Madrid, Spain - April 8, 2004
Made it to Madrid. It was a very long flight though. Left Seoul about 30 hours before arriving in Madrid. The layover in Singapore was a big part of it, as well as an additional stopover in Paris. Very long flight.
Well, I got my first taxi. He was a very talkative guy who may or may not have overcharged me. It was 30 euros without a meter. I was so tired I didn´t ask upfront and instead once he´d already started driving. I bargained for 20 but he was adamant at 30. Since I don´t know if its appropriate or not (I assume its not), I just gave him the benefit of the doubt (and perhaps a big of extra pocket money) and just went with it. When I arrived at my hostel (which according to a book is 13 euros) it instead turned out to be 20 euros for the night. Not sure if my book is just outdated or everything is a bit more expensive. Hard to say.
My hostal is in a cool area though. Its near a place called ¨Plaza de Sol¨ which seems to be the central area. Lots of tourists and such here. Unfortunately its Easter weekend. So most locals have long left town. The taxi driver told me this, as well as everyone else as I´d been searching out information via the Internet prior to arrival. Its actually quite dead and quiet here. More than half of the businesses are closed for the entire weekend - and its only Thursday. Well, tomorrow is Good Friday and Sunday is Easter. This is a very Catholic country as well, so it definetely makes sense.
My first meal here was actually lasagna. I hadn´t had anything like that in quite some time, so even though its Italian, I just couldn´t resist. However when it arrived it came in a little dish on top of two plates. Not knowing what the two plates were there for, I tried to scoop out the lasagna and place it on a plate. All the workers there just stared at me doing it. I had a feeling I was seriously eating it wrong. Anyhow they went with it, and one of them decided took it away from me and scooped it into a plate himself. Anyhow, it was pretty good.
So far I´ve yet to meet an English speaking person. The taxi driver, the hostal owner, and the restarant workers all spoke in 100% Spanish. I remember a lot, and can communicate, and enjoying it. But definetely taxing on my memory to recall the words and such. All of which is a very good thing! With some studying, my Spanish will improve much more quickly this way.
The hostal is interesting. My room opens up into a huge shared balcony. I was surprised as it seems all of the rooms are like that. Most of the housing around here looks like that as well. Just very European. Most things I was looking at today reminds me very much of the six weeks I lived and studied in Budapest Hungary back in 1997. Same kind of feeling through the architecture. I like it.
Another general observation is that Madrid has somewhat of a feel of New York City. Its nowhere as big, but it is very cosmpolitan with kiosks and just buildings everywhere. In fact, I feel a little bit like I´m in New York City. Also perhaps because NYC has a large Spanish-speaking population. I´m not sure what it is exactly, but it has that feel somewhat. But totally different as well.
On account of Madrid being a bit boring this weekend. Apparently anyone and everyone leaves the city and goes to the beaches or at the minimum out of town. I have decided to do the same. I sat in the train station of Atocha for a good hour buying a ticket to Valencia for tomorrow. I think it will be much better than here at this time. I´m a bit concerned that all of the hotels and hostels will be booked there though. My hostel in Madrid feels very empty. Its almost tempting to stay here, but I wouldn´t mind seeing the Meditteranean and seeing what Valencia has in store. Actually I´ll be studying and living in Castellon just north of Valencia about one hour. So I´m quite curious to get a feel more for that city this weekend that Madrid. Its also kind of expensive here.
I saw a Korean restaurant here. They had kimchee on the menu at 4 euros and kimbab for 8 euros. Thats a shock. Mainly because in Korea, you can order kimbab and it would cost the equivalent of 1 euro, and the kimchee is free as a side dish regardless of anything and everything you order.
Actually the prices of everything is a bit more than I would have thought. Thats also part of the reason to move on more quickly to Valencia. Also, now that I´m not only unemployed, but will also be a student paying tuition, every euro I can keep from spending early on will benefit me significantly later on. So anyhow, here goes.. I´m in Madrid!! Its a mad, mad, mad world.
Next Journal Entry in Spain:
April 9, 2004
You can email me at:
Wintermoon2@yahoo.com