As predicted...

I haven't been very good at keeping up with writing in my blog, now have I?

Well, it's been just over 2 weeks since I've arrived in Madrid, and my days have been a mixture of exploring the city, making friends, getting sick and trying to get unsick, spending time with family, and starting my new job!!!

I've done many things, but I'm going to have to break it down, so as not to turn this blog entry into a novel (if you know me and my writing style you know I often have a tendency to write A LOT). Ironically, it takes me a while to sit down and commit to writing something, but once I do you can't stop me. I'll do my best to be brief :)

Let's start with the most culturally interesting piece... the touristy stuff!

So there are, of course, many museums in Madrid, but a couple weeks ago I went to el Museo Reina Sofia. It's awesome because it's got a lot of Pablo Picasso's work, including the amazing "Guernica". I also enjoyed some colorful and wonderfully bizarre paitings by Dali. The great thing about this museum is that it's free on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings, so I can go back as often as I want. Woohoo! If you've never heard of the Guernica or seen it, check it out below. It's a very poignant piece of art symbolising the death and despair of war.

Another fun thing I did was go to the Plaza Mayor with my cousin this weekend. I didn't bring my camera because I'm not quiet ready to look like a total tourist, but here is a picture I found online so you can get an idea of where I've been. It's another tourist hot-spot, it always seems to be packed, and all around the huge plaza it is lined with cute little restaurants and people enjoying a cafe or meal outside. Great place to people watch!

And check out how pretty it is at night!
We went to have a very typical, very cheap, and very yummy lunch of "bocadillo de calamares". Basically a squid sandwich, and it was oh so good! While we found a little corner to devour or sandwiches we watched the street performers pretending to be statues (my favorite by far was the toilet paper fairy), chatted about our boyfriends and marriage and children, and witnessed a very sweet proposal!

Another very typical Madrileño thing is going to El Rastro on Sunday mornings. Basically it's like a massive street fair/flea market. It's neat because it's in the middle of a regular neighborhood so every windy street you take leads you to another unexpected treasure. Some people bring their old junk to sell, but it's mostly new stuff for nice and cheap. I got a super cute scarf for just 2 euros! score! After walking around for an hour we got overwhelmed and went home, but there was a lot that went unseen so I'll definitely be going back.

Anyway, little by little I'll do the touristy stuff and take lots of pictures, but right now I'm trying to integrate into my new life here and live like a local :)

Hasta pronto amigos!