Acting the Tourist

Hello Lovely People! It’s been a while since my last post, and for that I apologize. With this blog, I am trying to recapture specific activities and adventures as they occurred, not merely create a list of the things that I’ve done. I want to draw you into Spain with me, enticing you will the details. Unfortunately for y’all, a lot’s happened in the past few days, and I’m afraid a list is in order. But fear not! I’m including several pictures to spice things up!

Starting with Tuesday, I trekked over to the Nuevos Ministerios train station and rode a “cercanía” to my University. As it turns out, it’s very easy to get there when you know what to do. Unlike the metro, which is rooted in the deep underground with harsh lights and annoying, loud-speaker messages continually blaring out, the trains in Madrid are quite pleasant. These trains run above ground , offering an incredible scenic view that makes the trip very relaxing. And while my University is going to be a long commute, it is at least very pretty. Take a Look!

The rest of Tuesday was spent taking care of business, getting my classes organized, and continuing to orient myself to the city. That night, however, I met up with some other Americans and went to a Salsa club on the West Side of the city. It was absolutely fantastic! Those madrilènes can dance! I’ve never tried salsa dancing, but I decided that with my experience in two-stepping and swing dancing I would be able to pick it up fast enough. Well, let me tell you: I couldn’t. While I felt I was doing better than most of my fellow Americans, I couldn’t hope to compete with the Spaniards. In fact, I’m sure I looked silly, even borderline pathetic. But most of my partners were very kind, teaching me various moves and graciously giving me besitos afterwards (besitos are the little pecks that you give on someone cheek when you meet them. That night everybody was sweaty, so I had a really hard time trying not to grimace during them). All in all it was an awesome time, and I plan on going back next Tuesday.

On Wednesday, I ventured to a local supermarket to stock up on snacks and lunch foods. The good news: everything’s cheap. The bad news: I could not find pretzels, mustard, hummus, Chex mix, or coffee creamer. Yikesss!! I am having a great time here, but I’m still adjusting to the newness of it all (Another setback is that I don’t have access to many American websites, such as Pandora, Hulu, and Sidereel). I’m not complaining; so far I’m happy here. It’s just something I hadn’t accounted for.

To compensate for my rather unsuccessful shopping trip, I decided to play the part of the tourist and see the sights of Madrid. Because I had spent my first few days preparing for the next few months and settling in, I still hadn’t seen many of Madrid’s more famed buildings. I chose to start with a visit to the Prado, considered by many to be second only to the Louvre. On the way there, walking amidst the tightly-packed, even claustrophobic streets, suddenly I came upon the Plaza del Colon and-BAM! This greeted me.

Just your average obelisk of Christopher Columbus.

Continuing onwards,to La Plaza de la Cibeles, I saw this, La Ayuntamiento de Madrid:

Beautiful, no?

Arriving at the Prado, I saw a huge line wrapping around the side of the building. Because this museum is free after 6pm, many tourists, myself included, wait until then to enter. Luckily, however, the line move quietly, I was inside by 6:05, and I immediately dashed to the Goya rooms. I saw “Saturn Devouring His Sons”, and “Los Fusilamientos del 3 de Mayo” and it was incredible. Art buff that I am, these were some of the things that I had been dying to see! Because time was limited, after I finished with Goya I swung by the El Greco wing, chanced upon Velazquez’s “Las Meniñas”, and even spent some time with Hieronymus Bosch’s “Garden of Earthly Delights”. I definitely have plans to go back.

On Thursday, I once again played the part of a tourist. I spent the early afternoon shopping along the shops of Fuencarral, taking full advantage of the rebajas (sales) that practically every store has been offering. Afterwards, I went to the exquisite Parque del Buen Retiro, a sprawling park that occupies 350 acres of land on the East side of the city. Just take a look at the park and the surrounding monuments:

La Puerta de Alcala

La Glorieta de la Sardana

And this beautiful church, the name of which I can't find anywhere

Upon leaving the park, I trekked across the city by The Bank of Spain,

And La Plaza Mayor,

Until I reached La Catedral de la Almudena and the Moorish walls.

The Moorish Walls are the oldest establishment in all of Madrid, dating back to the 9th century. As if this weren’t enough, on my way back to the Metro, I passed by El Palacio Real:

Tours are free on Wednesdays, and I’m just itching to get inside.

For the most part, it’s been a lot of walking, a lot of learning, and a lot of adjustment. I’m definitely having a great time, but I’m not going to lie; it’s hard. Many aspects of the Spanish government and its bureaucracy are very frustrating and difficult to deal with. It’s intimidating to talk to people in Spanish, and it’s even embarrassing when I can’t understand what they’re saying. And I do miss the element of easiness and comfort that I had in Texas. Not to mention the fact that I miss my friends and family, truly all of you who are reading this blog. But it is getting easier. Every day, I’ve been accomplishing little things, exploring more and more, building up my confidence (today I applied for a fancy-schmancy government-issued transportation pass). Every day, it’s easier for me to focus on the future on all that is to come instead of all I’ve left behind. And every day, I’m more and more aware of what a blessing it is to be here.

With my love from Spain,
Krista