First word to come to mind is WOW! Spain is amazing, overwhelming, exciting, confusing, and delicious all at the same time. Arriving to Madrid was a little bit of a blur because of the flight length and the layovers. I traveled with two other classmates, Allison and Emily. Seattle to New York, five hours then in New York for over seven hours. An hour before our flight was scheduled to depart we realized we were in the wrong terminal. Good thing we asked for help when we did. Before you knew it we were running around the airport asking several strangers if we were going the right direction. Had to hop an air train, which was a maze to find in itself. Found a flight attendant that was headed toward the same direction and was extremely helpful, thanks mystery lady. We had to go through security all over again chugging the expensive water bottles we had just purchased and finally boarded the plane. While on the plane waiting another hour and a half to wait our turn to use the ramp and was a seven-hour flight. Arriving in Madrid airport.
The airport was huge but seemed so empty. We checked in and got our passports stamped, it was my first passport so it was my first stamp ever, I was stoked. We walked and walked and walked then went down an escalator and another escalator. Then went up an escalator, but elevators were also an option. I had to claim my baggage so we hoped onto the shuttle or train in the airport and finally got my groovy zebra luggage, it stood out like a sore thumb on the round baggage claim, which is perfect because it was easier to find!
Our next mission, find a taxi. We tried flagging one down but apparently they are more organized in Spain. So as opposed to the unstructured New York ways of finding a taxi, we stood in a line and waited our turn for the next available taxi. We were a little unprepared not knowing the address to the hotel but we knew the name. “Senior, cuanto cuesta mas o menos para ir a Hotel Regina?” Next thing you know we hopped in the taxi exhausted and sleepy as ever with being on only a couple hours a sleep for almost two days. The taxi ride to the hotel sure did wake us up. Angel Rodriguez, our taxi driver, was a crazy speed racer driver. Sounds cool huh, but not cool in real life when you have no idea if you’re even going the right direction and the driver is signaling right while switching into the left lane. YIKERS! Sharp right, cut that guy off, honk at this person then errrrrrrt. We have arrived at Hotel Regina in one piece, thank the lord.
As soon as we walked in we were welcomed by a familiar smile, Professor Garcia was in the lobby waiting for our arrival. Finally a familiar face that confirms our correct location. Another obstacle to tackle, our room wasn’t ready. We were almost an hour late to check in and our room isn’t ready? How could this be? Well as you can guess Emily, Allison, and I were already exhausted and grumpy. All we wanted to do was shower and nap yet we were stuck waiting in the lobby looking like a pile of hot mess for our room to be completed. Okay, senoritas, you are in room 112 aqui estan tu tarjetas, buenas dias. Finally, we get into our room drop off our luggage and let out a huge sigh of relief, ughhhh haaaaaahhhhh! “Whose first in the shower?” Emily immediately heads towards the bathroom and we all get ready for our first day in Spain.
Our tour of Madrid was scheduled just a couple hours after we had arrived at the hotel so we had to hurry and get cleaned up. Luckily we were quick because we were all ready before our scheduled time and squeezed in a power nap. I don’t know how effective this power nap was because I felt as soon as my eyes closed and was out, my alarm went off and we had to meet in the lobby downstairs. Once again, we were the last to arrive how shocking!
Tour time is here now let’s see magnificent Madrid. It’s beautiful all right, no lies here we’ve got pictures as evidence. We learned an intensive session about he history of Spain and the Kings that have been here. Some where along the lines of Philip, age thirteen, and a niece involved are the main points I can think of at the moment. Oh and the Spanish Coat of Arms and nuns dungeon. The city is beautiful the stories behind the making of the city our extremely interesting. The architecture is just nothing my eyes have ever seen before. From the buildings, to the stores, and even the sidewalk and roads. There was so much I wanted to inhale and remember but unfortunately most details have already slipped my mind. Our tour guide is now off and we’re free to roam as we desire so a couple of us decide to visit the market and the next thing you know I have a mouth full of yummy gooeyness. It was a chocolate Neapolitan, something along those lines. It was a four-inch long pastry filled with warm gooey chocolate inside and just melted in your mouth. Delicious. Definitely worth every penny or should I say worth every euro. That’s it, that’s all it cost; one single euro. No worries I’m already planning on going in again for round two.
After what it felt like a full day of walking, we decided to head back to the hotel to rest our swollen feet and huge canckles, we’ve made them suffer long enough. Now I’m in the hotel room checking emails, facebook, skype, phone, and even loading pictures. Got to love technology. It’s been an amazing day so far but it is not over yet. It’s only the first day of Madrid and I’m extremely excited to find what we have in store next. Only time will tell, adios for now.
Espana
