Acala'

Today after class we went to Acala which is right outside of Madrid.  It was the home of Cervantes.  We also were able to see storks.  It was beautiful and historical as always.  It was a very laid back tour and we were even able to stop and all have a beer and tapas together.

I was thinking at dinner tonight that it might be a little difficult to adjust to the schedule of life when I get back next week.  Here in Madrid, we get up at 8... eat some toast leave about 8:45 for our 9:00 class (sometimes a little later on the leaving) and walk VERY quickly to class at 9:00.  We eat lunch around 1:00 and maybe a snack here or there and then dinner at 9:00ish.  We walk just about everywhere so eating that late at night has been too bad.  I would love to walk more at home, but there's really no shade and right now it's way too hot.  Everyone said it would be really hot here in Spain, but it's been at least 10 degrees cooler here than at home with a cool breeze.  Two nights ago it got really chilly in the evening the mornings have been chilly too.
We have our last classes tomorrow.  I got a certificate today for completing the course.  We leave for Florence about 4:30 our time. I plan on typing everything up in an orderly manner that I have learned and study it all the time.  Jeb and I have discussed getting Rosetta Stone for both of us and then maybe I can take some more classes as well to continue my journey of learning Spanish.  Here are some pictures for a couple of days including today.

the neighborhoods were divided by religion

we went canoeing!

the are we were in the boat

real live storks!

in Toledo - it was beautiful

my friends

these walls are from the 14th century!

the lion didn't bite me... so I'm faithful to my husband!

Don Quixote and me!