I’ve just entered my second week of classes, while I’m sure my New Paltz counterparts have already been given notice of their midterm assignments and exams. Lucky me! As I mentioned in my previous post, the courses I’ve chosen are all intriguing and, thankfully, my professors all have easy-going teaching styles. Classes here are separated into lectures and tutorials/practices, meaning and, though I’m not sure if this is common, they meet in a three-hour block with a 15-minute break in between. The hour and a half of lecture proves well for taking notes and the other hour and a half tutorial is more for interactive; I retain a lot of info in this style!
Since the residence hall is about five minutes away from the academic buildings I have class in, I use my three- hour break between classes to prepare some lunch and take my mini-siesta ;). I didn’t have class today so I woke around noon, sent out a few important emails, watched Adventure Time online, and Skyped with one of my best friends…a nice and relaxing day! Later on my new Australian friend Bridget and I went for a walk through Getafe. Given the days still loom around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and the sun barely sets shortly after 8 p.m., it’s hard to pass up on the opportunity. We walked along Calle Madrid, one of the main streets along the campus, to discover a side of Getafe I hadn’t seen in the three weeks that I’ve lived here. Past the first rotonda (the circular street form) is a whole street of restaurants, bars, and different stores. The ayuntamineto (townhall) is also this way; it’s worth taking a walk over.
There are still a few areas of Getafe I have yet to visit, but it’s nice to live in this tranquil area and still be an easy 20 minute train ride from the center of the city. Located around the town are bikes you can rent for a small price and ride around 24/7; conveniently, there’s a whole row of bikes part GBICI right outside our residence hall! This bike initiative is just one of the many “green” efforts on behalf of the town and Madrid as a whole. Perhaps my next sight seeing of the town will be by bike :D!
The signature Getafe “G” located at one of the rotondas.
A beautiful brick wall covered in different greenery, one of many fountains, and little girls!
One of the bookshops located along Calle Madrid/Toledo
Where else would you find great books about the city you’re in?
A look down one of the streets close to the town hall.