Sun, 15 degrees? I'm thirsty!

 

Day 3 ish in Madrid and I am in love with this city. It is 15 degrees, sunny and full of life.


I mean, check out the view from the teeny balcony in my room! The narrow, pedestrian oriented streets and planter boxes are just incredible. I think why I love Madrid so much is because it is so pedestrian oriented.. you don't have to dodge cars like in Paris or drive for days to see anything like Canada!

 
So among all the people watching I have been accomplishing, I have also been discovering little places in all my wandering, such as this amazing used book market thing around the corner from the Prado and the Parque de Retiro. It is the whole street long and all used books. Of course in Spanish, but just so cool. So many book of famous Spanish painters and history stuff. Lots of great colour too, think thats what grabbed my attention!

The best days :)

So today, (January 12) I went with a girl I first met in Paris on a free walking tour of the city. It was 3 hours and to my surprise so worth it! I guess it was free, but I find tours tend to be way too long, and way too talkative about irrelevant information. Now this guy (works for New Europe Tours, I recommend!), was great. We got a lot of information, but all straightforward and very interesting! I now have a brief overview of Spain history, with some interesting facts about previous kings and queens and even saw where some famous playwrights lived. (Lope de Vega..1600's, if you don't know its ok, I didn't either)


Plan for this evening to go to another art museum, but one with a bit more modern collection, compared to the ancient works of Valazquez and Goya at the Prado yesterday. After this I am going with Holly (friend from Philly) for Drinks and Tapas. Yes, more tinto verano and tapas. Mmmm


Probaly one of the best things in Spain...
Tapas (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtapas]) is the name of a wide variety of appetizers, or snacks, in Spanish cuisine. They may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or warm (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid). 
So, the way it goes here in Spain, is you get food when you buy a drink. 


Can't say I've really had a full hot meal since I have been here... :S


Until next time, I will leave you with a little taste of what I hear walking through the park in the morning :)
Buenos Tardes! shannon xx


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up5qSOBF9Z8&playnext=1&list=PL0EA41E81D7806B7B&index=5


(I didn't have a chance to listen before I picked this, hopefully its good! :P)