El Escorial con Martin

Luces de Navidad en Madrid

28-30 de noviembre: Frankfurt

Kristina and I took advantage of inexpensive airfare via LAN and spent a weekend in Frankfurt, Germany, celebrating the Christmas Market in Romerberg Square.  We stayed at Five Elements Hostel in the red light district: a myriad of sex shops and shows.  More details to come...if I feel motivated later.  

11 de enero: Yo regreso a Madrid.

After spending 18 days home with family and friends and 24 nearly consecutive days with Enrique, crocodile tears marked my goodbye at the Ft. Lauderdale airport.  Had I continued to cry, my tears would've frozen upon arriving Madrid!  SNOW!  The Barajas airport reopened just in time to receive my flight (after closing due to precipitation).  Additionally, I had the good fortune of a window seat as we landed into Madrid: pristine, blanketed in snow.  My friend Meredith even turned out to have the same flight; we discovered in Philly.  Coming into my apartment, I  discovered fresh snow on my patio and promptly made a Pygmy snowman family.  When gummy bears didn't stick for facial parts, I resorted to thumbtacks (described as eery by Morgan, oh well).  Today after work, I strolled through Retiro to marvel at the quickly dissipating snow yet the frozen fountains.  The next several entries will serve as updates (expect mostly photos) for the months of November and December.  Inundated with traveling and visitors (rough life, I know), I just plain haven't had (made?) the time to blog.

Día de Acción de Gracias at Morgan's

I celebrated Thanksgiving with Morgan at her apartment, where she hosted an impressive feast for American, Irish, and Spanish friends.  Contributing my homemade garlic mozzarella mashed potatoes and a salad entitled me to a schmorgasboard of home cooking.  In Spanish style, we finished several bottles of wine and substituted American football with tennis.

Toledo, 22 de noviembre

Despite feeling tired and congested, I ventured to Toledo for the day with Andrew, a research Fulbright fellow, and his Venezuelan roommate, Litz.  We began our day with toasted bread and coffee at a cafe in front of the Museo de Santa Cruz.  We explored the city by foot, visiting several of the major sites.  Fotos include a view of Alcázar from Puente de Alcántara, la Catedral, y la Iglesia de los Jesuitas.  We did not, however, see Museo del Greco, currently closed for renovations.  Interestingly enough, we chose to tour Antiguos Instruments de Tortura (Ancient Instruments of Torture) before lunch.  The exhibit, less than appetizing, included instruments of imaginatively inhumane nature: the interrogation chair, head crusher, thumbscrews, Heretic's fork, scold's bridle (a defamation mask), and the infamous chastity belt.  After running into colleagues of Andrew, we ate the menú del día at a restaurant they recommended to us.  More exploring and a final cup of coffee ensued before catching the train back to Madrid in the evening.

Sunrises in Chueca

sunrise seen from my patio before work one morning

Trabajo

top to bottom:

1. In the computer lab, we spend much of our free time; 2. Morgan holds the "Obama hace historia" article where we previously displayed it before some teachers deemed it "too political;" 3. My students in 3A work to create life size drawings of their muscular and skeletal systems; 4. We enjoy a fancy Teacher's Day luncheon, which happily coincided with Thanksgiving (sadly, no turkey or stuffing served).

Soy un residente!