Free weekend has come to a close ...

Well it was nice while it lasted but back to the grind tomorrow.  Our dinner was suppose to be served late tonight as there was a game playing so Shanna and I decided to try a new place, as we were strolling we came across Denise, Lauren and Lorena chatted a while and Denise and Lorena came with us for dinner.  We went to a pasta place in the Plaza Mayor,  the pasta was good.  Afterwards we had to have some ice cream of course so tonight I got to try the hazelnut, to DIE for, it was scrumptious!  As we were walking back we went a little too far but got to see some more pretty buildings and they were lit up too as it was starting to get a little dark sure wish I would have had my camera on me...  Well it is late so talk soon!

Chantelle

Some shots around Salamanca

The first shots is with the frog on the skull, can you find it?  The next is just one of the many ice cream stops along the way in the Plaza Mayor, a lot of temptations!!!  The next shot is one of the University of Salamanca buildings, on the right is where I take my last class of the day.  The next 2 are just pretty buildings I wanted to share.  And the last is the decadent churros with chocolate.  Way too much!!!  But it was really really good, I guess no ice cream today...  As you can see the weather is beautiful, it is a fantastic day in Salamanca!!

Chantelle

Friday, June 15th

This is our free weekend, it started at 2pm.  Had a long lunch and looked at pictures that a girl from my classes she is from Kuwait and her dad have taken around Salamanca, they were very pretty!  Came back to the dorm with the intention of checking emails and then heading back out to find an ATM machine but my pillow was calling a little louder than my feet were to go out the door.  I ended up taking a late 1 1/2 hour siesta.  Then headed down to the Plaza Mayor for a performance that was suppose to happen tonight at 20:00 but for some reason didn't so we went to dinner instead.  Headed back to the dorms by 10pm as I was hoping to get a phone call from family, finally came 45 minutes after I was hoping but it came so I was excited.  I have been emailing but it is different to actually hear voices!  Tomorrow my goals are get some homework done(our bubbles were burst this week to find out we have finals in EVERY class the last week :(    )  get all my souvenir shopping done and hope to do a little work on our group project that is part of this experience, our group decided to do the impact of tourism on Salamanca.  We have some good ideas so I hope we can turn them into a great presentation.  Also hope to go with my camera tomorrow as I want a good picture of the frog that I got to see today, I want to share that with everyone!!  I also noticed a lot of new things tonight as I was walking to the Plaza tonight so I expect I will take some shots of the things that I hadn't noticed before. Well believe it or not I am exhausted so off to bed I go, so much for staying up late tonight!

Chantelle

June 13th

It was a little warmer today, hope it is good and warm tomorrow as I don't get my laundry back til tomorrow afternoon I am guessing.  Wish I would have packed some warmer stuff but I thought it would take up too much room and it is Spain for cripes sakes it should be warm!!  Had a really good lunch and dinner today, had to stop off for ice cream for dessert, I got Kinder which I think is a candy bar here, it was tasty!  Not a whole to write about today, yesterday we went and toured the cave in Salamanca and Calixto and a garden.  It was neat as there is a well that you wish into with your love and put a padlock above it and that is suppose to keep your love together forever, I thought that was very sweet.  The garden was very beautiful, there was music playing while we were there too.  They have lights in the ground so I am imagine what it looks like illuminated at night.

Chantelle

Various shots

The first two shots  are the aqueduct in  Segovia, the next is Devery, me and Cheez at the top of the aqueduct, the next is a group shot outside of Alcatraz, next is some live street art in Segovia, they were sitting on thin air, the last is one of the beautiful stanined glass windows in the castle, such detail, they were unbelievable!

Chantelle

Segovia and Avila Excursion

Wow!  The aquaduct is sooo amazing in person, it is hard to believe something like this can still be standing after 2000 years with nothing holding the stones together when you think about water coming thru you would think it would wash out the stones too.  I got some amazing shots but my camera battery died on me so I have to charge before I can load anything up and the internet isn't working so hot tonight again.  It was a very long and tiring day but a lot of fun!  For lunch I had something different, I was told this was a typical tortilla in Spain, not like the Mexican ones this is a sandwich on bread with like scrambled eggs and I was told potato even though I didn't taste any potato.  It was tasty.  We also visited Alcatraz which is a castle, the legend had it that this castle is what inspired Walt Disney for Sleeping Beauty's castle but this was later deemed false as it was a castle in Germany that in fact was the inspiration.  I got some really neat shots there too.  The weather was actually cool, I had to wear my sweatshirt for the first time since I got here, I took it off not long after we reached Segovia but I put it back on when we got to Avila, very windy.  I am getting a nice tan though!
When we got back it was almost time for dinner so when we had walked down to the bar that we eat all of our meals at the crowd was pretty big as there was a big "football" game going between Portugal and Germany, they are right next to each country but you root for Portugal all the way.  For dessert they gave us a beer because of the game, never been given a beer for dessert before.  Since I am not a beer drinker I passed it along to someone else.  Tomorrow night I am guessing it will be crazy in the streets as Spain is playing.

Well I think it is time for bed, I am wore out.

Bye
Chantelle

Friday Night

While most of the people are going out for the evening, I am staying in to do some homework and rewriting of notes.  We have to get up early tomorrow for our excursion to Segovia and Avila.  Can't wait I am looking forward to the Aqueduct!!  Did a little wandering around town finally!  Got some Euros finally and promptly did some shopping finally!  Could have easily bought more but wanted to pace myself and I have to recount how many people I wanted to bring home fans for.  They are so beautiful here!!  Well I have to get to bed soon, must rest!

Bye!
Chantelle