Grand European Adventure: Madrid, Spain

Barcelona to Madrid was the first plane ride since getting into Rome weeks ago. And of course, it had to be one bright and early at 6 AM. Our hostel called us a taxi at 4 and 20 minutes later we were at the airport. Check-in and security were lickety-split and I felt accomplished because I joked with the check-in guys (in Spanish) about my name and how we were in the El Prat airport. Laura and I tiredly got on the plane and after a very short, hour-long, psuedo-nap, we were in Madrid. Madrid was nice in that the airport was connected to the metro so it was easy to get out and find our hostel. We weren't going to be able to check in until 1 and it was about 9 at this time so we spent a couple hours doing the lunch/breakfast thing and using the computers. Somes lame but we were too tired to do anything else. Once we got to check in, we had about 2 hours before we were meeting Laura's friens Doug and Julie and Puerta del Sol so we used the time to shower and catnap. Once we met up with Doug and Julie, they took us on a little wandering tour, from Puerta del Sol through Plaza Mayor, down to the palace and the Opera and we finally took the metro across town to Retiro Park where we spenk 3 hours relaxing in the sun, talking and people watching. The park was just gorgeous and all the Spaniards were doing the same things we were...it was lovely. After this Laura and I did dinner and dessert (more churros con chocolate...mmmm) and met up with Doug to go to this very cool, unmarked basement bar for sangria to end the night. The bar was all smokey and there was this piano player in the corner and the sangria was good- despite not doing much, it made for a wonderful day in every way.

The next day was a bit more active. We woke up at 9 and I was out of there by 11. Laura wanted to use the computers for a little while longer so we decided to meet at Puerta del Sol at 12. Even though its easier and much more convenient, I resent taking the metro. I feel like I miss seeing so much of the city. So I decided to take the hour to have a very leisurely walk to Puerta del Sol. I got there at about 11:40 so I did some souvenier shopping at at noon, met up with Laura. We first investigated this amazing bakery place right on the square and experienced the best pastries ever, napolitanas con chocolate. Incredible (and yes, I talk about chocolate a lot). After that life changing moment, we decided to walk down to the cathedral right next to the Royal Palce. This cathedral was actualluy just completed like 20 years ago so a lot of the paintings and stained glass had more of a modern art feel than most other cathedrals. And all the walls and ceilings were SO colorful. And the stained glass lit up the floors in these beautiful shades which seemed really different than other churches. Very cool. After the cathedral, we went back up Calle Mayor towards Puerto del Sol stopping at this place for lunch called Cervercia 100 Montaditos- 100 little sandwiches. Seriously. 100 different little sandwiches, all costint €1.20. Have 3 different ones and make a meal. We were so fascinated and enamored with this place that we also stopped there for dinner later that evening. After lunch Laura went back to the hostel to nap while I did some more shopping and we met back up at the Prado museum at 5:30. The Prado is free from 6-8, so since we didn't have a lot of time, we just kind of hit the big Spanish artists- de Goya, Velasquez and El Greco and were done around 7:30. Back to the sandwich place for dinner and a pastry next door for dessert and an early night for us.

The next day we got up fairly early and headed down to the palace to meet Felicia. We were worried that we wouldn't be able to find each other, even with such a specific meeting place planned out (remember what happened in Rome) but once again, luck was on our side, and she actually got onto the same metro car as us so no worries about finding each other! We then made it to the palace, strolled around enjoying the opulence of royals (massive dining room with a table the size of a bowling alley lane), but mostly catching up on the past couple of weeks. After we were done with the palace, Felicia took us around some of her favorite little areas (including the street where all the prostitutes walk. Interesting). And then we stopped for lunch and went back to the hostel for a little siesta. We later met up with FAB at the Reina Sofia, Madrid's modern art museum. Sometimes I'm not a huge fan of modern art; I think large blocks of color or 3 black dots on a white canvas show neither technique nor innovation. However this was a very good modern art musuem which had rooms based on very influential movements. Best of all was their giant rooms of Picasso. I do like his art and the museum housed Guernica which was incredibly imperssive and powerful to see. We wandered around the museum until we split- Laura and I to find dinner on our own and Felicia to have dinner with her host family, meeting up again outside our hostel at 10:30. Laura and I wanted to go to this recommended place, El Tigre, but by the time we got there it was ridiculously packed. So we decided to relocate. We wandered the streets of gay Madrid (we were in the gay district) and found a place with a cheap prix fixe menu. The quality o fthe food wasn't that good, nor was it particularly Spanish but it was cheap and filling. After dinner we met up with FAB again and we went to dessert at this little Ursa-like place down the street. When you ordered a drink you got a little cake with it and they had a bunch of board games you could play (in Spanish, of course). Because we had wine with dinner, Laura and I opted for delicious milkshakes instead of sangria. Then we maneged out way through a couple games of Scattegories before calling it a night.

Reflection on Madrid: Also wonderful. Basically I loved Spain. It was great having a variety of guides to show us things and recommend places. It was warm and sunny. The food was good. I could sort of understand what people were saying. Really, I can't think of many downsides, besides the minor sunburn on my right arm. I was very excited to see Paris and my friend Lauren, but I was also quite sad to leave Espana. Now I understand why so many people are obsessed with that country. I don't know which city I liked more, Barcelona or Madrid. Barcelona, as Doug put it, is more European while Madrid is more Spanish but both were wonderful.