The Costa Spain

Many things are an adventure: traveling, life, Space Mountain. I would only name a few people in this category, one of which is my friend Marisa. Originally from Queens and currently teaching English in Spain (where her kids will forever says their 4's like New Yorkers), Marisa is one of the most fun people I have ever known. The opportunity to visit her in Madrid was a no-brainer, especially since I had never seen the Spanish capital and time with my dear and lovely friend was loooong overdue.

Madrid...probably best known for its football team, this city really does have a lot to offer. First of all, as the capital, there are numerous old-style administrative buildings plus the impressive Royal Palace of Madrid, which was built to rival the palaces at Windsor, Versailles, etc. The city's Cathedral is a very large and impressive neo-gothic structure which is beautiful to behold, inside and out. Plus, Madrid is incredibly green- there are huge parks surrounding the city, most of which are used by Madrid's youth in conjunction with the lack of open container laws in Spain. I was very impressed with how easy-going the feel of Madrid is, in addition to having such cultural and national gems. Here are pictures to give a better impression of the city:







This is not why I want to move to Madrid. The reason I want to move to Madrid is much less aesthetic and much more gastronomical. We. Ate. So. Much. Food. It was amazing. We had Indian, Thai, Chinese Vegetarian, Turkish, Israeli, and Mexican. It was so delicious, I had access to types of cuisine I usually crave to no avail in Belgium. Oh, Monday morning before I left I had a Spanish Omelet, since when in Rome, eat eggs. I easily gained a few pounds in Madrid, but that was all a part of experiencing the culture!

However exciting I find Asian food (and trust me, I find it pretty darn exciting), the best part of the weekend was hanging out with Marisa and her friends. Marisa is both a lively and genuine person, meaning she attracts all sorts of fun and good people. Going out with this group in a capital of nightlife was a real treat! We had a great time at the bars- especially the Mexican one where we got to dip into nachos while savoring our margaritas! Spending time with Marisa and her friends was easily the highlight of my trip.

The lowlight? Getting my passport stolen. Honestly, was NOT as bad as it sounds. I mean it kinda sucked, but I didn't really like my picture anyway (I looked orange. Not Posh Spice orange, Oompa Loompa orange. And I hate Oopma Loompas). All I had to do was go to the US Embassy on Monday morning, which was easy since I was already in the capital, and get a temporary passport. At the embassy, they treat US citizens differently than everyone else. It felt like going to a really hot nightclub with a long line and saying, "I'm with Obama." I was in and out of the Embassy in under an hour and a half with a new, albeit three month valid, passport. Total cost? About 70 Euros and the experience of being in a place where everyone understood English. Not too bad.

All in all, another very successful adventure with another very dear friend. Good company, good food, a better passport photo...I'll take those few pounds as the cost of Spain!











xoxo
kw