Already,
I’ve been in Madrid for about two months, and it has been very eventful!
Recently returning from a St. Patrick’s Day trip to Dublin, Ireland; I realized
a few reasons that prove how much I’ve adapted to Madridian lifestyle. First,
let me say that contrary to popular belief, the Irish are not excessive
drinkers; the liquor stores close at 10pm and pubs shut down at 3am, unlike
Madrid. Spain has spoiled me into expecting most places to be open until 6am,
at least. It was a bit difficult our first night in Dublin; we didn’t start
even getting ready to go out until 11pm and were ready by midnight – just like
we do in Madrid. That was before we knew the city went to sleep at 3am. It was
an early night.
One
place that I wish did stay open a bit later is the library. Even at school,
doors close at 9pm. If you’re not out those doors by 9pm, you are literally
locked in and must find the guard to unlock the door (as learned from
experience.) Yet, because the last metro runs at 1am, staying open too
late wouldn’t make much sense anyway. When I first arrived to Madrid from
Fayetteville, it didn’t occur to me that I would need a metro/bus/train pass,
“called an abono in Spanish.” I never thought about; not that I assumed it was
free public transportation like home, but I just never paid any mind to it. For
someone under 23, the cost is about 40 euros per month. On that note, my rent
is about 400 euros/month plus about 20 euros for additional housing expenses.
Other unexpected things include the lack of heating (since electricity is so
expensive, most people invest in robes, hats, and thermal blankets ;) the smell
of constant cigarette smoke (which I have inevitably gotten use to by now ;)
and my irresponsibility of the small things. To date I have lost/gotten stolen:
iPhone 4, canon camera, my abono (the first one I purchased,) two credit cards,
a leather jacket (the perpetrator was kind enough to leave my house keys on the
floor instead of in the coat pocket,) and I have temporally had my purse held
for ransom (not a huge deal, just a big misunderstanding lasting for about 3
days – my passport was in the purse so I made sure to get it back!)
While
I become little more home sick every time I lose an item, I remind myself that
it is only an item. This city is undoubtedly growing on me. The architecture is
beautiful, the parks are serene, the people nice (at least the older ones,) and
Madrid simply offers an endless amount of culture. Even though I have a handful
of months left in Spain, I’ve recently become paranoid that I will not venture
out enough to see its hidden beauties that truly make the Madrileños proud of their city. My
next step is to invest in another camera and capture as much of this beauty as
I can, especially now that it’s beginning to warm up and sunnier days are
ahead.
