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I arrived to Madrid yesterday and was greeted by my friends family in the airport. It is really great since the mother is English and they therefore are acquinted with English language. It makes my sudden arrival into the Spanish tongue less difficult.

When I arrived the younger sister of my friend had a party at their pool. It was amazing to meet so many people of whom I had been told so much by my friend. The wild sister and the shy sister and the brother who looks excactly like my friend -but with a growing moustage. The grandmother and mother who are both very lively and wonderfully nice and the father who told me that I should call him if I needed anything doing my stay.

The house they live in is in El Vellon an hours bus-ride from Madrid. And I must admit that my first glimpse at it yesterday evening made me paff. I couldn't utter a word and said some strange half spoken sentences to the mother of how that certainly was an oasis.
- And it is. It is amazing ( as soon as I have pictures of it I will post them) It is paradice, a big white mansion with the most amazing garden and pool and the interior speaks of someone who enjoys continously working on the details in each part of the house. The youngest sisters bathroom is with a shower in blue coloured mosaic which makes you think of the arabic inspiration.

At dinner I went to have tapas with my friends mother, father and grandmother. Even though the tapas was a bit greasy, the company was really great and the place was really amazing, being out in the free with trees all around. I truely enjoyed it.

Today I took the bus to Madrid and for the first time have I had to try out my Spanish. And I feel pretty confident. I understand more than I thought I would and have almost no problem reading. Though it is going slow I believe that I am already improving my very low level of Spanish.

Madrid is a nice city, but I felt that most of my time was spend in the underground metro system. I am really looking forward to coming back here and get to know the city better. Cause I have the feeling that if you know Madrid and its secrets you will enjoy tremendously.

Second day:
I spended it around the pool of my friends house and in the town of San Angustin. I had a relaxing day making ready for my first real travelling.
Going on the road, leaving for Granada. So see you there!

Anna

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