Hotel Holiday Inn Madrid

... Russia, Kenya and Canada. He kept calling everyone "chaps" or "blokes". Needless to say, it was interesting. <br><br>Once I got to Madrid, everything went extremely smooth. My bags were among the first out (miraculously), I found a shuttle to the hotel...and everything in my room is working. I think the hotel staff secretly hate me because I can't understand their English...but whatever. Got tapas and beer for lunch. Now time to make up for some jet lag and lost sleep.<br>

Transatlantic Flight to Madrid It sucks being in coach on USAir....though we are lucky to be in a row only for two-window and adjoining. The seats are small and there are plastic obstructions under the seats making it impossible for us to put anything but our feet under the seat in front of us. To top it off, USAir doesn't even give you a complimentary beverage on transatlantic flights anymore! Everyone is trying to save a buck. It's cold on the ...

... doing just that, going wherever the wind takes us. That night we went back to our hostel somewhat early and met a bunch of travelers from Paris who were getting ready to go out to the "Disco Tech" HAHA! That is what they call it! In any event, they extended us an invite, and even though it was pushing 12:30, we decided when would be the next time we would be able to partake in some Barcelona nightlife! We went to this ...

... and Thursdays- IB ended at 12:15 and my next class (Marketing) is at 6:30! Then I´m done for the day at 7:45. Tomorrow I have Spanish again at 10-11, then a break until Accounting at 2-3:15, then Dance at 3:30-6:45. My schedule is pretty easy I think. The classes are all pretty small, probably like 20 or so kids, maybe less, per class. My Spanish professor is really funny, and IB seems like it´s going to be really ...

... desk in a panic, but the lady there wanted nothing to do with us, putting her hands up and saying "I'm closed". As we rushed away, someone yelled to us: "Barcelona? Track 15!" This was incredibly lucky. We ran to the platform and jumped on the train, and were moving within literally 10 seconds (the doors almost shut on Ali's bag!). Like we said, Spanish trains are never late. A definite close call, but the score still stands: Ali and Jess - 1, Spanish Trains - 0.

It's a nice littel cozy place - touristy at least only at the Benemadena at the playa! There are two - it's one place but there is also a little village maybe 30 min from the Benemadena beach by bus! That place is awesome and very neat - has a little church which actually looks like a sand castle! It's beautiful! I went there for a Sunday day trip with Talina and Katja ...

... Of course that means partying and a fiesta in Spain, so on Sunday night we joined the street parties until the early hours and on Monday went to the festival, where there were locals in traditional dress. In addition on that weekend Tanya had a full social calendar planned. On Saturday we went to her friends house in the country (Madrileans (Sp?) - or at least those that can afford it - tend to spend their weekends at weekend houses outside the city). We had a ...

We go through customs, gather our bags, and quickly realize NO ONE AT THE AIRPORT SPEAKS ENGLISH. We need to catch a bus to the train station so we go out and think we find the bus, but we cant tell because NO ONE SPEAKS ENGLISH ON THE BUS. Mer is trying her best and thinks we are OK. As we are getting on the bus, Deb trips, I am ...