Finished!...kind of

That's right, as my dad put it: I'm back among the living. I had sort of electronically disappeared for a few days.

You're all wondering about my exams...okay. I will admit that I didn't do as well as I know I could have because I just didn't have time to study. However, the definitive answer as to how well I did will come next Wed. when the grades come out. I'm sure I passed them all, so that's the good news.

I did have a close call, however, on Saturday morning when I woke up at 8 o'clock for my 8:30 exam! Lucky for me Kristen lives very close to where I was taking the exams. I threw on my clothes and a headband and raced out the door to jump in front of a taxi. I made it with 15 minutes to spare. ;) Talk about nerve wracking... My other exams were less eventful, and the last one I felt really good about because I had just been reviewing the part that came up as an essay question before I went in to the test.

Madrid was lovely...even though I was thinking about things other than sightseeing. ;) I stayed with my friend Kristen and we got together Saturday and Sunday with Adam and his girlfriend, Maria. Sunday we were able to stroll around Madrid a bit before my train headed home. I think the last time I was in Madrid as a tourist (though I'm not really sure this visit can count) was when I was studying in Granada! Needless to say it was nice to walk around and revisit the Plaza Mayor and Puerta del Sol. We went out for afternoon drinks in La Latina, a barrio of Madrid that's known to be THE place to be on Sundays--things certainly were full. It was really nice to get out of La Roda for a few days and visit with friends.

A view of Plaza Mayor.

Adam, Maria and Me at BarBaridad.

This was the stirrer in my drink... Can you guess what souvenir I brought Angelines from Madrid?

So I took the AVE (speedy Spanish train) back home Sunday evening and slept all the way. Good thing I set my alarm, or I would have woken up in Malaga! ;) Monday morning Angelines and I packed quickly and set off for the beach. With all the extra time that I'd been putting in at school for the play, I asked for Tuesday and Wednesday off from school and so we were able to enjoy a little mini vacation just the two of us. :) What a treat.

We have a friend who graciously lent us her flat in the coastal town of Nerja. It was beautiful weather, and although I've become far too Spanish to wear a T-shirt or sandals in March, there were plenty of guiris (foreigners) who were sporting their summer best...even swimming! Angelines was appalled, of course: "When it gets hot, what will they wear???" ...Keep in mind that it was 77 degrees and sunny.

Tuesday we explored the nearby town of Frigiliana--beautiful! It's in the hills near the sea with beautiful views. Unfortunately, I forgot my camera. I have pics on Angelines's cell phone, but I'm not sure how to load them on the computer. Anyway, it was lovely and we even went on a little hike along the river that runs through town--maybe the clearest water I've seen in Spain. :)

I've spent the first half of the week relaxing after my exams. I feel like I've been on vacation forever! It's great. Only thing is it's hard to get back into my routine... We have no break between semesters so my second term classes started on Monday and I really have NO desire to get back into reading.

S0 now I'm back in La Roda and this is what just went by my front door: the Banda de Jesus practicing for Semana Santa. I can't wait. It's just around the corner; I LOVE the music!!