Today was our first real day.  We had an awesome breakfast at the hotel this morning at seven, and art class at 8:30.  Then we went to The Prado, a big museum a couple blocks from our hotel.  It was mainly older paintings by Goya, El Greco, Titian, Rembrandt, and more.  The focus of a lot of 18th century art is Christianity, so it was extremely interesting to get to walk around and see all the different depictions of Jesus, angels, and the Holy Spirit.  It just goes to show that the Lord presents himself in so many different ways to so many different people.  I really enjoyed this museum a lot!  I especially liked "The Holy Trinity" by El Greco.  We have to do a close reading on a painting from The Prado and I am going to do this one. 

After the Prado we had a 2 1/2 hour lunch break, so we walked around the city trying to find somewhere to eat.  The food is a little weird here, and I am not a huge fan, but it is edible.  I had a chicken sandwich on a croissant with apple slices in it.  weird.  But after lunch we toured another museum, Reina Sofia.  It was more modern art, which I also wasn't a huge fan of.  Marisa and I made up interpretations of the Picasso paintings? so that part was fun, but we didn't stay long.  Then we went to Palacio Real.  It was amazing!!!  By far my favorite thing yet!  It is a palace influenced by Versailles Palace, in France.  It was very cool, but I am excited to get to see Versailles again in a couple weeks!

Then me, Marisa, Carrie, Kimberly, and Danielle went to dinner at a little hole in the wall.  We have been struggling to order food because very few people here speak English and very few of us speak Spanish.  But it was an adventure!  After that we went to a little bakery and got some pastries, and then we went to another little place and got Sangria.  I bought my first legal alcohol!!!  No worries Mom and Dad, I only had one glass!

Currently, I am sitting in the hallway of our hotel in front of some random door with 7 other people stealing wireless internet.  By the way, sorry it has taken me so long to get this going, it costs 6e ($9) for ONE HOUR of internet access at our hotel, and we have not had time to go to an internet café.  But, we found out that in certain parts of the hotel you can get free wireless.  So I am doing that!

Well? we have a super busy day ahead of us tomorrow (We are going to the Botanical Gardens and Toleto)!! So I better get to sleep!