760833922" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit6tHQzzI/AAAAAAAAEgY/kOHY8Ut5Bs8/s1600-h/IMG_1081.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit6tHQzzI/AAAAAAAAEgY/kOHY8Ut5Bs8/s320/IMG_1081.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267150988263870258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit6Loc7XI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/_1_oMCEGJ2E/s1600-h/IMG_1097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit6Loc7XI/AAAAAAAAEgQ/_1_oMCEGJ2E/s320/IMG_1097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267150979276270962" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit5lJZFEI/AAAAAAAAEgI/Q0K6HDW3d8M/s1600-h/IMG_1116.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SRit5lJZFEI/AAAAAAAAEgI/Q0K6HDW3d8M/s320/IMG_1116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267150968945448002" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-35577294537992132282008-10-13T12:45:00.000-07:002008-10-29T13:23:34.051-07:00Correro del Toros<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">On October 13, I attended a bull fight in Madrid! Quite an experience, although I will probably never, ever return. :-( Maybe I'm a dummy, but I did not know they kill the bull (actually 6 bulls) until a few days before the bull fight. It was a good cultural experience, but still, it was pretty sad to see. <br /><br />Warning: There are a few pictures below you may want to skip if you are squeamish... <br /><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYasc-60UI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/_akShqZ7shY/s1600-h/IMG_0703.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYasc-60UI/AAAAAAAAEQ8/_akShqZ7shY/s320/IMG_0703.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Plaza <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">del</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Toros</span> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYas7eVZFI/AAAAAAAAERE/kaNuoZbpHjQ/s1600-h/IMG_0705.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYas7eVZFI/AAAAAAAAERE/kaNuoZbpHjQ/s320/IMG_0705.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYas_S6b3I/AAAAAAAAERM/hW8bSWMKPdo/s1600-h/IMG_0715.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYas_S6b3I/AAAAAAAAERM/hW8bSWMKPdo/s320/IMG_0715.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Opening Ceremony</div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYatpBJJ6I/AAAAAAAAERU/HaGv6Bz1850/s1600-h/IMG_0720.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYatpBJJ6I/AAAAAAAAERU/HaGv6Bz1850/s320/IMG_0720.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYcYWZaGOI/AAAAAAAAERc/rY0CMnoh62I/s1600-h/IMG_0741.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYcYWZaGOI/AAAAAAAAERc/rY0CMnoh62I/s320/IMG_0741.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261924419283589346" border="0" /></a>El Matador!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYcZFfo0DI/AAAAAAAAERk/CyQ1EG7tkOY/s1600-h/IMG_0746.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYcZFfo0DI/AAAAAAAAERk/CyQ1EG7tkOY/s320/IMG_0746.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261924431926186034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYcaKYtQ3I/AAAAAAAAERs/tEPXJLzZ8Ew/s1600-h/IMG_0749.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYcaKYtQ3I/AAAAAAAAERs/tEPXJLzZ8Ew/s320/IMG_0749.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261924450419164018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYca7B6p_I/AAAAAAAAER0/3Cgzuu5L53Y/s1600-h/IMG_0751.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYca7B6p_I/AAAAAAAAER0/3Cgzuu5L53Y/s320/IMG_0751.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261924463476910066" border="0" /></a>!!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYcbP9K7oI/AAAAAAAAER8/iFSzWyecYn4/s1600-h/IMG_0752.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQYcbP9K7oI/AAAAAAAAER8/iFSzWyecYn4/s320/IMG_0752.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261924469094149762" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQej4pTvpAI/AAAAAAAAEUc/P78kgIcT6jU/s1600-h/IMG_0756.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQej4pTvpAI/AAAAAAAAEUc/P78kgIcT6jU/s320/IMG_0756.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262354883162383362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQej4KXL1SI/AAAAAAAAEUU/LZBDknIeEgo/s1600-h/IMG_0759.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SQej4KXL1SI/AAAAAAAAEUU/LZBDknIeEgo/s320/IMG_0759.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262354874855314722" border="0" /></a>Okay, looks can be deceiving. I look really happy, but I was pretty sad on the inside. <br /><br /><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-28428143446152336312008-10-10T14:33:00.000-07:002008-10-23T00:47:41.127-07:00Bakeries y Dulcitas!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Bakeries are probably my most favorite thing about Spain. There are a million around the Insitute and they always sell chocolate croissants, or <span style="font-style: italic;">napolitanas de chocolate</span> (my absolute favorite). :-)<br /></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7z0eitJKI/AAAAAAAAEM4/1zckBHMOGG8/s1600-h/IMG_0679.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7z0eitJKI/AAAAAAAAEM4/1zckBHMOGG8/s320/IMG_0679.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Apple pie (<span style="font-style: italic;">tarta de manzana</span>) and coffee with milk (<span style="font-style: italic;">cafe con leche</span>) at Cafe & Te.<br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7z0si4z0I/AAAAAAAAENA/jnAKCBczooU/s1600-h/IMG_0685.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7z0si4z0I/AAAAAAAAENA/jnAKCBczooU/s320/IMG_0685.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7z00dRnUI/AAAAAAAAENI/sILhpv-yuF4/s1600-h/IMG_0692.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7z00dRnUI/AAAAAAAAENI/sILhpv-yuF4/s320/IMG_0692.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Spain's famous churros and chocolate! My friend, Estelle and I ventured out to the most famous (and most touristy) <span style="font-style: italic;">chocolateria </span>in Madrid, <a href="http://www.notesfrommadrid.com/2007/10/19/great-madrid-traditions-chocolateria-san-gines/" log="miw" id="link_A_2" onclick="this.blur();return openInfoWindow('A');"><span id="sxtitle" class="fn org" dir="ltr">Chocolatería San Ginés</span></a>. When I first heard of churros and chocolate I thought of churros and hot chocolate (the drink). The chocolate is actually thick and syrupy, perfect for dunking the churros in. Mmm...<br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-74616094150223000042008-10-08T15:24:00.000-07:002008-10-22T12:26:02.526-07:00Spanish MealsI am amazed at how late the meals really are. I guess before I came to Madrid, I thought the whole "eating late" and siestas were more an exaggeration than anything else. Not so much. We regualarly eat lunch around 2:00 and dinner is usually 9:30PM. Isabel is a wonderful cook, and we always eat bread with our mostly traditional Spanish meals. I'm also amazed at is how formal everything is. Isabel makes everything from scratch, and we usually eat three course meals with an appetizer, main dish and dessert. Dessert is not always fancy... usually yogurt or fruit. I think my favorite is the coffee cup with the saucer... Oh, elegance!<br /><br />An aside: One thing I could really get used to is drinking wine everyday. While we were on the orientation trip, everyday at every meal we had wine. It was really fun and very tasty. :-)Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-24000886317510128562008-10-03T15:36:00.000-07:002008-10-22T04:04:24.865-07:00My Home and Host FamilyI adore my host family! Isabel, my host mother is a first-year student at the University here in Madrid studying Psychology. Isabel used to work in the office of a Spanish television network before she went back to school Her daughter, Irene, is also a student studying Psychology. Irene speaks a little English, but Isabel only speaks Spanish. They are very sweet and especially paitient with my Spanish, always gently correcting my mistakes. I really enjoy talking with them about their perceptions of American culture because they are so surprised to learn certain things. The other day, I told Isabel that Americans eat dinner between 5-7PM, and she could not believe it. "And after dinner they don't eat anything else?" she asked me. Maybe a midnight snack, I answered. Among other surprising discoveries for Isabel is that Americans usually only eat eggs at breakfast (they are usually served at lunch or dinner in Spain).<br /><br />Our apartment is on <a href="http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Paseo+de+la+Castellana+266,+28046+Madrid,+Spain&sll=40.471861,-3.684969&sspn=0.007901,0.019312&ie=UTF8&ll=40.47289,-3.68602&spn=0.0079,0.019312&t=h&z=16">Paseo de la Castellana</a>, one of the main roads in Madrid, convinietly located near the Chamartin Metro and Train station. I usually take the metro to the International Institute; however, I recently discovered the bus which allows me to see the city (and I love it!).<br /><br />The apartment is very spacious with a living room (<span style="font-style: italic;">salon</span>), a den (<span style="font-style: italic;">estudio</span>), three bedrooms (<span style="font-style: italic;">habitaciones</span>), and three bathrooms (<span style="font-style: italic;">banos</span>). Sara and I share a room with our own desks and our own bathroom. One thing I am still getting used to in Europe are the tiny, tiny elevators. They usually only fit 2-3 people, or 1 person and a huge suitcase.Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-43980757659149273962008-10-02T14:18:00.000-07:002008-10-22T18:27:33.670-07:00SegoviaThe final day of Orientation, we visited Segovia, home to an ancient aqueduct, historic castle, and beautiful cathedral.<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7wC74EUcI/AAAAAAAAEMY/cM_9m735RdI/s1600-h/IMG_0486.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7wC74EUcI/AAAAAAAAEMY/cM_9m735RdI/s320/IMG_0486.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqueduct_of_Segovia">Aqueduct of Segovia</a><br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7wC7yP8wI/AAAAAAAAEMg/qQ4-GCHihlE/s1600-h/IMG_0489.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7wC7yP8wI/AAAAAAAAEMg/qQ4-GCHihlE/s320/IMG_0489.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7wDCnDUUI/AAAAAAAAEMo/b3zcl8V085Y/s1600-h/IMG_0498.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7wDCnDUUI/AAAAAAAAEMo/b3zcl8V085Y/s320/IMG_0498.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Segovia<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7wDBnCb4I/AAAAAAAAEMw/FqAxx7grigE/s1600-h/IMG_0500.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP7wDBnCb4I/AAAAAAAAEMw/FqAxx7grigE/s320/IMG_0500.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Hanging flowers in windows.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73BeBdPLI/AAAAAAAAENQ/upawRrUbqWo/s1600-h/IMG_0509.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73BeBdPLI/AAAAAAAAENQ/upawRrUbqWo/s320/IMG_0509.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259913019426421938" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73BkCaFBI/AAAAAAAAENY/8Dm3EDwvwZk/s1600-h/IMG_0526.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73BkCaFBI/AAAAAAAAENY/8Dm3EDwvwZk/s320/IMG_0526.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259913021041021970" border="0" /></a>St. John of the Cross<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73CH05E8I/AAAAAAAAENg/fscaFWyyRyY/s1600-h/IMG_0531.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73CH05E8I/AAAAAAAAENg/fscaFWyyRyY/s320/IMG_0531.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259913030648009666" border="0" /></a>Gateway to the Alcázar of Segovia<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79s2SVuzI/AAAAAAAAEPo/RXBEi3ecjsA/s1600-h/IMG_0536.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79s2SVuzI/AAAAAAAAEPo/RXBEi3ecjsA/s320/IMG_0536.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259920361743825714" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alc%C3%A1zar_of_Segovia">Alcázar of Segovia</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73CWgo8UI/AAAAAAAAENo/qGiD9yL-SEA/s1600-h/IMG_0541.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73CWgo8UI/AAAAAAAAENo/qGiD9yL-SEA/s320/IMG_0541.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259913034589598018" border="0" /></a>Yes, the knight in shining armor is skinnier than me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76ZiGPyDI/AAAAAAAAEOg/gtytgWvZGQw/s1600-h/IMG_0602.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76ZiGPyDI/AAAAAAAAEOg/gtytgWvZGQw/s320/IMG_0602.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916731371997234" border="0" /></a>Segovia from the highest castle tower.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74ETP-d5I/AAAAAAAAEOY/mHY-nIgMygg/s1600-h/IMG_0593.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74ETP-d5I/AAAAAAAAEOY/mHY-nIgMygg/s320/IMG_0593.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259914167585765266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73CmlVAOI/AAAAAAAAENw/Cv4IJ7H4Rj8/s1600-h/IMG_0551.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP73CmlVAOI/AAAAAAAAENw/Cv4IJ7H4Rj8/s320/IMG_0551.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259913038904230114" border="0" /></a>Stained glass window in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Alcazar_de_Segovia_%28throne_room%29.JPG">Throne Room</a>.<br /><br />Small aspects of the Alcázar that I found especially beautiful:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74Dt9onHI/AAAAAAAAEN4/42g187onmSQ/s1600-h/IMG_0569.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74Dt9onHI/AAAAAAAAEN4/42g187onmSQ/s320/IMG_0569.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259914157576723570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74D4rZc4I/AAAAAAAAEOA/Ts7mZKHrDeY/s1600-h/IMG_0575.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74D4rZc4I/AAAAAAAAEOA/Ts7mZKHrDeY/s320/IMG_0575.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259914160453022594" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74D_ng2nI/AAAAAAAAEOI/IjMnQ8oAIUY/s1600-h/IMG_0578.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74D_ng2nI/AAAAAAAAEOI/IjMnQ8oAIUY/s320/IMG_0578.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259914162315778674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74EGKuM5I/AAAAAAAAEOQ/IChA51vB1AA/s1600-h/IMG_0589.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP74EGKuM5I/AAAAAAAAEOQ/IChA51vB1AA/s320/IMG_0589.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259914164074066834" border="0" /></a>Santiago de Compostela owning some pagans. Quite graphic for the chapel, which is where this painting was located.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79sCfAoQI/AAAAAAAAEPI/hi-02c4yAfA/s1600-h/IMG_0662.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79sCfAoQI/AAAAAAAAEPI/hi-02c4yAfA/s320/IMG_0662.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259920347838324994" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Segovia_Cathedral">The Cathedral of Segovia</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76ZwGy6hI/AAAAAAAAEOo/b2u4hChZShg/s1600-h/IMG_0610.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76ZwGy6hI/AAAAAAAAEOo/b2u4hChZShg/s320/IMG_0610.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916735132396050" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76aK4tMOI/AAAAAAAAEOw/9Vy5SxPa_5c/s1600-h/IMG_0626.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76aK4tMOI/AAAAAAAAEOw/9Vy5SxPa_5c/s320/IMG_0626.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916742321058018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76aLWi4gI/AAAAAAAAEO4/kkgEO_sUT-s/s1600-h/IMG_0637.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76aLWi4gI/AAAAAAAAEO4/kkgEO_sUT-s/s320/IMG_0637.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916742446211586" border="0" /></a>The courtyard within the cathedral.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76a36UamI/AAAAAAAAEPA/CQbmynDQXpU/s1600-h/IMG_0651.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP76a36UamI/AAAAAAAAEPA/CQbmynDQXpU/s320/IMG_0651.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259916754407418466" border="0" /></a>My favorite painting in the cathedral: Our Lady of the Rosary<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79spCT3TI/AAAAAAAAEPY/B6y_7ZJqwcI/s1600-h/IMG_0658.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79spCT3TI/AAAAAAAAEPY/B6y_7ZJqwcI/s320/IMG_0658.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259920358186933554" border="0" /></a>Enormous!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79slJFH2I/AAAAAAAAEPg/feYR6PhrU4w/s1600-h/IMG_0656.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79slJFH2I/AAAAAAAAEPg/feYR6PhrU4w/s320/IMG_0656.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259920357141585762" border="0" /></a>St. Joseph with the Child Jesus<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79sXaMRqI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/A56vNZZInoE/s1600-h/IMG_0661.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SP79sXaMRqI/AAAAAAAAEPQ/A56vNZZInoE/s320/IMG_0661.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259920353455261346" border="0" /></a>Tiny bird drying off after taking a bath in a water fountain.<br /><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-76191384721813397542008-10-01T08:44:00.000-07:002008-10-22T02:26:10.551-07:00Wine Tasting in PeñafielAfter Comillas, we headed to <span class="campo2">Peñafiel where we visited a castle that housed a museum of wine. <br /></span><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYQbf-8YwI/AAAAAAAAEHY/xPGQbcVDLvI/s1600-h/IMG_0342.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYQbf-8YwI/AAAAAAAAEHY/xPGQbcVDLvI/s320/IMG_0342.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://museodelvinodevalladolid.com/">Museo Provincial del Vino de Valladolid</a><br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYQbiHKDZI/AAAAAAAAEHg/OYFPMcFfKN0/s1600-h/IMG_0353.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYQbiHKDZI/AAAAAAAAEHg/OYFPMcFfKN0/s320/IMG_0353.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Spectacular view of <span class="campo2">Peñafiel</span> from on high!<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYQb2OYgLI/AAAAAAAAEHo/RNBQBO5huAU/s1600-h/IMG_0361.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYQb2OYgLI/AAAAAAAAEHo/RNBQBO5huAU/s320/IMG_0361.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The city...<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYQbxFyt5I/AAAAAAAAEHw/OkPEOYFupIk/s1600-h/IMG_0371.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYQbxFyt5I/AAAAAAAAEHw/OkPEOYFupIk/s320/IMG_0371.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Wine tasting in the Museo del Vino! I really love the way they set up different wines... The various colors juxtaposed fueron tan bonisima!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZnYS7Ll_I/AAAAAAAAEIA/Vx1QpyDLkO8/s1600-h/IMG_0386.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZnYS7Ll_I/AAAAAAAAEIA/Vx1QpyDLkO8/s320/IMG_0386.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257503282096216050" border="0" /></a>I really, really like wine.<br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpKdVgKiI/AAAAAAAAEII/_cOwJh66VmU/s1600-h/IMG_0391.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpKdVgKiI/AAAAAAAAEII/_cOwJh66VmU/s320/IMG_0391.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257505243396057634" border="0" /></a><a href="http://localhost:4739/d4b9294e2dbc9d76c6ed2b5ef7badeba/image4162.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">The quaint little restaurant where we enjoyed lunch.<br /></div><a href="http://localhost:4739/d4b9294e2dbc9d76c6ed2b5ef7badeba/image4162.jpg"><br /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpK3wfDUI/AAAAAAAAEIQ/FwdoiHqNXBg/s1600-h/IMG_0405.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpK3wfDUI/AAAAAAAAEIQ/FwdoiHqNXBg/s320/IMG_0405.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257505250488552770" border="0" /></a>Visiting a winery!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpLF_ZVjI/AAAAAAAAEIY/3s7D8pglZgQ/s1600-h/IMG_0411.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpLF_ZVjI/AAAAAAAAEIY/3s7D8pglZgQ/s320/IMG_0411.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257505254309189170" border="0" /></a>There were hundred and hundreds of barrels of wine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpLcomO-I/AAAAAAAAEIg/LA89LZUXGd8/s1600-h/IMG_0426.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpLcomO-I/AAAAAAAAEIg/LA89LZUXGd8/s320/IMG_0426.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257505260387580898" border="0" /></a>All the wine is housed in the "wine dormitory" in large cages, one of which hold a thousand bottles of wine.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpLqM157I/AAAAAAAAEIo/BEreCV5-Oqs/s1600-h/IMG_0447.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZpLqM157I/AAAAAAAAEIo/BEreCV5-Oqs/s320/IMG_0447.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257505264029263794" border="0" /></a>Japanese tea garden in Spain? Yeah, I'm not sure either. Our guide told us that since Spain gets many tourists from Japan, they want to make them feel right at home. LOL.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZtWV6cWuI/AAAAAAAAEIw/1FxwUaMwLDI/s1600-h/IMG_0455.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZtWV6cWuI/AAAAAAAAEIw/1FxwUaMwLDI/s320/IMG_0455.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257509845608454882" border="0" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">At this point, I think my teeth were starting to turn brown from all the wine. Plus, I had not slept properly in like 3 days. Don't judge.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZtW-4iPeI/AAAAAAAAEI4/szO_23j7uHM/s1600-h/IMG_0464.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZtW-4iPeI/AAAAAAAAEI4/szO_23j7uHM/s320/IMG_0464.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257509856606305762" border="0" /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;">The wine vineyard.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZtW0wSbmI/AAAAAAAAEJA/c66YDq15nOU/s1600-h/IMG_0467.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZtW0wSbmI/AAAAAAAAEJA/c66YDq15nOU/s320/IMG_0467.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257509853887360610" border="0" /></a>Beautiful Spanish countryside.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-75224864943171474652008-09-30T08:34:00.000-07:002008-10-22T02:26:40.141-07:00ComillasComillas, a little town by the sea was really cute. It was a very historic place with much to see and a beautiful beach. Some crazy kids went swimming, but it was a little too cold for me. :-)<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0yE8wzGI/AAAAAAAAEJI/QnBJaVCr2XE/s1600-h/IMG_0224.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0yE8wzGI/AAAAAAAAEJI/QnBJaVCr2XE/s320/IMG_0224.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257518018672512098" border="0" /></a>An afternoon stroll down to the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ96apjD_I/AAAAAAAAEKo/K1T1Rc7bhEI/s1600-h/IMG_0225.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ96apjD_I/AAAAAAAAEKo/K1T1Rc7bhEI/s320/IMG_0225.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257528057541103602" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0ySqfJgI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/gNu5GccODzs/s1600-h/IMG_0230.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0ySqfJgI/AAAAAAAAEJQ/gNu5GccODzs/s320/IMG_0230.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257518022353954306" border="0" /></a>Me in the water! How beautiful is this beach?!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0y-VktEI/AAAAAAAAEJY/dwKAiu2Ssq8/s1600-h/IMG_0232.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0y-VktEI/AAAAAAAAEJY/dwKAiu2Ssq8/s320/IMG_0232.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257518034077398082" border="0" /></a>A special message for a special sister!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0zCIs94I/AAAAAAAAEJg/vOSVa3f6FAo/s1600-h/IMG_0234.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0zCIs94I/AAAAAAAAEJg/vOSVa3f6FAo/s320/IMG_0234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257518035097155458" border="0" /></a>Justine brought a travelling guitar and played for us on the beach. :-)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0zrdaJyI/AAAAAAAAEJo/vqsnozh8KgA/s1600-h/IMG_0242.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ0zrdaJyI/AAAAAAAAEJo/vqsnozh8KgA/s320/IMG_0242.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257518046189856546" border="0" /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div>A historic fountain in town.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3A4rw59I/AAAAAAAAEKI/oAqcqDixJOU/s1600-h/IMG_0246.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3A4rw59I/AAAAAAAAEKI/oAqcqDixJOU/s320/IMG_0246.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257520472101283794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3Alrb4fI/AAAAAAAAEKA/z4yh6R82ViE/s1600-h/IMG_0247.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3Alrb4fI/AAAAAAAAEKA/z4yh6R82ViE/s320/IMG_0247.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257520466999632370" border="0" /></a>Sunset on the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3BH8VeoI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/lcNxuJEZ6oE/s1600-h/IMG_0254.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3BH8VeoI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/lcNxuJEZ6oE/s320/IMG_0254.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257520476197321346" border="0" /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div>The following day on a walk to some historic sites.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3ANync6I/AAAAAAAAEJw/qe7ktcZ-Wnk/s1600-h/IMG_0258.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3ANync6I/AAAAAAAAEJw/qe7ktcZ-Wnk/s320/IMG_0258.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257520460587299746" border="0" /></a>What a view!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3ARARrUI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/1zfW-ePLBE0/s1600-h/IMG_0259.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ3ARARrUI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/1zfW-ePLBE0/s320/IMG_0259.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257520461449899330" border="0" /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div>OMG. I'M IN SPAIN!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ95v15wgI/AAAAAAAAEKY/Hvy5_VcNdOY/s1600-h/IMG_0265.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ95v15wgI/AAAAAAAAEKY/Hvy5_VcNdOY/s320/IMG_0265.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257528046050198018" border="0" /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div>A historic cemetery...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ95-00LqI/AAAAAAAAEKg/tE93XCZJgco/s1600-h/IMG_0272.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ95-00LqI/AAAAAAAAEKg/tE93XCZJgco/s320/IMG_0272.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257528050072170146" border="0" /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><span id="detailBaseUserControl_DetailBasePlaceholder"><span><span class="txtFicha">El Capricho, a home designed by Antoni Gaudí for Antonio Lopez</span></span></span>, who founded several large companies mainly in Barcelona, Cuba, and the Philippines. In gratitude for his help during the Cuban conflict, the king bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Comillas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ96z1YDAI/AAAAAAAAEKw/5Kxi2C41ehM/s1600-h/IMG_0280.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ96z1YDAI/AAAAAAAAEKw/5Kxi2C41ehM/s320/IMG_0280.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257528064301599746" border="0" /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div>His home away from home right next door (covered in sunflowers).<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ97DCq4EI/AAAAAAAAEK4/X6dHZ995JM8/s1600-h/IMG_0284.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPZ97DCq4EI/AAAAAAAAEK4/X6dHZ995JM8/s320/IMG_0284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257528068383891522" border="0" /></a>El camino.<br /><br /><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-32558174059117752692008-09-29T08:12:00.000-07:002008-10-15T17:11:08.701-07:00BurgosOur first stop on our four-day orientation trip was Burgos, a quaint city 3 hours north of Madrid. We visited the amazing Catedral de Burgos and had lunch before driving 3 more hours north to Comillas.<br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYIqQgHGLI/AAAAAAAAEGY/ybxgx7biLcI/s1600-h/IMG_0172.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYIqQgHGLI/AAAAAAAAEGY/ybxgx7biLcI/s320/IMG_0172.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">Gateway to the Burgos and the Plaza<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFZR8VrAI/AAAAAAAAELY/OGyPu901Uco/s1600-h/IMG_0207.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFZR8VrAI/AAAAAAAAELY/OGyPu901Uco/s320/IMG_0207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257536284361337858" border="0" /></a>Catedral de Burgos<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYIqh_nMTI/AAAAAAAAEGg/Kj7-YKEZZSQ/s1600-h/IMG_0177.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYIqh_nMTI/AAAAAAAAEGg/Kj7-YKEZZSQ/s320/IMG_0177.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Open your eyes, Mary!<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYIqwezBNI/AAAAAAAAEGw/agBSqNZe9rA/s1600-h/IMG_0188.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYIqwezBNI/AAAAAAAAEGw/agBSqNZe9rA/s320/IMG_0188.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">How interesting is this? If aristocrats or nobles had enough money, they could pay to be buried in the cathedral. Here are a couple lucky folks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFY5RW4xI/AAAAAAAAELI/BvjEDrFXt6o/s1600-h/IMG_0189.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFY5RW4xI/AAAAAAAAELI/BvjEDrFXt6o/s320/IMG_0189.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257536277738611474" border="0" /></a>A small door with a strange face.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFZKBu6mI/AAAAAAAAELQ/Xe8iiZPkNbU/s1600-h/IMG_0190.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFZKBu6mI/AAAAAAAAELQ/Xe8iiZPkNbU/s320/IMG_0190.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257536282236480098" border="0" /></a>So much detail... I really like this little cherub!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFYpnF4HI/AAAAAAAAELA/ENtJXi4k9JI/s1600-h/IMG_0192.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFYpnF4HI/AAAAAAAAELA/ENtJXi4k9JI/s320/IMG_0192.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257536273534804082" border="0" /></a>A courtyard within the cathedral.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaGRlhQI4I/AAAAAAAAELo/B6Kfy3XBGWc/s1600-h/IMG_0211.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaGRlhQI4I/AAAAAAAAELo/B6Kfy3XBGWc/s320/IMG_0211.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257537251689112450" border="0" /></a>A fountain and some houses in Burgos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFZjnSyeI/AAAAAAAAELg/SFqRkp8K9x0/s1600-h/IMG_0221.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaFZjnSyeI/AAAAAAAAELg/SFqRkp8K9x0/s320/IMG_0221.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257536289104906722" border="0" /></a>Lunchtime!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaGSBc6W5I/AAAAAAAAELw/-xkYfTwXb8Y/s1600-h/IMG_0216.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPaGSBc6W5I/AAAAAAAAELw/-xkYfTwXb8Y/s320/IMG_0216.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257537259187100562" border="0" /></a><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"> </div> New friends: Russell, Daniel, Jordi, Brian & Thais<br /><br />Note the empty wine glasses and the fancy mineral water (the only water Spanish restaurants serve).<br /><br /><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-27995258155930081372008-09-28T20:08:00.000-07:002008-10-15T17:14:48.341-07:00First Day in Spain<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Saturday, September 27: First day in Madrid! At the airport, I (was very fortunate to have) met up with two other Stanford students, and the three of us squeezed into a taxi to Hotel Francisco I. All the students in the Stanford Overseas Studies Program stayed there a single night before beginning a four-day orientation trip with Santy (the Stanford Overseas Studies Program Director) and Professor Cidro Yerba. I arrived in the early afternoon and had some time to explore a little before our first OSP meeting and dinner. Here are some pictures I took from my room at Hotel Francisco I, which is located in the most central and touristy area of Madrid on <a href="http://maps.google.es/maps?f=q&hl=es&geocode=&q=calle+de+arenal+madrid&ie=UTF8&ll=40.41776,-3.706684&spn=0.031628,0.077248&z=14">Calle de Arenal</a>. </div></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYFyQU40aI/AAAAAAAAEGA/2DhQOS6GUc4/s1600-h/IMG_0134.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYFyQU40aI/AAAAAAAAEGA/2DhQOS6GUc4/s320/IMG_0134.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">A Catholic church next door to the Hotel Francisco I.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYFzOpm3YI/AAAAAAAAEGI/2gChONYuiQQ/s1600-h/IMG_0138.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYFzOpm3YI/AAAAAAAAEGI/2gChONYuiQQ/s320/IMG_0138.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Busy Calle de Arenal in the evening.<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYFzfsWBPI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/3Y8eXPn3pmc/s1600-h/IMG_0140.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYFzfsWBPI/AAAAAAAAEGQ/3Y8eXPn3pmc/s320/IMG_0140.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Hotel Francisco I, named after France's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_I_of_France">first Renaissance monarch</a> and major patron to the arts.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYFyXG7MiI/AAAAAAAAEF4/U_kapoJ7UPY/s1600-h/IMG_0132.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPYFyXG7MiI/AAAAAAAAEF4/U_kapoJ7UPY/s320/IMG_0132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Now you don't see this everyday (unless you live in Spain, of course).<br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-5202693830564124212008-09-28T16:43:00.000-07:002008-10-22T14:18:39.072-07:00Amsterdam<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">So I'm not sure if it's totally fair that Amsterdam gets its own blog entry, mainly because I was there for a whole 5 hours. However, it was my first touchdown in Europe, so I would say it's justified. I arrived in Amsterdam on Saturday, September 27 flying from Sacramento through Minneapolis. I was very excited to use Euros for the first time, although it took me a little while to differentiate between the 3848374 coins the EU issues.<br /></div><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPX-wcmEWkI/AAAAAAAAEFg/X7zzlzluFzs/s1600-h/IMG_0117.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPX-wcmEWkI/AAAAAAAAEFg/X7zzlzluFzs/s320/IMG_0117.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Me looking like the living dead after the 10 hour flight at the Amersterdam Airport in front of a Heineken bar, open at 6AM. Oh, Europeans.<br /></div><br /><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPX-wYUwObI/AAAAAAAAEFo/AT4ErJTDZWw/s1600-h/IMG_0121.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPX-wYUwObI/AAAAAAAAEFo/AT4ErJTDZWw/s320/IMG_0121.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Amesterdam Airport<br /><br /></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPX-wj9ic5I/AAAAAAAAEFw/tzGkRquSoiA/s1600-h/IMG_0126.jpg"><img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WhVQ_hpBpC8/SPX-wj9ic5I/AAAAAAAAEFw/tzGkRquSoiA/s320/IMG_0126.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: center;">Breakfast before getting on the plane to Madrid (100% sugar). I can't remember if there was any coffee in that cup, or if it was just filled with whipped cream.<br /><br /></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2561656580530552550.post-36701492354211616732008-09-27T15:08:00.000-07:002008-10-15T15:58:15.122-07:00Mary in MadridHola y Bienvinimos! Welcome to my blog about my study abroad experience in Madrid. Please consider following my blog, as I will be writing and updating frequently! :-)<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04900357070825626374noreply@blogger.com0