Our first half day in Spain was full of exploring and walking the cobblestoned streets of Madrid. We arrived at 2:00pm and stood in line watching other tourists attempt to use the automated ticket machines for the metro, taking careful notes so we could avoid the same confusion and get to the subway quickly.
The metro here is super quick and was full of people from all walks of life. Young professionals with their tailored suits and glasses, Spanish grandparents with shopping bags, students and people visiting from all over the world. We walked to our apartment to drop off our massive travel backpacks and meet our host. The AirBnb had at least 4 bedrooms. All the windows were in the rooms which were being used by guests and closed off. The hallway was dark and winding. We were walked to our room, and were explained things in Spanish. Thankfully there was enough gesturing to get by. The apartment was super old with wood floors and really tall ceilings. The bed was a mattress in a low platform box. We freshened up and took to the streets of the Chueca neighborhood- Madrid's Gay District.
After a few hours hours, we stopped in a local bar to get Jamon Serrano Bocadillos y aguas con gas. Everyone here has been so friendly and we are able to understand enough to get by. Up the street we found the cutest bookstore filled with plants and an art store that reminded me of a tiny version of my Grandma's store and had the same comforting paper and ink smell.
We stopped for pastries on our way back home. We tried to stay up as late as possible to get back on track but our zombie bodies could only last so long. We dragged ourselves back home around 8:00pm.
The weather was sunny and lovely for our first day.
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