Holy Toledo!

Ok, so I know I talked about our trip to Toledo in my last post but I forgot to share this bit of information. Toledo was once the capital of Spain, but now even though the capital moved to Madrid, Toledo remains the religious capital of Spain. Thus, the phrase Holy Toledo! I feel like I could say Holy Toledo after just about everything about this trip. Everything has been amazing.
Since nerviously arriving in Oviedo to a bus stop filled with anxious host parents all trying to find their new host children, I feel like so much has happened. My host parents are incredible, I couldn't have asked for anything better. They are both very young working adults, but they are so kind and understanding. I feel like I have learned so much in less than a week of living with them. Plus they tell me where to go and where not to go. There is another student living here from Milan, Italy but only until the end of January. We get along really well, I wish she was staying.
In the Asturias, they have a special drink called sidra (cider) that waiters pour from very high. It tastes kind of like olives. I live on the street that has most of the sidraerias which is really nice. We all had our first taste of sidra together on Monday for my friend Shannon's birthday.
Tuesday we started classes and I think they should be manageable. To be perfectly honest, they seem easier than my classes at Temple, but that will leave me more time to explore the city.
We have been doing activities with the group for foreign exchange students. On Tuesday we did a walking tour of the city, but I don't know if it was that effective because I still haven't figured my way around yet. Tuesday we took a VERY long hike up a mountain to a statue of Jesus that overlooks the city (over five miles, I think). I will post the pictures to facebook within the next couple of days. The view is astounding, although it took a little less than two hours to reach the destinations and my dogs were barking to say the least (thanks for the phrase Uncle Bob). Tomorrow night there is a dinner/party to attend and Sunday a mini roadtrip. I will share more details later. Tonight my Temple friends are going to go a salsa lesson (we'll see how this goes with two left feet), I told myself I would be open to trying all new things here, so here we go!

I miss home of course, but I couldn't be happier here. lots of amor from Oviedo!

Ana