I finally arrived in Madrid yesterday after an eventful transition from Germany. I spent most of the flight sleeping, almost like that moth in the airplane window, which allowed for some much-needed rest after a hectic departure schedule. I reached the airport in Berlin much too early, and waiting for the check-in counters to open became a somewhat tedious experience. I wish there was a warning given by the airport staff, who that passing through security too early would lead to two hours of complete boredom due to a lack of open amenities in that terminal. Nevertheless, I passed the time successfully, boarded the flight, and a smoothly arrived to Spain. Despite my nightmare dream, that my suitcase was lost in Madrid airport, few nights before travelling – my luggage was ready for pick-up.
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Embracing the Spanish Warmth
Madrid welcomed me with a significantly warmer climate than the one I left behind in Germany. Thick winter hats and gloves were no longer required, which brought an immediate sense of relief. I mean it was still around -1°C and 0°C, but much warmer than in Berlin. In addition, my persistent sore throat was completely cured, which was quite a pleasant surprise. I attributed the miraculous recovery to those ten-euro German throat lozenges that I had purchased before departure, which apparently worked absolute wonders. The physical comfort of the warmer air combined with the recovery made my arrival even more delightful.
Post-Christmas Sales and City Explorations
I found the city in the middle of massive shopping excitement today because the official closing of the Christmas season had been celebrated just the day before. Massive winter sales were launched across all commercial districts, creating an atmosphere that felt remarkably similar to Black Friday. I saw huge crowds of locals and tourists alike filling the avenues in search of the best bargains. Amidst all this vibrant energy, memories of Germany were still kept close, and I quietly enjoyed a beautiful song that I had discovered in Berlin as a personal soundtrack to this transition.
I dedicated the afternoon to diving straight into the local culture. I took a walk into the bustling centre to mingle with the crowds and experience the lively street life of the Spanish capital. Concurrently, I undertook a practical mission to find a local SIM card to ensure constant connectivity during my year in La Palma. I anticipated new adventures with great excitement, and my initial hours in this magnificent city proved to be absolutely unforgettable and in the end I got Yoigo sim card!
The vibrant avenues of Madrid were found filled with an eclectic mix of street artists and performers. Costumed characters ranging from Mickey Mouse to mythical dragon beasts were seen entertaining the passing crowds, whilst living statues appeared frozen in mid-air to capture the attention of onlookers.
My prize lunch was at Burger King! I know it is not the best, especially when visiting Spain, but it was something quick and on the way and quite delicious.
I also went to see a Christmas tree in Puerta del Sol. I came just in time as it was being disassembled, since it was after the Day of the Three Kings (El DÃa de los Reyes Magos or DÃa de Reyes). It still looked quite impressive and it still looked impressive.
Oh yes, in one of the streets I saw a line of girls lined up in mini skirts and wearing thigh-high fishnet stockings. I was wondering how they are not cold in -1°C. The minute I glanced at them, one of them just jumped into my arms and said “Hunny you are os handsome, let’s f*ck”. Immediately, I understood they are the workers of the night. I just replied “I am not interested” and she kept holding onto my neck “Yes you are, c’mon let’s f*ck”. Few moment later, she found another target and left me alone.
I woke up feeling absolutely shattered abd I had no real idea what time it was, because that absolute hole of a room was so incredibly dark and stuffy. I drank a cup of coffee and ate a croissant for breakfast, which was utterly pathetic when compared to Berlin hostel experience. After breakfast, I headed out into the city to track down the bus stop to the airport that I needed for my upcoming departure. I walked through streets that were constantly packed with people, which was especially true at night. As always, Puerta del Sol was filled with massive crowds. To make things even more chaotic, the grand winter sales began today, and every single street was absolutely teeming with shoppers due to discounts of up to seventy per cent. Unfortunately, I did not possess a single kilogram of free space in my luggage. I walked past all the shops with a heavy heart, just window shopping.
During my walk, I passed the Bank of Spain, and I eventually discovered the City Hall, where I successfully located the bus stop for the airport line. I checked the schedule and realised that the most suitable departure time was four o’clock in the morning. I made the journey back to my accommodation by metro. I foolishly purchased a two-day ticket for ten euros, as I only used it twice in total. In the afternoon, as is the custom in Spain, I took a two-hour siesta. Afterwards, I sat in the kitchen to charge my phone and laptop for the following day while I checked my emails. The hostel only provided a single plug socket in the room, which seemed to be a recurring issue in all hostels here. I became quite thirsty in that room, and I only later noticed that other guests bought beer from a nearby vending machine. Naturally, I grabbed a cold cerveza for just one euro.
I made another trip into the city to get some food. Unsurprisingly, I ended up eating at Burger King once again. I then spent hours wandering in circles through the streets, and midnight arrived before I even noticed it. The weather turned cold incredibly quickly, and the temperature apparently dropped to nearly zero degrees Celsius that night. Feeling thoroughly frozen, I maintained a brisk pace as I walked home. On the way, I stopped to grab a slice of pizza for two euros, which turned out to be unbelievably delicious. It had plenty of cheese and featured a wonderfully thin, crispy crust, which was absolutely superb. A whole chain of those pizza takeaway shops existed there, but I completely forgot the name. I looked at them quite skeptically at first, and I now deeply regret that I did not try them sooner. By the time I finally returned to bed, only an hour and a half remained before I had to wake up and head to the airport for my flight to Tenerife, from where I will reach La Palma.