Good to be "Home"

Jet lag is a rather sneaky thing.  You would think that by now, I would know this.  But sometimes, knowing something, and behaving accordingly are two very, very different things. 

I’m happy to report that we arrived in Madrid on Thursday as scheduled.  The flight was direct from LAX to Madrid, and was relatively uneventful.  The Tom Bradley terminal is under construction, and that combined with the fact that most of the folks headed through there are not familiar with US airport security procedures under the best of circumstances, made for a bit of a trial getting everyone through security, as did inordinately bad traffic even for the 405.  I’ll admit I was more than a bit angsty about turning over the keys to my M5 to my very capable friend and intern, Derek, but based on the number of Instagram pictures I have seen of the car since, it appears to be in good hands.  I was in fact very grateful of the ride to the airport, and not having to take a shuttle, but I will miss driving for the next seven weeks.  All that to say, thanks, Derek.

Derek and my assistant Haeley are saving my bacon in another way, because, of course, I forgot a couple of things in the States that are not easily replaceable in Spain.  The US Postal Service, in their infinite wisdom, decided that my re-deliver notice for a Global SIM Card didn’t actually mean anything, so they returned it, and the company had to send out another, which of course did not arrive before I left.  Second, and perhaps more important, I left my contact lenses at home. I could probably wear the pair I have a second month, but I just don’t like risking it, and I also don’t think it would be very comfortable. So, thanks, Haeley and Derek.

We arrived in Madrid and my good friend Javi was there to meet us at the airport, and in relatively short order we were at the hotel getting everyone settled in.  I did a brief orientation to the program and the city, then walked the students down to the Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor then cut them loose to explore the city.  My Assistant Director, Drake (who has already proved himself invaluable), one of the students, Ben, and the other adult who is tagging along, a friend of the University named Tom Gehring, and I walked down to the Royal Palace, then over to one of my favorite water holes, Casa Mingo, for some roasted chicken, which made a very nice dinner.

Yesterday was a free day, so while the students worked on their itineraries for the course, Drake and I shopped for food, deodorant (which I also managed to leave in the States) and a thank you gift for Derek (yes, I know I’m probably ruining the surprise for him).  I also got us set up with Spin-based cellphones that will allow us to call each other free and the States for three cents a minute.

Lunch was typically Spanish: we met Javi at 1:30 and proceeded to do a tapas crawl, ending up at a well-known restaurant, Posada de la Vila, about 5 o’clock.  It was good to spend time with him.  Finally, we finished up watching the absolute debacle that was the Spain – Holland World Cup match.  I’m still bitter.

Today we did a half-day tour of Toledo, about an hour southwest of Madrid, and which has been continuously inhabited for 2500 years.  It was the capital of Visigothic and Muslim Spain, and is one of the only places where Jews, Moslems, and Christians coexisted peacefully in Spain.  We returned from Toledo about lunchtime and after a siesta during which I probably should have been grading papers, Drake and I made a quick run to the Prado and Reina Sofia museums so that I could see the three paintings I always like to visit: Las Meninas by Velazquez, El Fusilamiento del 2 de Mayo by Goya, and Guernica by Picasso. Then we strolled back through Retiro Park and after a quiet dinner, I’m enjoying the Italy/England Soccer match.

Tomorrow will be a fun, if busy day.  We are touring a ranch where bulls are raised and trained for bullfighting, then we’ll actually take a bullfighting lesson.  I have made it abundantly clear that I will NOT play the part of the bull by putting a pair of horns on my head.  Then we’ll head back to Madrid for the bullfight in the early evening.

I have loved being in Madrid, especially in Summer.  My anxieties about the group have subsided somewhat, at least until we have to worry about the Camino part, which is next week. The kids are fantastic, and seem to be enjoying themselves and a few have even figured out that I’m only have as boring and evil as I seem.  Attached are a few pictures from the trip so far.  I have had to remember that while I don’t need to take pictures for me, I need to take them for the group, for IP, and for the blog, so I’m trying to do a better job of that!