Paris Part I: We arrive. We are lazy.

On Friday I returned to Madrid after a wonderful week in Paris with Christina. It was great to be able to spend a lengthier amount of time in Paris, especially in comparison to the "go-go-go!" theme of most weekend trips out of town. In short, Christina and I did it up like true Parisians: 29 crepes, 14 baguettes, and 13 bottles of wine. (Also 9 macaroons, 7 pan au chocolates, 1 mini quiche, and 25 trips to Picard.) We also did it up like true tourists: Louvre, Seine, Notre Dame, Pere-Lachaise Cemetery, Eiffel Tower, Musee d'Orsay, Montmarte, Sacre Coeur, Moulin Rouge, Centre Pompidou, Ile St. Louis and a fare share of wandering and shopping. Quel suprise. To avoid a mammoth blog post, I'm going to break it up into segments. Enjoy!

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Part I: We arrive. We are lazy.

Day 1: Friday, March 14
I nervously boarded what was soon to become my first time flying completely alone and anxiously waited to see who would be sitting next to me. I was pleasantly surprised when two little boys made their way into seats 9B and 9C. Stephen and Matthieu were 11 and 9 year old brothers, also flying alone for the first time. They spoke French, Spanish, and English and Stephen must have thought I was pretty cool because after the initial "Parlez vous francais?" he did not stop talking to me. The three of us spoke in a strange mixture of Spanish and English about bunnies (obv), tennis pros (they claim they're related to one), and boats. Once the flight landed we exchanged handshakes, they blushed, and I set out on my search for Stina who was patiently waiting for me upon my exit. We exchanged reunion hugs and boarded the RER train towards central Paris. 45 minutes later we were greeted by Celi, Christina's godmother, and were able to rest for a moment in the apartment that would be our new home for the week before rushing to find Lizzle in a restaurant where she was eating lunch with her program. I was reunited with my Lizzle and after smiles and squeezes the three of us set off towards the Louvre where we saw the Mona Lisa and the infamous Gnome with a Snail. Lizzle unfortunately had to get back to her hotel to go back to the Cope so we said a sad goobye and Stina and I returned to the apartment where we had crepes for dinner and proceeded to pass out early.

loving my Stina!

the Louvre



my new bffs: Mona and Gnoma

happy Columbia girls!

Day 2: Saturday, March 15
The morning of our second day was spent sleeping. Stina had the jet lag excuse but I was just being a lazy bum. Celi ventured pretty far north with us to the Vernaison Antique Market. We spent a few hours wandering through the aisles filled with antique velvet couches, racks of vintage dresses, and doll parts. I picked up a navy velvet bow clip that's pretty cute for one euro! Somehow exhausted again, we went home to relax, take a trip to Picard (an all-frozen grocery store that we worship), and make soup and pizza for dinner. A few hours later we met up with Mikey and tagged along to two of his friends' apartments. The second apartment was right on the Seine and had an amazing view of the Louvre. We drank lots of wine, ate our fair share of Pringles and congratulated ourselves on being oh-so-Parisian before spending an hour trying to hail a cab home in the rain (slightly oh-so-American...). We were happy to be out of the cold rain and again slept like babies.

the market and some doll eyes

not sure if there was enough to drink...Stina loving the Prings

being tres chic on the balcony



loving my Tinafish



kissing porcelain dogs probably isn't the best idea...



oh you know, just your standard view



the big fall!

Day 3: Sunday, March 16
Weekends are meant for sleeping in so I have to admit that we slept in yet again. Once we were mobile, following a breakfast of nutella crepes, we started to walk north towards the Musee d'Orsay. We passed lots of flower shops and fragrant bakeries and did not mind the on and off rain drops. The d'Orsay had an enormous line so we abandoned that plan and instead walked along the Seine. We briefly saw Notre Dame before seeking refuge from the cold in a cafe where Stina and I warmed ourselves up with hot chocolate and cafe vainilla (respectively) and soothed our rumbling tummies with a croque madame and a plate of chevre (respectively). Evening had fallen before we knew it and as we hopped on a Metro home we vowed to arise early for the rest of the week. We leafed through Paris guide books and made an extensive to-do list before cooking up some soup, green beans, and carrots and resting up for the busy week ahead of us.

our French breakfast

and my French snack

and! a French dinner!!

amsterDAM

After four hours of attempted sleep (aka sitting in bed doing crosswords) Maya and I grabbed a taxi at 4:30am on Friday morning (after an interesting interaction with un vecino and our hermano). We picked up Jess and Greta and made our way to Barajas, where Vera was waiting patiently. We sailed through security and found a table near our gate to settle down and wait for our 6:45 flight to Amsterdam. I somehow got through security without my boarding pass and despite some drama with the ticket ladies, they let me on with a new seat assignment: 30F. Last row. Last seat. Following some unnecessary tears I boarded the plane and was happy to find a bunch of empty seats and Jess and I were able to have our usual set up; me in the window, imaginary friend in the middle, and Jess on the aisle. I quickly curled up with my baby down pillow and my "Sleepy Plane" playlist and was able to catch a bit of sleep before we landed.

We had a bit of train confusion but eventually made it to Central Station where we then had a bit of street confusion but eventually made it to Aivengo Youth Hostel where we paid our bill, dropped our bags, and set out in search of a Coffee Shop. For lunch we went to a whole-foods-esque place which really hit the spot and left me full for 24 hours. Not even joking. Jess and I split off from the group for a bit to cuddle, nap, and explore. After lots of wandering around pretty canals lit with twinkle lights and dodging cars, trams, and bikes we grabbed a quick dinner and then headed to bed.

two gruesome twosomes = one awesome foursome!

being so _____
(Dutch, awk, cute...you pick.)

pretty canal at night

and again

Amsterdam Kitty #1 caught yawning and a red light district house
(please excuse the poor photo quality, I know it's not up to my usual standards)

Surprisingly, Maya was the one to drag everyone out of bed at 7:30 on Saturday morning. With droopy eyes and groggy noises Maya, Steffi, Greta, Jess and I got dressed, bundled up, and headed towards the Anne Frank House where we were meeting up with Vera, Jenny, and Sophie. We were first in what was soon to become a fast growing line and were soon out of the cold and touring the house where Anne Frank and her family hid during World War II and where she wrote her diary. The museum was interesting and intense. Afterwards we warmed up with hot chocolate and coffee in the cafe next door before wandering around Noordermarkt where Jess feasted on free samples of cheese and fudge while I sifted through boxes of old postcards at an antique stand. At noon we all headed to one of the best pancake houses in Amsterdam for lunch. Afterwards Jess, Vera, Maya, Steffi and I walked along the Singel Canal towards Amsterdam's floating flower market. We walked along the length of the market, stopping occasionally to take in the smell of fresh flowers and snap some photos. Having lost Maya and Vera in the crowd (recurring theme, especially due to a lack of functioning cell phones), Jess, Steffi and I decided to head back to the hostel for the usual recharge nap. After our Spanish siesta we joined forces with Greta and Isabel to search for a cafe where we could get something small for dinner before reuniting with Maya, Vera, Sophie, and Jenny at Coco's; a bar-slash-club in Rembrandt square. The nine of us took over two couches and a table and made it our home base for the night. Maya chose to spend most of the night dancing and crawling on tables; Jess and I basically split our time between hacering "shady deals", laughing at Maya and the gangly rod-spined robo-waiter, and holding hands; and Vera did a little bit of everything. We had some interesting conversations about White Widows ("I'm not asking you. I'm telling you.") and between nine of us easily devoured Vera's fudge. Jess, Steffi, Greta, and I finally made it back to the hostel where I fell asleep the moment my head hit the pillow.

self explanatory

a women selling tulips who looked like a tulip!

my amazing pancake and a horsie
(please please please click the horse to enlarge and notice that he's sticking his tongue out. Charlotte, for some reason I feel like you'll love this the most.)

birds flying around the canal

bikes everywhere!

amazing flowers at the flower market

little birds and another flower stand

one of my favorites!

apparently at some point this window in our hostel fell down...

Jess and I hacering "shady deals" at Coco's
(we're sneakily eating a Carrot Cake Cliff Bar...)

Sunday morning Jess, Steffi, Greta, and I left the hostel around 10 on a very rainy Sunday morning to meet up with Isabel at a cafe famous for its hot chocolate where I met Amsterdam Kitty #2. The hot chocolate was indeed very good (it was served as hot milk with chocolate chunks in the bottom and you stirred it yourself!), as was the homemade whipped cream that was served on the side and topped with chocolate chips! The rain didn't look like it was going to let up so we canceled our plans to rent bikes and instead walked along the Keizersgracht Canal towards FOAM: Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam. We spent some time looking at the two exhibitions there and took advantage of our time inside to dry and warm up before making our way towards the Van Gogh Museum where we had plans to meet the rest of the girls. We spent a couple hours in the very crowded but very neat museum; I especially liked the collection of his sketches on envelopes and restaurant menus. Jess and I also were such creepers and drank the whole container of milk that was supposed to be for coffee in the cafe (but with the correct amount of confidence, nobody is going to question your beverage choice.) Some of us went to a cafe where they were playing live music to get some lunch before deciding to basically call it a day. I spent the evening in the hostel working on some schoolwork before venturing out with Steffi for some falafel which was amazing. Maybe better than Amir's. Maybe. After one last outing with Jess in our PJ's (literally) to Any Day Coffee Shop, we went to sleep.

Kitty #2 loves hot chocolate

extreme hot chocolate and whipped cream

rainy day

amsterdam sign

tulips in a cafe and tickling with grape vines

This morning we all made it to the airport for our 9:55 flight back to Madrid. Upon landing, we all hurried home to our Senora's to eat a quick lunch before going to class. I was especially nervous because I had to present a powerpoint with five other students in front of one of my classes at Autonoma. Although it was very scary to stand up in front of thirty Spanish speakers I tried my best to not struggle too much with the pronunciation of words such as "antropocentrismo" and "desmoronamiento" and upon finishing my part gave my best I'm-American-so-cut-me-some-slack smile and giggle before breathing a sigh of relief and stepping down from the front of the classroom and letting my Spanish partners take over. They said I did a fine job so there. Now I'm absolutely exhausted but must keep on trekking full speed ahead. After a full recovery from strep throat I'm going back to yoga tomorrow before my Autonoma class, meeting with two professors about tests that I have on Wednesday, and then getting cozy in Cafe Comercial for hours tomorrow night. I wish I could be studying for middies in Reffy with my Naisybear but McDreamy will have to do for now. Very much looking forward to my week in Paris with Stina and hopefully seeing my Lizzle on Friday then Mommy and Dana come so soon. Charmanda Charmanda I love Charlotte Hess. Night night!

cooking with Maria Rosa

I told Maria Rosa a couple weeks ago that I wanted to learn how to cook my comida Espanola favorita the next time she made it and today was my lucky night! I can't wait to make tortilla espanola for all my besties!!

Tortilla Espanola for 2-3 Personas
Peel and chop 3 potatoes (dos gordas y una pequena, according to the maestra)
Add half of an onion, finely chopped
Sprinkle some sal
Pour some vegetable oil (aceita jirasol?) into a frying pan and let it heat up (~half an inch)
Add the potato/onion/salt mixture to the sarten...con cuidado!
Let it simmer about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally
In a separate bowl whisk 4 eggs and a pocito salt
Add the potato mixture to the egg bowl and carefully mix
Add a bit of oil to the frying pan and add the eggy potato mixture
Jiggle the sarten! Poke the tortilla with a fork!
When it seems right (spidey sense it), use a plate to darse la vuelta a la tortilla
Keep poking with a fork!
When it's finished, slide it onto a plate and a comer!

las patatas y el cebollo

el sarten y los huevos

YUMMYKINS

: )

catching up

I can't believe it's already March. Tomorrow will mark the end of my 8th week in Madrid. Absolutely insane. After my weekend trips to Sevilla and Belgium, staying in Madrid this past weekend was a good choice. I was finally able to catch up on sleep, catch up with friends, and catch up on blogging...

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After a frustrating week at Autonoma trying to get into my econ class (arguing in Spanish, crying in public, etc.), my schedule has been finalized at last. Here's what a standard week looks like:

Monday/Wednesday
9:30-10:30 wakey! (alarms, snoozing, whining, dragging Maya out of bed to walk to Instituto)
10:45-12:00 Arte en Los Museos de Madrid (listening to Selma struggle through lectures, wondering how she manages to wear the same outfit every day, "ehhhhm...")
12:15-3:45 home for lunch (fruit stand boyfriend, cat nap, baguette if we're lucky, p.o.s. if we're not, walk back to Instituto)
[2:15-3:45 Prado visits on some Wednesdays with Selma (listening to Selma trash talk French people and the Syracuse program, smuggling water bottles into the museum)]
4:00-5:15 Historia de Espana (loving Amalia, suppressing my desire to drop kick certain people)
5:30-6:15 commute to Autonoma (sudoku, grazing horses, business men)
6:30-8:30 Medio Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible (Environment and Sustainable development, desperately trying to recognize words coming out of my professor's mouth)
8:45-9:30 commute home from Autonoma (sleepy)

Tuesday/Thursday
11:00-11:30 wakey (alarms, a little less snoozing, breakfast if I have my act together)
11:45-12:30 commute to Autonoma
1:00-2:30 Migraciones y Relaciones Interetnicas (Migration and Interethnic Relations, compulsively eating Werther's to stay awake, daydreaming about lunch)
2:45-3:30 commute home for lunch

Mondays and Wednesdays can be pretty killer...especially if there's a Prado visit, basically nonstop from 9:30 am until 9:30 pm. But, as Mommy says, I can do it! I'm Amanda!!

I also discovered a Bikram yoga center about five minutes from my house and I have become obsessed. Most of the classes are taught in Spanish (pies juntos, respiramos) and there's surprisingly lots of men in the classes. And everybody sweats. A LOT. It's kind of yucky, especially when a 65 year old man decides to put his mat next to mine and then proceeds to DRIP everywhere within the first ten minutes of the ninety minute class. And he breathes very audibly. It's awkward. But I love it. My instructor even praised my form during Dandayamana-Dhanurasana so take that.

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Highlights of the weekend! After yoga on Thursday night a bunch of us went to Cerveceria Seven to celebrate Yosh's birthday and then to Palacio afterwards. A little bit of drama, but lots of fun. Night in a nutshell: Mario, hair gel, lost poems, promoter, painful hiccups, fetal position, Palacio bathroom.

I didn't feel so hot Friday morning so I watched the Almodovar film "Todo Sobre Mi Madre" in bed. WITHOUT subtitles. Go me! I did a TINY bit of shopping Friday afternoon (aka ran to H&M to pick up some 3 euro tank tops for yoga) and Vera found a good sushi restaurant for us to try that night. I finally got my tofu fix and boy was it yummy. After an apathetic attempt to maybe go out, Maya and I ended up coming home and watching "Breakfast at Tiffany's" (aka "Desayuno con Diamantes").

On Saturday morning Jess and I trudged to Museo de America to do an assignment for Amalia. The only things that made the trip worth it was (i) the little llama I found in the gift shop and (ii) the natural grocery store I found on my way home (=more tofu and Bretzels). More yoga on Saturday night then out to dinner in Chueca with Jess and Kristin. Between our bottle of pink wine and the exchange of Columbia gossip we somehow sat at the table until 1am before catching the metro home.

I woke up early on Sunday to check out the rastro a little bit. I found some amazing Ray-Ban aviators but unfortunately the man selling them knew what a treasure they were and was charging 50 euro. boo. I met up with Jess outside the Thyssen Museum where we spent the morning. After lunch with the hermanas we went to the fountain/park nearby to sit outside in the sun and enjoy the amazing weather (blue skies, 70 degrees, slight breeze) and get a drink. Maya and I met up with Vera to walk through a very crowded Retiro park and down to the Prado to see the outdoor Igor Mitora sculpture exhibit. After a strawberry popsicle and iced white tea the three of us came back home to have a hermanas+Vera Amelie party complete with wine, sliced apples, abuelita, and a lack of English subtitles.

Back to class this morning was a bit rough but followed by coffee outside with Maya and a package from Dad, Carolann, and Scoob! Speaking of packages, I got three AMAZING packages last week. First one from Jay with lots of granola bars, Reeses eggs, and some hilarious photoshopped pictures of family members with MK&Ash. Then one from Allison with amazing bunny underwear, a cheetahlicious picture, and stickers. Next came a special delivery from deerdana.com: Gram tshirt, Marc Jacobs tote bag, Hello Kitty stickers, and lots of glitter which then proceeded to get all over my bed and stick to my legs when I sleep. Finally today I got goodies from Orlando from the fam and a tupperware filled with CRACK COOKIES. Be jealous.

Unfortunately, my throat really hurts a lot today and I'm crossing my fingers that it's not strep. Maya is sick too with a chronic cough and we better be cured by Friday because we're going to Amsterdam! A week from Friday I'm meeting Stina in Paris for a week and then Mommy and Dana come to visit!

Vino Rosado y Olivas

every Sunday our street is blocked off and everyone comes out to play

Retiro

giant lips and a little Spaniard