The Alhambra in Granada is absolutely amazing! We were there at nightime and the place was glowing! That was the first time I actually felt photographically inspired during this trip! I couldn´t get any good pic with my point and shoot digital..I guess i will have to go back someday with a digital slr that i´ve been putting off buying! We arrived in Madrid after a 6 hour train ride yesterday afternoon. We just hung out yesterday and familiarized ourselves with the area. Today, we went to the Royal Palace and the Prado Museum..Madrid is cool place..reminds me of NYC somewhat..there´s a Palace Hotel right by this park that houses the Prado Museum.. by the museum is this lane that sell books..in NYC..the Palace Hotel is right by Central Park and by Central Park is a lane that sells old movie scripts.. just reminders.
This is probably going to be my last update as my adventure will be coming to an end shortly. I think this trip was good overall but definitely nothing compared to my Italy and Prague trip last year. I think the beauty of Prague and Italy is just on another planet compared to others or maybe I am biased. Let´s have a recap of where I´ve been.
Prado+Protest+almost getting pick pocketed= Madrid!
-Lisbon... where ppl don´t sleep! -Salema..the southern beach coast of Portugal..it was a nice relaxation spot -Sevilla..beautiful! -Ronda..nothing like anything I´ve seen..the white hill towns..the Andalucia part of Spain -Nerja.. the Costa Del Sol of Spain..it was a very cute beach town but Positano Italy on the Amalfi Coast has my heart!
-Granada..the Alhambra..what a sight! -Madrid..a city of museums..monuments..culture..yummy spanish hot chocolate with churros..i had that for breakfast!
Next adventure? Its a toss up between Germany& Austria OR Africa...
For folks who havent been to europe or italy,spain,etc yet. I advise..dont go to italy before you go to spain..you´ll spoil yourself..only if u plan to visit both countries..portugal..there really isnt much there but worth a visit if youre curious! see you guys soon!
A day later..
So..much has happened since my last email..so I had to email again! While going to dinner yesterday, Kel and I came across a protest of some sort in front of a government building. We thought it was nothing but half an hour later, there was the military police showing up with their guns and all..I wanted to take a picture really badly but I was scared! Officers and security in Madrid have been a bit unpredictable...what you think is ok to take a shot of..its not..they tell you..venga venga..things u think that arent ok turns out to be ok..see told u guys..weird! As we´re walking back to the hotel..I had my messenger bag behind me in a rare instance but in a sense..I moved it in front of me because I had a feeling that I should..well well well..my bag was unbuckled! Someone tried to pick-bag me! Good thing Timbuk2 bags are very well made...many inner pockets..had they gotten in..they would have gotten my haribo gummi bears and my rick steves guide book. Losing my Rick Steves would have irritated me though..thats been the center of how kel and I have been mtg ppl..they too have been traveling with rick steves! Which brings me to my next story... Yesterday at the Prado Museum, Kel and i were at the cafeteria having lunch and we met this older couple..I´d say 50 years older..they asked where we were from and said that they had the rick steves book too! it was all very cute. they´ve been traveling around..they´re from monterey bay, CA.. so close to home. They rented out an apt in NYC for a week before heading over to Barcelona and San Sebastion before coming to Madrid. I forget if they were going anywhere after this city but we had such an awesome conversation with them. The wife was talking to kel more as she was on her side and the hubby was chattin it up with me. he gave me advice on travel and sites and life..it was very cute. it was nice to see that ppl their age have stayed married and are up and able to travel! i can´t say that i´d be up for a 10+ hour flight when I have 75! A few minutes into our conversation, these other two ppl from Pennsylvania came and sat at our table..Rick Steves..they too were traveling with Rick Steves..his all over the place i tell ya! So today..I hung out on my own..I think we all need our alone time kel and i have been together 24-7 since the trip so it was nice to just kinda hang out on my own! I figured out the metro system and went to another part of madrid..there i saw all the corp buildings and men in their suits..quite a change from all the tourist stuff..couple of shops..i just walked around and explored. I went back to the hotel and found kel still asleep..i guess its all catching up to her..i warned her about backpacking..it can be quite tiring but i think she just needed to veg =). In the afternoon, I visited the Sofia museum..i forget the full name of it but know that it ended with Sofia so I am calling it the Sofia museum. It houses Picasso´s epic Guernica piece! I really liked that museum..I fell in love with this Salvodore Dali piece ´´Girl In The Window¨1925. Loved it!!! Just had dinner and guess what happened? Two chinese ladies started arguing in Mandarin. I coudn´t see them at first..I just heard them..EVERYONE at the square Plaza Mayor heard them! I looked at the waiter and he said...¨Chinas¨ as in chinos but with an A because female..in spanish that means chinese..in case u guys didnt know. He said..dos chinas...I said ooh! They carried the argument up the steps to the plaza itself. it was one woman yelling and the other trying to walk away. I think they both work there at the plaza..i remember seeing one of them the other night..they do curbside massages. It was just a strange sight..seeing two asian women argue in mandarin in madrid...it would have been quite interesting had they spoken in spanish! Wow, email getting long so catch u guys later. I don´t plan on emailing unless something eventful happens tomorrow but highly doubt it since its a day at the Retiro park but u never know...
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