Last Sunday in Madrid

 

Sundays in Madrid never feel like Sundays. They feel like… nice… they just feel nice.

 

This last Sunday we went to do some tourist sightseeing… Rastro (the Sunday market in Madrid), Chueca (Madrid’s gay neighbourhood) to drink some cañas, Templo de Debod (boring), Parc Oeste (boring boring), eating in Principe Pio (some sort of a mall), Retiro park – bongos, some beer and something to smoke, Palacio de Cristal, bla bla bla. The interesting part came when we went out for “botellón” in a small plaza between Malasaña and Chueca.

 

Botellón means drinking and smoking on the street. Julie2 joined, we were together with Guy’s brother, Owen, and his cute girlfriend, Bob. A guy from País Vasco also joined. Unfortunately I didn’t catch his name. A really interesting person. In the plaza there were many people, playing the guitar, drinking and smoking, laughing and chilling… A nice atmosphere, relaxed, nice conversations, the kind of moments that you feel that should last forever.

 

I don’t know why, but I can’t seem to find my words today. Might be because of Bob Dylan – Hurricane in the background, might be because I’m writing just because I have to, because I don’t want this moment to be forgotten anytime, I should have written about it that night. I need a kind of a gadget that I can carry with me all the time and write all the things that I’m too lazy to hand write.

 

Well… life is still good in Madrid although I don’t have a house, I’m changing apartments every week, although I’m working more, although the end is so close and it’s starting to be too hot. Madrid, you keep showing me life and I still love you for that.  

     

Madrid, give me a break, will you?

Ok… too much time has passed since I last wrote. I should remember to write about El Paular and… too many things. I’ll just start with my most recent experience: Bucharest. You are probably wondering why would I call it an experience as it’s my own city. Well… it’s for the first time I went home (if that is my home and not only my house) with him.

I always went on and on about how much I love Romania and now I feel that I love it even more. But I am still not prepared to go there to live, maybe I’ll never be, but it remains my country, my first love, Bucharest is still my lover that I always cheat on but that never leaves me and that I’ll never be able to dump.

It was a normal summer week-end in my home town, a little bit agitated maybe and too short. The only things missing to make it a perfect week-end were my best friend and the sea. Why am I in Spain, a country almost surrounded by water and I still crave for the little Black Sea? Oh yeah, because my sea (yes, MY sea) was the only one that has always had time time and patience to listen to me.

I had a bad day today but thinking about my sea makes me feel more relaxed and makes me dream. Now I know that he’s reading every line I’m writing and I feel restrained sometimes. I could write in Romanian but I’m not. Am I really international? I don’t think so. I think if I were international I would lose my identity. Should I say it again although it’s such a clishee: I’m Romanian and I’m proud of it. And there it went.

I started writing about our week-end in Romania and I ended up with my same old shit (as I always do when I write freely). I actually bought a Dracula T-shirt. How touristic is that? Well… I just felt like I was on vacation with my child and as I just couldn’t say “no”, just as I’ll probably not be able to do with my children. I’m week when it comes to love.

Bucharest was absolutely empty. I had forgotten that the sea is 2 and a half hours away and that every week-end everybody goes to take a swim. Should I mention how jealous it made me? The minute I got home (strange that I’m using “home” to define Madrid) I started looking for tickets to go back again with him, this time to the seaside and to my grandmather’s village (which is actually a town but… I like considering it a pueblo). No chance. Too expensive. Idiots!

Well… there would be still a lot to talk about but I just consider that this will do it. Thank you for coming with me, for fitting so well into my other world and for letting me enter your world here.

Good night Bucharest, thinking of you…

Madrid, te amo los domingos

Sunday is a day usually hated by quite a lot of people. Well, when you’re in Madrid you learn how to love Sunday mornings, Sunday afternoons, all Sundays. I woke up with an ache in my shoulder after sleeping on only one side, with a head ache after mixing alcohol, and still, what a nice Sunday morning. And yes, there’s a good reason for that, but I’m keeping it for myself for the moment.

After breakfast and a long shower we finally got out of the house. It was sunny and raining. A little bit cold, but not too bad. We wanted to see Reina Sofia, I was hoping that I can finally visit one museum in Madrid after living here for seven months. I had a feeling that I wouldn’t, and I was right. The museum is opened only until 14:30 on Sundays. So he comes up with another idea, a thing that I also wanted to do for a long time: Teleferico. And up we went.

The view is far from being spectacular, but the time with him was. I got back home around 8 o’clock and went to sleep. Now I woke up but I’m not planning on staying up for too much longer.

Good night Madrid, even if you don’t sleep, I’ll see you tomorrow. Surprise me and show me sun! 

Zoo Madrid

Today we went to the Zoo. 16,90 EUR the entrance. Way too expensive, but we had a nice day. The penguins were absolutely adorable, all the animals were sleeping in the sun, lots of children, it was nice indeed.

 

I was expecting a bigger variety of animals, we couldn’t see the reptiles (“disculpen las molestias”… yeah, yeah, the usual), there was no crocodile, I couldn’t quite understand why the price of the entrance was so high. At 17:00 the dolphine show started and I must say that it was really, really good.

All in all the Zoo is worth seeing if you live here. As a visitor, Madrid can offer you many other things, so if you don’t have time, concentrate on seeing the city (my advice).

After the Zoo Blondy went home, I went to school with CMBP, then home, I cooked, we had dinner and we went to Pablo’s apartment. Even if I had a busy day and a busy week, I still can’t go to bed early. Well… I’m saying it again and I’ll probably always say it… it’s Madrid, Madrid, Madrid.

De Madrid al Cielo

Well… a busy week, that’s why I’m behind with writing. After Toledo, on Thursday, my best friend (we’ll call her CMBP) came to Madrid from Barcelona (she was there to give her exams for the Masters that she will start in October). I picked her up from the airport, we went on Fuencarral, ate and drunk in a dirty bar (one beer was for free) – 6 EUR one menu, enough for 2 girls, I don’t remember how much were the canas (cana = small beer).

We went for a touristic walk, Plaza Mayor, La Latina, Lavapies, Atocha (the place where the terrorist attack took place), Plaza de Santa Ana, together with La Colorada, and then to Cafe Hawaii, my favourite, of course. Argentino, Taki and Parisiano joined and later on also did Pablo and Cesar, two of my Spanish neighbours. CMBP and me drunk some canas and the rest had red wine. After Hawaii we went to a rock (rock’n'roll) club/bar/something near Tribunal… I forgot the name. We had fun and headed for home late.

Just when I thought that the night was over, Pablo and Cesar were at the window (we can see each other in the back yard, we’re “very neighbours”) and they called us to their place. And so we went… They played the guitars, Pablo classical one and Cesar the electric guitar. Absolutely wonderful. The night couldn’t have finished any better.

On Friday we went shopping more or less because we went on calle Serrano, the “brand” street, so we could only look from the outside… and almost cry near the wonderful thousands euros shoes, purses and fashion.

Nighttime we went out with Blondy and Taki, first to a tapas bar, Callao area, then La Catrina, a bar where they were playing nice jazz (I can’t believe that I’m actually saying this) and a little bit of rock. After La Catrina we moved to the club/bar/something from the other night. We closed the bar (that’s how we call it) and went home.

On Saturday we went… I don’t remember where… strange… hmm. Well, nighttime we went to Comedia, a disco near Plaza de Santa Ana. Nice, bad R&B music, I’ll only go back because I made friends with the bartender. Oh, good cocktails also, one of the best Strawberry Mojitos I have ever had, 6 or 7 EUR depending on the time (after 00:00 they are more expensive). We went home, had a little chat and went to bed early as today was a rough day.

We woke up at around 11, had breakfast and went to Rastro with Argentino and Parisiano. Rastro is a market, I don’t know exactly how to describe it in English, more like an outside fare. I bought 2 posters – one with Marilyn Monroe and one with Tacones Lejanos (one of Almodovar’s movies) – 15 EUR in total. The weather was great, sunny, hot, absolutely wonderful.

We went back, ate and quickly, quickly to Retiro. Palacio de Cristal and bongo, of course. At 7 we went to Tomate’s house, walking again and going up 5 floors, no elevator. Monica (American) also joined and… out for a walk yet again. Tribunal, Patatus, we had salchipapas (fries and sawsage) and canas. At ten I was sooooo tired. We got home and I decided that the night was not over yet so we went out again, trying to find Beauty Bar that turned out to be a hotel… So we stopped in another bar nearby, had a cana and went home, to sleep this time.

It’s 02:25 and tomorrow we planned to go to the Zoo, so I should go to sleep. Well… anyway plans… plans… plans nothing.

So, good night Madrid, I’ll see you tomorrow.   

Toledo

Today I was to Toledo with Blondy. I have been planning this trip for a long time. We were supposed to go on Saturday, but, due to health problems (dirty health problems), we reschedueled. I woke up at ten a little bit dizzy after last night, got dressed and… Toledo, here we come.

Last night I was out after my classes with a collegue from school, Italian. We had some beers in a bar in Chueca (the gay neighbourhood from Madrid) and at about 1 o’clock I headed home. Blondy was not in so I called him. He was out in Palentino with Taki, our new flat mate, Turkish. Palentino is a bar nearby, a Spanish dirty bar, lovely. I went there and continued on drinking. I don’t know what the time was when we got back home. So… I started drinking and going out on Monday. Why not? It’s Madrid! 

Now speaking about Toledo, in my opinion this city is a combination between Segovia and Avila. If I hadn’t been to Segovia before, I would have said that this is an absolutely unique and wonderful city. It is wonderful indeed, but not unique. Old small streets, romantic but not romantic enough, too touristic. Nice things to see, but 7 EUR the entrance in the main Cathedral… come on, this is too much. Student or not, child or adult, 7 EUR. It’s a church people, don’t turn it into a museum and into a money machine, please! 20 degrees Celcius today in Toledo, so the weather was on our side.

The two ways bus to Toledo was 7,90 EUR/person, and it’s at about 70 km away from Madrid. When we went, because of the busy highway and all the stops, we made more than two hours. I was feeling like we would never get there. When we came back, we took the 20:00 o’clock bus and we got to Madrid in less then one hour.

We came home, went to the Chinese market downstairs, bought some food, Blondy cooked pasta, we stayed in the livingroom with Colorada, Argentino and Taki, Taki played the guitar, it was a really nice day.

Toledo is great, I hope I can go back and really have time, energy and money to visit it. Oh, and sun, of course. By the way, while we were walking round the old streets I heard the news from one window: presented by Andreea Esca. You Romanians know what I mean.

Well, enough about today… or maybe not, but it’s time to leave the blog now as Madrid is telling me that I’m tired. Goog night Madrid, you’re better than Toledo, and you know it!

Ultimo dia en Madrid – 2007

Well, today started as a bad day. I woke up, said goodbye to Pedo (she went to Korea for the holidays), I could barely speak, I started speaking to her in Romanian. Strange. I went back to bed and I slept until 14:00. Argentino left at 16:00 and I just had to get out of the house.

I went to check out one company. The address was Paseo de la Castellana, but I had no idea that this street goes round half of Madrid. Well, I guess I don’t really know Madrid. It still surprises me and it still makes me smile. I got off the metro in Plaza de la Castilla and I finally saw them: the two towers, Puerta de Europa. I had no idea they were there. And then I started walking: next metro station, Cuzco.

And… surprise, surprise, Madrid makes me smile again: Santiago Bernabeu. I saw it for the first time after living here for three months, and by mistake. Shame on me. After walking some more, Nuevos Ministerios. It’s not the best part of Madrid, but I liked it, it felt cozy. Proxima estacion: Gregorio Marañón. Next metro stop, Colón. And I finally decided I was tired and I have to take the subway.

While I was looking for the entrance my phone rang and trying to find it I fell. I fell in Madrid wearing high heels. Nice one! Well, it was because of some stairs. No, actually I don’t have any excuse.

I went home, ate and went last minute shopping to buy my mama something and some things that my friends asked for. I called Blondy before coming home. He sounded a little bit strange. Of… I feel that even if tomorrow I’ll be home, I’ll leave here a big part of myself. Now I’m packing and still listening to Sabina’s “Yo me bajo en Atocha”.

Madrid, I’m coming back, wait for me and please be the same. Love, me.

Salamanca

24-11-07

Ei bine, incep cu ultima zi si voi continua cu cele doua luni de pana acum. Ieri am fost in Salamanca. Spania este intr-adevar surprinzatoare. Salamanca este un oras destul de mare si foarte istoric. Nu stiu de ce, toata viata m-au fascinat Bisericile si catedralele (Biserica scris cu majuscula, asa am invatat la Religie).

 

Ei bine, in Salamanca am vazut cea mai frumoasa catedrala. Aerul rece, catedrala imensa, seara. La lasarea intunericului luminile s-au aprins si catedrala s-a schimbat, a devenit si mai frumoasa. Pasarile… nu stiu ce fel de pasari erau dar zgomotul pe care-l faceau iti ingheta sangele in vine.

 

Nu m-a impresionat Universitatea, nici muzeul superb pe dinafara si plin de kitchuri in interior, nici gradinile, nimic adunat cat m-a impresionat acea catedrala de care mi-a parut rau sa ma despart.

Ziua nu a inceput bine pentru ca n-am dormit decat 4 ore inainte sa plecam, insa cred ca s-a terminat bine. Am ajuns acasa tarziu, cu ultimul autobuz Salamanca-Madrid. Vreo 3 ore. Ca de obicei, in autobuz m-am simtit iar ca in liceu, am ras oprindu-ne numai cand ne mai aminteam de ceva cat de cat important, ca mai apoi sa continuam.

 

Americanca l-a sunat din autobuz sa-i spuna sa cumpere bere pentru ca aici, dupa 23:00 nu mai poti cumpara alcool (lege) si oricum nu prea mai gasesti magazine non-stop… de fapt, nu gasesti deloc. Si stam in Centru! El era in alt oras si a spus ca nu vine acasa. Atunci am simtit cum o mare bucata de cer se prabuseste peste inima mea.

 

Am ajuns acasa foarte obosita, cu gandul ca ma bag in pat fara sa fac dus, ca vreau doar sa dorm. Surpriza… era acasa! Nu numai ca era acasa, dar m-a intrebat daca vreau sa ies cu el. Pentru prima oara intrebarea imi era adresata mie si numai mie. “Ok, unde mergem?” “Nu stiu, te sun sa-ti spun unde suntem” “No, you come and pick me up from home!” “No, you come there!” “Than I’m not coming.” “Fine, have fun” “You too”. Scurt, sec, apoi nu stiam cum sa fac sa dau timpul inapoi. De ce tocmai acum mi-am exercitat doza puternica de orgoliu, de ce tocmai azi.

 

Pana la urma ne-am intalnit. Si am fost doar noi doi. Era frig afara, parul meu zbura in toate partile, imi curgeau lacrimile din cauza vantului. Ei bine, in Spania s-a lasat frigul. Si cu toate astea, imi place din ce in ce mai mult. Nu stiu cat la suta are el de-a face cu treaba asta, cert este ca imi place. Aici. Si de el. Si mult.

 

Dupa 45 de minute de mers in frig si vant am intrat in primul bar inca deschis, intr-unul din cartierele centrale ale Madridului, renumit pentru zecile de baruri. El… deja beat. Eu… obosita. O bere, doua, trei, am pierdut numarul si am inceput sa-i vorbesc. Si el mie.

 

Nu stiu daca va fi ceva… de fapt… trebuie sa fie. Lucrurile nu pot sa ramana asa, voi avea grija sa nu ramana in acest punct. “You’re hard to get, easy to keep and hard to dump”. Exact asa este. Insa cel mai dificil… este greu de obtinut. Nu cred ca mi s-a mai intamplat niciodata sa lupt asa de mult pentru cineva… la inceput. Problema este ca stiu, simt ca si el ma place si ma vrea dar… pe langa faptul ca este timid cred ca este si putin las. Orice ar fi, ma simt excelent, simt din nou ca traiesc, ma simt iar tanara si sincera sa fiu… mi-a fost al naibii de dor de sentimentele astea. Acum… trebuie sa ma pregatesc sa ies la plimbarea de duminca seara. Si de data asta ies cu el. Si desi e la mai putin de 5 metri si o usa distanta, mi-e dor de el si abia astept sa-l vad.

 

Am ajuns acasa la 6 si ceva dimineata. A dormit cu mine pana la 9. Apoi mi-a fost frig.