Well, tonight we will know the result of the first semi-final match. It is between Germany and Turkey; apparently all Spaniards (and therefore Prep students) are rooting for Turkey to win! Tomorrow night is our big night. I am not a fan of huge crowds and so tend to stay away from the Plaza de Colón where the massive pantalla (screen) is set up and tens of thousands of fans congregate to watch !?! the match and celebrate by jumping in the fountain afterwards.
Prep guys have many bruised shins this week as they didn´t realize that there is a maze of pipes in the fountains. They are not visible in the dark and when the fountain is filled with water. The boys found them as they were leaping and jumping through the water in celebration of the Spanish victory over Italy on Sunday night!
I watched the game from the comfort of my living room but could hear through the window the eruption of celebration when the Spanish goalkeeper saved the penalty kick to win the game for Spain. Shouting, car horns, fireworks sounded throughout the city! I think that on Thursday I may have to go to the Plaza de Colón just to get a first hand look at the guys in their colorful Spanish fan attire!
There are some new students at International House this week - french girls! This would generally not be a problem except for the fact that there are 15 prep guys and only 2 french girls. I´m not sure now whether the boys would prefer to learn French or Spanish. They tell me however, that since they don´t speak French, and the girls don´t speak English, Spanish is the language that they are using! That makes me feel SO much better!
Yesterday afternoon we took the teleférico out to the Casa del Campo - it is a gondola that passes over the city and has fantastic views. Today after classes, we head for the Palacio Real. They boys will get a tour of the Royal Palace of Madrid and in particular the Armory. It is not the actual residence of the Spanish monarchs any more. They use it only for State dinners and events - it is primarily a museum and open to the public. The Royal family today lives in a smaller palace a short distance outside the city called ¨El palacio de la Zarzuela¨.
I was planning to take the boys to a bullfight on Sunday - they are only held on Sundays unless it is a fiesta week. However the futbol final is also on Sunday evening. We must wait to see the result of Thursday´s game (is there really any doubt as to the outcome???) before I can decide on tickets for the bullfight. If we cannot go this Sunday, there will be no other opportunity as next week the Fiesta de San Fermín in Pamplona begins and there are no corridas in Madrid. I try to do it all, but sometimes there is just no way!
Kinda Like Old Times
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Trees are turning yellow, but the sun still shines bright. We counted 22
pilgrims on the Way this morning, most of them Italians, many without
backpacks...
3 years ago
2 comments:
I am enjoying reading your blogs about the varied activities of the boys and your perspective of the activities...It is informative and provides us with a platform to talk about with the boys when they return!
I am confident my Jack is one of the boys with bruised shins from fountain jumping.
I appreciate the time and energy it takes for you to keep us all informed and entertained with your overviews and I assure you it is welcomed and appreciated by all the parents and families...
How are you all coping with the HEAT?
Yesterday I was suffering a little from dehydration... too much cafe con leche and not enough agua! The boys are doing pretty well. Water is much more available here than it was in the past.
They are a little inundated with culture and language - I keep them moving and they really do see and do SO much! It is probably a littl overwhelming... but as I told them today - tomorrow two weeks are already done! The time passes so quickly!
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