Spring Break Part 3: Madrid

After a great three days in Sevilla, where I decided if I was not studying in Florence I would want to be there, it was time to head to Madrid. A very fun train ride got us to Madrid around midnight where I was met by my friend Sam who is now living in Madrid. Jason and I headed to his apartment as we were staying the night there while the rest of our group was staying with our friend Allison. The next morning we woke up to some not so friendly weather, and Jason and I checked out the Prado Botanical Gardens, which looked rather bleak on a late winter overcast day. After that we headed to Allison's apartment to meet up with Paul Jackson and Julian. It was a relief getting there as all of us had exhausted the funds on our cell phones so it was like meeting someone in the ancient pre cell phone days. Julian Paul and Jason left to go buy Real Madrid tickets for the night, and Jackson and I caught up on some much needed sleep. Going to the Game that night was the highlight of Madrid.

It was my first time at a soccer game, and I was fortunate enough to see the richest team in the world play. Real Madrid was playing Malaga, the worst team in the Spanish La Liga, so a 7-0 blow out was to be expected. Ronaldo also had a hat trick.

After a rough nights sleep sharing a twin bed we decided to do some exploring of Madrid. It was pouring with rain and I have to thank Gore-tex for keeping me dry. As much as I hate to judge a city when poor sleep horrible weather and being the 3rd leg of a week and a half of traveling contribute so much, Madrid was not as fun as either Sevilla or Barcelona. On our walk we did come across this awesome market and enjoyed some lovely tacos there. Still feeling worn out I took it easy that night, in preparation for sleeping on a lovely hardwood floor. The next day we did some more Touristy things, seeing another Park and two of Madrid's most famous museums. The Retiro Park was cool, and I can only imagine how much more beautiful it would have been if I was there when all the flowers were in bloom. Either way I ran into Dora the Explorer

After the Park we Checked out the Reina Sofia, Mardid's Modern Art Museum.

While not the biggest fan of Modern Art I do enjoy Salvador Dali. I was fortuante enough to go to his meusuem outside of Barcelona when I was there with the family in 2008, so it was nice to see the majority of the rest of his works in the Reina Sofia.

Picasso's Masterpeice La Guernica was there as well so we had to get a view while listening to the constant yell of "No Foto!!" It was great to see a masterpiece of such immense scale, much more like Michelangelo's David or Last judgement, than Da Vinci's underwhelming Mona Lisa. With enough 20th century art under our belt we headed over to Museo Nacional Del Prado, Madrid's equivalent of the Louvre or Ufizi. We had some pizza dinner, and then came home for another early night. I finished reading Between a Rock and Hard Place, and was even more blown away than the film 127 Hours.

Getting my own bed for the fight time In Madrid was great and I got some sleep in Before our early flight the next Morning.

At the airport I contemplated paying 35 Euro to check my bag, solely so I didn't run the risk of getting to the gate, being forced to check it and then missing the plane. As I was 2/2 on the trip i figured I would risk it. The Ryan air attendants were more strict in Madrid than any other city I have flown out of, forcing almost everyone to place there bag in the size testing Box. I put my oversized backpack on the opposite shoulder as I showed my pass port and boarding pass, while my heart was racing as if I was stealing second base in a high school game. I was lucky again and sitting down in my seat I was finally able to relax... Back to pisa and then the train to Florence after a great Spring break that was slightly tainted by the snow, rain and hail we encountered in Madrid combined with poor sleeping conditions. Still Allison made her best effort and was a great host. The fact that my camera died also put a damper on the trip and I have to give photo credit to Jackson and Paul for the Madrid pictures, as well as a few from Sevilla. Back to the semi real world of life at the Villa....

Spring Break Part 2: Sevilla

After a great time in Barcelona It was on to Sevilla. Again I managed to sneak my oversided backpack through the Barcelona airport without having to pay the oversized bag fee for Ryan air. As soon as i got off the plan I was excited to be there

I was staying in a hostel with Paul, Jackson, Julian and Jason and after we landed Jackson lead the way to the great Sevilla Inn.

The weather in Sevilla was amazing, it was the first city I visited that really felt like a vacation. That first day we wandered around the city and enjoyed the Hostel's Roof top. We had Tapas for dinner, and after eating met up with Laura, a friend from Wisconsin studying in Sevilla.

The next day was more exploring and hanging out down by the River. We had a beer there and met an American couple from NYC, of which the man was a big timer at Akamai. He bought us a few rounds as long as we would act as the waiter. It was very apparent that Sevilla has the best looking women of any city I have ever been in. After the beers we headed to dinner and had more tapas before a night out with some other friends from my program in Florence who also happened to be in Sevilla.

The next day we checked out the Plaza de Espana, built for the 1929 Ibero American Exposition We took a row boat around the moat and enjoyed more beautiful weather

The rest of the time in Sevilla was great, I enjoyed some water in front of the cathedral

The city was full of orange trees, which were a ton of fun to throw around

I ran into some more friends in Sevilla, including Jesse, the room mate of my high school friend steve at tufts. Wednesday we ran into Bill Wheaton, the big timer at Akamai and he invited us back to his hotel for mojitos and the sun set, a perfect way to end the trip before the night train to Madrid....

Spring Break Part 1: Barcelona

I am getting to this a little late, but here are some of the spring break adventures. I Headed into town wednesday Feb 23

And stayed at my Friend MacKenzie's for the night to make getting to the train in the morning easier.

I got up early thursday to take the train to Pisa to get on my flight. I had the large backpack that Will Spiro lent me and it was way too big for Ryan Air, but I managed to conceal it enough to make it past their stingy employees. I got to Barcelona, well Gerona an hour from Barcelona, as that was where Ryan air had the cheapest flight, 13 Euro will fees. Cheaper than the 15 i got tricked into spending on gelato one time.... So i took the bus into town and then walked to my Friend CC's apartment where I was going to stay that night. She was only a few blocks away from the bus station so I got there in no time. Across the street from her apartment was a Bullfighting ring, only being used for Circus's as Bullfighting was outlawed in Catalonia.

She had class soon after So i walked around and returned to the Gaudi Buildings, Casa Batllo and Casa Mia, that I had loved when I was there 3 years ago.

Thankfully I was with my parents that time So i got to go in and have tours, but I did not want to spend the money again. After her class was over I met up with CC and we walked around the gothic area of Barcelona. We came upon a courtyard that I found familiar, and realized it was the location of the restaurant I had dinner at the first night I was in barcelona with my family in 2008

After a nap at CC's It was time to go out to eat and after that a night out on the town.

We first went to this shot bar that had over 300 different shots, each for 2 euro. Then we headed to this beer hall and I ran into some other wisconsin people, including Matt, one of my Roommates from Sophomore year, and Ari who was studying in Sevilla, but happened to be in Barcelona for the weekend. We left the beer hall and tried to get into a club, but the bouncer did not like our tennis shoes. Oh well

The next morning I awoke to the news that CC's roommates were fine with me staying there, despite the fact they were all going to be in Madrid for the rest of the weekend. Great News. Later I met up with some other kids from my Florence program and we headed to Sagrada Familia, and then to the Beach

The beach was great, nice weather, clear blue sea and views of one of the premiere hotels in Barcelona

I also met Ally, a girl on my program's twin, and it was hard to tell them apart

That evening I headed to my friend Mark's residencia and had played some cards watching the sunset from the roof of his building. Of course there was a building blocking a great sky.

After cards I headed home for a nap and then ate some food, before going out again. This time we were successful in getting into the club, and it was funny running into more Wisconsin people.

The next day we headed to Park Guell, and climbed to the top of it where you can overlook the city

After that I walked along Las Ramblas with Paul and saw some hilarious street performers

That night I took it easy as we had an early flight to Sevilla....