Espana

Before getting started on Spain, two things: 
1 - The most amazing thing about Espana is that the people here does not make me want to punch them in the face like I want to punch Pau Gasol.
2 - Most of the ladies look like they can fit right in a Shakira music video. Plenty of junk in that trunk, boys.


After finding myself in Madrid, I waited at the Atocha Train Station for my BFF Jessica (Who I met at Israel through the Birthright trip) to pick me up, she lived only 5 minutes away with her wonderful stereotypical spanish neighbors - two guys who listen to Katy Perry, Lady Gaga and Techno music all day; and another neighborS who seemed to have 15 people living in an apartment :)


As I got settled in, Jessica had to go to work, so that gave me free time to explore Madrid, and I did. I went and saw the typical European sights around the city: the Plaza Centre (Plaza Mayor), the spot everyone goes to (Sol), the major street (Gran Via) and the cathedrals (there were several).


I enjoyed walking around Madrid; I felt like it was a different place compared to most Western European cities which felt similar in some ways. The spanish words on buildings and streets contributed to that too.


The museums and sights in Madrid was spectacular, a great Museo Nacional del Prado with various collections of Spanish Artists: Goya, Velazquez and El Greco, the Caixa Forum with the Jardin Colgate (Hanging Garden), Temple de Oebod and Reina Sofia where Picasso' Guernica rests, also trippy paintings by Dali.


One park I enjoyed was the Parque del Buen Retiro. If you ever go to Madrid, be sure to go to that park. Great tanning spot even though I only come in two colors: white and red. W


e went there a second time with Jillian (Jessica's friend) who was babysitting two kids and two of their friends; so 4 kids in all. We went to the park and played soccer. Yes; even though they were somewhere 10 to 13, I kicked their butts in futbol (that's soccer if you didn't know) AND before you start scolding me that they are just kids and I should have went easy on them... well they won the world cup last year. THE WORLD CUP. Everyone in Spain knows how to play football even the old folks and the junk in the trunk ladies!


One side note: they're pretty humble in that, no big signs flyers banners of World Cup Champions or something like that, good for you spain; good for you. Or maybe they all were destroyed in the riots after winning?


In between one of those days; I made a day trip to Toledo based on Jessica's suggestion. It was worth it! Toledo is a lovely town on a top of the hill, the sights were great overlooking the surroundings including the Rio Tajo river. The museums were great too, I enjoyed the Museo de Santa Cruz and Museo Sefari in Sinagoga del Transito - a 14th century Jewish Temple - both free! (thanks Gallaudet Student ID)


Also based on Lonely Planet's suggestion, I went to a local bar named Santa Fe, good food and good beer. Speaking of food; I loved chorizo, olives and fried calimari... those three are quite tasty! 


Don't worry; I enjoyed the Sangria, but it will NEVER jump over beer in the beverage rankings. NEVER.


After it was all said and done; it was time to leave Madrid: Many thanks to Jessica and Ricardo for hosting me in their new apartment and the late night spanish dinners!


So I went to Barcelona for a day, after walking around a few hours without a map, I realized I left my camera and book in the other backpack that I stored in the train lockers, so basically I had no "evidence" that I went to Barcelona and I have no idea what were the sights I saw. But I still enjoyed wandering around the city.


From Barcelona, I was ready to go to my next destination which was Lyon, France and caught a regional train to Cerbere, which in turn will take me to Nimes then to Lyon.


Upon arriving Cerbere in France, the border station between Spain/France, I found out that the train arrived 10 minutes late, and 5 minutes after the last train left for Nimes. I had to wait for three more hours at Cerbere where its main attraction was an unused hotel that looked like a ship. It had a lovely view though; check out their wikipedia page:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cerbère


I enjoyed the small quiet town scene there, and gave me time to think. One simple question stayed with me for awhile and often was from Dirk, a person on CouchSurfing who I will stay at in Germany: 


Traveller or Tourist?


I'd keep on going but since Cerbere's in France, you'll have to wait for the France blog post!