Madrid and Toledo

I finally got a chance to get some pictures uploaded of our time here in Madrid and our trip to Toledo.  I have tried to get pictures of all the kids throughout the trip.  If you don't see your child I'm sorry I hae missed them here.  I have taken A LOT of pictures and I'm trying to sift my way through them.  We are all having a lot of fun there has been a lot of down time here in Madrid. 

Miano and Arielle

Christian, Arielle, Kelsey

 
Some people have said I remind them a lot of Baby Huey

Kelsy and Marni

Patty

 

Tony

Abby

Ryan

Juan

Kelsey

Pope Benedict

Jessica

Some of our group at Catechesis

Leonor and Mayra

Moises

Josh

Chris

Gabriella she really was having fun

Abby I'm beginning to see a trend in the looks on there faces.  I promise they were having fun.

Clayton and Cody

Marni and Adam

Ryan see he's having fun

 Marni

Thr group before mass in Toledo

Miano

Brieanna

Leonor and Mayra

The altar at the church in Toledo

 

Toleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedo

Heheh...Sorry for the anoying title. I just felt like it. Okay. So today we went to Toledo. Good thing that everyone here had already paid for everything. I sat next to Adam on the bus ride, and we talked a bit, listened to music, my ipod, then his. Because Toledo was a long way off, Father had us pray the rosary. Adam didn't have one, so I loaned him one of mine. It didn't really help as he fell asleep before the first decade(?) of the rosary. It was kinda funny to watch him just loll around.

When we finally got to Toledo, we got a little 'this is this' and 'that is that' from the bus driver, and entered into the old city. As it turns out, Toledo was occupied by the Romans as it was easily defendeable. The old city is on a mountain, surounded by other mountains, and it also was guarded by Rio de Tajo that wrapped around it. It was kinda like Assisi. The first main stop that we took was to a little shop place thing.

I was expecting like, little Toledo trinkets, but instead, I got swords. Lots and lots of swords. Katana, longswords, broadswords, two-handed swords, knives, daggers, I was almost in heaven. And I learned that I am not yet strong enough to wield a two-handed sword with one hand. Guess I can't be Ike just yet ((inside joke) Ike's bio says that he demonstrates his incredible strength by wielding a two-handed sword with one hand) I also got to see a little about how a sword is made, by a real-live blacksmith! It was SO AWESOME!!!

But wait, there's more! Once we got into the city, we went to mass at a cathedral where like 34 martyrs were buried. The stained-glass windows were really pretty, and outside there was an orange tree with lots of ripe oranges on it. I wanted some, but I think that tree belonged to the convent, or something... Good thing that I borught my backpack, because I was starting to get really hot, and so I drank lots of water.

Just outside the cathedral there was a shop, and I bought something for Mama (I'm not telling you what it is. You'll have to wait for that) and then it was more exploring for Royce and I, because we could just explore. (Later "I learned that we were supposed to have a tour guide. Guess the Pilgrim Office messed up on that. That along with everyone who had a triple room had to move all their stuff out because the reservations were misunderstood or whatever). And then, I swear, I died and I went to heaven.

I didn't know exactly why there were dozens of swords in every store we saw, and Royce said that it was because Toledo was famous for its swords and its gold-etching. I didn't know that, but after seeing all those swords, I believed it. but that's not the best part. In the next store we went to, oh my gosh. There was a rack of replica swords, like Aragon's sword, Robin Hood's sword, Excalibur, and...wait for it...wait for it... Ichigo's Zangetsu. Oh heck yes. There was something from Bleach in Toledo. Heck. YES. XD I was so excited, and I just HAD to fangirl squeal. And, and and and, in that same shop, I also found Sode no Shirayuki, Rukia's zanpakuto. I squealed again. I just couldn't help it.

Along the way, I began thinking of other souvenirs for my other friends, and I found one for Jessee (here's hoping she doesn't have one like it...) and then I thought that Papa might like something. So I looked really hard for something for him, and in the end, we ended up going back to the first shop we went to, and I got him a present that I'm sure he would like. >:3 I'm also going to get Joanne something.

But before that, I found yet another Bleach weapon: Toshiro Hitsugaya's Hyorinmaru. I was surprised on how short it was, but then again...That guy's literally like... 4' 4". It's REALLY sad. And I fangirl squealed again, and maybe had an epileptic seizure...Maybe...And then I got this wierd look from this one kid in the store who had seen me freaking out. XD I nearly lol'd.

The busride back was er, more productive, in a way. I sat next to Adam again, adn I leant him Black Butler 3 while I played my Rune Factory Game. Man, I just love that game! XD I think that I got my third and last child today, and I named him Iruka. It's really funny, because even though he looks  exactly like his older brother, Axel, he has a more baby-ish tone to his voice, and he always asks me for candy. XD It's so weird. Meanwhile, Axel tells me to be careful.

Ahem...But I'm digressing... Anyway, after we got back to our hotel, and the rooms were reassigned (I got a double bed all to myself. Hee hee!) I went out to hang with Gaby, Gaby, Chris, Rydia...Mydia...not Yuridia...Nydia! That's it. Nydia and ah...er...another parent whose name I forgot. >.<    I'm sorry. But we went to get money out of the atm, only to find out we had to go the the train station to exchange money. I was excited, because there was a whol pond filled with turtles and tiny minnows! I think that there's a recurring theme in Madrid: The water looks like crap. It's really disgusting.

But I was also happy because I was able to get a pen! But not just any pen...I got a pen that writes in blue, green, pink, purple, black and yellow! I instantly fell in love with it, and I got it. It's funny, because so far, I've spent more money on food than souvenirs, and more money on souvenirs for other people than I have for myself. So far, I have spent only 6.95 euros on myself. But oh well.

Then me and Royce went out to get dinner, and we found a really good sandwich shop. We both got bocadillas with Spanish tortilla and bacon, and I was so full, I coulnd't have a teeny bit of ice cream. Bluhhh...OH! And I also got to see my first live ferret today! After dinner, we stopped to look at a petstore, and Iwanted to bring home one of the pretty grey kittens with green eyes, but I knew that Royce wouldn't be happy, and niether would mom.

So here I am now, just typing and stuff. But Royce says that I have to get off, and I guess I will. So. buh-bye!

Video from Stations of the Cross

Here is some video of the staitons of the cross that we attended the other day.  Its just a glimpse of how many people were here.

Some additional pics of Rome

Here are some pictures of Rome that I told you I would post last week but we finally have a second to breathe to make it happen.  So here you go.

The Day After I was Sick

So...as you guys know...I was sick yesterday. Nasty stuff, really. Bleh. Luckily, some guy gave me medicine, and I felt better. So now i'm good. Because I was sick, I had to miss out on the Vigil mass with the Pope, and was one of the only ones to stay 'home'. So me and Royce tried to make it this morning. I got up at six, and we went to the trian station. Unfortunately, I somehow lost my travel pass, and so went back to the hotel to go try to find it. No such luck. So we came back to the station, paid 5.40 to get the tickets to the train and took off.

When we got to where we were supposed to be, there was a throng of people going in the opposite direction we were heading. Some guy came up to us and said something to the point of, 'Papa? No plazsa', or something like that. Translated, it means 'You're going to see the Pope? Not possible.' As it turned out, the people had closed the gates, so we couldn't have gone in anyway.

And so we headed back, and Royce was extremely dissapointed, becuase all year long we had both worked our tails off for an opportunity to see the Pope, and we didn't. And I was dissapointed because I was the one who lost her travel pass and made us both late. So when we reached the hotel, Royce got breakfast while I didn't (I had what rhymes with, 'Rail Kicks') and we both watched the mass on the television. After that, Royce went to his room while I went to mine and began watching the mass. That at least made me feel better, and I followed along.

Later, Royce came and knocked on my door and asked me to take a walk with him, which I did. We went to the giant park and walked around a really, really, gross, pea-soup-green pond. But it was really cool because there were ducks, and two black swans, and about a dozen turtles (who wouldn't go after the Trail Mix I tossed in...) and a couple orange koi. And a pair of fat Aflack ducks. then we went around a lake, where there were a dozen statues, half of lions, and half of naked mermaid-like people riding on miscellaneous sea-animals. One was riding on a fish-dragon, one was riding on a turtle, and one was riding on a shrimp. I kid you not. A shrimp. Yeaaaahh... It was wierd. Then at the end of the walk, I finally went to the little stand that I had realy wanted to go to, and FINALLY found the scarf that I wanted that I didn't get int Rome. And it's a really pretty blue. ^^ So I'm good. It was realy funny, because I have literally been holding onto the same five dollars for a week now, and I haven't spent it at all. and when I was going to buy my scarf, Royce handed me twenty euro, and I was like, 'but I have five already!' And he just gives me this look and hands it to me saying, 'Just take it'. I'm SO not the average teenager.

All and ll, it was a really easy day for both me and Royce. I got to sleep really well, and now we're having Eucharist-mass thing, so I have to go. But I'll post again about what happened to other people, especially the people at the Vigil Mass. >:3

My First Blog in Madrid

Wow. All this time and i haven't blogged? Sad. But I had sort of a god reason to do so. Going to bed late and waking up early. I sort of wished the dinners in Rome were, you know, earlier and stuff, but it couldn't be helped that it started at eight and lasted until like... 930. So. but I mean, all that time is really good to get to know people, you know?

But it is kinda anoying because it seems that no matter what table I sat at, Miano, Chris, and a bunch of other guys were just at the next one. Now, guys are fine. I like guys. It's just when they pick up loud, rambunctious, and just plain annoying sayings from drunk Russians. So, at every single dinner, you could here shouts of 'WAPPA!'. Father gave me his permission to smack Miano whenever he did that. So I'm happy.

Fast foreward through the Vatican, I'm sure Royce already told you all what happened, so i'm not going there. Madrid, like Italy, is very hot. But unlike Italy, it's not humid. But it is hotter. I want to get back to Seattle, so then I can sit out in the 70 degree sun with a sweatshirt and sweats. I don't like sweating every day. once in a while is fine, but when you look like you've just taken a bath when you get back to the hotel....It gets old fast.

The food situation is really funny, because both Royce and I don't want to take the easy way out to find food, but in the high heat, it's not good to be wandering around in search of a non-bruger-and-fry meal. Especially when there's a Burger King and Mcdonalds literally a few feet away from the hotel. Luckily we have free meal coupons, but we have to get our own breakfast, because the hotel doesn't offer it. Unluckily, the hotel has a cafe, but it doesn't take Madrid breakfast coupons. Dissapointing. And as I was handed 50 euro and told to make it last as long as possible, iI've been taking measures into my own hands. Two days in a row I had breakfast at the cafe in the hotel, and had the cheapest thing I could find that was still a meal. Aaaand then I left like, 50 cents as a tip, not knowing that the tip was included in the bill. >.<  But anyway, this morning, my breakfast was a few handfulls of Trail Mix, but don't tell Royce. He gets mad when I do that. And then the night before, because I didn't want to have to go out with a group/ a guy, I basically dug out a meal bar and ate that for din-din. I mean, that's why they're called meal bars, eh?

Two days ago, the whole gorup went to go try to see the pope. We stopped at one spot, but Father wanted to try to go further, and after much pushing, nudging, and apologizing perfusely in Spanish as well as English, we got to the spots we wanted to stay(kinda)-a flower bed. Keep in mind, we weren't the first ones in there, and the flowers were already soup by the time we did, but it didn't really make me feel any better. I know that there have been protests and riots and how Spaniards don't want us here, and I got a taste of why they would be angry at us. I feel really bad about the garden, as it was really nice, or must have been, and the WYD people kinda ruined it. So, in the end, after all that trouble, we didn't get to see one shred of Benedict 16th, and three people fell sick from a form of claustrophobia, heatstroke, and low blood-sugar. It didn't really help that everyone's feet hurt from standing for so long. I know that my feet were burning, but it was the strangest thing. As people kept dropping like flies, I was frantically fanning them and trying to get air to them. As I was spazzing out while trying to care for other people, I totally didn't feel my feet hurt. So it was kinda cool.

Yesterday we went to see the stations of the cross,  and this time, nobody ended up in the flower bed, and a lot of people took the initiative and sat down so that everyone could watch the big screen that the other people had set up. Except for a group of people (I want to say that they were French...) who stood up and completely blocked the view for the other people. I must be losing my Spanish, because when people were reading the stations, I only understood about a few words. I mean, I followed along, but it was still kinda hard because a lot of words I don't think I've ever heard before. Luckily nobody passed out or anything.

Dinner yesterday was pretty cool. Again, I didn't exactly know what to eat, but I had a hunch that it would have rhymed with 'Rail Kicks'. So because everyone was out, I just sat with Father and Isabel in the cafe. I ust drank my water, and didn't want anything. I had a little spoonful of Father's gazpatcho, and it tasted familiar, I just can't put my finger on it. Luckily, Isabel's dish was apparently too large for her, so she gave half to me. Freeloading is fun. Lol. But I really didn't sit there just to get a free meal. I was just board. Honest.

Today we went to mass and I really wanted to fall asleep, but somehow I managed to stay awake. But then I got sick and was in the bathroom for like 30 minutes. After that, half the small group that didn't go to the mall went to McDonalds for lunch, but only Jessica and I stayed. It took an hour, but we finally got our food. I just ate my sundae, and my chicken sandwich, but my stomach became angry again, so it was back to the room. Luckily, I got to take a long nap, and now I get to sleep through the entire night. I'm really glad, and hope I'm not sick tomorrow. So goodnight.

The Vatican Museum and St Peters Basillica

This morning we celebrated mass in a beautiful chapel inside of St. Mary Major.  After which we took another short tour of downtown Rome.  Where we saw the Pantheon which is a former Pagan chuch that was taken over by the Catholic Church.  In the center of the dome at the roof is a hole that was intentionally left there.  Originally, to allow Romulus to raise up to join the other gods.  When the catholic church took it over they left it there to allow the souls of its people to reach heaven.  We then went to a large market in the center of Rome that contained many different vendors who were selling art. and an enormour fountain that was just breathtaking.  We then moved on to the Vatican Museum, the Cistine Chapel and St Peters Basillica.  I think the thing that struck me the most walking through the museum was just not knowing where to look.  There was so much to see that you couldn't see it all.  One of the halls was lined with carpets that illustrated different scenes throughout the history of Jesus and the church.  There was as much detail in each carpet as there was in each painting. 

We learned an interesting fact about the cistine chapel.  When Michelangelo was painting the Final Judgement the pope and his assistant would come quite often.  Apparently, the assistant did not like how it was turning out and complained quite a bit about it.  Michelangelo was not impressesed with his continous complaints, so if you look in the bottom right corner the man who is in hell that is wrapped up by the serpent was the image of the assistant.

Finally,  as far as I'm concerened the highlight of the trip so far was St. Peter's Basillica.  When you walk in you are just overwhelmed by how massive it is.  I have been in many football stadiums in my life and none of them comes close in sheer size.  It was a breathtaking experience.

There is one picture of Father Bloom included that I thought was great.  I turned around at one point while in the Cistine Chapel and saw father with a look of amazement that you would think would be reserved for people who had never seen it before.