Flamenco Show...and more.

Its been a great week in Spain! I've tried to take as much advantage as possible of not having classes yet.  The IES classes start Monday, but then the week after I start classes at La Complutense, which is kind of scary. Okay, its really scary.  I still have to pick my class, I'm deciding between 2 psychology classes and 2 anthropology classes...


This week I've managed to explore a lot of new neighborhoods, eat some good food, go to a candy shop with really different candies...take a tour of the Prado,speak to a random group of Spanish kids, see a Flamenco show, make some British friends...


After school one day I explored Malasaña with some friends. We accidentally came upon a really nice restaurant for lunch, the food was really gourmet and rich, and very yummy.  Malasaña is like the alternative young neighbor hood of Madrid, like somewhere you would go for a semi underground club or to get a piercing.  As we were walking back towards somewhere, since we really didn't have a destination, we happened upon a candy store, like sweet factory, where you put everything you want in a bag and they weigh it.  We decided to try a bunch of different kinds of candy and got a bag with three of some of the most interesting looking items.  My favorite was "Judías," which means Jews. I learned earlier in the week that it is a type of bean, but apparently it is also a toffee coated candy thing.  It was yummy.  The licorice was interesting too, definitely a different take on red licorice than in the state.

infinite candy options

"Judías"

weird mushroom looking marshamallow candy.  They tasted like caramel

Judía con una judía en mano.

Afterwards, we explored Huertas, a neighborhood that Hemingway was known to frequent.  It is like the sophisticated literary/live music area of Madrid.  There are famous quotes embedded in the ground from famous Spanish writers. It is definitely an area I want to go back to again, either for to read and get some coffee, or have a drink and listen to live music.  

Some people protesting the government.  Not quite like the quotes in Huertas, but just as cultural. The top one says "The system doesn't have faults, the fault is the system" and the second says "The democracy is the daily participation of the citizens, in the schools, factories, industries, the streets..."

After school yesterday, I went with Rodrigo, a fellow comrade from Oxy, to the walk along the river.  I had no idea there was a river in this city! Of course its semi-walled in and nowhere near as beautiful as the American River.  We walked along the river a little and then into a park on the other side of the city.  We had a great view of the palace and the church right across from it.  Also, the park across the way seems cool and huge and i definitely want to explore that one day.  Today, Rodrigo and I took a run around that area, it was nice to be near water again, so now I know where to go when I need my natural body of water fix.

Rodrigo at the river

Walled-in Rivers...darn big cities

View of the palace (left) and church (right) from the park, Casa del Campo

We also went to the Prado, one of biggest art museums in Madrid. We had a private tour with Raul, our favorite IES tour guide.  He also offered to give us another tour of the Prado, since we were only in there for an hour and a half and it is impossible to see everything, even if we had spent a day in there.  Some of the most notable paintings we saw were "Las Meninas" (The girls) by Diego Velazquéz and "El tres de Mayo del 1808" (The third of may, 1808) and "Saturn devorando a su hijo" (Saturn eating his son) by Francisco Goya.  Pretty much those were the most notable to me because they were the only few I recognized that I had seen and talked about before in text books.   

Saturn eating his son

Las Meninas

In between Prado and Flamenco, we went to one of the most popular chains here, 100 Montaditos, for a pre show drink and snack.  On Wednesdays, everything there is 1 euro.  So drinks (big jarras of beer/tinto de verano) are only 1 euro, as well as all the types of montaditos (or little sandwiches). The place is called 100 Montaditos because they're supposed to have 100 types of montaditos, not to mention that there are 100 100 Montaditos locations in Madrid...I just have to say it one more time...Montaditos.


After the Prado, we went to a Flamenco show, IES got us free tickets.  It was an hour of complete mesmerization.  Everything was simply incredible.  The athleticism of the dancers, the mixture of tapping, clapping, and snapping that the dancers produced, their facial expresions- a mix of seriousness, tension, and sexuality, the sexuality of their movements- everything was so strong and robust, the wailing (not so much singing) of the singer (his vein was popping out the side of his neck, the skill of the guitarist, and how they all worked together to put on an espectáculo (I use the Spanish word because "show" just doesn't quite seem to cut it.)  

After the Flamenco, we went to watch the Barca-Madrid soccer game at a bar. We fond a really nice place that had Pinchos (also spelled Pinxos) which are tapas from the north.  We didn't have any, but they reminded me of sushi but with bread...all different types! Pinxos are definitely something I want to try one of these days, hopefully when I make it to the north of Spain.  At the restaurant, we met some British students who are working here for the next few months.  I also met Alberto, a lovely middle aged Spanish man who is happens to be my neighbor!  He told me I live in a really great neighborhood, maybe because he lives there too...Alberto was telling us about the Spanish economy, and how Madrid is the region least affected by the crisis, which is worse in the south because people are paid less, they have no industry but tourism, and it is more expensive to live there.  Alberto also gave me his number and told me to call him if I ever need anything.  Spanish people are actually really nice and friendly once you break the ice.  Anyway, Madrid and Barca tied the game, which apparently means madrid lost since they lost the first few games against Barca. Still don't really understand soccer...

Copa de vino as I watch the soccer game

I also feel like I should mention that as I write this, my host brother's bunny, Bam Bam (pronounced bom-bom in Spanish) is sitting on my lap.  This afternoon is the most time I've spent at home in the last few days, and right now its just me and Sergey home because Pilar went to what I understood as bible study.  We'll eat dinner soon (me and Sergey) and then I'll get ready and head out for a night at the discoteca. I'm starving, but I'm holding off so I can eat with Sergey. I asked what time he wanted to eat and he said "9. As always." and I'm not trying to mess with his schedule... even though I was starving at 7.

¡Hasta Luego!

Me :)

Me and Bam Bam chillin on the couch.  He bit me when i tried to pick him up and make him face the camera...