Taking it Easy

For Once...

Looking back I´d like to say I took it easy and gave myself a break, but I´m thinking about this blog post I'm about to write and I'm realizing a lot actually happened during my two weeks ¨off¨. No trips, just in Madrid, but trying some new things and having some fun as always.

                     

During my first lazy weekend after spending a whole day in my pjs watching movies with the roommates, we put on real clothes and actually went out of the house. Sarah (one of my roommates) has a couple Spanish friends from high school living in Madrid and one just so happens to be a DJ that was performing. Not only was the music amazing but it was on the roof of a beautiful hotel with amazing lights and quite a view of the bustling city at night. We spent the whole night dancing away and also trying to fit in because we were THE ONLY non-Spainards in the whole place. Great night making friends with the natives.

During the next week, we finally convinced Maria and Luis to have some friends over to see our place and have dinner! After school we all made the trip back to our place and we got to show all of our friends where we live and they got to meet our wonderful host parents. The night was amazing, such good food and lots of laughs. One of the funniest parts of the night was when Luis interviewed Mike to make sure he was a suitable boyfriend for me (he approved!). All our friends agreed that the far distance from the city was well worth it. Post dinner, the crew headed out to the infamous SLU bar, Maloney’s. The bar is only famous in the eyes of the SLU students who have studied abroad in Madrid, mostly because you can sign your names on the walls. As the night went on we all took our turn in the beer pong tournament (The Ladies of the house won), and signed our names on the wall to leave our mark for years to come. I also took the opportunity to cross off the 49ers sticker on the wall and write “GO PACK GO”; once a cheesehead always a cheesehead.

There was a small crew home in Madrid this next weekend and Greta and I were the only girls. We took the opportunity to try some new things and took a chance on a Salsa Bar one night. We aren’t talking chopped up tomatoes and chips, we’re talking dancing! Greta and the three guys that joined us there have been in dance class through school so here I am, the only one who doesn’t have a clue what to do, fumbling around trying to figure out how to “Salsa.” In the end it was a great night attempting to dance and watching all the experts perform.

Last fun activity of the lazy weekends was a trip to the mountains and La Pedriza. It was amazing to get away from the city noises, cement and buildings. All around Greta and I were trees, leaves, rocks and a flowing river. We spent 2 hours hiking around and taking in the views. We both agreed we needed some time to romp around in nature once again.