Thursday Sept 3rd 12:30pm I am sitting in the apartment of my friend Noemi. Its right in the middle of a bunch of apartment buildings so it feels like I'm a part of the city this time. Lots of humanity, not alot of tourists etc.
I woke up late in Madrid, which was nice, took my time getting ready, got packed up and headed out the door. I went and bought a coffee to go and sat in a near by park. It was such a nice day I didn't feel the need to rush off to the train station. I walked around (with all my stuff) and saw a few sights before I walked back to the metro station. I saw the Museo de Jamon (you'll see a picture) I saw what looked like a royal palace of some kind. Gardens and a Cathedral (catholic, so once again I walked in on a service.)
I ran into some one from Dallas TX. He offered to take my picture in front of the palace, I had to laugh because I am not in many photos like that. I am either taking them of myself or not in them.
The Madrid metro was pretty smooth, as usual. I do metros the best. I found my train, transferred to the correct line and got to the main train station without problem. Once I got there I was sent to an office specific for longer distance trains. This was a first. You go into a crowded office, take a number and wait. 30 minutes later I had my ticket to Valencia for a train leaving in 15 minutes.
Basically this whole leg of the journey was a learning experience. You have to get in the right line (they don't queue here like the english do) get to the right platform and then PAY ATTENTION to the carriage number etc BEFORE you enter the train. Its not like the english trains where you can just walk leisurely through the cars to your seat. No, the seats are all assigned, everyone has huge luggage and its nearly impossible to get past people. So I made the mistake of getting on car 1 instead of 3 and had to fight an upstream battle to the right spot. My HUGE backpack as it turns out was small enough to fit in the overhead bin so I was in luck. Other things I learned the hard way here. Use the bathroom before you go through the gate, there is no going back. Use teh bathroom even if you think you don't have to go. Also buy a snack, pack some food, eat and drink something because its going to cost more on the train and you never know how long it will before you emerge on the other side and you find cheap food again (at least I never seem to know...)
I spotted Don Quixotes windmills on the way to Valencia! I forgot that just outside of Madrid is the La Mancha area where the book is based. Sort of. I love that book! The movie they played on the train was an american movie dubbed in spanish so I didn't watch it.
3 1/2 hours later I was in Valencia train station, which is an amazing building! Full of mosaics and color and it was really neat! Very hot here too. I got to their metro and off at the stop for Noemi's place and waited in the park for her to come get me. Good thing too because had I attempted to wander (she gave me her address) I would never have found it!!
Her apartment is like a mini hostel. 4 people live here, from all over the place and so it feels pretty international.
Last night we walked to a park to watch a movie they had set up outside. We saw Shanghai Express with Marlene Dietrich. It was hilarious, the acting was so bad back then!! The movie was in english with Spanish subtitles so I enjoyed it through and through. Fantastic costumes she wore!!
Today I think I'll walk to the beach and have a look around. Valencia is famous for its paella. Tonight we were all invited to a dinner party at their friends apartment so that should be fun. It feels a little bit more like normal life being here. These girls here are workers, students, living in the city and having friends and it will be like I'm living here for a while. Should be nice.
Karen
Photos: the hotel I stayed at in Madrid. cathedral, monument, Me with clean hair and happy face. Museo de Jamon, didn't do it justice the entire wall behind me was legs of cured meat hanging.
There is a photo of me in front of the palace, the windmills, the train station in valencia (picture didn't do it justice) and then the theatre set up last night.
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