Madrid

Jules and I spent over a month in Madrid (from Nov. 1 to Dec. 8), studying spanish at a great language school called International Estudio Sampere. I really like Madrid, its has plenty to do, but without feeling really crowded and touristy. I took a break from taking as many photos, due to the fact that we had less free time on our hands and that it's harder to take great pictures when I'm in just one location. Here are the results of the photos I did take.

	Here is yet another sunset photo taken at the Retiro park in the middle of the city. Actually I have to credit Jules with this photo, I was too busy watching all the people to be bothered with taking a photo. Thanks Jules.
	Within the park there are all kinds of street performers, jugglers, musicians, costumed folks, you name it and they have it. This photo was of a fire twirler, taken with a slightly long shutter speed. Fire twirlers have a rope in each hand, with a weighted ball on the end, that the douse with kerosene, light, and then twirl it all around themselves in different ways. It's great to watch.
	Here's two fire twirlers going at it at the same time. I used a longer shutter speed on this one, which is why there is more streaks around them. I like how it's possible to see the different styles that the performers are using. One fast and one slower. I also like how the background is lit up in this photo. My favorite photo in Madrid.
	This is a fountain also within the Retiro Park, beside the Palacio de Cristal. A strip of a rainbow is visible within the mist.
	OK the reason I put this photo on here is because it has a funny story. The drunk guy standing in the middle of the intersection was "helping" direct traffic. It's a fairly slow moving intersection but he wasn't improving his chances for survival by putting himself directly in front of cars several times. At one point he sat on someone's hood who tried to go past him, and then rolled off onto the ground as the motorist drove away. Eventually the police came, but they just talked to him before letting him wander off. We saw all of this from our window (where the picture was taken), it was very entertaining. One of those "only in Spain" stories.
	This is a shot of the homage to the Virgin of Madrid being brought down the street during the Virgin of Madrid Day parade, on Nov. 9. Nobody we talked to knew the story behind the holiday, including an english newspaper based in Madrid. The only thing citizens seem to know is that they get a day off of work because of it.
	Here's an example of a typical "menu del dia" in Madrid. Two tasty dishes, your choice of beverage (if you order wine they bring a whole bottle), bread, and your choice of dessert or any coffee after the meal, all for 6 euros. Only served during lunch on the weekdays, which is when the Spanish eat their biggest meal of the day.
	Warning, the remaining photos aren't that interesting unless your interested in our everyday life (parents and stuff). This shot is a photo of the road our apartment is on. Our window is the one in the upper-left corner of the photo. It slightly resembles an archer's window within a castle, perfect for taking photos of drunks trying to direct traffic at night.
	And here is the subway station that we walk 5 minutes to every day. The big lit up sign is a subway map, in case it's not painfully obvious.
	Our bedroom in the furnished student apartment. Small but well lit and clean. Based on other student's descriptions our apartment seemed to be one of the best: near a metro that went directly to the school, clean and without problems. It suited what we needed perfectly, so we loved it.
	The living room/dining room, including a TV. Great for watching Austin Powers in spanish, or watching drunks direct traffic outside.
	The kitchen, where we cooked many tasty dishes. Just don't try to have more than 2 people in the kitchen at once.
	Our roommate Geraldine's room.
	Finally, the common bathroom, complete with bidet. I was never brave enough to try the bidet out, it looks inconvenient and a pain in the behind to use. ha ha ha.

Back to My Photos of Spain

Back to News