Today's the day! My first day of Spanish classes since high school! I am excited to refresh my memory and learn how to better communicate with pretty much everyone here. The class was very nice, I had very little issues understanding the teacher, and I am with about 9 other students (all from various countries-France, Germany, Sweden, etc.) The woman I sat next to is Angelika and she is German. She told me that she is from Berlin, but she has moved to Bavaria. She is brand new at Spanish, so I was able to help her quite a bit with the vocabulary that she didn't understand. This made me feel much more confident. I really think I'm going to like going to my classes. I go to school everyday of the week from 9:30am to 1:30 pm. When I left school I wanted to do something fun, because I didn't have lessons with Maria and Alvaro (I did them on Sunday because it worked out better for us). I got out my already beaten up map of Palma, and I tried to figure out how to get back to El Corte Ingles, because that was the nearest place that bus 3 goes towards Ses Illetes (my direction home). On my way, I stopped by a mercado (grocery store) and purchased a Fanta limon, croissants, cashews, and some sort of chocolate-donut looking cookie. I finally found the bus stop, hopped on, and got off at Plaza Gomila. There is no bus (other than expensive tourist buses) that take you up to the Castel de Belver so I hoofed it up the massive hill to the top (stopping several times to rest). I have found that a perk of traveling solo is that you can do everything at your own pace ie. museums, climbing giant hills that are breathtaking (literally and physically), walking places, and choosing what sights to see/where to go. On the other hand, the drawback is the companionship. For example, I see something hilarious, no one to share it with :( It has its ups and downs! I made it to the top, took another 20 minute "picture break". Then I started searching for the entrance to the castle, only to eventually discover there was no one selling tickets, and no doors open--bummer! This sort of reminds me of time that Amanda and I walked all the way from Harlaxton college to Belvoir Castle (Belver and Belvoir both mean great view I believe--coincidence!) just to find that the Castle was closed for the Easter Holidays. Nevertheless, the view was spectacular, and I finally got to take in all of Palma. This is the first time I've lived in a city, so I am really finding it comical all of my attempts at finding my way around, but I actually have a pretty good handle on it. I figured since I was already up there, I would do my Spanish homework--so not a total loss lol. I walked back down and decided to do some more walking---trying to save a bus fare. I walked about 30 minutes and then mi familia happened to drive by on the way back from school and they picked me up! What luck!
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