One, Two, Three Breathe

Friday January 18, 2008

Today I woke up a little earlier than normal and Allison and I set out to get my travelers checks cashed. We went to Barclays Banco and they wouldn’t take my checks. We went to Banco de Espana and they would take my checks. We went to CajaSol and they wouldn’t take my checks. We went to Banco de Andalusia and they wouldn’t take my checks. Do you see a pattern yet? All that pattern equaled out to be was a really frustrated Emily almost in tears and empty pockets. When we met up with our class a few minutes later I asked my teacher and she told me that there has been a ring of bad travelers checks in Europe therefore no one will take my checks. I about had a conniption. So I’m going and saying that I’m from Centro Mundo Lengua on Monday and I’m going to say that I’m a student with them and they have an account and they basically have to cash them…and see how that goes. Wish me luck, or sent me money- either would be greatly appreciated. Kidding. After that whole ordeal we started walking to La Plaza de Espana and El Parque Maria Luisa, which we had visited earlier in the week but in the rain. We talked around the Plaza for a while and I broke off from the group and took a bunch of really good photos of the Plaza. We couldn’t have asked for a better day. The sun was shining and it was in the 70’s. At least we don’t have 5 inches of snow and freezing temperatures like some people…After the Plaza we headed over to the Parque and ate lunch first. Nick. Zach, Allison L., Allison B., and myself set out to find a bench first to eat our sack lunches on, that our Spanish moms had made us. After eating it was time to explore and the take some more photos. The first area we stopped at had an island with a water mote around it. And thus the story begins…Nick has a really cool camera where he can focus on a color and make everything in a picture black and white except for that color. Keeping this in mind, picture this. Nick gets up close to the water to get the color of green that the water is programmed into his camera and then steps back up on the ledge to finally shoot the shot. He’s to close so he starts moving back, and splash. I turn around and Nick is up to his pecks in water and flailing around trying to keep his camera from getting wet. Apparently the water was a lot deeper than we had thought and needless to say he was soaking, along with all of the things in his backpack. For a while Nicks bag looked somewhat like a makeshift fountain. I started crying it was so hilarious; I seriously couldn’t breathe. After catching my breath, I helped Nick take all of the things out of his bag and put the important things like electronics in my bag and we kept on our journey through the park. Side note: The park is nothing short of gi-normous and gorgeous to boot. We found another fountain (not Nick this time) and a bunch of benches and we all took our own bench and finally had some alone time. I wrote while others read or listened to music. After relaxing for a bit we went through the Barrio de Santa Cruz and looked around in some of the small shops that they have hidden within the winding cobblestone streets. A couple of us went to Republica a couple of hours later for Cola Cao (which is like a rich hot chocolate) and to use the Internet because they have free WiFi for paying customers. For the first time I talked on Skype for a bit! I was a little too excited I think. I talked to Sarah for a bit, laughed at her new “grill”-a.k.a. braces and then checked my e-mail. After noticing that Meridith was on Allison said to me, “Ok, well my computers dead and I'm going to leave but look at Skype and I’ll see you in a few hours.” Meridth and Tasha were on all huddled around the computer. It was great seeing and talking to them. I miss all of my friends back in the states so much. I think I kept what was left of my sanity (thanks to the previous day) talking to my friends on the computer. After the much need catch-up with the gals, I went home and we had a homework night, how glamorous.