Madrid…
After I decided to drop Karina off at the airport and hijack her life for four more days I moved on to a very busy Madrid. I think I had got use to the slower pace and the 6 inch heels and here everyone looked a little frazzled. It was a great feeling knowing your way around when youve been a place before so it felt great. I was little sad leaving and very scared being on my own and having to meet people again all over. I talk to Erin a lot and was freaking out about not having made friends in the four hours since I had arrived and she gave me the best advice ever. She told me to channel my Freshman year Geada. This means knock on everyones door and attack<! So I did just that. I knocked on these girls (and one guy) door and asked if I could go to dinner with them, I think that is the most nervous I have been since god knows when because we all know I am not shy. They obliged and we went to pizza. 7 Americans learning spanish from all over the US. We danced the night away at one small club where me and Sara started the dance party by being the first to go on the dance floor and then at Kapital a seven floor dance club that is reminisent of Webster Hall sans the creepy dudes. We danced on stage we were blown away with cold winds, we had a good time. Walked home at 5 am. Next morning Ipod in hand I decided to conquer Museo Prado. All the spanish greats plus renissance portraiture i spent the whole day there. I sat down in the sun filled sculpture room and drew for about two hours. It was amazing. I then took a little siesta outside on a bench and woke up to a trumpet playing “Over the Rainbow”. Walked up the hill to the Corte Ingles and got some tuna that will be lunch and dinner for the next three days. Came back and the hostel started to fill up. We watched Superbad and drank beer, a very American afternoon. There are a lot of young kids here 17 and 18 from, America traveling together and alone and they are so immature and unfortunatly play into all American stereotypes. Uh. They will go to college and grimace at some of the remarks they made last night. I am constantly trying to make people aware of the fact that all Americans are the same and that I am really from a seperate country called New York City. Two Aussie girls who were not really Aussie (one from Zimbabwe and one from South Africa) met a lovely Parisian in a Chocolateria. They decided to bring him out with them and he decided to bring his guitar. The night started with some David Bowie, Red hot Chilli Peppers, and a bit of Radio head. I decided to head out with them and we went to the equivalent of the East Village/ Alphabet city. We had 2 euro beers and headed out in search of a plaza to listen to our new friend sing. We drank tinto and listen to some Bob Marley until we got kicked out by the Policia. Probably the best thing that could have happened because we ended up is the Plaza that Union Square wished it could be. Tons of people my age all sitting around relaxing and enjoying each others company. Sarah spotted some guitarist and we decided to sit with them. They played into our wims and we start our own little jam session with everyone singing in different languages and Sara belting it out. Ramone was belting it and soon the whole plaza was singing and clapping until it was one united voice, and a loud bravo for Ramone. Bob Marley brings all people together. We sang and sang until our voices were gone and then we went home at 5 am a little tipsy from all the free beers for our (Ramone´s) musical talents. Madrid, you are so much more than I expected.
