Here. Again. :)

I am very happy to relay that I have arrived in Spain, and am looooving every moment! The trip over was tough, having only slept 3 hours the night before my departure, and later a total of 3 hours on my plane rides over. I never have been able to sleep well on planes, for those of you who can, without purchasing first class: I’m JEALOUS! Although, I’m convinced the key to overcome jet lag quickly is to exhaust yourself on the trip over, spend the entire day out  and about, finally going to bed at a normal hour. Thus far it has worked like a charm.

Yesterday, Esteban picked me up at the airport in Madrid, around noon local time. After dropping things off at his father’s apartment in Madrid, and a delicious salad (with REAL Spanish olives, cashews, olive oil, and a dash of salt—made by Esteban) we made our way to the center of the city. We visited the very center of Spain, which is why Madrid was chosen as the capital of the country. In the past, Spain’s capital was Toledo, but in the 16^th century, Felipe II decided to move it to the very center point of Spain—Madrid, which happened to be a small farm town at the time. Obviously, a lot has changed since then, as Madrid is now the 4^th largest city in Europe.

While downtown, we had to visit La Plaza Mayor (above), one of my absolute favorites, for it´s beauty,  ambiance, and delicious food. Following la plaza, we stopped at a little “bar” for some “café con leche” (more or less, espresso with steamed milk). It is nearly impossible, if not completely, to come across anything comparable in the states. There have only been two occasions in which I was reminded of my absolute FAVORITE drink in Spain: 1. Short latte from a cute little coffee shop at Case Western. 2.  Latte made from Honduran coffee beans.  While incredibly delicious, they were less than divine.

                As I reached the end of my coffee rather quickly, Esteban kindly reminded me that we were in no rush. Ooops! I immediately apologized for my “Americaness”.  Not to say that all Americans rush, but I know I certainly do much of the time. I tend to forget how evident simple cultural differences such as these are, until actually being here—living it. And, Oh, how good it does feel!  To just let go of the anxiety of needing to be here or there at a specific time. Dinner is over, you clean up. Right? Wrong. Why not stay and enjoy some good conversation without giving a second thought to time.  Oh, it is great to be back! On one hand, it makes me laugh to see things like taxi drivers waiting outside the train station, playing cards on a mat placed on their trunk. On the other, it makes me smile and want to live a little less seriously… to bring fun and play into my work. Luckily, I think I´ve chosen just the career for that!

                Now, I´m back in Valencia, breathing the costal air and walking past the places I´ve remembered so fondly, and waited so patiently to see again. Yet, I´m certain I´ll be back to Madrid, for this time it cast it´s spell on me.  For Madrid, I now see, embodies Spanish life. From the bustling roads in the booming metropolis, men in women in their best business attire, to the winding streets sprinkled with bares (little restaurants, modest and extravagant) sure to be inhabited at all hours on the clock. Madrid is the meeting point of classic and contemporary Spain. It is tranquil and charming like Spain´s small country towns, yet immense, breathtaking, pristine and busy, like Europe´s finest. And the people, well, the same.