Exploring

Today our group had an orientation session to get to know the city a little better. We met at 11 and our director took us to a bunch of very cool places around Segovia: La Plaza Mayor, El Catedral, Instituto de Empresas (my university), etc. I just can't get over how much character these buildings have!

El Catedral de Segovia (Cathedral)

After our orientation session, a small group of us went for a little walk on the path that follows El Rio Eresma (a river). This is where we saw El Alcazar (a popular castle in Spain) and ended up at El Catedral in La Plaza Mayor. It was a very nice day of exploration. It was sunny here today and I got pretty hot on the walk so I took off my jacket--of course the group of Minnesotans are the random people in short sleeves in 50 degree weather :).

El Alcazar (Castle in Segovia)

I got home at three and had lunch with my family.  After lunch we watched La Bella y El Bestia (Beauty and the Beast) and then I took a little siesta! A little later I went to "La Colonial" (a local coffee shop) to meet up with the group and use their free Wifi. I tried "cafe con leche" (coffee with milk) and "un berlina" (donut).  The coffee was great, especially since I don't normally like it and the donut was the best I have ever had! 

It started to rain here this afternoon. I went home around eight and watched the Real Madrid v. Villarreal soccer game! Can't wait to go to an actual "partido de fútbol" (football game).  After dinner I showed my host mom and dad pictures of the Minnesota snow. Goll, I do not miss the cold weather one bit!

Where I will be living for the next four months!

Estamos en Segovia (We are in Spain!!)

View from on top of the Aqueduct

Segovia's famous Aqueduct

After our two hour flight to Philadelphia,7 hour flight to Madrid, and hour bus ride to Segovia, we are finally here!  What a day of traveling. Segovia is amazing! It is so beautiful. All the buildings have so much character. I love it! Today I moved into my house! Everything is so nice. My family is great. I have three siblings who are around my age: 2 brothers and a sister. We had a nice family lunch around 3 and then I hit up the stores with some of the girls in my group. They have "rebajas" (sales) going on right now. I didn't have any luck!  Now it's siesta time. Adios!  

The Adventure Begins

In t-minus 37 hours I will be boarding a plane and beginning my adventure to Segovia, Spain.  Segovia is a small town about an hour or so northwest of Madrid. It boasts a population of around 55,000.  I will be spending the whole semester there. 4 months. From January 6 to mid-April I will be taking 16 credits worth of classes to go towards my Spanish major. Then, for about two to three weeks after that I will be traveling throughout Europe.  I'm so excited to begin this experience with a great group of Johnnies and Bennies!

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover"--Mark Twain

And so it begins...