I think Madrid needs some sleep.

Today was my fifth day in Spain and for the most part I really am enjoying it. The city is beautiful. Unlike most European cities, Madrid doesn't have that one monument that you think of. But the city's beauty is far from hidden. Every street is filled with buildings that are hundreds of years old, built right next to new buildings. Every plaza has monuments or fountains which would put most of the best squares in American cities to shame.

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This is a picture of La Plaza Mayor. I'm a little saddened by the fact that people know this as the place from Vantage Point instead of the long history it has had in Spain, being the place of executions during the Spanish Inquisition, where bullfights occurred, and where kings have been sworn in. But despite the general lack of knowledge of the sites of Madrid (most of which I'm guilty of) it is a beautiful city.

I've been doing a lot of hanging out with our neighbors, most of which are from Spain or South America. Today was my orientation at the University I'll be attending here. I met lots people, but many seemed to come from Germany and France. Luckily for me most of them know Spanish better than I do, so it will still be good for me to hang out with them and practice my Spanish. I do need to admit that I have been pretty timid about speaking. Too many times when I'm with my friend who speaks almost fluently I've heard the phrase, no hablas espanol? Already I'm able to understand a lot more than I could, but I don't feel prepared to respond, so I've been quiet. I feel like even if I do respond I will probably do so incorrectly. I have come to the conclusion that it just doesn't matter. Even if I do make several gramatical errors, it is okay. Hopefully people will correct me and they will understand that I'm trying to learn. I would say that I gain confidence with every conversation, but that is not true at all. After one great conversation, I can go into another and feel horrible about it. I think more confidence to speak Spanish is the best thing that could help me right now.

P.S. All Spanierds do is party all night. It is 3:45 am and I still hear lots of people in the streets from my balcony. They really don't sleep. That is why siestas are necessary.