Mar 2
Welcome back! After this past weekend’s extravaganza in Italy and Croatia, I stayed this weekend in Madrid. But not without having a TON of fun of course!! To kick off the weekend, Kate and I went to Templo de Debod to watch the sunset. So beautiful!
Feb 28
As a post midterms treat, I went Friday morning to get a pedicure. The pedicurist lady thought I was a Spaniard who had just moved to Madrid, and was shocked when I said I was from the United States learning Spanish here! This pedicure will pay off in a few days, you will see… Then I went to meet up with Hunter and Briana for a picnic in Retiro Park. We ransacked a very nice Carrefour in the Goya neighborhood for their best chips, salsa, cheese, gluten-free crackers, and strawberries. We put my newly purchased picnic blanket to good use!
After a quick change at home from this day-long picnic, we went out to dinner and then my friend Alyssa and I went to a (sandy) alex g concert in Sol! I had not previously heard his music, but I’ll do just about anything for €15.
Feb 29
With a very quick turnaround, I woke up at 8am on Saturday to head to the bus station. Keegan, Kayla, Hunter, Briana, and I headed to San Martin de Valdeiglesias for a vineyard tour and wine tasting at Bernabeleva. We were tasting unfinished wines out of barrels, and let me tell you, we were TOTALLY in over our heads. This man, the owner of the winery, was discussing the youth and roundness and the influence of the tannins on the strength and aggressiveness of the liquid, and let me say I could only tell you if it was red or white. I bought a bottle of their most popular red at the end of the tasting so that my parents could try it when they come in. I then decided to do some research into their US markets and where it is sold in the states. Well, its sold at Binny’s. 20 minutes from our house. I bought a bottle of wine from a vineyard in the rural outskirts of Madrid for my parents to try when they travel all the way across the Atlantic that they could have picked up in 20 minutes. But alas! A story nonetheless.
view of the Bernabeleva vineyards 
Juan and his pipette 
Hunter, Grace, Briana, Keegan, Kayla
Let me mention that by this point, the ball of my right foot had begun to hurt and I was unable to put my full weight on that foot while walking. Discussed with Briana and she said not to worry, sometimes after long weeks of traveling and walking this would happen to her but in two days she would be fine. Ok carry on.
Mar 1
March?? Are you kidding?? Crazy it is March all ready. We celebrated with brunch!! Hope joined the 5 of us from the wine tasting for brunch Sunday morning in Malasaña. I ordered La Grace, eggs benedict with salmon and avocado (it was MADE for me!!!), but unfortunately I never took a picture so here is a picture of Keegan’s french toast.
Now by this point, let me say that my right foot had become swollen and tender to the touch, and I was unable to put a lot of weight on it. Concerned but not overly concerned, I decided it would be for the best to go to urgent care in the morning for an X-Ray just to make sure nothing was super wrong. As to not start a panic as last time I reached out to my mom while I was gone and injured myself, I sent a text saying, “what’s the worst that could happen? A stress fracture?”- OK cut to Monday.
Mar 2
And here we are at today, and what a day it has been. I woke up with my foot still swollen and decided to take myself to urgent care. After working through interactions with three medical professionals in Spanish before someone offered to let me explain my symptoms in English so they could piece it together, I received an X-ray and a diagnosis with a severe stress fracture on my 3rd metatarsal in my foot. Great! I book my foot! Abroad! Gotta be kidding me right? Me, Hunter, Hope, and Briana (known to most as the Core Four) went to the orthopedic outfitter nearby and I got my sexy new walking boot. They threw me a pity party that consisted of eating chips and salsa and signing my boot with a silver sharpie. And off to the pharmacy to fill the pain meds script! And here we are, Monday night, after a long crazy day, laying down with my right foot elevated above heart-level, writing to all of you. I miss you all so much!!!!
signed by my host mom! 
pity party
With love, and a stress fracture – Grace ❤
Grace's Guide to Studying Abroad 