To star off my long and independent year in Spain I decided to go to the capital city of Madrid. A city full of so much culture and history with every step. It’s hard to describe the atmosphere of this city, it’s so old and so young at the same time, it’s so busy and crowded yet so relaxed and chill, time doesn’t seem to be major priority in the culture at all. For example, when going out to eat tonight, the waiter didn’t bring us our check for a while until we asked for it, and for some reason, we were in no hurry to leave. We just sat and enjoyed the warm nights air, and admired the plaza full of your everyday spanish citizens riding around on bikes, playing salsa music and drinking wine. It was a perfectly relaxing meal and we were in no rush to end it. Also people eat dinner until very late at night here, around 10 even, they go out late to the bars and clubs and take naps (tiempo de siesta) during the day (sounds like the perfect kind of life style to me!) But time is a whole different dimension here, the day goes by slower and is filled with less stress and more laughter, I’m so in love with this city so far. Just having the opportunity to walk around this beautiful city and be in awe of the subtle way a busy city like Madrid flows, makes me so grateful to have the parents I have who have given me this opportunity with full love and support through all of the stressful agendas and financial obligations it has taken to get me here. Hopefully one day I can repay my parents with the same kind of gift of opportunity that they have given me.
