¡Estoy Aquí!

Estoy en Madrid, salva y sana. En un café, bebiendo un smoothie.

I feel like I've come back home. Last time around I only spent a few days here in Madrid, but getting around is a breeze and I don't feel like a tourist at all. It's like a day in Manhattan, except no one speaks English and, apparently, I don't speak much Spanish anymore. But I'm determined to get my skills back up. I haven't spoken a word of English since I boarded the plane and I'm going to try to keep that up as long as the circumstances allow me.

There's a viejo loco standing at the café counter directly in front of me. He's sipping wine (alone at 2:00pm) and mumbling (what I can only imagine are) obscenities. So far I've managed to decipher "puerco" and "joder". He's glaring at me and he's scary as hell, but I'm holding my ground. I'm a resident of Spain for the next 4 weeks.

He's switched his attention to the camarero now. "Por Díos," he says. He's refusing to pay €2.90  for his wine. He drops a coin (and then an f bomb), he drops another coin (and then an insult to the handsome waiter). Slowly, my Spanish is returning to me - if only the curses, I'm grateful for it. On the way to my hostel (which is a 4th floor walk up), I passed by at least 2 prostitutes so I'm prepared to get curt if I have to, once the sun sets.

I've finished my smoothie and learned all I could have from my amigo viejo so I'm off to site-see and take care of some last minute business.

Until next time.
un besito de Gran Via.
        Amanda.