Madrid (3/4 Spain)

Next: Madrid and area. Our airbnb apartment in Madrid had a nice view of the city and a terrace, but we never really used it due to the cold and rain. Again, we wandered that day and ended up in another Flamenco bar, hoping for the same experience as last time. It was... different. Before I describe this scene, understand that I am not judging these people in any manner. I simply think they might be better suited for something other than Flamenco performing. The singer was Asian, the guitarist was old, and the dancers were 50 year-old, overweight ladies. It didn't make it any better that we were stuck in a tiny room with an audience of six. The music is so loud and passionate, it was awkward when they would like make eye contact with you, or smile at you. Weird. Plus, we were scarfing food, since we were starving, of course. I was happy to leave.

The rainy weather the next day forced us to buy tickets for the hop-on-hop-off bus. Along the way, we stopped at a beautiful royal palace, the Thyssen Museum, where we saw art thousands of years old, and an Egyptian monument literally brought to Spain from Egypt stone by stone. That night, we cooked dinner at the apartment and went to bed early.

Next, we took a couple day trips, but then we spent a few more days in Madrid, where we experienced fresh, happy (yes, they say happy) Kobe beef burgers, an open mic night at a bar, the Easter parade for the Virgin Mary, and some great conversation with a couple guys from airbnb. They said most of the people their age don't have jobs, and they love American movies and music, and hate religion. They provided very interesting conversation, although Matt and I were slightly scared of and allergic to their cat.

Spain, overall, was entertaining, enlightening, and beautiful. And I would think of some powerful insight to put here, but I've been writing for too long and have brain-deadness. Loves!

View from Madrid airbnb

   Matt being religious 

                              ham, vermouth, and dried calamari

      

the Virgin Mary