Greetings from Valencia. This past weekend, we attended a "study" trip in Madrid. We had class in the morning and caught the train in the afternoon. It was a good three-four hour train ride before we could anxiously set foot in another city. I must say, Madrid is pretty awesome. We were fortunate to have been able to stay right in the thick of things in Hotel Francisco I, named after a former king turned prisoner from France. It was dark when we arrived so we trudged past the vibrant lights and entertainment of the city. By day, however, one can truly gain an appreciation for the city and its history. In comparison to some of Spain's other major cities, Madrid is relatively young (founded in 1561 by Felipe II), but still has walls and art that date back to the Arab occupation. Our first stop on the tour was the Prado, the renowned museum that houses art from the likes of Goya and Velazquez. I particularly liked the works of the latter because he ostensibly paved the way for artists like Picasso and Goya himself. I recommend viewing Las meninas de Velazquez, which is certainly a painting with various levels. Besides the Prado, we visited the museum of Queen Sophia, where Guernica is housed. Guernica is a town in Pais Vasco that was destriyed by the allies of Franco during the Spanish Civil War. Although all wars are tragic, this war is particularly so because the victims were civilians. Guernica is a piece by Picasso. This museum also had works from Dali but not his melting clocks for some reason :( Among other sites, I enjoyed the Royal Palace of Spain which has 1800 rooms and el parque del buen retiro, which I liken to Central park. It was certainly active this weekend as the weather has been pretty mild here. I hope you can all say the same soon!! Those were probably the highlights of the trip, but we also saw a few other museums. A study trip basically consists of taking notes in exhibits and around the city, as our teacher lectures. We did, however, have a day of exploration (free day) on Sunday so I revisited the parks and outdoor sites to take pictures of places I had missed while taking notes. Another point of interest for me was the food. If there are any other vegetarians in Spain, they are hiding out in Madrid because I managed to find a veggie burger, so Madrid gets extra points for that. I am back here in Valencia, where I will be permanently after about mid-February (to clear up so confusion). Sorry to hear about the Eagles lost, but looking forward to a week with a new president and a new season of LOST!! I leave for Barcelona on Thursday for round two of study trips. I hope that everyone is healthy and doing well. Write any time