They were sold out! The last seat for the train straight to Pamplona sold out literally seconds before I got to the ticket counter, and this was still before noon. Luckily, I was able to arrange an out-of-the-way travel plan that still got to the city. After that, I wandered around the part of the cit I found myself in, and was completely awed by the gardens these Spanairds maintain for free public access.
I walked around for a good bit and felt like the city was more or less deserted, coming up on my first experience with the siesta phenomenon. Since I felt like I was melting, and I hadn't gotten any good sleep in the airport, I headed across town to my hostel to check in and have my own early-evening nap.
I slept a bit and woke up to one of the other girls in the room drying her hair, calling me a sleepy-head and informing me she was Canadian. We chatted for a bit and instantly hit it off, and then she left to go reserve her own seats on the train to Seville and I left to go grab some dinner.
There was a supermarket within walking distance of the hostel and I grabbed some sandwiches and fruit. Once I got back to my room, however, the Canadian girl also returned and proposed that we go out and grab some tapas instead. The next few hours, we spent laughing and roaming the streets of Madrid, telling each other our travel stories and our travel plans, each of us nodding in sympathy to the "traveling alone" complain the other had. We tried to get into an Arabic bath a little after 11, but the sessions were closed until midnight and I didn't feel like waiting. We saw a poster for flamenco dancing and grabbed seats inside a restaurant just in time to catch an amazing show, where the man danced like he was in a violent passion and had no mother way to express himself, and the ladies danced like they were graceful willows trembling in a breeze.
The next morning, since her train left at 9 and mine left at 9:30, we rode the metro together and said our sad goodbyes at the train station. Even though I really, really liked her and we had such a good time together, I don't remember what her name was.
I'd planned on being in Pamplona for the first day of the Running of the Bulls festival, which starts on the 6th. I learned, sadly, that the first day didn't have any of the actual bull running, and I'd already booked my train ticket back to Madrid and my hostel for the 6th, so while I got to watch the amazing crazy start of the festival and the opening ceremony, the only time I saw any bulls were from a far away distance while they snorted in their pens.
I think, though, that the opening ceremony was more than enough. There were people crowded elbow to elbow, street to street. And nearly everyone was wearing the same outfit of red and white. If I were anything close to being claustrophobic, I would have started panicking and gone into a fit. The crowd is unbelievable. It's also full of those punk jock type, fist-pumping maniacs who think they're the gods of the earth...and who are here to show off just how cool they are. And full of those preppy, snotty girls, wearing the most ridiculous little outfits, flinging their hair side-to-side like they own square. The festival attracts a lot of different types of people, but the one majority that I noticed was this jock-type, and I got irritated just watching them. I also got really, really rushed with all the crowds.
They also showed videos of the last few years' runnings, and of the bulls goring people...so, yeah, I definitely don't want to see that. I had a blast at the opening ceremony, and now I'm back in Madrid, and I'm very, very happy with my situation.
I'll be in Madrid for the next few days, exploring the city and tasting their foods. I had Ox tail with my Canadian friend, along with some sort of goat cheese and Spanish rice -- all of which was astoundingly delicious. I can't wait to get home and to try to make some of these foods myself. In Greece, I tried octopus, which was tasty but strange and I don't think I'll try it again any time soon. I also had ton and tons of gyros, and so much tzakazi sauce that I think I'm Greek by association at this point!
Popi mentioned a thing about the number of stamps I have in my passport now. The answer is... 4. Entering and exiting Iceland, and then entering and exiting the UK. Aside from that, due to the freedom of transportation act or something like that for the EU, I don't get my passport checked when I cross borders using the train. They check it when I fly, but it's more like just an identity check, not a validation to enter the country check. I was a little disappointed at first, because I would have loved to have stamps from all the different countries, but I've forgotten about it until he asked me. It's really, really easy to move around here, sort of like how easy it is to move about the states.
I miss everyone and wish I was there to enjoy the summer. I have this grand scheme in my head about how we'll have this huge BBQ or something when Andreina and I get back. Im having a lot of fun here, but I do miss what I'm missing out on back home! I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer so far!
Location:Calle del Desengaño,Madrid,Spain
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