Day 3: Exploring The City and A Back Porch Party

(side note: apparently since I am in Spain and connected to a wireless signal, when I try to spell check it highlights every word I've written because its trying to read it in Spanish. So excuse my misspellings)

I awoke this morning feeling rested and ready to go. But I quickly realized, I don't know spanish and I don't know where I am. Kristin was already off to work. I wanted to go to Toledo so I began to look at maps and train tickets prices online. In the midst of debating on whether or not I should take on Madrid and Toledo on my own Maggie walks in the room. She told me she had some errands to run in the city. I asked if I could accompany her through the city and she gladly said yes.

We took the Metro to Retiro. Retiro Park was a visual treat for the senses. Walking down the gravel paths we saw joggers, young adults gathered in the shade under trees enjoying cervezas and sandwiches. The architecture of the buildings, statues and water fountains was like nothing I've ever seen. Everything around me was refreshing, peaceful and mesmerizing.

Actually before we went to the park we stopped for a quick walk through the archeology museum. Entering the museum we were greeted by two winged sphinxes. Inside we saw ancient Greek pottery and jewelry. Ancient Roman statues, Egyptian sarcophagus', medieval weaponry, ancient Sumarian sculptures and cuneiform.

Back to the park. We finally reached the Retiro pond. This pond was unlike any pond I'd ever seen. There was a half moon shaped structure of colums. The center of the half moon courtyard was a giant statue of a man on a horse, surrounded by statues of, what looked like, terquoise lions. In front of this whole monument, was the pond where there were several paddle boats of young adults sunbathing and picnicking on the water. Maggie and I sat down at a little cafe over looking the pond. We enjoyed some cervezas and food.

We ventured to Sol. Walking around Sol was entertaining to say the least. Apparently a few weeks, to a month, ago there were a bunch of protests. There were still protesters camped out in the center of Sol, around the base of another giant, man on a horse, statue. We saw a few street entertainers, then hunted down some Spanish prostitutes. Not to get any of course, but just to see what they looked like. Actually got to see a deal go down right in front of me.

After spectating prostitutes, I saw the nicest McDonald's I've ever seen....I still hate that place but I took a picture. I've also see Burger King's and KFC's and apparently they all sell beer.

Last night I got to meet Bernise, one of the French roommates. She's a very simple French woman with blonde hair and fair skin. She has a great sense of humor and is a participant in the "thats what she said" game. She joined Kristin, Maggie and I at a quaint patio restaurant down the street called "La Abuela." We enjoyed some sangaria, cervezas, patatas ali-oli (potatoes with ali-oli sauce) and jamon iberico (tosted bread with tomatoes and cured ham).

When Maggie and I returned home from our day adventure through Madrid, I got to meet Bernise's boyfriend Markos. He's about my height, skinny with glasses, a Spaniard and smokes cigarette's. He asked me if I liked disco's. (Apparently clubs, as we call them back home, are called discos here) I of course said yes. So I am now accompanying Bernise and Markos, along with a few others, out to a disco.

Tonight was one of the roommates last night in the house. Anna is the Russian roommate. She's blonde with fair skin. At first impression she's a tad intimidating, but I'm sure thats just the Russian in her. She is a sweetheart though! Cris, the Canary Island native, decided to cook dinner for everyone in honor of Anna's last night. She made these Venezualan bread cakes accompanied with chicken, cheese, and ham. You cut the bread cakes open and put meat and cheese in them to make a little sandwich. They were a tasty treat. Cris had her boyfriend and other friends over. The boyfriends name was Arturo and their friends, all Spaniards, were Ramon, Raquel and Danny.

The night started off with wine, champagne and cervezas. At the beginning it was a lot of them conversing in Spanish. Sidenote: since I have been here I have been trying to immerse myself in the Spanish language. So far I've spoken more Spanish than Kristin and Maggie and they've been living here since April! Anywho, here and there I would hear a few words I would recognize but for the most part I had no idea what the hell any of them were talking about. Luckily they all spoke some English, so when I did get to talk I could participate along with them.

Sunset then turned to night, the alcohol was flowing and the music was playing. It was nice to find out that they like a lot of the same music I do. Le chicas were dancing, a cigar was being passed around and Ramon tried to drink a bottle of wine that had turned to vinegar which he then threw up every where. Before dinner I had made a trip to the grocery store with Bernise and Markos to buy some cervezas. I purchased a small six pack for a special little occasion. After dinner and some drinks I then asked if anyone would like to shotgun a beer. They instantly all thought I was referring to fire arms, but none the less, they were interested and eager to learn this American and/or Texas tradition. I got about five or six of them to join me. Uno, dos, tres....they all loved it. After the shotgunning was finished you could hear nothing but burping for about the next five minutes.

We limboed, we line danced and we machataed. It was a full on back porch party. Well....then the liquor broke out and the shots began to pour. Russian vodka, Spanish gin...the works. At one point I fell backwards out of my chair, of course that is no surprise to any of you because thats a typical "me" thing to do. Alcohol flowed a bit too much so going to a disco was out of ze question. The night was incredibly fun and I'm more than ecstatic to have made so many new friends.

Day 2: Madrid, Spain

Boarding my flight to Madrid was more than exciting. All of the different faces, languages and apperances! Next to me are two women. One with half sleeve tattoos, short spikey pink hair and piercings. The other....a nun. I was so tempted to ask her how long shes been "nunen" it up! Although I can not understand most of it, I love hearing all the different languages being spoken all around me.

I make my decent into Madrid over some Spanish mountain sides. On this seven and a half hour flight I have watched two movies, Cedar Rapids and Sucker Punch, and consumed three bottles of wine splits. Two red, one white. Looking out the window as we land, I see hills of Spanish country side. Lots of vineyards and I'm sure other types of produce farms. Its beginning to set in. The surreal feeling that I'm in another country.

Maria, my very beautiful flight attendant, definatly got to know me on this flight. I was the only one drinking on this dead head flight. As we touched down she sat in her assigned chair in the asile. I quickly jotted down in big letters "CAN I GET SOME WINE FOR THE ROAD? POR FAVOR!" Unfortunatly I recieved no wine, but got a good laugh out of her.

After about an hour of being misled in every direction, in my search for the currency exchange desk, I finally gave up and met Maggie, my cousins roommate, at the subway station. the subway here is called the "metro." The weather is similar to that of California weather. Sunny and mildly warm with a cool breeze. Theres no air conditioning at the house I'm at but thats easily fixed with a cool breeze from open doors and windows. I met one of Maggie and Kristin's roommates. Her name is Cris. She's an average height brunet from the Canary Islands. I'm currently staying in a house with seven women. Two French, one Spanish, one Russian, one Mexican and two American. I'm off to go for a walk with Maggie down the street to a grocery store and possibly a little bar.

Day 1: Airport Hoping

Only got about an hour of sleep before leaving this morning. My dad and his girlfriend dropped me off at the airport. My friends and family gave me a memorable send off. Greeted with gifts, hugs and good blessings. One thing I love about traveling, as far as airports go, is the people watching. Always the people running late, in a mad dash to their terminal. The odd tourist couple who get out of the house once every solar eclipse.

My Southwest flight to Newark had a connection in Houston I was unaware of until checking in at Love Field. Touching down in Houston I spot a killer whale painted jet. I had my fingers crossed that the whale plane was to be my next flight. Alas, I did not get to ride Shamoo into Newark. They had a Pappa's Burgers at the gate of my flight to New Jersey. I stopped in for a Ziegen Bock and a breakfast sandwich. Coincidentally my Dad and fellow family members took me to Pappa's Burgers last night for a farewell dinner. I favor the Monterrey Chicken. (If you haven't eaten there...do it). I conversed with two women at the bar. An older woman in her 60's and a middle aged pregnant woman in her mid-late 30's. We shared travel plans with one another. The elder woman gave me some great advice on a job to look for, if I needed one. She recommended getting a job at a bar near the Universities because they are always looking for people who speak English. I most certainly took her words of advice into consideration.

Landed in Newark safely. Slept a majority of the three hour flight from Houston. I checked into my flight on Air Canada to Toronto and they boarded me on an earlier flight. Air Canada is a great airline so far. Very attractive first class flight attendant. My flight attendant has the lips of a sucker fish.....or Angelina Jolie. I can listen to music, watch a movie or play games. I chose to listen to XM Radio.

I'm currently sitting at the Bacardi Rum Bar at the Toronto Airport, Skyping my cousin in Madrid, enjoying Molson Canadian beer and watching sports center. The city of Toronto, flying in, was beautiful. I would like to experience life outside of the Toronto Airport soon. What I would not like to experience is this $31 tab that was just put in front of me for a sandwich and two beers. Thanks Bacardi Rum Bar, you were delicious......but never again.

Tomorrow I'll be in Madrid. Until then my followers. I learned the spanish word for orgy today...."orgia" pronounced "or-hee-ah" Spain will be fun!

Greetings

Hello there everyone! This blog I have begun will be a documentation of travels I am taking over the next 3o days and what ever future travels I have planned afterwards. Posts will be as consistently daily as possible due to certain places I may be with out a wireless connection. I chose this form of manifesto, as opposed to "status" updates on my plans for the day or checking in at a local restaurant or bar, because it will allow people to get a more in depth perspective on how experiencing a foreign world is to me and the growth I am rewarded with after.

I began today attending the funeral of one of my best friends father. I never got to know his father very well, but being there for my friend instigated thoughts of value and appreciation for things in my life. With the acceptance of death comes the gratitude we must all have towards living a life that is positive and fulfilling because our time is all too short here on Earth. It only makes sense to me to be pursuing something of this caliber at this point in my life. I take with me words of wisdom from all sorts of people. Words that have reassured me with the secure piece of mind that pursuing what you feel passionate about will always get you where you're supposed to be. All too often more and more people are pursuing what they think, or have been told,their passion should be instead of taking an independent stance on what they want for themselves.

Who knows what's to come of this trip. I may return saying "Glad I did it but not for me." or some where along the line I could discover an unawakened passion that I would have never known existed had I never embarked on such a journey.

Earlier I made Facebook reference to "status updates" and "check-ins." I decided to deactivate my Facebook during my time over seas, as well as a few months after my return, because maybe some things (memories, experiences, mental images, meditative thoughts) are meant to stay with us and not be shared with the whole world. Those things are personal claims to the person or people we adhere to be. Although I am sharing what I am embarking on via this blog, this form allows people the right to choose whether or not they want to be apart of the experience or not. And frankly I don't give a shit that John Doe needs your help to gain more pigs and chickens on Farmville.......taking a break.

On a fun note I was giving my self a trim of a hair cut yesterday, using a number three to clean up the sides and back of my head. I changed clipper sizes so that I may cut the hair on my neck line. I put down the clippers momentarily, then notice a spot I missed cutting with the three behind my left ear. I pick up the clippers to then proceed with buzzing a bald spot in the back of my head.........great. Forgot to change the clipper sizes. I contemplated changing the title of my blog to "the bald spotted traveler."

I will miss everyone of course!! I tried my best to see everyone I could before I left. For those I did not get to see I am sorry. My social spider web is quite a big one and I had a lot to do this week. Thank you to everyone who has given me all the advice I could ask for and the best wishes.

I leave you all with passage I enjoyed reading in my Rick Steve's book.

"Travel can make you a happier American, as well as a citizen of the world. Our Earth is home to see and a half billion equally precious people. It's humbling to travel and find that other people don't have the "American Dream" -- they have their own dreams. Europeans like us, but with all due respect, they wouldn't trade passports.
Thoughtful travel engages us with the world. In tough economic time, it reminds us what is truly important. By broadening perspectives, travel teaches new ways to measure quality of life.
Globetrotting destroys ethnocentrism, helping us understand and appreciate other cultures. Rather than fear the diversity on this planet, celebrate it. Among your most prized souvenirs will be the strands of different cultures you chose to knit into your own character..."