From the plane ride back from Madrid...

This plane ride marks a pause in my frenetic travels. Paris/ Taizé, Vejer, Cádiz, Lisbon, Valencia, Madrid PAUSE. (Córdoba, Sevilla, pause, Barcelona, home)

Marid was different. I didn't feel great, too much fiesta not enough siesta the past week, so I found myself sleeping in, taking long naps, and seeing the city at a generally chill pace. It's a delighful way to travel. You don't worry about missing something and you take time to see simply what you can. My favorite part of Madrid was actually not a part at all. Well, wait. I can't pick a favorite. I loved seeing my friends. But something that was really... meaningful was that I started an excellent book called "Creer, ¿para qué? Conversaciones con alejados" I hope to buy it.

Other than the book, I loved having tapas with my friends who live there and realize that I speak and understand Spanish, just not always "el andalú" I loved going to a Taizé service on Friday night and Mass on Sunday.

As far as geographical sites that anyone could visit in Madrid, I must say my favorite was El Parque del Buen Retiro. The madrileños told me I would love it, and I did. I wanted to stay there for hours, despite the mist and rain. Maybe even because of the rain and mist... While there, I found the castle from The Twelve Dancing Princesses, felt like Alice in Wonderland, and was reminded of my time in Versailles.

I enjoyed contemplating the icons in the cathedral, liked seeing the celiings there too which were gorgeous and different.

I went to Reina Sofia, a modern art museum and rediscovered that I LOVE modern art. It was special to see La Guernica, which is enormous, among other works by Picasso, Dali, and many others.

I stood on kilometer zero, the supposed center of Spain and tried a bocadillo de calamares, a calamari sandwich. It wasn't bad.

I took a 3 hour siesta on accident, went to bed at 4:30 am, and took night photos after watching the Madrid-Atletico match in an extremely smoky bar. Madrid won 4-1. I said they'd win from the start, but there's this willing suspension of disbelief that surrounds Spanish fútbol and everyone else was like "No, it's not a sure thing."

I toured the Royal Palace also. I'm glad I did it, but I wouldn't say it's a necessary thing to do in Madrid. I would have rather seen El Escorial, but that's alright. It's something I've always wanted to do.

And now, off to work tomorrow...