LA VIA DEL TREN SUBTERRANEO ES PELIGROSA.

You might wonder why I entitled this post with the title, "La via del tren subterraneo es peligrosa". Well, the answer relates to my father, like usual when I say something funny. He's definitely a character. The meaning of this sentence literally translates as the "subterranean train track is very dangerous" and it appears in almost every New York City subway car. Since my dad grew up in the city, these are the words he chose to tell me before leaving for Madrid. Coincidentally, it's basically the only phrase he does know in Spanish (unless there's some other phrase he repeatedly read on the subways getting to and from Fordham as a student..). What he didn't know is that the metro system in Madrid is probably a thousand times cleaner than the New York City Subway and probably (most definitely) runs a lot quicker too. Oh, also.. it's about a million times easier to navigate around than the subway he is used to. No express vs. local lines or colored lines which also have numbers or capital letters representing the same things. Phew. I was worried I wouldn't be able to get around Madrid, but I made it all by myself! I didn't even get on the subway car going the wrong way when I was meeting Claire.

I wish I understood the reasons why.

Retiro Park - so beautiful!

On the left is prime people watching. No one else really noticed this group of people dressed this way, but I did. Oh yes, I really did. I also asked myself who I would dress up as if I had the opportunity. Probably Mr. Potatohead.







My adventures before meeting Claire, though, included walking around by myself, creeping in on other people's conversations, people watching, gawking at the amazing architecture all around the city, taking a million pictures and generally, just getting to know the city. I was on a mission to find a coffee shop and while I had located it on Google Maps, getting to the real thing proved to be a lot more difficult on the way there (because I actually saw it on my way back to the hostel to pick my things up).

Anita = Annija, right? Same difference. 

I ended up at a Starbucks where I attempted to use my Spanish skills to get a coffee, but she picked me out as an American with little Spanish skills right away. I did attempt to speak Spanish, but I'll assume it's because I didn't lisp correctly when needed to. Also probably due to my American accent even in Spanish.. oh well. At least I didn't order a skinny vanilla iced coffee with skim milk and whatever else the stereotypical American girl would get at Starbucks. All things considered, I have to the conclusion that Starbucks here is a whole ton better than it is at home. Also, Starbucks was one of the few places that didn't get annoyed that you wanted to get a coffee, "para llevar" - to go. I suppose the Spanish are a lot more into relaxation than us fast-paced Americans are used to...

I will now include pictures of the wonderful architecture you can find all over Madrid. Because honestly, I think that pictures could really be the only ones who could explain just how beautiful this city is. My words would not do it justice at all. No matter the street, there is something unique about the building you are standing next to. Balconies were a common occurrence as well, but unfortunately not many people were out on them. It might be because they were super tiny. If I had a balcony outside of my window, I would sure as hell be standing out there looking over the streets of Madrid. There was graffiti in certain places, like any other major city, but it definitely isn't nearly as much as in other cities, such as Dublin or even Riga. 

 All of the street signs in central Madrid were painted to perfection such as this one. Every one of them was unique and essentially represented the street that it was named after. This one, Calle de San Sebastian, was right near my hostel next to the Church de San Sebastian. Honestly, even writing about my memories in Madrid is fun because I remember memorizing directions of getting from the metro to the hostel but it all was essentially just a Google map in my head (not even the satellite kind). It was so surreal being somewhere that I had spent so long studying so that I didn't look like a complete tourist!

 

I believe that this was the outside of a little restaurant I found on my walk over to the main areas of Madrid. It was so intricately painted that I couldn't not (yes, double negative) take a picture of it. It was open at the time I walked past to take this photo, but it seemed pretty hustle-and-bustley when I walked past again later in the day. It might have been siesta (nap) time. I absolutely love a country that essentially has a nation-wide nap-time in which it is advised to do things that don't actually require too much noise. Perfection!

I went to the top of this! So exciting! But more of that later :)

This here was probably my favorite building of them all, if I had to choose. The sun always had a way of shining onto it and reflecting just the perfect amount of light. Because it's essentially the first thing you see when getting off at the Bank of Spain stop, one would assume it's the real deal. I'm still not exactly sure what it is, but I do know that the architecture is magnificent and the view from the top over central Madrid is spectacular. On my last night, I think a took about 10 pictures of it from essentially the same angle so that I could remember it forever and ever. Or until the next time I go to Madrid and do the same thing again, essentially.

So unbelievably beautiful and gold!

Now this. This is the top of the Bank of Spain in downtown, central, tourist Madrid. How beautiful. The fork in the road with this building serving as the corner is the exact marker that essentially represents Madrid. They probably wouldn't have been able to pick a better candidate. The angle on top with gold resting at its feet is just breathtaking. I spent a good amount of time just gazing up at the top, wishing I could get a zoomed in, close picture of the angel's face so I could feel what it's like to look over the main area of Madrid as it does. In a way, I envy that angel for having a home in a city as beautiful as this one.


Next post will be about actual people, promise. I'm just so mesmerized by everything that is Madrid.