Madrid...Madrid....Madrid
We have been in Madrid nearly 2 weeks now!
After Katie´s folks left we took the van along to a garage as the "tubo de escape" (exhaust pipe) had partially split, possibly after my attempts to jump a kerb. This meant waiting 3 days for a replacement part. We entertained ourselves by cruising the city, cycling a giant loop around Madrid, practising Spanish etc. Also started lessons with Guadalupe (our tutor - seems it´s actually a girl´s name). The part arrived, and then the nice fellows at the garage (we have met many nationalities of mechanic now) decided they could weld the old exhaust after all. We celebrated with a "last night" meal in Madrid. At about the dessert stage (Hot chocolate and churros - deep fried sticks of batter) Katie´s tooth decided to come to the party, and left her in agony for the rest of the night. It had been hurting on and off for a few weeks, but this was obviously agony! So...to la dentista in the morning, and it´s time for a "holiday root canal"! for Katie.
This meant another week in Madrid (antibiotics, more Spanish lessons, getting to know the guys at the campground q well). Luckily Katie is feeling much better now, and will have the last of the work done by our friendly and English-speaking dentist tomorrow.
We have tried to make the most of our forced time in Madrid, it´s a nice city if you have to be in one. The Metro is very clean and efficient (although a wee girl opened and got her hand into Katie´s backpack on the stairs this am!) and the centre of the city has tons of entertaining buskers and human statues. Most of the restaurants tend to start filling up after 10pm, Spaniards like to stay out late. On Saturday there was a massive cultural festival, it started at 9pm and ran thru till 7am! Lots of museums and public buildings opened up, as well as street displays etc. It was incredible to be in the main avenue at 3am with thousands and thousands of people, young kids about, old ladies, teenagers. What really struck us was how relaxed everyone was, and how safe it felt. We saw no drunks, no fighting, no yelling or screaming - I can´t imagine anything like it in NZ (or even the UK).
From here we head to Roma via Barcelona for a week in a villa with NZ friends, including Joseph and Miranda Hill. It will be cool to meet their 2 daughters for the first time.
After Katie´s folks left we took the van along to a garage as the "tubo de escape" (exhaust pipe) had partially split, possibly after my attempts to jump a kerb. This meant waiting 3 days for a replacement part. We entertained ourselves by cruising the city, cycling a giant loop around Madrid, practising Spanish etc. Also started lessons with Guadalupe (our tutor - seems it´s actually a girl´s name). The part arrived, and then the nice fellows at the garage (we have met many nationalities of mechanic now) decided they could weld the old exhaust after all. We celebrated with a "last night" meal in Madrid. At about the dessert stage (Hot chocolate and churros - deep fried sticks of batter) Katie´s tooth decided to come to the party, and left her in agony for the rest of the night. It had been hurting on and off for a few weeks, but this was obviously agony! So...to la dentista in the morning, and it´s time for a "holiday root canal"! for Katie.
This meant another week in Madrid (antibiotics, more Spanish lessons, getting to know the guys at the campground q well). Luckily Katie is feeling much better now, and will have the last of the work done by our friendly and English-speaking dentist tomorrow.
We have tried to make the most of our forced time in Madrid, it´s a nice city if you have to be in one. The Metro is very clean and efficient (although a wee girl opened and got her hand into Katie´s backpack on the stairs this am!) and the centre of the city has tons of entertaining buskers and human statues. Most of the restaurants tend to start filling up after 10pm, Spaniards like to stay out late. On Saturday there was a massive cultural festival, it started at 9pm and ran thru till 7am! Lots of museums and public buildings opened up, as well as street displays etc. It was incredible to be in the main avenue at 3am with thousands and thousands of people, young kids about, old ladies, teenagers. What really struck us was how relaxed everyone was, and how safe it felt. We saw no drunks, no fighting, no yelling or screaming - I can´t imagine anything like it in NZ (or even the UK).
From here we head to Roma via Barcelona for a week in a villa with NZ friends, including Joseph and Miranda Hill. It will be cool to meet their 2 daughters for the first time.
posted by Jamie and Katie at 8:41 pm
1 Comments:
Hey guys!
Wow sounds like its been a bit of a crazy adventure in Madrid! hope you are feeling ok now Katie!! sounds like a nice place though! where are you guys heading after spain? any idea when you'll come back to NZ? I have finished my final placement now! so I just have a few assignments and my states to go!!!! its gone so fast! it feels like yesterday that we were in CHCH and i was trying to decide what to do!!
Well sounds like your having a good time :) hope to see some photos of Spain soon :)
Also we have joined up to Skype now... when is is best to catch you on it??
lots of love Abbs
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