4/2 - Madrid - Saturday - In the morning we met up with Kayleigh and had Coffee in an out-doors cafe over-looking the Puerta de Alcalá. Kayleigh lives right next to Retiro park, you can see the park from the street, and walking distance from the center of everything!
Of course we had to be those American Tourists who take pictures of everything.
We spent the afternoon in Retiro Park. Retiro Park is massive. It's filled with statues, fountains and art.
We ended up getting lost in the park it is so massive... so we wandered around for a bit. We stumbled through the Rose Garden (pictured). Close by was a rotary without any cars, where you could rent roller blades for a few euro's.. I've never seen to many roller-bladers in such a small area. It was fairly frightening to get past.
We also saw the Crystal Palace - A famous landmark built to exhibit artwork. I can imagine that whoever built this ridiculous house would like to slap the current coordinator for their choice of "modern art" in the inside. After finding our way out of the park (a good 40mins), we got our budget lunch at a supermarket, which included bread, cheese, strawberries, and boxed wine - which we ate on the grass over-looking the pond where people could rent row-boats.
That night was crazy. We went to an event that Kayleigh's older host sisters were having at their apartment on the farther edges of Madrid - where their was live music, and home-made pizza (what else do you need!)
Afterwards we met up with a few other students that Kayleigh knew who were also studying abroad - and went to a club. Madrid sure does like its Techno music. In the clubs, in the shops, even on the buses - the city feels young and alive.
We left the club at 3am... since the metro was closed, and it was still very warm outside - we walked around the city a bit. Everywhere, even the odd side-streets, still had people wandering around. After getting pizza... we finally made it back to Kayleigh's at 5:00am where we crashed on the floor!
Dinner-time: I'll finish the weekend later!
As I recall, there are more people in the streets at 3 in the morning than there are at 3 in the afternoon, kids included.
ReplyDeleteWhat a super update. Did I ever enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteMaria: That was totally true in our experience. During "Siesta" time, everyone takes it easy. During their 1 to 3 hour lunch break, people will go to the park, or even go home... returning to the US schedule will take come getting used to
ReplyDeleteoh my goodness! you should have played bumper cars with the row boats! pirates on the high seas
ReplyDeleteSeems like you guys needed a siesta the next day ;)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics, great update!
The rose garden totally reminds me of an Alice in Wonderland hedge maze
That crystal palace is soo pretty! You should also show pictures from the inside, if you have any
ReplyDeletei need to live in spain, they are totes on my schedule!!
ReplyDelete