Walking, Pictures, and Schoolwork?

Hola amigos! It has been a few days since my last update so I thought I'd crank out another one for you all. Successfully survived a full week of school which brought me back down to reality just a little bit. I am here to STUDY Abroad so obviously I can't forget about school. Granted I am only a week and a half in, the work isn't too awful. With only one lab and one math class, I'm thinking this will be my easiest semester yet. However, while talking to a friend of mine, it became clear that some professors here, no matter what the course, love what they do so much that the class is interesting. Whether it be Oceanography (no I'm not taking that course but would love to if I had the time!), Electrical Engineering, or Psychology, the professor does a great job of capturing my attention whether I am interested in the subject or not.

Walking. So. Much. Walking. And not a bad thing either. I have realized I am perfectly content with wandering (with a little bit of direction) around the city of Madrid. Though there hasn't been a professional guide to give me every little detail and piece of history while I explore, I really enjoy just looking and being amazed. After classes are done and I have a couple of hours to kill before dinner and homework, I explore. This past week I can honestly say I probably walked around 20-25 km (12-15 miles) in four days. I know my mom is very proud (the professional walker haha)! Being in a city where I know absolutely nothing about the streets, history, buildings, etc. is a curious mind's paradise. Below you will see a picture (sorry for the crappy quality) of Madrid's Palacio de Comunicaciones in the Plaza de Cibeles. At night this building is beautifully lit up and quite a sight. I can honestly say one of my favorite sights that I have seen on these walks.

One problem I am having is taking pictures. I either forget my camera in my room, don't want to be "another tourist" taking pictures of everything, or get so caught up in how amazing the sights are I forget to take a picture. This obviously poses a problem for you all and for memories down the road. So, from this post forward, I will try much harder to remember my camera and take pictures so that you can come as close to the full experience of Madrid as I am! 

One last thing: I finally planned my first trip while here and will be traveling to Geneva, Switzerland with a few of my friends next weekend since it is an extended weekend! I will most definitely take my camera and will definitely post when I get back and maybe just before I leave. I'm so excited for my first adventure within my epic adventure! Thanks for reading!