Spain from Day 1 (4-5 julio)

We got to the airport and finally figured out where to go.
· Security check
· Flight
· We arrived in Madrid around 7:45/8:00 a.m. Spain time, which is 2 a.m. normally. Madrid is so busy! But then again, it’s the country’s capital. I think 98% of people in Madrid smoke. I was coughing up many a lung.
· Info booth…out of luck.
o Well Thank Goodness we Espeak Espanish (Hi kiddos from Phonetics!). It wasn’t in its normal location (it “moved”)—but at the “new” location, it was closed! Hello?!
· Calls to the USA…no luck!
o I called my “house” in the States. Our normal number resulted in a lady saying Dime into the phone. I was like, Whoa. Wrong number! I learned after many mistaken numbers that you need to dial 001 and then the number to have success. Not sure if it’s the same thing with texts.
· We called Carmen. Actually, Jess was like, “Maybe you should call Carmen?” So I did. And she understood me!!! (Well duh, or else I wouldn’t be here, ya know?)
· Bus ride and the snoring guy (video to follow).
· Carmen’s place
· El almuerzo J
· Stop signs…are universal. As in, STOP signs in Spain say STOP on them (as opposed to PARA or ALTO). However, they are red and round here.
· Boomer dog…I’ve seen two on my first day here. Pictures of course J My porkchop dog (a Westie) appears to be livin’ a dog’s like in Spain, as well as in The Jerz. However, these Westies were not in the “porkchop” category like my Boomer. Possible cause—they eat DOG food. Not McDonald’s.
· El parque
· Playgrounds
· The beach
· ETA
· Michael Jackson
· New favorite Spanish word – REBAJAS!!!!!
o For the uninformed, my two favorite Spanish words have always been zambullir (to dive. No surprise.) and mujeriego (a womanizer. It excites my mouth.). Well, this new word is…rebajas!! REBAJAS basically is like a major discount season! I’m in luck b/c rebajas take place in July and January! Spain’s economy is also in luck.
· Beer…Carmen treated us to a cerveza with lemon. Apparently this “beer” is ¾ lemon and ¼ beer. Turns out the beer isn’t even alcoholic. It’s similar to O’Doul’s in the US. Then again, I don’t have anything to compare it to since I’ve never had a drink before. Paul and Nancy—sorry to disappoint but the beer thing is just not my style. I couldn’t even drink the cerveza con limon and it was non-alcoholic beer! Carmen and Jess finished their drinks, but I drank less than one-quarter. Carmen asked if I didn’t like it. I felt bad so I said it was just different, and with all my drugs I’m not supposed to drink, anyway. That’s when I found out it wasn’t even real alcohol! Maybe I’ll like the wine?
· Dinner
· TV
· I think I’d like to move here.

More later…(dos) besos desde Espana