So, here I am in Madrid Spain with Maria. Maria and I met when she came to the states for an exchange program. She is beautiful and thank God can speak English (much better now than before)! Her roommates speak a little english but besides them and the man at the fruit store... there are no English speakers that I have met.
My flight: Boston to Dublin went smoothly... all 6.5 hours of it! Dublin to Spain was also good. I had some trouble entering Spain because the custom's lady did not speak English. She was trying to tell me I needed to fill out a card... finally she got it and handed it to me and I understood. I was supposed to go to the end of the line but it was sooooo long so I snuck back in with the Spanish speakers. I was surrounded by words and people I did not understand. It was surreal. I collected my backpack from the carousel and went outside to get a taxi. I said, "Torre Picasso Por Favor" and we were on our way. He was making conversation except I didn't understand. I told him I knew almost no Spanish and he said he knew some English... which a lot of people have said... and then they speak one or two words of English and the rest Spanish and think that you should understand. Maria said her father is like this too! Great!
Anyway I arrived at Maria's work and got her paged! It was so great to see her. She feels like my sister and we didn't even spend all that much time together in the states! Anyway, it was a great feeling and she said finally she could stop worrying about me! She dropped me off at her apartment and she went back to work. Spanish summer work schedule is 9-3. I arrived at 11am. After a shower, a sandwich, a good teeth cleaning and a few emails I was ready for SLEEP! I slept until 4 and when I woke up Maria and I began planning. We are leaving for Seville on July 24th and going to a beach called Tarifa on July 25th (MY BIRTHDAY). Maria will be there until Tuesday July 28th but I am leaving one day early to find Jodi at the Seville bus station. We are staying that night at Maria's parents (who do not speak English) house. The 28th- August 1st Jodi and I will travel around southern Spain (Granada, Cadiz, etc). Maria is leaving for Morocco on August 2nd and Jodi and I are going to Barcelona. I'm hoping it's like that movie "Vicki Christina go to Barcelona". Jodi and I will head back to Madrid around the 7th so she can see the city center before she leaves on the 10th. I'll have a few days alone until Maria gets back from Morrocco and then I will meet her back in Seville to go to her grandparents beach house on the coast or a will stay in a hostel (as the house is small). Finally around the 22nd we will go to Ibiza. Maria is spending a week there but I think I will stay half of that because it is so expensive. We will see.
Now to the present: After Maria and I planned we went for a little walk around the city. People were sitting all around at outside terraces drinking beers and eating tapas (small appetizers Mom). We sat down for a couple beers and some food. I learned I do not like anchovies... the salty little things but I did like the bread with basil, mozzerella and tomato (yum)! Everything was so fresh! We went home around 10 or 11 because we were both so tired (Maria from speaking English and me from listening and trying to understand Spanish! Oy!)
Yesterday I slept in and woke up and tried to read on the outside terrace (facing the street) but it was much to hot (95 degrees)! Instead I sat at the kitchen window listening to all that is Spain. Her apartment is set up so there is a center in the middle. So around 2pm I could hear dishes clanking, people laughing and speaking Spanish and smell the delicious smell of Spanish cooking. Again, it was surreal... something from a movie really. Maria returned from work and she and her roommate began cooking lunch. They made a Spanish omelet (made from eggs and pototo), a tomoto salad with cucumber, olive oil, tuna, onion and vinaigrette and we had gazpacho (which is like a cold, thin, tomoto soup sort of). You drink it from a cup- it's was different at first but I liked it. Spanish often eat sesame crackers with their meals so we had those too. For lunch dessert it is often fruit, but we were all pretty satisfied. After lunch (3pm) we took siesta. I think it's too hot to go outside during this time so a nap is wonderful. After we woke up Maria's roommate made us coffee. Spanish coffee is so strong but good! Maria and I went to the store to get me an power adapter for my laptop and camera- both were dead but American plugs to not work with Spanish outlets. Now, I am all set. She also introduced me to the fruit store man. He spoke some English which was nice! The streets are so small in Spain and every shop has a speciality, very anti-super Walmart! Afterwards Maria showed me how to navigate the metro (subway). All of the signs are in Spanish of course so it is difficult. The system seems to be actually quite organized so I think I get it... we will see once I'm alone. Theft is very common on subways and in public markets. Apparently at the markets over 400 wallets are stolen each day. This is scary!!! Luckily Jodi and I thought ahead so we have passport and money holders that go around our necks. Maria told me about her friend who fell asleep on the subway and his wallet was cut out of his pants! She has had her wallet stolen twice!
We took the subway to "old Madrid" which is what I imagined Madrid would be like...pretty white buildings with clothes drying for terraces, narrow streets and people everywhere. I hadn't charged my camera battery yet so no pictures, sorry! We went to old Madrid to try to get tickets to a sold out Flamenco show (with the most famous women flamenco singer and the most famous male flamenco dancer). Maria and her friend Julia were trying to get someone to let us in... it was in Spanish but I knew they weren't getting anywhere. We decided to have beer at the theatre bar just in case we had another chance... the beer was expensive! 4 euros each one... crazy. Anyway, Maria called another man over and I heard her point to me and say, "New York".. there was more Spanish and then I heard him say, "New York Times" and then we were walking up the long, spiral stairs to the theatre!! Apparently she had said that I came all the way from New York to see this show and he joked and asked how I would have heard of it... the new york times? We entered this old theatre in Madrid and our seats were 4 stories up but we could see them very well from overhead. There were about 10 people on stage... some dancing flamenco, some singing, 1 playing Spanish guitar, a couple playing drums and a couple clapping and stomping their feet to the beat. It was one of the most beautiful things I have seen. The crowd was shouting "olay" and clapping with the men. This was Spanish culture to the core. It was amazing to see. It did make me feel that the U.S. is sort of devoid of culture... is it because we are immigrants and our traditions and culture have not translated or that it was lost? The Spanish people are so warm and accepting and proud of their heritage. Thoughts on this?
Maria and Julia were so happy. It was beautiful for me but to them it was like Justin Timberlake and Beyonce to us. The show would have been 40 euros each but we got in for free (well minus the 12 eurors beer). After the show Julia had to go and Maria and I walked around old Madrid and had beer and tapas until 3 in the morning, with siesta this is easy! I wish I had pictures but I think I will take Jodi here before she leaves!
Today I am attempting to meet Maria for beers and tapas with her work friends. It is about a 15 minute walk and since I can not remember the street names I've tried to remember land marks... you guys know my memory! We are getting me a cell phone today for emergencies.
Ok, so in the future my posts won't be so long. I just wanted to explain the plan and my initial impressions! I will post pictures as soon as I can.
Here is a link to Flamenco dancing if you've never seen it (copy and past into browser).. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xhits_HAeKM&feature=related
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