After having two weeks to settle into Madrid life, we finally had time to take our first trip to nearby Toledo! Known as la ciudad del imperio, Toledo has influences from all three of Spain's major historical cultures - Islam, Judaism and Christianity. We were so excited to see some new sights, but as with everything that's happened thus far on the trip, we naturally ran into some roadblocks. When we asked our Spanish roommates what time we should leave in order to catch our bus, they took one look at the map, immediately went Ay!! Qué lejos!! and advised us to leave the house at 6:30am aka TWO HOURS before our bus left. We were shocked and said the sun wouldn't even be up but they assured us there would be sun. This is what it looked when we finally left the house:
Although salty at the fact that we arrived at the bus station an hour before our departure, we were able to enjoy a leisurely café con leche for breakfast.
Once finally in Toledo, we took a walking tour around the city and saw all the important landmarks and buildings there. The city was beautiful and walking around it took our breath away. Literally though, it took our breath away....according to our phones, we walked 6.9 miles and climbed 37 flights of stairs. It was a bit of a reality check for how out of shape we actually are. But all that walking was worth it to see views like these:
Once finally in Toledo, we took a walking tour around the city and saw all the important landmarks and buildings there. The city was beautiful and walking around it took our breath away. Literally though, it took our breath away....according to our phones, we walked 6.9 miles and climbed 37 flights of stairs. It was a bit of a reality check for how out of shape we actually are. But all that walking was worth it to see views like these:
This week's life lessons:
1. "Life ain't all blueberries and paper airplanes," - Chad Johnson. This profound insight from the beloved villain from season 12 of The Bachelorette does have some real life application when adjusting to a new city/country/lifestyle. We've realized living versus studying in a different country is much, much different. We've both studied abroad in the past and while those trips had their struggles, most of it was carefree and for fun. However, this time around, we've had a lot of "adult" things we needed to consider and take care of as well as many obstacles we've needed to overcome like trying to describe and purchase a mattress topper without having the vocabulary to do so, applying for residency so as to not be in the country illegally once our visas expire, or adjusting to living with FOUR boys (but more on that later). Not that any of this has stopped us from having fun, but it has definitely led to a different first two and half weeks in Spain than either of us had expected or experienced before.
2. Men are the worst with directions. This stereotype is 100% true and carries over to the Iberian Peninsula. Let's just say we can navigate the city's public transportation system better than some of the Spaniards.
3. When you say you'll never eat bread again, and then you do, God punishes you. Getting charged €1.50 changes everything.
4. This:
This week's life lessons:
1. "Life ain't all blueberries and paper airplanes," - Chad Johnson. This profound insight from the beloved villain from season 12 of The Bachelorette does have some real life application when adjusting to a new city/country/lifestyle. We've realized living versus studying in a different country is much, much different. We've both studied abroad in the past and while those trips had their struggles, most of it was carefree and for fun. However, this time around, we've had a lot of "adult" things we needed to consider and take care of as well as many obstacles we've needed to overcome like trying to describe and purchase a mattress topper without having the vocabulary to do so, applying for residency so as to not be in the country illegally once our visas expire, or adjusting to living with FOUR boys (but more on that later). Not that any of this has stopped us from having fun, but it has definitely led to a different first two and half weeks in Spain than either of us had expected or experienced before.
2. Men are the worst with directions. This stereotype is 100% true and carries over to the Iberian Peninsula. Let's just say we can navigate the city's public transportation system better than some of the Spaniards.
3. When you say you'll never eat bread again, and then you do, God punishes you. Getting charged €1.50 changes everything.
4. This:
Hasta luego!
Alex y Kat
Alex y Kat