Time for an update

Hello dear readers! Sorry I've been pretty lax on the updating, I'm trying to get back into the habit, starting now. I'll get you up to speed, and then hopefully sometime soon I'll write some detailed (and photographic!) posts about my adventures.

Since I last updated I've started my classes and taken 2 weekend trips, one to Sevilla and another to London. The trip to Sevilla was included with my study abroad program, and was full of sight-seeing and experiencing life in Andalucia (a southern province of Spain). We visited the 3rd largest cathedral in the world, ate lots of tapas (small appitizers that are eaten with drinks for dinner), and saw a flamenco show.

In London, I visited one of my best friends from Galveston, Karen. Again, I did lots of sight-seeing, including the Tate Modern art museum, the British Museum, and seeing the Parlament buildings and Big Ben. Both were alot of fun, and later I'll update with more details and pics.

Also in exciting news: I've been offered an MD/PhD interview with UT Houston! So that means I'll be in the Houston/Galveston area Nov. 8-11. Wish me luck!


This weekend I stayed in Madrid, which was a nice rest. Friday I had an excursion with my Environment and Society class to the mountains bordering Madrid and the historic city of Segovia.



First we stopped at a resevior right on the edge of the mountain range and discussed the changes between the flatlands of Madrid and much of southern Spain and the mountains we were looking at. Next stop: mountain peak, where there is skiing for a few months of the year (and just an hour outside of Madrid!). The slopes are small, and the snow is probably not the best, but for being so close to Madrid, it's pretty cool. Unfortunately, the season usually doesn't open until mid-December (right when I leave), but maybe I'll have a chance to ski.



I bought a bocadillo - a Spanish sandwich made on a loaf of french bread) - with manchego cheese, one of the distinctive Spanish cheeses, made from sheep's milk. We hopped back on our tour bus and headed back down the other side of the mountains to a picturesque site to have lunch. Of course we couldn't just eat lunch on the bus, Spanish people always take their time to eat, especially for lunch.



After lunch we stopped in a small pueblo right at the base of the mountains. Here we visited one of the many royal palaces and gardens that dot Spain. This particular palace was originally a monastary, but the king loved the area so much that he had it converted into a palace and built some extensive gardens. We only had 30 min to explore, and definately could have spent at least 2 hours just walking around the gardens.



Last stop: Segovia! This is an ancient town that was first Roman, then Moorish/Christian/Jewish in medeaval times, then most recently just Christian. The neatest thing in town is the Roman aqueduct, built completely without any sort of mortar! And it's still standing after some two thousand years.





Now I'm back in Madrid with homework to do and a room that needs cleaning... but sometime soon I'll update you on my travels!

Love,
Maren