Not MIA, just loving Spain

I'm sorry. I haven't been keeping up, but there's so little time to when the world around you is so beautiful that anywhere you look makes you want to pull out a camera.

Like, I don't even really know what it is about this city, I just dig it. And maybe if I lived here I'd feel differently. Maybe I'd feel trapped by all the buildings and cobble stone streets and no body of water or forest to retreat to. But for now, it's magic.

After staying at Manuel's, I booked into a next hostel because my buddy Sean who I met in Lagos was in Madrid and wanted to hang. The hostel I booked into was sketchy, but it was cheap so I went with it.

By now I feel a bit accustomed to sketchiness in hostels and how to deal with it. Basically, don't make eye contact, don't engage conversation, don't pay attention to the strange behaviours of attention seekers. Oh, and bitch face. Don't smile, just look at the ground, look away, or shoot them daggers, then look away.

I met with Sean and his buddy Matt, and their lovely roommate Chiara. We played tourists, went out for Tapas, and drank til late. We saw Easter parades which were kind of creepy, cloaked people in pointy KKK type masks, carrying a fake dead Jesus. Easter is intense here.

Sunday we went to Segovia. A town an hour or so outside of Madrid with this incredibly large beautiful aqueduct system that bisected the city perfectly. You could also see the mountains in the distance which, in my opinion, is always a plus.

We saw a Disney-esque castle, a beautiful Cathedral that we weren't able to enter, and really, really old homes. Like dare I say medieval times-type architecture.

I wish I had more to say. I'm kinda sick. Spain is great. The food's okay. Portugal's food was more memorable for sure. But there's just something about the language and the people here that's soothing and welcoming.

It looks like I'll be here for another two days before moving on to Barcelona. Then I'm onto Morocco April 11. Yep, I've decided, I'm feeling the fear and doing it anyway. I'm supposed to meet Haley, but that may not happen for scheduling reasons.

Sean said he'd come with me. He bought the ticket today, so I have company and I won't be alone. Don't worry. He's a really sweet Texan man, southern gentleman, actually engages my conversations on aliens, and was a Captain in the American Military, I think he's a decent travel companion to have if you ask me.

Plus, I've been walking around the streets of Madrid alone at night after our outings, and it's not so bad. There's lots of people around, you just gotta choose big well lit streets to go down, and take your phone out strategically to look at the map. These last two nights though I've moved to his hostel, way less sketchy, more friendly, and safer.

I actually quite like it here. They serve cake and churros for breakfast, and there's free dinner tonight. Not to mention a movie theatre type room very DIY style, but very cool.

If you're ever in Madrid, check out Sungate One. You won't be let down.

I feel like my next post should have nothing to do with travel and everything to do with anything else. Just like my pre-travel posts. I'll think of something. For now, that's what I've got for you.

AML