¡Bienvenidos a Madrid!

Well, I made it to Madrid in one piece, but not without lots of trouble.  Missed my connecting fiight in Belgium by three minutes.   The plane didn't leave but they gave away my seat.  Not to worry, because they put me on a flight through Iberia two hours later, and before I knew it I landed in Madrid and was walking through the beautiful airport

Aeropuerto de Madrid-Barajas

From there, hopped on the metro (which is super nice) and made it to my hostel in about a half hour...not toooo bad.  The guy who was there at the desk was super nice.  We spoke in Spanish the whole time.  I told him that I hoped he could understand me.  He said I was great.  It was wonderful, absolutely wonderful.  Basically threw my stuff in my room (SOMEHOW I'm in a private room, even though I booked a 12 person dorm...whatevz, didn't have to pay more so not complaining!) and then I went to explore.  I walked around for 5 hours in the blazing Spanish sun and I feel like I saw everything.  Not really everything, but so many of the main things I've already run into: Palacio Real, Catedral de la Almudena, Plaza Mayor, Templo de Debod, Puerta del Sol.  It's been a whirlwind of a day for sure.

Palacio Real

I was getting hungry.  Looked around for something that I could eat quick.  Stumbled upon this place "Museo de Jamón" which I later learned is a restaurant-bar-cafeteria type place.  they have this whole menu of things that are one euro, and you just walked up to the central bar and tell them what you want. I got a chorizo sandwich and beer which came with a side of assorted sausage tapas.  Total: 2 euros.  I will most definitely be eating here again at some point during the week.  Nice, quick, cheap.

My first meal in Madrid: €2.00

By this time, I was so close to the Reina Sofía art museum and they have free admission after 7, so I got that out of the way while I was in the neighborhood.  Met a nice couple from Michigan online who were traveling for 3 months...Morroco for 3 weeks, Spain for 5 weeks, somewhere else for the rest of it...damn.  Must be retired.  Or independently wealthy.  Saw Picasso's La Guernica which in my opinion was much more impressive than the Mona Lisa.  Not to say that the Mona Lisa ISN'T impressive...but this painting took up an entire wall and I just stood there with my mouth open.  It was very cool.  Google the picture, you'll know what it is when you see it.  Explored the museum for an hour or so and then headed back...so tired.  It's 10:22 here which means its 4:22 at home.  You'll all be in bed when I wake up, yikes.  Enjoy your afternoons...DEUCES.

Museo Reina Sofía

(I'm just going to post a selection of pics on blogs, like this.  Will try and update facebook after each country and just do one album for each!)