Más y más...

Where to begin...let's see. Well, on Saturday, we [the men of the house] worked all day tearing off doorknobs and locks in preparation for the painters that are coming later this week. It was pretty tiring, but interesting to learn that father figures are generally the same no matter where you go. When working with their sons, it seems to be a universal law that they must make fun of their strength. Girly nicknames and gay jokes aside, it was fun male bonding. At night my cousin and I went to a discoteca.

First, we went to her friend's super modern, posh flat for a cocktail party. I had some cheap sangria and we played the ever-popular drinking game, Kings [well, the Spanish version, anyway.] We then met up with Teresa's friend Ricardo, and his friend from Cádiz, Santi[ago]. Kings worked a bit too well, as we were some pretty typical borrachos [look it up] walking to club BUT. Teresa's friend works at the club, so we got the VIP discount. In the club, around 01:30, the dance floor was still completely empty. We got drinks from the bar and started to mingle with everyone around, until us guys discovered an international truth: us guys hate these places. Seriously, it was no different than a club in the states. Most guys stood around, watching the girls dance with the handful of guys who actually could, and we just talked about how much we suck at getting girls. We left the club, tired and smoky, and made our way home.

In the morning, Teresa, Santi, Ricardo, and I went to El Rastro, the biggest freaking flea market I've ever seen. The word "market" doesn't even do it justice. Imagine an entire district of tightly packed streets, lined with shops. Now imagine that every square meter of road, sidewalk, and wall is selling something at super low prices. This market/bazaar/thrift store/bargain shop is seriously crazy. There was literally everything you could imagine. There was a shop with every Airsoft gun ever made. Airsoft isn't even legal here. There was a shop selling only toy cars from 1960 or earlier. If you've ever been to a mall on Black Friday, or on the Saturday before Christmas, you haven't seen El Rastro. The sheer volume of people was staggering. The most amazing part: this happens every Sunday. At least, as long as the weather permits. But for real, this would rival the crowds at Walmart if it claimed bankruptcy. Transition Sentence.

Yesterday, we pretty much hung out all day, eating a ton of food as always [I think I'm getting the hang of it, too]. In the afternoon, we went to El Parque del Retiro. It's roughly the equivalent of New York's Central Park. Beautiful, open, and full of tourists, el Retiro was pretty relaxing. Although it was only 10°C [multiplied by 1.8, plus 32, equals 50°F], it was a nice day for a walk in the park. We took some pictures, and wandered our way to Teresa's favorite restaurant: McDonald's. Dreading the smell of fast food and the unsightliness of their bathrooms, I reluctantly followed into the abyss. Wait, no. This place is actually nice. There wasn't a single red and yellow logo anywhere. Everything was modernized, the golden arches subtly engraved in brushed aluminum. Super-European was the motif, and the menu was way better than expected. I got the N.Y.Crispy, a surprisingly delicious burger, but I could have also opted for the Chicken Bacon Onion, or the deluxe potato wedges. Or the beer; beer at McDonald's! I didn't get the McBrewski, but perhaps I will go back someday and get one. After, we ran home in the rain and went to bed.

Today, we hung out some more, and then went for a serious walk. We walked across most of Madrid, seeing some cool places along the way. We chased pigeons, checked out a cathedral, and of course, visited the Egyptian temple [because what else belongs on a cliff overlooking the city?] We didn't do much else, except for packing. Tomorrow morning we're going to Salamanca until Sunday, for la Semana Santa. I'm pretty sure my internet access will be nonexistent, but I'll have plenty to share when we get back to Madrid. I'm really enjoying this lifestyle, and I can definitely tell that my way of thinking is changing a bit [besides the whole bilingual thing going on]. Anyway, it's time to sleep, for tomorrow I have to get up early and...sit in a car for a few hours. ¡Hasta Luego!

Brian