Getting to Complutense Universidad de Madrid takes about 40 minutes (metro+walking). We get off the Ciudad Universitaria stop.
Complutense is one of the oldest universities in the world. It apparently began as a Studium Generale on May 20, 1293 (at least that's what wiki says).
Some leftover snow on our way to class.
And a few days later, the sun peaked out and skies were blue for the first time since I've been in Madrid.
I think the school of medicine is behind this graffiti-covered horse monument. (Shout out to Deb: I'm assuming CW looks a lot better than Complutense's med school building...haha)
Puerta del Sol - like the center of Madrid. Almost always crowded, and the location of a ton of shops, restaurants, bars, and discotecas.
Puerta del Sol.
Exploring Puerta del Sol during the day with another Complutense amiga, Michelle, who wasn't quite so ready for the photo haha.
Sol.
Saturday morning, we woke up nice and early for our first excursion trip to Segovia. A photo of the subway station.
View right off the Moncloa stop where we waited to take the bus to Segovia.
An hour and a half later, we're driving towards what I later found out was a huge Acueducto (aqueduct). completely man-made. and no cement was used to keep the structure together. impressive.
The girls posing after grabbing some cafe y chocolate. Hot chocolate here literally tastes like melted chocolate.
The view during the hike up to see the castle.
some of us!
narrow streets.
still trekking up to the castle.
a church.
The street names are written in tile and placed on the side of buildings.
another church.
lots of churches.
Cathedral.
Plaza Mayor of Segovia.
the gate to the castle.
The Alcázar of Segovia. The Castle of Segovia.
girls photo near the castle. 
the view.
oh silly roommate. also that water is from the huge aqueduct I saw right when we got to Segovia.
gold ceiling. 
guess who?
the view we were looking at. Segovia!
Next we headed over to La Granja de San Ildefonso - the summer home of the Spanish kings in the 18th century. 
With my amiga Alexandria who has a twin named Jaqualine!
Jardines (Gardens) del Palacio de la Granja.
One of the Spanish kings married a French queen who then designed all the enormous gardens. That's why this place sort of has a French feel to it. I think that makes it prettier..haha.
I'm sure this place is even more beautiful during the summer.
I'll have to come back and visit when it's more green.
Lots of founations. Lots of detail.
There are probably atleast 100 fountains around this one "summer house." None of them were turned on because Spain has really bad droughts, so the entire country tries to conserve water.
With Alexandria, Liz, and Sarah.And that was the end of my journey to Madrid, first week of school, first exploration of the city, and Segovia. Taylor and I actually went exploring on Sunday to a collection of different cathedrals and el Parque del Buen Retiro, oh and I have some photos of my first experience with nightlife in Madrid, but I'll have to save that for next week. ¡Adiós until then!~
