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Móvil Schmóvil

I've pretty much decided by now that I'm not going to bother with a cell phone. It's not incredibly cheap in Europe, and I really just don't want to deal with all those complexities.

So I invested today in $10-worth of skype credit. The rates are really good for calls to landlines.

So! For calls that I need to make, I'll use skype. Or a pay phone if I'm not at home.

If you need to call me, you can use my host family's number, posted here. Don't worry about asking for me. Conchi's pretty much fluent in English, and Concha can probably handle it. Or you can try out your two semesters of Spanish and no one will think less of you. It's admirable, really.

Or, you can just get a microphone and sign up for skype already - it's free!!!

I want to talk to you!

¡Llámamme!

El Rastro

Admission: I'm only writing this post tonight to get that way-to-long Toledo post off the main page.

This morning, I finally went to the local flea market - El Rastro. And I brought my camera!

This goes on every Sunday morning from 9-2, filling several streets. They really do sell everything from clothes to hardware. It's so incredibly crowded, especially later on in the morning. And you really have to keep a close eye on your purse. I didn't get anything this morning. I almost bought a pair of earrings, but they looked like I'd be alergic to them. Anyway, just a couple of photos to give you an idea of the atmosphere.

El Escorial

By popular demand... a photo post!

Yesterday, I went to El Escorial with ISA. El Escorial is the summer home built by (for) Felipe II, as well as housing the burial crypt for the royal family. It was neat to see all the history behind the building. The library houses thousands of ancient books, and the summer residence is home to several fine pieces of art. It was also neat to be reminded that Spain has a king. I know that sounds weird, but it's just so cool to me that such a modern city as Madrid could be the home of a real honest-to-goodness royal family. I'm such a dumb American. The smallest things completely blow my mind.

They don't allow photos inside, but here are some of the outside.

After the tour and some free time to turn our attention to our sack lunches, we headed to Valle de los Caídos. Located some 10 km from El Escorial, this is the gigantic temple of doom where Franco is buried. This gigantic tomb/cathedral is built straight into the granite mountainside. You may not be able to tell from the pictures - you can barely tell standing there - but everything about it is abusolutely huge. It cost a few billion to make, during a time (after the civil war) when many madrileños didn't have the money for food. It's frigid and sparsely decorated interior and morbid iconography remind the visitor of death.

Needless to say, the site of Franco's grave is a controversial subject. But whatever the terrible memories it evokes, the Valle de los Caídos has a certain simplistic beauty to accompany it's slice of Spanish history.

Again, no photos are allowed of the inside, but here's what I've got:

Well, enjoy the photos. I've got a few more that I'll post soon, and I want to get out and take more of Madrid for you.

Until then, I'll keep posting if you keep reading!

Que Dios os bendiga,

-Rebekah

I was just looking at my reflexion in my eye in the mirror when I realized just how many times it was bouncing off stuff.