Madrid

Yes, my family and I finally made it to Madrid! After rescheduling the trip three or four times, I didn't  believe we were actually going until we started the car and drove off.  It was a short trip, we just went for the weekend and the weather kinda sucked so we didn't have time to do as much as i would have liked, but it was a great weekend!
The first night we said "hola" to my host family's family  and then went out to se Madrid by night.  It was especially interesting because the city was lit up with impressive christmas lights.  There was an enormous christmas tree in the Puerta del Sol and these cool box-shapped lights in the Plaza Mayor.  We also walked down some of the main streets.  I really liked the feel of Madrid, it is a huge city but that doesn't make it lose its Spanish charm.
The next day we say an Egyptian temple that was built originally in Egypt and brought here brick by brick and reconstructed.  We didn't go inside because it was raining and there was a long line, but it was cool to see even just from the exterior.  Next we saw the Palacio Real, or royal palace.  This blew me away! IT was enormous, the tour didn't go through a fraction of it, but the parts of it that we did see were so luxurious and full of history.  We saw the armory, chapel, a bunch of different dining halls, sitting rooms, and bedrooms, and the room where they sign all the important documents, the throne room, and a huge nativity set that they put up for the first time in about 60 years.  It was amazing and excessive and full of history I loved it.  Finally we ant to the Prado after eating the typical Madrileno calimari sandwiches.  This was a completely new experience for me because I had never really been to an art museum before.  It was amazing to see masterpiece after masterpiece line the walls and again, it was impossible to see all of it.  My favorite part was an exhibit on this painter whose name escapes me who painted portraits of people that looked like a light was shining on them, but it was just his technique with the paint.  Also I liked the replica of the Mona Lisa that was painted by one of Da Vinci's students (shhh don't tell the french, but this one is better than the original.  she has eyebrows and everything).
Over all, I had a really great weekend.  We will definitely be returning so I can see more of this city!

 The squad: left to right- cousin Clara, cousin Claudia, Carmen, Carmen, Me, Aunt, Uncle

A cute pic of me and Carmen and if you look close you can see the Egyptian temple in the background ;) 

 Claudia, me, and Carmen in front of the Palacio Real

Calamari sandwiches <3