El Capital

Last weekend I visited one of my new favorite cities on the planet: Madrid. I was excited to visit the capital, but I was not prepared for how much I would love it. Let me tell you: Madrid is incredible.

The hostel

My travel there started at 4:30am on Friday morning. My friend/travel-companion Rosie and I caught a taxi at that early hour in order to make our flight. Everything went smoothly, and we arrived in Madrid with a whole day ahead of us. And of course, we had our priorities straight. After getting a little turned around as to the direction of our hostel, we decided to settle for some coffee and the-most-delicious-pastry-of-my-life. I'm pretty sure that it's called a neopoliano (or something along those lines), but it's filled with chocolate and delight. After chowing down, we found our hostel-- which was located in the heart of the city near a plaza called Puerta del Sol. Our hostel was awesome! 

In front of the Prado. Being an artist...

Once our bags had been dropped off, we began our museum circuit. We started off at the Prado Museum, which is one of the most famous museums in Spain and in Europe. The current hype at the Prado is a copy of the "Mona Lisa," which was believed to be painted by a pupil of Da Vinci. The other plus: we got in for free because we are students. And the free entry didn't stop there. We also got into the Reina Sofia for free, which holds a variety of works from Picasso, Dali, and other more modern artists. Seriously, can I be a student forever? The museum circuit can be a little tiring, though, so Rosie and I decided to make the most of the Spanish lifestyle with some food and a little siesta. Friday night was mellow: after a great dinner, we had our first movie theater experience in Spain. Oh my goodness, what an experience it was! It actually wasn't that much different from any other movie theater (minus the assigned seats), but our movie choice was what got us in trouble. We were hoping to see the movie in Spanish, but alas, we ended up seeing a film that took place in New York City and the only Spanish thing about it was the subtitles. It was the most intense movie of my life because it was some sort of contemporary award-winning film about a sex addict. Not sure if I recommend it, but if you are wondering, it's called Shame. Viewer discretion advised. Very advised. Ah!

I accidentally got this beauty from a vending machine at the hostel. Nothing screams tourist like a giant water bottle.
But I did have fun posing with it for the rest of the morning!

The next day, we woke up and headed straight for the Palacio Real. It's another one of the big ticket items in Madrid, and it's not hard to figure out why. It's presence is stunning. We were able to walk through the entire thing, and it was so interesting to be in a place that holds centuries worth of history. We also walked around the surrounding parks and through some of the more populated parts of the city. Hunger began to set in, so we found a menu del dia (the best way to eat in Spain) for lunch in Plaza Mayor, another hotspot in Madrid. For only 9 euros, I got paella, the entirety of a small bottle of red wine, bread, pork chops with fries, and a dessert. I love Spain! It was also a gorgeous day in Madrid, which made our outdoor eating experience all the better. After eating, we had a bit of a second wind, so we headed to the park known as Buen Retiro. I LOVE THIS PARK! Apparently I'm developing (or solidifying) an affinity for parks. This park was huge, and there was actually a large pond in the middle where you could rent a boat to row around in. I loved the vibe of the park- a combination of activity and relaxation. It was perfect.

BEST DEAL EVER! (Pictured: Paella and bottle of wine)

Buen Retiro (Park with the pond)

Naturally, it was time for a siesta at this point. We geared up for a big night of going out, and later in the night, we met up with one of Rosie's friends who is teaching English in Madrid. She took us to a "small" club, which still felt pretty big to me. And guess what? They played songs from Grease! So strange. Also, my hair proved to be a fascination for people in the club, which was an interesting experience to say the least. Our late night ended with a scrumptious Nutella crepe, and we were able to sleep for a few hours before heading back to home sweet home, Alicante. Overall, it was a great trip-- a balance of activity and leisure, a time of pleasure and a lesson in history. I'm excited to return to Madrid with my parents when they visit because it's definitely one of my favorite places that I've visited.

In other news, I'm getting addicted to a Spanish television game show. This is a good thing, though, because it's a great way for me to bond with my host brothers, Victor and Abel. It's called El Cubo, and in the game show, one person goes into this giant glass cube to complete some challenge. I've never seen Minute To Win It in the States, but I think it's reminiscent of that. We get pretty into it, and I've even let out a little squeal when watching the show during and after dinner. Last night, Victor and Abel said that I should go on the show since I'm the only one who is over 18, and they would sit in the area designated for the family and friend support. What a triumphant moment for me! 

As for this weekend, I'm looking forward to staying in Alicante. It should be a weekend of fun, sun, relaxation, and some homework too. I'm hoping to catch up on my sleep, but you never know what will happen...