My First Days in Spain

I decided to take up Philip's idea that I also blog my experiences on our trip to Spain.  Since we both will have different perspectives, it could be fun to see how we both write about them.  I'll add some photos once I buy a new camera.

First Day
So far my trip here has not  been surprisingly difficult.  The first day was great!  I didn't sleep a wink on the flight so I was more than exhausted - I arrived at would have been 2am.  So, Philip and I checked into our hotel and I slept for most of the morning.  We went out in the afternoon to a great rooftop bar where you sat around on beds.  It was so much like Miami I almost felt like I never left Florida.  Philip and I enjoyed a few toasts and were taking in that we were actually in Madrid!  We went back and took a nap as I was still tired and no one eats dinner here until 9pm - at the earliest!  We found a great restaurant and I got to attempt to speak to the waitress in Spanish.

Second Day
The second day wasn't so good.  I hadn't realized how much this trip would represent how much I've given up to be here and have a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience Spain.  I left a good job for this experience and have to find a new home upon my return.  Also, after my first day and really struggling with Spanish, I felt like a fish out of water.  I took an extra anti-anxiety med and in an hour I was feeling better. 

Philip and I went to visit the Palacio Reál (Royal Palace) which was built to be a near replica of Versailles.  It was fascinating to see how opulate of building royalty once built.  Of course, there was many gilded and mural painted ceilings which were astonishing.  One room in particular was especially intriguing in that its walls and ceiling were covered in porcelain sculptures.  On the way back to the hotel we stopped by a local pub and had a couple of drinks.  It's very interested how they serve drinks here.  I ordered a rum & coke and, first, they give you a gigantic glass and then they bring the liquor to your table and pour into your glass.  Then they leave you a small bottle of coke.  Needless to say, I only needed two (but had 3!).

Third Day
Today was Philip's first day back in school and that meant I was all on my own.  He goes from noon to 6:30pm so it meant the entire day was all mine.  I was still feeling like I was out of place and stayed in my hotel room most of the first couple of hours.  Then I remembered his advice to "just force yourself to go out and walk around".  And, so I did.  I walked through several plazas that are popular tourist areas that reminded of NYC Times Square with all the shops with "Sale!" signs in their windows and the street handlers for the stores attempting to get you to go in their shop.  After living in NYC for so long, the only thing that impressed me about the area were the buildings. 

I went to a department store to find a humidifier (not knowing how to say that in Spanish, mind you) but after looking on 7 floors I gave up.  I decided to take a long way back to the hotel and walked down a non-tourist street.  I was struck by this one building that was a bank where they were 3 very large statues with figures on horses.  I'm not sure what they were but the size of them made me wonder how they ever got them up there since the building appeared to be built in the 1800s.  It was nice to see a different side of Madrid.  I was looking for food the entire way but forgot that Spainards eat lunch between like 3 and 5 and it was already 6:30.  So, I headed back to the hotel to meet up with Philip.

We went looking for a place to eat at 8pm but - once again - forgot that nothing was open yet as it wasn't 9pm yet.  So, we decided to stop into a small shop that chocolate (the liquid drink), tea, coffee - and just like every place in Madrid - alcohol.  I've learned that "Me gustaría Havana siete rum con coca cola" (I would like cuban rum with coke) is becoming my favorite Spanish phrase.  We had a couple of drinks and since we hadn't eaten it was a bit too much.  So, we headed back to the hotel.

More about today tomorrow!

P.S. - You can check out Philip's experiences at  his blog at philipandfelipe.blogspot.com!