biggest monastery ever.

Seriously, I thought our tour of the Monesterio de El Escorial would never end. It was interesting for about an hour, but the hour after that was a drag. I hate saying that because it makes me sound like a spoiled brat not enjoying my expensive experience. I had fun today. I shopped a little today. I visited quaint little places and learned about one of the most religious kings of Spain. I hung out with some new people who are convinced that someday, I will be a hoarder. (I am NOT a hoarder. I just like to have another bottle of shampoo ready when I get low in my current bottle. Doesn't everyone?) I had fun exploring today and taking pictures. But the tour was tooooooo long. Thank goodness we could all find a way to entertain ourselves afterwards.

We saw over 150 tombs today in that monastery. It was kind of creepy. I also learned that when a king or queen dies, they put their body in a waiting room to decay and after forty years or so, the monks take the remaining bones out and place them in the tomb. I'm not sure what our guide called the room, but the root of the word is "pudrirse," which means "to rot." Gross. The present king of Spain is in a dilemma though; he is in his late 70's and has to find a different rot room and tomb because the one we saw today is full! Sorry, Juan Carlos. Good luck.

After El Escorial, we visited el Valle de Los Caidos (the valley of the fallen). Up in the kind of mountains outside Madrid is this HUGE basilica where Franco, the last dictator of Spain, Primo de Rivera, the first dictator of Spain, and the remains of many soldiers from the civil war are buried. Interesting fact: they like to think all of the remains are of Franco's soldiers, but there's no way to be sure. There could be some republicanos lurking behind those big doors!

Franco and Primo's graves are on either side of the huge altar in the sanctuary...where people still go for mass. It made me kind of sick to my stomach to think that people go there to worship. First of all, it's made of concrete and not very inviting. It's very cool inside the basilica but it's more than just the temperature and the fact that there is no way for sunlight to come in. The atmosphere is cold and austere. I just feel like it's a mixture of praising God and praising Franco, and it shouldn't be like that.

The view from the basilica is beautiful though. It's all Spanish countryside and at the top of the mountain is the tallest cross in the world. It's 150m high and very impressive. It took prisoners of war (really, Franco?) 18 years to complete el Valle. You used to be able to walk/hike to the top, but there's not enough money to maintain the trail. I bet the view from up there is incredible.

Sara and I snacked again today at our little Rodilla restaurant across the street from Paloma's and talked about our plans for the free weekend. I realized today that Wednesday is the halfway point for the trip. Say what?!

I also realized today that I'm in my own little world here. I can't text my friends and family and see them everyday to stay caught up on their lives. I feel like I'm missing out on everyone else's summers and I feel horrible about it. People are getting married and going on mission trips and moving and getting jobs and it bothers me that I can't hung someone's neck and tell them how proud I am of them. Just know that whether you're in Huntsville, Auburn, New York City, Tanzania, Austria, Honduras, Ghana, or just sitting on a (or buying a new) couch, I'm not neglecting our friendship! I'm just supporting from afar and wishing I could be in fifteen places at once.