The Rambling Rose - Madrid: revisited- JournalHome.com

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Mon 22 October 2007 - Madrid: revisited

So I want to live in Madrid... if I have to live in Spain. That is a statement that I don't think I would have made based on my first time in the city [recap: summer 2006, dorm on the outskirts of the city, 1,000 degrees Celcius, yucky food with eyes, impossible transportation options, short on time and money, mandatory attendence in class... blah blah blah].
Woke up on Friday around 5:30... ok, honestly the alarm went off at 5:30 but I didn't get up til about 6ish... whatever. The point is that I woke up early to catch the train from Ciudad Real to Madrid at 7:30. It is little less than an hour to get to the "emerald city" so I had a nice little nap and awoke to a jumble of possibiliteis which Ciudad Real cannot offer. First I dropped off my stuff at the hostel and headed out with my map, camera, sunscreen, journal and a book... the weapons of a wanderer in no specific order.
Found a cute café that offered tea and a churro for 1.50 euros (a bargain even though it doesn't kill the hunger dragon if it is growling) and read a bit while waiting for the stores to open. I had arrived in the city with some missions: buy a coat; visit one of my lovers, Francisco de Goya, in the Prado; spend time with Angel and Galo in order to recuperate my Mexican accent. I won't reveal the outcome of said goals... gotta build the suspense and keep you reading.
Wandered around the easily navigated city admiring the fact that there are at least 2 Döner Kebap Indian Cousine restaurants every 7 minutes of walking... while wondering if they meant Indian Cousin or Indian Cuisine I compared prices of the Falafel and spoke to myself in Spranglish... my own language that is a result of being an American living with Frenchies in Spain.
I did find a coat (sigh of relief) that only cost three of my left toes and one of my right... not bad in comparison to what some of the other price tags were asking... and then some layer-able clothes to ward of the frigidness that is quickly approaching. I also splurged and bougt some boots to replace the ones that I left on the wall of Why Not in Guanajuato... not fuzzy, sad, but warm and comfy... I have worn them every day since I bought them so I figure really, I will end up having paid only about 0.0000739 euros for them when all is said and done. Plus, they are really cool; And that isn't just my opinion... the Mexican vote came in at a unanimous 100% (2/2). Oh... so there is another "to do" checked off the list: I did meet up with Angel and Galo. The had some issues with the flight out of Cuba but arrived safe and sound in Madrid and called when I was chatting about our pets with a jolly Scottsman, Clive, in the Botanical Garden.
We didn't do much because they had some serious cases of jet lag... but hung out for a bit at a friend of Galo's before I headed back to the hostel to be lulled to sleep by a reggae band that was performing in the lobby.
Saturday I woke up at 8 for the "free" breakfast that was included in the price of the hostel before setting out for the day. I stopped again by the little café and opted only for the tea... but was remembered by the waitress (a big deal and nice effort for the capital city and for a Spaniard, in general). I went to Parque del Retiro and strolled in the park before making my way to the pond to read and take a nap in the shade. I couldn't help but think of the Impressionist painters while watching the people boating and the musicians playing by the restaurants in hopes of making some tips. Beautiful weather... a bit of a chill in the air but with the warm sunshine and a light sweater it was perfect.
Later, with the boys, we went to see the Palacio Real, the Catedral Almudena and then walked around the Jardines Sabatini. There are many art pieces that have been installedin the garden; I posed with a statue of Lenin that opens up... his face and the back of his head hinge forward, his core opens to show the hammer and sickle, one of his arms and one of his legs are all "openable". There are a couple of pieces that are in the reflecting pool and we watched some idiot mess with one of them and "accidently" knock a part into the water and then go running.
Sunday we went to the Prado (yay! missions completed). I became a "friend of the Prado" (for a fee of course... can friendship be priced?) and now can go anytime I want for "free", get into all of the public museums for half price, no waiting in lines and they gave me a huge Goya book... which is what really sealed the deal. As Angel, Galo and I were sitting by the gift shop waiting for Kristing and Leo (the people who the guys stayed with) there was a small tour group (speaking English) talking about one of the pieces. Galo said something about "the witch from the Lord of the Rings" and we were debating whether or not the pale blonde was Cate Blanchett... another one of my crushes. She turns to look at another painting and it really was her! I had to come to Spain to see an American celebrity... but it was pretty cool that A) I was with my Mexican buddies because, of course, they notice all of the blondes and B) we saw her in the Prado... shows that she is cultured or at least attempting to appear that way.
I cried when we had to part ways... but of course there is always Mexico... and Angel is going to try to stay in Europe so I may run into him again in France, Scotland or Norway... at least that is our rough little plan.
Exhausted, all I wanted to do was sleep on the train but my ticket placed my next to one of my students (who had gone to Madrid with his children to visit their grandparents) so I ended up talking the whole trip. He did offer me a ride home so I didn't have to walk another 45 minutes to crash into my own bed... not much better than being under your own blankets.
All in all... well worth the trip and now I want to go back again next weekend... but I am thinking about heading to Granada to visit another Guanajuato connection who is working there... Ciudad Real is a bit dull and heavy in comparison to these historic cities. The architecture isn't even that appealing... the only pride they have is the Puerta de Toledo... an original piece of the wall that used to surround the city... woo hoo...
Back to work and cooking my own food (I love having a kitchen!)
Love and well wishes to you all... it is getting colder by the day and I am missing the golden colors of Autumn.
xox cr