Nerviosa

Nervioso(a): Spanish for nervous

[nur-vuhs]  

–adjective

1.

highly excitable; unnaturally or acutely uneasy or apprehensive: to become nervous under stress.

E.g. The feeling Chelsea gets before embarking on a new--and therefore unfamiliar--voyage

I'm going to Paris!

Segovia, Avila, Salamanca

Things are picking up. I'm trying to find ways to occupy myself during the hours after class. I've discovered that several bars hold intercambios, a language exchange of sorts. It can be a good way for people to practice new languages and meet others. It's not a perfect system, but it's easier to walk into a bar with the unspoken agreement that you are there to meet people. I attended an intercambio last Wednesday, and within seconds of walking in the door I was conversing with a girl from England. As a shy and awkward individual, I can attest that this would not happen under normal circumstances. So, assuming that I continue to attend these things, it may be a good way to fend of the feeling of ennui and loneliness that seems to creep on me when I find myself alone in my apartment.

Additionally, this weekend marked my first major trip of my study abroad experience, notwithstanding my arrival into Madrid. The event was planned by a fellow program-mate who, thankfully, organized the entire trip. I woke up early and we met at the Chamartin station. Buying the tickets was a bit of an adventure. Spain is not particularly known for it's rapid service, so although only one person was in front of me in line, I found myself waiting a good 5-10 minutes. After, I asked if the had tickets for Segovia at "quince menos nueve," which to my understanding should translate to 8:45. The man selling tickets said no, and that I would have to leave the line in order to find out the schedule. So I renounced my position in line and went to the information section, only to find out that, yes, there was an 8:45 train to Segovia. Thus I commenced more waiting, only my two-person line magically multiplied to five or six in the minute that I had stepped aside. Thankfully, the ticket window opens a specific line for trains about to depart, so I was able to buy my ticket just in time.

Despite the inconveniences of navigating Spanish ticket booths, I must commend the country on its public transit. Aside from the easily-accessible metro lines which take me around the city, Spain also offers trains within the country (and internationally). I definitely enjoyed my short, 1/2 hour train ride to Segovia.

Segovia

I have been wanting to see the Roman aqueduct for over a year now. It has been on my "To-Do" travel list. At a short distance from the city, it is also one of the more easily-accomplished tasks. So now I can check it off the list. One of the first things I did, aside from whip out my camera and take a million photos, was reach out and touch one of the great stone bricks. I still have trouble conceiving of the history behind so many of the things I have seen. It's hard to imagine that something so old is still standing, and in such amazing condition.

After seeing the aqueduct, we hopped on a bus to "La granja", which to my understanding is a smaller neighborhood/region just outside of Segovia. We saw el Palacio Real. It was interesting, although I admit that it pales in comparison to the splendor of el Palacio Real de Madrid. I think my favorite thing was seeing the snow lingering in the shadier parts. As a Californian, I am easily impressed by any sort of indication of "seasons." Additionally, the amount of "dead" (dormant is a more accurate word) trees made me look forward to Spring, when everything should start to bloom.

 Another cathedral. There is a point when you become disenchanted after seeing cathedral after cathedral. I also think that nothing has been able to measure up to the one in Toledo. It was, by far, my favorite thus far. Unfortunately you couldn't take pictures, although I don't think pictures could have done it justice. Anyway, yeah. A cathedral.

This was by far my favorite part of Segovia, and perhaps my favorite part of the trip in general. The Alcazar, a castle-like fortress. Outside, we met a nice Spanish man who recommended that we walk around to see the front of the structure, which apparently resembles the castle at Disneyland. We didn't have time to do so. Regardless, it was a worthwhile stop. We actually extended our stay by two hours in order to accommodate a trip here. We climbed the 152 winding and narrow steps to reach the top, which offered amazing views of the city and landscape.

Avila

This was admittedly the least interesting of the cities. I did, however, enjoy the bus ride. I was able to see more of the Castilla-La Mancha/Leon landscape. Spain, from what I've seen, still seems very agrarian. I didn't seem much outside of the "main" cities. Occasionally, a small town will pop up, distinguished by a church which towers above all the other buildings. Of course, my observations are hardly representative of the entirety of Spain. Anyway, on to Avila. We only stayed here for two hours. Most of the attractions had already closed. However, we saw the famous wall surrounding the city and took a detour at a bakery to eat some sugary goodness and drink coffee. We were already tired from our Segovia trip, and we still had one more bus ride.

Salamanca

A beautiful old town that boasts an old university (from the 1200s--old, indeed). We arrived at night and were excited to experience the supposedly famed Salamanca nightlife. It was a college town, after all. However, it still doesn't compare to Madrid. I'm glad to be studying where I do. I feel like I wouldn't be able to see everything in just one weekend. Nevertheless, Salamanca was an interesting trip. We went off the beaten path to local bars to eat some tapas. It was definitely a worthwhile venture, and my first experience with a tapas bar crawl. Admittedly, we only went to two bars, but it's a start. We were in a fairly large group, which allowed us to get a little bit of everything. That night, we stayed at a hotel. I was under the impression that it would be my first "hostel" stay, but alas--no such luck. I suppose I shouldn't complain about paying 22 euros for a hotel room. The next day we ate breakfast in the Plaza Mayor (I've noticed many Spanish cities seem to have a Plaza Mayor) and explored. We saw more cathedrals, more old buildings, and the usual.


Although we only spent two days of traveling, I was glad to head back home. Three cities in two days can be exciting. Nevertheless, it marks the beginning of my travel adventures. Next week I will be in Paris. The week after will be our program field trip to Andalucia (Cordoba and Granada).

Toledo

February is here. I suppose I shouldn't be so surprised, given that I arrived in Spain at the tail end of January. Nevertheless, the passage of months reminds me how little time I have left in this country. February will go by quickly, given that it's the shortest month--followed by March and April (with Spring Break and the preparation for final exams). I suppose, technically, that I also have the morning of May 1. I don't think that particularly counts. I finally booked my first flight. Provided that all goes well, I leave on February 17. I previously booked a flight for the same day, only to have it subsequently cancelled because they didn't accept credit card payments. The story is, of course, more complicated. First I had to make a bank transfer to confirm my purchase. However, international bank transfers take a couple of days, so I called the ticket providers to ensure that my flight would not be cancelled during this waiting period. This was somewhat challenging, as I had to communicate entirely in Spanish over the phone. I felt that I was successful in doing so, although apparently they cancelled the flight anyway. So now I have to e-mail the company and ask for a refund (when they receive the transfer) and additionally call BoA to notify them of this miscommunication.

In the meantime, I bought a new flight to Paris through a different company. They allowed me to use my credit card and I immediately received a printable boarding pass. Now I just have to book a hostel--although I want to wait until I am absolutely sure of my travel plans. Normally, I think I would be panicking due to a lack of planning and somewhat last-minute purchases. Then again, a trip to Paris from Madrid is not so drastic as a trip from the US. For example, my flight cost about $200 (150 Euro), which is less than some flights from Oakland to Ontario. 

Aside from planning big international trips, I have been trying to enjoy the day-to-day activities in Madrid. The Universidad in Getafe, as I mentioned, are unremarkable. I took a walk around the city on Monday, only to discover that it was almost entirely comprised of apartment complexes. Thankfully I organized my schedule in such a way as to finish class in the early evening. I've therefore been trying to explore the city between the time I get back from classes and dinner time (around 8:30-9 pm). I have been taking walks around the city--mostly around Gran Via, Sol and the more "central" parts of Madrid. I used to feel far away from everything interesting. However, by walking every evening I realize that I am relatively close to a very active and fascinating part to town. I'm also trying to get into the habit of ducking into busy cafes or cervecerias when I'm on my own, in hopes of interacting more with actual madrilenos. Although I enjoy the company of my EAP group, sometimes I feel like it can be a crutch. We all tend to speak english when together, which can be isolating. Thus far, I haven't had much luck in socializing with anyone. However, it has been a good opportunity to see and do what I want at my own pace.

Additionally, we went to Toledo today. The former capital of Spain is close to Madrid--an hour away by bus. I should mention that the buses are both comfortable (charter-style) and inexpensive (around 8 euro). As an old city with eclectic stone buildings and winding narrow streets, Toledo seems more typically Spanish (I should note that it is more typically "castillian", but Americans tend to generalize Castille-La Mancha as the whole of Spain). The weather cooperated with pleasant mid-50s weather and sunny skies. It was the perfect backdrop to the medieval-seeming architecture. The day consisted of wandering the streets until we found the cathedral, a towering and ornate structure that dominated the scenery. As impressive as it looked on the outside, it paled in comparison to the decor within. Everything was decorated with rich and intricate detailing. It's amazing to conceive of the amount of human labor that went into a structure so old. I may be incorrect, but I believe that the church existed before the United States had become the United States--in fact, before Cristobal Colon (e.g. Chris Columbus) "discovered" the Americas. 

At times, it was difficult to conceive of all the sites. Toledo is an old, old city. Yes, some of the buildings are more moderns. However, I felt like I was going through an amusement park. The streets were empty, save a few other tourists, and most of the stores sold gifts and souvenirs. I have trouble believing that anyone can actually live in the city. Despite the beauty and clean air of Toledo, I definitely prefer the variety that Madrid offers. 

I should also mention that it was very interesting to see the Castille-La Mancha landscape. Yes, I have seen a bit from my trip to and from school. However, I have never really traveled outside of Madrid and I curious to see what the rest of the country looks like.

Finally, I wish I had a more thorough record of my trip and my thoughts. However, after a long day of walking and site-seeing, I am tired. So you, dear readers, get another filler post.