Amandas Adventures in Spain

Such a lot has happened since I arrived in Madrid, and the time has gone so fast, I have only just got my notebook out today, there is no mobile signal out here but there is intermitant wi fi so here goes.... My good friend Carol managed to take time out to come with me from the UK which was a lovely bonus, so we had four days together in the city.  I had booked us a twin room at a hostel near the Atocha station, it had good reviews on tripadvisor and was very cheap (10 euros each per night) but I was prepared for it to be pretty rough, but in fact it was fine, with clean sheets on decent single beds and a reasonable bathroom. We gratefully left our cases in the room and went off for a beer in one of the nearby bars, it was great to sit outside and people watch and relax after our journey from Shropshire.  The hostel wasin the centre of the city and right next to the Reina Sophia Museum, which we later visited and saw a great collection of Miros and Picassos plus many more (tip for anyone visiting Madrid, entrance is free after 8pm). Later we walked aound the city and had tapas. I have never been to Madrid before and  neither had Carol, we agreed it has a lovely vibrant atmosphere and yet it is very laid back and the people are very friendly. We fitted a lot into our four days, including watching the changing of the guards at the Royal Palace, which was a great spectacle, an evening watching fantastic flamenco, a walk in the fabulous Retiro Park which has a beautiful lake and a final day at a Spa Hotel where we enjoyed the jaccuzi and pool.  After Carol left I took at taxi to the Eurobuilding Hotel where I was to meet the other Vaughnschool participants.  So I had two days wombling round the Orense region, which is the business area of Madrid. The room there was fine, with a patio area and a nice bathroom, kitchen and living room, a little apartment really. Last Saturday all the 'Anglos' (English volunteers) met up for drinks and tapas at the hotel, English, Canadians, Australians and Americans, all very nice people. The journey up to Valdelavilla (where I am now) took four hours. I knew the place was remote from the info on the net, but none of us realised just how remote.  It is in the middle of nowhere....miles and miles from anything in the Soria region. It is an abandoned village and we are in shared houses set around cobbled streets.  I have been sharing a house with Scott and Norman, very nice Americans and Jose, a Spanish guy. Every day we have been having 'One to ones' with the Spanish.  It means you sit and talk for an hour at a time and includes using phrases pinned up on a board.  It can get a bit intense ( anyone who knows me will appreciate that I don't have a problem talking!), because you go from one session to another. My Spanish has not improved because we are not allowed to speak any Spanish, we are here to help the Spanish improve their English. We have all got along with each other very well and many friendships have been struck up.  The leaders, Carmen and Peter have been great and the food really good too,  with wine at lunch and dinner. Yesterday we had tapas and sidre (the Spanish cider) outside in the sun, the weather has been great, sunshine every day. In the evenings we have been entertaining each other so I got to sing some songs and play guitar, which I am happy to say went down well!   Tommorrow we go back to Madrid and then I will have one night at the same hotel then am going with my new friend Erin (she is from Seatle) to Seville. So I will post agian from there.  Lots of love to friends and family in the UK and to anyone else reading this.  I am so happy to back in Spain X