Madrid

Madrid es fantastico! I have been in Madrid for just two days and I don't want to leave! I am staying in a nice youth hostel close to the Plaza del Sol which is considered to be the heart of Madrid. The architecture is literally unreal, and the people are very friendly and helpful.

The hostel here provided a free 3 hour walking tour around Madrid which I attended and learned so much. It is really incredible to see the result of Moorish, (Arabic) influence in one half of the city and the contrasting European/Christian influence in the other half. I am learning that Spanish culture is essentially a hybrid Arabic and English influences.

The food here is so rich and delicious. In the afternoon and into the evening we go out for tapas, which are basically small appetizer type dishes that you can get for a very discounted price when you buy a drink at the bar. Most people go out for Tapas during siesta, (a 3-4 hour break in the day between 2 and 6 where most small businesses close down), and into the evening. Tapas began as a slice of bread placed on the top of a drink in order to prevent the dust from polluting your drink; slowly, many bars and restaurants went one step further and added meat and cheese to the bread in order to attract customers! Now it is a widespread, sometimes daily social event.

I have met so many nice people from all over the world in my hostel, and tonight a group of us plan to cruise the streets as the night transforms the city into one big fiesta. Madrid feels like a different place when the sun goes down. Tall white buildings are lit with florescent  purple, green and red lights, and tapas bars begin to appear out of nowhere. With literally hundreds of bars, people everywhere and such beautiful lighting, I thought that I had managed to come to Madrid during a special celebration; but I quickly learned that this is how the Madrileños celebrate every weekend!

Tomorrow I will board the AVE train to Seville where my program will begin. AVE stands for Alta Velocidad Española which is essentially a high speed train, up to 180 mph! I regret leaving Madrid so soon but I can't wait to see what Seville has in store for me.