"To sit in the shade on a fine day, and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment."

API took us to Santander this weekend. Santander is a northern coastal town on the Bay of Biscay. It's way closer to France than it is to Madrid and our bus ride took 6 hours. The way up was absolutely grueling because we woke up early, so I hadn't much sleep and my body hurt, and I couldn't get to sleep on the bus so I was very uncomfortable. The weather when we got there on Saturday was not beach weather, obviously. It was cloudy and in the mid-60s. Nevertheless, the beach was GORGEOUS. I love being on a beach in a sweater, jeans, and flip-flops, it's just so comfy. I did run through the waves on the shore and the water was probably warmer than the water in New Jersey has ever been. Everyone in the water was a surfer and wearing those body suits, and then one guy who was alone with no surfboard and wearing a speedo went in the water. He kept stealing looks at the group of 15 of us (male and female) as though he wanted to make sure we were watching him so he could show off. We were, of course, watching him, mostly because we were all waiting for a big wave to annihilate him and his speedo. So that was weird. I took some lovely pictures. Then there was an optional visit to Magdalena Park to see some animals: seals, penguins, flamingos. I skipped that because of the book I have to read in one week. I felt bad skipping it, but I'm pretty sure I've seen all that at the Baltimore Aquarium and Zoo. Everyone thought the seals and penguins were sooooo cool, but again, I've seen them many times so I didn't feel that bad missing it. And I got a lot of reading done. API treated us to dinner (paella... yumyum!) at a restaurant which was nice. After dinner, a lot of people went out in the center of the city. It was too far to walk back, and my hotel roommate Laura (the Italian from Long Island, I love her!) said she went there earlier and there wasn't much going on. So she and Courtney and I stayed in. Actually we went to the beach for a little bit and then sat and had rather in depth girl talk for a few hours: the political future of America. Courtney thinks we're going socialist, but I argued that we were heading for fascism. I don't actually know where I got my information or how I was able to put it together to form an argument against Courtney, queen of arguing especially about politics, but I held my own. Laura didn't really care so she put in information where she saw fit.

The next day we set out for the prehistoric caves of Altamira containing cave drawing from the beginning of the line of Homo sapiens sapiens, our evolutionary equals. It was actually a reproduction of the caves because the caves are starting to fall apart so they need to restrict access. It was still cool. It was on top of a mountainous hill that had such a fine prospect of the little country town below. I was enchanted, I kept thinking of the quote which I made the title of this entry, except there was little shade. I took a lot of pictures of that. I felt so at home. I don't think I'm a city girl, although I don't hate it, I just really like the country. Then we had the bus ride home, which was better because it covered siesta time, so we were all sleeping for a while and then we woke up and chatted and had fun. We got back around 7:30, and I ate dinner and then opened up Microsoft Word to write my 4 page essay that was due today at 12:30. I wrote 2 pages last night (finally at about 1am) and the other 2 today at 10am. I even had time to revise it, which for some reason I never do, probably because I'm a combination of lazy and cocky. But I'm glad I revised it and I think I deserve an A+.

Speaking of A+, I got another translation back today on which I got another 9.5/10. AND I really enjoy translating, like REALLLY. In Hisp Culture, we watched Pedro Almodóvar's "High Heels". It's a crazy movie, set in Madrid, and at one point one of the main character's is in jail and she's wearing a sweater with the design of the Maryland flag (except the black and I think the white are changed to blue). THAT WAS SO COOL! Of course, no one else in the class cared but I was floored. My guess is that, since the movie came out in '91, involves transvestites and ridiculous situations, it was Pedro's nod to John Waters?? I don't know. On Wednesday, we're going to see Pedro's newest movie "Volver" with Pé!!! Pé is Spain's nickname for Penelope Cruz, and they don't really like her at all. I like her, though, just because she's Spanish and she speaks about 4 languages and she's a good actress.

Mom and Janet come in 3 days! Lucia has suggested taking a trip outside of Madrid, not really sure what that means yet. I have to start making an itinerary. But I have the feeling I'm gonna be that person who gets really stressed out when the itinerary isn't followed, maybe I can make a loose itinerary... hmmph.

Next weekend (Oct 19-22) I am going to visit Molly in Ireland! I fly into Dublin Thurs night, where I will stay in a hostel and then see some sights in the morning by myself, which I'm excited about. Then I'm going to take a train or a bus to the other coast of Ireland to Galway to see Molly. Then I suppose I'll have to take a train or bus back to Dublin on Sunday. Woohoo! My first trip out of Spain! Okay, I have that book to read.