¡Busca el lado bueno de vivir!

Phew!!!  Well into another week on the trail, fresh off a GREAT weekend in Madrid: 3 days, and two pretty epic experiences.  Here we go!  So I’d decided to go to Madrid because I wanted to see all the museums and stuff, and also because I’d seen an advertisement for Spamalot at the Lope de Vega Theater in Madrid – and this weekend was closing night!  With the cheap tickets starting at 15€, I decided there could be no more perfect opportunity to go see the capital city!  So, I got all the planning in order and got myself up early Friday morning and made the 4-hour bus trip.  I’ve kind of been in a funk lately: rain for 15 days straight, sleeplessly busy schedule, and the inconveniences of living in someone else’s foreign house get to me sometimes.  But when I got out on the road with the sun shining, my hiking boots on my feet and backpack with all I’d need on my back, the romance of Spain came back all over again!  I arrived in Madrid in good spirits, and they instantly got better.

  

I LOVE Madrid – it’s a very exciting and vibrant city, and there’s something about it that makes me not feel like I’m a tourist.  The people are super friendly and open, not to mention easy to understand (Madrid accent is the most neutral, just like Iowa!).  I enjoyed the day walking around the Madrid sights including the Plaza Mayor, Puerta del Sol, Retiro Park, and a few museums (including Reina Sofia contemporary art – weird).  At 9 PM I headed to the theater, and prepared myself for a fantastic experience.  Spamalot is one of my favorite musicals in English, and absolutely HILARIOUS.  It translated…ok.  There were some awkward parts where they reverted to English for a line or two, which I’m not really sure why.  It was very interesting seeing how they came up with the always-difficult Spanish rhymes to fit the meaning of the very clever English ones.  I could understand enough to LOL several times, but the songs were a little tough to follow.  At the end, I was singing along to “Busca el lado bueno de vivir” (Always look on the bright side of life) just as loud as anyone, and left the theater with a whistle.  Bought the 7€ soundtrack, so I can enjoy it any time now!  What a great show, and how fun!  

Slept in the very nice Municipal Youth Hostel, and got up for a good Saturday.  I’d decided first thing to go to the Congreso de los Diputados, or the Spanish parliament – they give free tours on Saturday mornings.  Got in line at 10:30 behind a large amount of people, so I knew I was in for the long haul.  I got my iPod out and started listening, but then noticed this nice-looking couple behind me.  It started to rain, which ended up being the perfect conversation starter – all Spaniards love talking about the weather.  At first it was just me talking, but when I told him I was studying in Cáceres, he went on to explain the whole Spanish university system and its history.  That followed with an hour-long discussion on politics, healthcare, Spanish history of the Franquismo period, and many other topics, while we waited in line.  The man was 81, so he had some good perspective.  I stuck around Josepha and Federico (as I learned they were called) in the Parliament, as we saw the constitution and the congress chamber.  Afterwards, they invited me for coffee.  Sure!!!!  We sat and talked some more, exchanged addresses, and were going to go on our separate ways… but we ended up going to the Prado together.  I think they were eager for the company, and I was having a blast!!  We toured half of the Prado together, getting commentary from the well-read Federico about different aspects of painting, religion, and history.  And when we were done, Josefa bought me a bookmark of one of my favorite paintings – The Garden of Earthly Delights.  How sweet!  The couple from the Basque country in the north of Spain invited me out to lunch with them, and I was highly obliged.  An hour and a half and a delicious meal of croquetas, veal cutlet (very tender), bread, drink, and dessert later, I emerged from the restaurant with a free 12.50€ meal (they wouldn’t let me pay) and my new favorite Spanish people.  How awesome were the last 6 hours?  Wow, that’s the kind of encounter you live for traveling solo.  What generous people, and what a way to experience the culture!  We parted ways to see the sights, (hopefully) all enriched and having spent a great morning!  The rest of the day was spent covering the rest of the Prado (El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, the usual suspects) before turning in.  Sunday morning I awoke early to the calm city, saw the impressively massive Baroque Palacio Real, 

and ate at the Café Nebraska (just had to) before getting on the bus back for Cáceres.  What a weekend!  I feel like that will not be my last trip to Madrid.  Back to the grindstone now, and I’ve decided to stay in Cáceres this weekend.  I need a break, to catch up on homework, and to plan my Holy Week trip!  If I learned one thing this weekends, it’s that there’s definitely something to be said for opening up your eyes (and earbuds) to the opportunities around you.  Talk to you later!