Adventures exploring Madrid :)

Madrid is the definition of crazy. Amazing and crazy. It still feels like a dream. I wake up every morning and it hits me all over again where I am... Europe! I thought savannah was gorgeous last summer but it has nothing on spain! Every corner you turn it gets more and more beautiful. There are pretty buildings where you'd least expect and yet they are everywhere! Day one culture shock definitely hit hard but every day it gets better and Spain just gets more fantastic. Yesterday we went to "El Palacio Real" and words can not describe it. It was incredible! Unfortunately you couldn't take pictures... But I may have a few! We saw the armory, la farmacia, and lots and lots of royal rooms. We explored a market, took the metro underneath all of Madrid and just went everywhere. The days go by fast but they're exhausting! So much walking! But the rumors are correct it truly is a small world, coming out of the palace I look up and actually saw someone I knew! Julia Mcarther from my high school is just outside of Madrid doing a Spanish study abroad as well and there she was! So nice to see a familiar face! Somehow we managed perfect timing getting to the palace at three clear sailing no line but when we left at five there was a line wrapping around the building glad we missed that! Dinner at Plaza Mayor and some nice exploring topped off our night.Today was a full one! First we all planned on meeting up at El Museo Del Prado at 8:30 waking up was so tough but it paid off! When we got there we were so confused we thought it opened at 9 but it was dead no one was there. Turns out it opens at 10 so we were a whole hour and a half early and me and Liv were the only ones of our group to show up when planned. As it got closer to nine tourist started to flood in so we started a line and people followed so turns out we were the first people in line at the Prado it was basically the greatest thing ever. Once in a lifetime event! There were these sisters from Sweden behind us and they gave us the greatest news, apparently today is "Día Internacional de Los Museos Acceso Gratuito" aka international free museum day so not only were we first in line but it was free! And equally amazing! The art dates back farther than I have ever seen and it's beautiful. Paintings I've only ever seen in text books I now got to see in real life. Por ejemplo "St Dominic Presiding over an Auto-de-Fé, Still Life with Pottery Jars, The adoration of the Shepherds, y David with the head of Goliath." the museum is huge though full of paintings and incredible statues. To continue enjoying free museum day after lunch we hit up Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia and dreams come true I finally saw Picasso artwork in real life! Crazy to think he live here in Spain where I am now. It's even more amazing than I imagined I really cant describe it sadly they don't let you take pictures but if you haven't seen any it needs to be put on your to do list. Checked off another item on my bucket list :) I love art and it was the most incredible day for museums. We run into the funniest and strangest people. Today we were walking back from the Prado, me Liv Nate Ryan and Douk when this local comes crouched down running straight up to me and roars like a lion! I'll admit... I fell into the trap. I was totally caught off guard and may have jumped and shrieked a little and totally amused them. I don't know what it is but people here are fascinated by my blonde hair! Everyone told me they would be but I didn't really believe it. It's true though. I'll look over and someone will be staring at me and instead of doing the normal thing and looking away when we make eye contact they just keep staring!! It's ridiculously awkward! Boys and girls young and old. Still blows my mind. The food is fantastic! They may never eat, but we do! We'll be going on an adventure tonight to try and find some famous chocolate! I've been waiting for this! As for our hostel its... Interesting. Its this tiny little room with two rock hard beds and an itty bitty sink and shower. Like really, when you walk into the shower, better be comfy because you're not moving! There's an air conditioning that doesn't really work and for some reason a pretty nice flat screen tv that never gets used ha. It's a lot of fun though, truly the whole experience. We are required to leave our key when we go and get it on our way back. We have a sweet balcony with a gorgeous view and the absolute loudest kids downstairs! Madrid is just loud in general it seems. We go to bed at a decent hour they're still awake making noise, super loud until the wee hours and then loud again when we wake up around seven. Real question, do they ever sleep?! Seems like a no. Anyways hopefully a trip to Toledo tomorrow and then we head to Oviedo on Sunday to meet our host families. After a five hour bus ride that will be one interesting day! Right when we'll be use to Madrid it will be time to go. Terrified! Wish me luck I will need it. Enjoy Los Fotos :) that apparently will come later because right now my iPad refuses.