Oh what a night!

Wow! One of the BEST nights of my life!  Yesterday was the parade and Spain vs Paraguay game.  Spain wins!!! Yo soy Espanol Espanol Espanol! Yo soy Espanol Espanol Espanol! They shut down the busiest street in Madrid Gran Villa (i think) and they have drinking in the streets.  Everyone buys their own alcohol (we got Sangria) and you can buy it at the Chino (stores run by Chinese people that sell everything from snacks, alcohol, fans, and individual cups).  Then you pour your drinks in your cup and party in the street.  Everyone had their flags on and horns blaring.  They had two different concerts going on.  Kylie Manogue was at the bigger one, but it was soooo crowded there!  There are also Chinese people who sell beer at night from their roller coolers (during the day they also sell fans and umbrellas).  We ended up taking our party to some club, where there was a 10€ cover, and some how we didn´t have to pay (leave it to Casanova).  They played a mix of Spanish music and old american music like Barbie Girl, If You Wanna Be My Lover, ect.  They also played Lo que paso paso (which I love!)

Danielle just reminded me that when we were at lunch yesterday a bird landed on her head!!! Ha! I am going to miss sitting on terraces and taking our sweet time eating and socializing.  This is our last day in Madrid.  Sooo..here is some knowledge that I have learned to pass to you. 
Two kisses
It´s not considered offensive to refer to stores that are owned and run by Chinese people Chinos or call gay people ´´the gays´´
Sometimes you have to be more agressive to get on the Metro
Get a purse with a zipper and a flap and wear it across your body
They don´t really enjoy when you don´t give them exact change
If you don´t understand Spanish...don´t reply with Como? Just say you don´t speak spanish lol

I´m sure there are more...but here are some pics from the last day or two

Who peed in my sleeping bag?

Danielle told me on the Metro yesterday that the Spanish version of ´´who put the cookie in the cookie jar¨´ is ´¨who peed in my sleeping bag¨¨ I thought that was very funny.  I had a slight language mistake yesterday.  Danielle walked away from me for a second...and of course that is when a sales lady at Corte Ingles (kind of like Macy´´s) approaches me and I think she is asking me to try the shirt on so i say si.  Before I know it I am purchasing the shirt...I frantically look for Danielle so I can wave her over, and eventually we got it all figured out.  I still bought the shirt, but it´s too big, so i need to take it back which i´m sure will cause all sorts of problems.  Yesterday, we took out the boats at parque de retiro (i will put up pics soon) and it was a LOT of fun! That is my favorite place in Madrid so far.  I am in pursuit of finding a cheap fan (everyone carries them...very steriotypical spanish woman style fans).  It´s so hot here, but last night it got down to the 70s.   We went to a real spanish party last night at gonzalo´s friend´s house.  I was nervous about going because I knew most people would not know english.  I still had a lot of fun drinking homemade sangria and talking to the few people that spoke english.  We had to take a cab home,which was an experience in it´s self!  The cab drive was driving upwards of 140 km-hr (i dunno how many miles that converts to, but around those small curvy streets...it seemed very fast), but he was very nice.  When Danielle tried to pay him, he wasn´t paying attention, and finally he said Oh! Sorry, I was looking at the gays (there is a HUGE gay pride parade today).  It was very funny.

Today we are meeting up with Danielle´s friend and going to the parade, then watching the Espana game vs. Paraguay (i´m torn, but rooting for spain since i´m here).  I promised Gonzalo I would try some sort of spanish specialty that is pork mixed with pig blood and onions then friend and stuffed in it´s own organs and then fried again then put on a sandwhich....apparently it´s very good.  It´s like a blood sausage...I´ll let you know how that goes.  Should be a fun day, i´ll try to put some pics up in a bit!

sorry these are so cockeyed

Madrid!! TOMA!

Hola! I finally made it to Madrid!!!! It is beautiful here...but very very very HOT!!! ok first things first...a little about the flight

I feel like monday i used every for of transportation possible..expect maybe boat. Timoney drove to Chicago where we did a little shopping then i took a cab to union station, the train to Shaumburg, then Adam drove me to O´hare, then i took the 8.5 hour plane trip to Coppenhagen (which is rather nice) the plane ride wasn´t bad i sat next to a really nice (yet talkative) older polish woman.  I had a touch screen tv to pick movies i wanted to watch i watch valentines day and alice and wonderland ate two meals and before i knew it i was there.  then i had a little time to browse the weird viking souvenirs before i boarded my flight to paris. i am not a fan of charles de gaul arport...if you´´ve been you might know that you have to take a shuttle and a 5min walk to terminal 3...or as i now call it...the ghetto terminal.  i used french and english to make my way around but mainly the international language and facial expressions and hand gestures! anyways...finally got to my french gate to go to madrid and the game was on...it was funny seeing all of the spainiards crowded around the tv. they also announced on the plane when spain won..and everyone was cheering and clapping.

Finally i made it to madrid and gonzalo and danielle picked me up...and it wasn´t until i saw some sight of historical buildings that i realized i was in europe. i went to bed right away. the next day we did a little sight seeing in sold (the center of madrid)  and a little shopping.  we got some sangria and i got a tortilla (which is like an omlet type thing baked into a torilla) Moy deliciouso! I got to see the royal palacio, plaza mayor, plaza de espana, ventas plaza del toro (the largest bull fighting ring in spain)  I will now attempt to put up pictures.

My last blog before I leave!!!

2 more days then I'm outta here!! Packing my bag has proven to be quite a challenge.  I have to find clothes that will allow me to stay cool, while being modest and shoes that are comfy and breezy, but not flip flops!!! My parents are coming up tomorrow to move me out and take me Timoney's!!! Timoney will then take me to Chicago on Monday and I will meet up w/ Adam and he will take me to the airport! I don't think I'll be able to sleep these next two night...which will hopefully lead to me passing out on the plane! 

Well the next time you hear from me...I will be on another continent! Check for me on skype (jchobs)

*Go USA! I wish I had one of those vuvuzelas!

1 week and 1 day away

So, I'm starting a blog to chronicle my month long adventures in Europe. I am leaving 1 week from tomorrow! I feel like I still have so much to do! I don't even really know how to blog or set up a blog, so please excuse any mistakes I make.

Just so you know...I will be backpacking with my dear friend from high school Danielle, who is currently living in Madrid, Spain teaching English.

I am flying first to Madrid and staying with Danielle. From Madrid we start our month long adventure with Danielle's friend Megan.

Our schedule is the following

Madrid, Spain

Milan, Italy

Florence, Italy

Venice, Italy

Rome, Italy

Athens, Greece

Santorini, Greece

Berlin, Germany

Prague, Czech Republic

then home (I'll be in Paris for 10 hours in the airport, and I might venture out a bit)

I am so excited!! There are sooo many things I want to see and do! I will try my best to blog with stories and pictures from my adventures. If you have been to any of these countries, please send me places to visit or foods to try! I'll probably blog once more before I leave!

Chao!