Spain by Train

Weekend Update:

Very exciting weekend here in Madrid, different from the norm, which was quite needed.
The average weekend consists of me waking up rediculously late on saturday, sunday or most likely both, bumming around my piso(flat/apartment) and completing various domestic tasks that i have neglected (on purpose) during the week...but this weekend, NO!

This change in the weekend was spurred by a change in my general work week. Here's the deal, there's a park here in madrid called Prodolongo, where there have been numerous complaints of immigrants drinking and being obnoxious in the park from neighbours who live close by. In order to "resolve" or attempt to resolve this conflict, the city of Madrid has sent up a task force to observe what's going on in the area and deal, if necessary or to what extent...with the conflict.

Enter yours truly --
My office is part of this said "team" of municipal employees, so for this past week as well as next, we're taking turns going to the park in small groups and seeing "what's up" basically. I went thurs. from 8-11 pm and then friday from 12am-2am. NADA, nothing, zip out of the ordinary was happening, but we're gonna continue our observations, etc.

Regardless, it's a cool project because it's different from anything else i've been doing thus far and even thou it's me and my colleagues walking around...it's still field work and my hours are compensated. WOOT.

So enter friday, i go to the park 12-2 come home and go out with my roommates to a club up the street...we get in free, stay for an hour, whatever. Saturday morning, late morning, me and my roommate Mila, who's the stereotypical brazilian girl, gorgeous, athletic, blah blah blah, but so nice...decide to go to toledo, a small old town about 2hr. outside madrid. Very fun, but very very hot, the whole town is on a "hill" and anyhill in 40 celcius, aka 104 farenheight...seriously i wish i were kidding.

ps, it's 11:17 pm and it's 91 degrees... i'm melting.

anyway fun day, and then sunday, today i went to this banging open air market where i basically spent too much money on linen shirts, morrocan leather sandals, purse and change purses, and some brown slipper/shoe things. Oh and a pashmina for 3euro. ole. then due to the heat i went and hit up my host family's pool with Mila (brazilian) and Lydia (from france). 4 hours later, i'm still not sunburned so i consider my afternoon a success. Oh, and i love my host kiddies, adorable...i need to take pictures of them, really.

anyway, that's the weekend wrap, it was out of the ordinary so i felt like sharing.
and congrat's to all the italians, Seb, Jess and anybody else who i don't recognize right off the bat as an italian, Zidane's an idiot...

besos to all,
emily