Sunday gave me a much-needed opportunity to sleep in and adjust my schedule! I'm clearly still on American time, but I'm doing my best not to fall asleep in classes. Today I took a lazy day and caught up on a little homework. Then I met up with Emily Forrestor, Emily Green, and one of their friends at la Plaza de la Reina, a central part of the historical city and home to some of the most beautiful architecture in Valencia. We strolled through the small market and surveyed the top restaurants and ice cream shops we planned to revisit :D We peeked inside the central cathedral and observed the Sunday afternoon service that was going on. I absolutely loved the sweeping arches and the altar decked in sparkling gold awnings, but even moreso I loved that I understood that during the service they were saying the Lord's Prayer and the Peace.
La Plaza de la Virgen is definitely my favorite, so far. It's the kind of classic terrace idealized in any film set in Europe. There is a great marble patio with a beautiful fountain. Little children run around, reaching for and screaming at the pigeons that litter the ground. People sit around the fountain eating ice cream and drinking espresso, and the bells of the cathedral chime on the hour. Strolling through the bustling streets, people watching, admiring the Old City - it was a perfect way to end my first week in Spain.
Monday unfortunately gave me my reality check as I began to get slammed with schoolwork. No beach today, as it was raining throughout the afternoon, and I learned that my big presentation would be given in only a short week.
Tuesday began to proceed in much the same way, but it was slightly more exciting. I have decided to switch into a class called Comparative Healthcare Systems. It pertains to my Human Bio major and looks at the setup of different country's systems, and it's really interesting so far! Our professor is a physician in Spain, so we took a field trip to his clinic today. Along the way we stopped at a nearby restaurant, where I got to try horchata, as Spanish drink that is juice-like, blending coconut milk with a fruit only grown in Valencia (or so I'm told). My favorite part was the fartón that comes with it - a croissant-like pastry with powdered sugar on top...yum!
Later in the afternoon I met up with two other girls in the program, Emily Thisdell and Ashley Robertson, and we explored Los Jardines Reales, the Royal Gardens incorporated as part of the Valencia Natural Sciences Museum. The site is built above an old royal palace; part of the palace has been excavated for viewing to the general public. The gardens extended almost endlessly and were beautifully designed; dozens of fountains and "labyrinth" hedges lay beyond every corner. I wouldn't recommend the museum, but we got our share of entertainment from the giant clams and sabretooth tiger models they displayed! It just went to show what diverse things you can find in a city if you look hard enough!
Shrimp with rice and whitefish (cod?) - I approved
Arroz con leche - a common Valencia dessert....not for me
Roasted chicken with apricots and raisins
A vegetable dish that consisted of green beans and peppers with mashed zucchini, mixed in a sauce and then served in the peel of the zucchini...it was interesting to say the least!
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