Madrid

At a Restaurant with Grace, Kristy, and Liz.

On Sunday, I left dreary and snowy Vallendar for Spain.  I traveled with Liz, an exchange student who studies at the University of Florida.  We took a cab from Vallendar to Koblenz and then a bus to Frankfurt-Hahn Airport.  After an hour and a half flight, we landed in Madrid Spain.  It was 40 degrees warmer and sunny.  We took the metro directly from the airport to a friend of Liz’s.  It was the cleanest metro that Liz and I have ever been on.  The metro serves over 4 million people, and it has an extensive network with lines running every 5 minutes.  Once we got off the metro, her friend Grace greeted us.  Grace lives near a university with another friend Kristy.  Both of them are teaching English to local companies and students.  After we dropped our stuff off, we went to Parque de Juan Carlos I, a local park, to enjoy cervezas, olives, and bravas potatoes.  During our lunch, Grace and Kristy explained some of the Spanish culture. 

• A typical Sunday is spent eating tapas and drinking cervezas.
• 1 in 3 people smoke cigarettes in Madrid Spain.  Recently a smoking ban was passed much to the chagrin of restaurant owners.
• It is acceptable for people to be an hour or more late.
• The Siesta can last anywhere from 2 to 5 PM.   
• People complete a similar amount of work compared to Americans, it is just spread out over more time. 
• It is very typically to receive a tapas with your drink order of olives, nuts, or spanish sausage. 

After being in Germany for 2 months, these cultural differences seemed so bizarre to us and took a while getting used to.  Then we went to the Madrid International Contemporary Art Fair.  It showcased artwork from all over the world that highlighted the latest emerging trends in contemporary art.  The media ranged from painting, sculpture, installation and photography to videos, graphics and new media.  After we went to a local eatery that serves jamón which is dry-cured Spanish ham on a croissant for 1 € and cervezas and wine for 1 €.  The place did not have any seats and when you were done with your napkin, you can throw it on the floor.  After we went to a street that is very well known for their tapas restaurants.  We tasted a crab and squid one with some Spanish wine.  The places were extremely crowded with people ranging all ages.  Even though we spent such a small amount of time in Madrid, we really got to experience the culture and enjoy some amazing Spanish food and drink.