Madrid

Record longest time of non-blogging, have you realised? I'm trying this new thing where I avoid expressing myself. As much as I love to write and listen to music it's something that I've discovered I need to limit myself in doing. Although they're not inherently bad things, you can have too much of a good thing. I'm less of a feeler when I abstain from these things. And more of a talker.

So what am I now? In a word, sociable, I think. In little over a week I've gone out and been exposed to so many people, more than I've ever met all year. And I like them.  Spain has so far been the most amazing experience in this whole trip. I love everything about it: the vibrant culture, delicious food, the people. I remembered exactly why I wanted to go to Spain for a whole year in the first place. I now want to, again and have this itching to stay here forever. Towards the end of this journey I've discovered I care so much more for people and culture than seeing the physical beauty. 

Almu's family have been the most amazing hosts ever, and pretty much treated me like one of the family during my time staying at their beautiful place, overlooking the football stadium. Here in Madrid most people live in "pisos", not so much houses - tall apartment blocks where people own a level each.  

Sunday: Mass, followed by a family lunch of croquetas at the nearby restaurant. Lunch is late here (2:30) and is the largest meal of the day. Telling jokes over the table. With a small language barrier you realise halfway how much the "enjoyability" of the story is dependant on the way you express it, but they laugh at my attempts anyway and the joke becomes about that.

Siestas are from 3-5, más o menos. I so love this about Spain. Such a relaxed culture! Sleep late, wake late. Everyday. 

Corrida de Toros (Bull fight). What a unique experience, which needs to be done with real Spaniards in order to gain the energy to shout OLE, and appreciate the beauty in fairly brutal sport. I didn't realise how so until I got there. Tourist spectators could be seen crying, or averting eye contact. 

Monday: Parque de Buen Retiro, a beautiful park where we hired a boat around the lake. Exposed to a sport called "padel", which is sort of a mix between tennis and squash, played with a short racquet. Watched Nadal defeat Djokovic on TV, and being the only Djoko supporter in the country...

Tuesday: Madrid is stylish. Shopping despite the already heavy backpack. In Madrid, everything is quite close together and accessible. On the bus back, some pickpocket stole the wallet and iPhone of the English guy next to me. Churros con chocolate. Eating leftovers that people next to us left behind when we were done with ours.

Wednesday: Prado Mueseum. El Greco is my new favourite artist. Paella Valenciana for lunch. Joint college initiations for all the nearby colleges, just like stuff out of an American movie. Meeting the awesome people I would have met had I come to live in one of them.

Thursday: Warner Brothers theme park closed! Had tapas with some girls and then gelato with others. Tapas are amazing. Light-hearted conversation and being super talkative again. Vogue Fashion night and getting freebies after getting into VIP, Spanish style.

Friday: teleféricos (cable cars). Night out as a "surprise" despedida for Almu that all her friends organised for her.

Saturday: Bego's house. A Spanish baptism and after-party with the best looking camarero waiter I've ever seen. I loved getting both casual and formal experiences of Spanish parties. Spanish kids are the absolute cutest. Their outfits and how they line up to give you double kisses. Playing table tennis with them and taunting them after beating them. Watching football and getting into it. 

Hah probably the most boring way I could have possibly summed up my favourite week.