El Retiro

Went to El Retiro Park today.  It was beautiful.  I have a few pictures, along with my dinner pictures.  Things are going well.  I had a presentation today and next week two tests.  Next weekend is my mandatory class trip to Northern Spain.  Tomorrow I'm going to El Prado and El Museo Reina Sofia (another museum).  On Saturday I get to go to Corte Ingles with my host mom and housemate.  She said it is inside five buildings and as I have seen it from the outside I know it must be at least three or more stories high.  She said you can purchase anything there from groceries, to clothes, pedicure, a car, or even a house.  I thought Wal-Mart had a lot of options.  Wow!  Saturday night we're going to go see the center of the city all lit up.  It is supposed to be beautiful.  I've been invited to go to El Rastro (flea market) on Sunday again, but I'm not sure if I have the energy for that.  Not to mention, I have to study sometime.  Well, I'm going to go for now.  Enjoy the pictures.  :)

 Evil birds

 Fountain in the middle of a round-a-bout in Madrid

 Cultural Center

 I think this is the American Embassy but I'm not sure.

 Awesome arches in the middle of a round-a-bout

 Entering El Retiro Park

 Entering El Retiro Park

 Fountain

 Many small shacks like this can be found all over.  You can buy snacks, ice cream, drinks, etc.

 Creepy generic Mickey Mouse

Lake at El Retiro Park - I really wanted to go rowing on it, but it was crowded and there was a long line.

Huge fish in the lake.  They literally jump out of the water for bread crumbs. 

 Policemen on horses

 Creepy generic Minnie Mouse

 Awesome building in the park - it wasn't open so I'm not sure what it is.

 Beautiful shady area

 More of building above

 The lake

 Small waterfall on stream leading to lake

 Large monument thing on other side of lake

 Inside the large monument

 Neat looking ground

 Me at the lake

 A walkway in the park

 Gazpacho soup

 Tuna salad

 Carbanara

 Turkey and Manchego cheese

 Melon - Apparently all the melons here are called melons.  They don't have their own name like ours do.  This one is good.