Missing you from Madrid

Hello all! Today is day 2 in Madrid - however, let me start off from the beginning....

After a buen viaje lunch with my family in Houston and a tearful adios I was off. I had a layover in London - so of course I had my papparazi face ready and was on the lookout for David Beckham...according to people.com he was there. Unfortunately, I never saw him. :( The people in England were SO friendly! Going through security in America was similar to a cattle call full of yelling and mandates - however, in England it was far more pleasant. At their security check the woman was like (enter your best English accent) "Good morning my dear, let me help you with your baggage. If you will just take your solutions out I will ensure they are the right milliters and we will get you on your way" (exit accent) I was like "Why of course you can help me! (with the 7 bags that I deemed each a neccesity and "must have" while packing) Lets just say I would had happily cut 6 of those bags after 50 yards of lugging them around! lol

The weather in Texas didn't prepare me for Europe as it was -5 degrees in London...I thought I was being punk'd when the captain told me we'd have to take the stairs off the plane and wait outside for a bus to take me to the terminal because each gate was full. I arrived in Madrid about 2:30 in the afternoon and hailed a taxi to get me to my hotel. I bet the taxi driver thought he was being punk'd after he saw all of my luggage compared to his hot wheels excuse of a car. So far everyone in Madrid has the same car, I not sure who it's made by but it they all have the same block-style S. There are the more adventurous ones that get it in a hatchback, and the lucky 10 people who drive a Benz or BMW.

I'm staying at the Hotel Regina and recommend it to anyone that plans on traveling to the Madrid area, I also recommend getting a Schweppes Naranja in the hotel cafe :) My spanish has sustained me thus far in my journey which surprises most Spaniyards once I speak as all they see is my look of bewilderment! lol....

My hotel is located in the middle of a beautiful plaza downtown, I did some window shopping after I settled in my room. Things were pretty quiet on the plaza as my stroll was right in the middle of their nap-time. Spain's siesta is something I could easily get used to. I went back to my room and made the mandatory round of calls to inform everyone in America my arrival and safety and then took a short siesta myself.

Once I awoke, I went out to find some lunch/dinner. I hadn't really eaten anything since my going away lunch (which was 36 hours beforehand). In England their idea of a breakfast sandwich was (enter accent) "egg and cheese on a muffin" or "bacon egg and cheese" I opted for the bacon version and I'd like to note that they may as well offer it as spam on a muffin! The hash style mix up was not my favorite. When I was in the airport I looked for chips and a soda, much to my dismay there was no Dr Pepper, I got a coke - another note to all - England's version of Coca-Cola is like sucking sap right out of a tree and chasing it with a mini-shot of carbonated water. Forget getting Doritos....the closest option was Sweet Mexican Chile chips (reiterate the CLOSEST option) Plain chips are called Readily Salted. This confused me. As I walked down the alley in Madrid most people had little to-go bags from Pan & Co. (Bread & Company for you non-spanish speakers) I stopped in and got the Nordmandy sandwich with ham, proscuitto and brie on a toasted baguette. Delicious right? NOT! The ham was like a 5 year old fruit roll up and tasted like candied yams. I threw it away and looked for dinner option #2. I found it! - Ben and Jerry's - I knew I could rely on some good ol fashioned ice cream. I realize it may sound ridiculous to get ice cream for dinner - but at that point I wasn't willing to risk having sweet paper mache for dinner again, nor was I willing to waste another 10 euros. Ben and Jerry's in Spain offers God's gift to the world. A gift that I can NEVER get again! For if I do I will have to begin buying spandex by the yard and making my own clothes as it surely spends your weekly calorie allowance in 10 bites! lol... The delictible little treat was a Belgian waffle with carmelized sugar on top, then a baby scoop of hazelnut ice cream, whipped cream, hot chocolate sauce and nuts sprinkled on top. All of this delieciousness explained why the line was 50 people long and made up for Pan & Co. I was far past content and walked back to the hotel to catch up on some z's.

I would also like to note - the lottery in Spain is no joke. On every corner in the plaza there is a little booth or stand selling tickets, each with a line about 100 yards long. For those that dont have time to wait in line they can stop at one of the hecklers tables in the middle of the plaza that sell pre-bought tickets with all of the vendors yelling that they have the "VVVVVVVinnnnninggggggg ticketttttttt" and each yelling of their good luck. No thanks.

The city of Madrid is still decorated for Christmas. Each little alley way was strewn with lights and lit up, which I appreciated on my walk home to ensure I wouldn't be shanked. lol. My mother was quite fearful of the mugging in Europe and bought me a ridiculous fanny pack of sorts to wear flat under my clothes. I did.... but was embarassed the entire time walking, I thought surely people would be able to see it under my clothes. And felt that I may as well have stamped TOURIST on my forehead. But I wasn't mugged on my first day so I guess I owe my mom a thank you :)

I was exhausted from the trip. I didnt sleep on the plane ride either, so when I got back to my hotel and took 2 Tylenol PM's. They worked. I woke up 16 hours later, halfway into day 2 of Madrid. Today I rushed through getting ready so that I could do some shopping before siesta. Instead of a look of bewilderment - I had a look of half-open eyes, mixed with what's wrong with your eyes? and "whoaaaa - why dont you go back to your room and give yourself a minute to wake up a bit?" The corner Starbucks helped relieve this.

I got quite a few little gifts for my family back home - little treats from Madrid that they are sure to love. After shopping I stopped in my hotel cafe for lunch. I met two students also studying abroad from Temple University in Pennslyvannia, it was a relief to be able to speak in English for a few minutes. I also met a precious little family from Greece who approached me after the 2 students left. The father had heard I was from America and asked if I was having trouble communicating so far. He explained that in Greece they are still required to learn English to accomodate others and was surprised that no one he has come across spoke English or even a little bit. He spoke Greek and English and was having more trouble then I was communicating. I ordered their lunch for them - the waiter thought this was funny and introduced me to 2 other waiters who thought it was equally funny that I had to order for someone else and asked how they expected to survive without me. It was a nice compliment for the family to ask for my help but I felt bad for them and offered my assistance if they needed anything else. Who knew I'd be the one helping someone else in Spain!? Don't worry - I'm not getting a big head here - I'll probably need help at dinner! lol.

There is a Longchamp store next door to my hotel. I think it is a sign that I am supposed to buy the handbag that I have been dying for! I have wanted this certain bag for the last 4 months but haven't bought it as I've been saving every penny for Spain. So, like I said this must certainly be a sign that I'm supposed to buy it! God wouldn't torment me like that would he? My mother doesn't agree that it's a sign from God and talks me out of it....for today at least.