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From Asia into the European Union! I headed to Greece from the south of Turkey, eager for a new culture shock after 5 weeks in one country - a record for me! First shock in Greece was that the alphabet is not Roman, but rather Greek… doh Trish! I spent a weekend in Athens and enjoyed the small glimpse of the city I had, but I was looking forward to Spain and did not really do a trip to Greece justice. Oh well.. I will have to return one day and visit a Greek island and definitely in the summer. Greece in winter I think just doesn’t cut it. I was really impressed with how easy Athens was to navigate - I had been expecting horror traffic and ugly 60’s apartment blocks but found that there is a looong pedestrian only cobbled path linking Ancient Greece together, so you are able to wander along from the Acropolis for a spot of philosophy and then onto the rock from which St Paul preached Christianity and converted the Athenians. All without contact with the modern world of traffic lights and car fumes. At the end of this cobblestone path is of course the market. Open air in the beautiful Greek sunshine, I enjoyed shopping for some second hand clothes. Some wicked finds there too! It was also a living perspective on migration and the underground markets. Vendors on the outskirts of the market stood poised over their goods, ready to pack up at a moments notice and flee if authority was sighted.
My favourite part of Athens was visiting (history dork alert!) the National Archaeological Museum The statues of Zeus, Athena, Hercules etc made Greek mythology come alive for me, statues which are dated to hundreds of years B.C!!
I really felt I had hit the Contiki backpackers trail in Athens. The girl who checked me in at the hostel was from Perth too and recognised my face, although neither of us was sure from where. The owner of the hostel was from Perth too. I tried to do justice to a weekend night in Athens and went out on the town with fellow Australian and American backpackers, but was rather bored by hearing only English and sadly tucked myself into bed by 11pm!
But don’t worry, the tales become much more exciting in Spain. That’s because here the party doesn’t even get started until 11pm! I have been in Spain now for just over 2 weeks and the time has flown by.
My first impression of Madrid was formed at 11pm at night by catching the Metro from the airport to hostel. This time, getting lost was a proud moment for me because I was able to ask for and understand directions in the local language. Madrid, even at this perceivably late hour was alive with people everywhere, so I felt quite safe getting lost and eventually finding my hostel. I was ready to test the bed in my eight person dormitory as soon as I could, but upon hearing that there was snow forecast I bounced up and found lots of energy. With some lovely American study abroad students I headed out at midnight to find some food, drinks and in my case hopefully snow! I found my first Spanish beer and tapas, but alas no snow in the night.
The following morning though the world was white!! Apparently this was very unusual for Madrid, so obviously it was in my honour, I could not be a normal Australian tourist at this time though and run around like crazy in the snow as I had an appointment to volunteer with the same organisation which I had worked with in Australia. I was so excited and eager to get there but did not reckon on a) my stupidity and b) how hard it is to walk in snow! For those of you as silly as me, Calle de Don Pedro and Calle de San Pedro are not the same street. Also, whilst snow might look very pretty from inside looking out a window, its really hard to walk in. I felt like I was trying to ice skate. Its also hard to look respectable rather than wet and bedraggled after a brisk walk in the snow. Eventually though I found my way… right into Christmas Appeal and knee deep in presents. I was volunteering for a children’s Christmas Party, so have spent my time in Madrid happily preparing presents and decorating for the party, which was held on the 4th of January. It was headfirst for me into a special tradition unique to Spain.. Fiesta Reyes Magos, the Party of the 3 Magic Kings. Here the tradition is not Father Christmas coming down the chimney on December 24th, but a visit from the 3 Kings through a window on the 5th of January. So the 6th of Jan is a special holiday here, and the party was held for children before this on the 4th. We spent hours preparing bags of toys for different ages children, and hid them behind a decorated banner. So picture at the party….. a very small room sparkling with Christmas decorations, 200 very excited children, a huge mound of presents just out of sight, Snow White as MC of the event, a magician providing pre-dinner entertainment, a table laden with juice boxes and chips and all foods child like, a press of parents eager to see the delight on their childs face, and a throne for each of the 3 Kings accompanied by their elves. It was a magical afternoon and I am so glad I could be a part of it, although I’m not sure how much use I was as a volunteer… trying to contain the excitement of children is hard enough normally but so much harder when you don’t speak much Spanish! My favourite part of the evening (apart from sitting on King Baltaza’s knee.. photos coming soon) was when a child said to one of the Kings… “I have been a very good boy this year” and the King replying “but you didn’t eat your dinner last night.” The poor, nervous child stuttered back…”but I don’t like peas!!!”
The people I have volunteered with here have been like a second family to me, absolutely wonderful. It meant I have been only a little bit homesick throughout the Christmas season. The Spanish sense of humour is wicked, and be prepared if you are coming to Spain to eat lots, party lots and enjoy life to the full! The Spanish friends I have made here have been wonderfully patriotic and proud of their country and heritage, which is great for me as it means being shown all the best parts of the food, culture and activities. On Christmas Eve I was invited to dinner with a group of guys I met through the organisation. We shared a very typical Spanish meal with lots of seafood, ham, salamis and a beautiful sweet stewed meat for main. I arrived early so I could learn some Spanish tips in the kitchen. Trying to communicate was fun too, as only one of the guys spoke English. The night before there had been a small party at the house to decorate the Christmas tree which I had also attended.
Christmas Day was a non-event for me though, although I perked up on Boxing Day and tried the European version of watching the cricket - watching the soccer with a Canadian and Italian mate. We had also roamed the streets of Madrid as tourists, standing in the exact geographical centre of the country and in true Aussie style deciding that it was beer o’clock at lunchtime. Unfortunately I got struck down later that night with gastro or travellers “illness” or something so can cross that experience off my list!
2010 began for me by eating grapes.. Yep that’s right grapes. Another tradition here in Spain, started by some very savvy grape growers is to count in the first 12 seconds of the New Year by eating a grape with each dong of the clock tower in the Puerta del Sol - the main square in the centre of Madrid. It is said if you can manage this difficult feat you will have good luck for the year. I was lucky enough to be invited to join a party so saw in the New Year at a house party with a United Nations like guest list of German, Italian, Spanish, Algerian and Peruvian fellow partyers. We watched the countdown happening in Puerta del Sol on the television. There was quite a lot of people to wish Happy New Years too, and this was made difficult by the quantity of grapes bulging out of my mouth… eating 12 grapes in 12 seconds is difficult!!! So no good luck for me this year! In true Spanish style we headed out to a bar at 2am. The bar was handing out dress ups, mostly related to the running of the bulls. I had the very auspicious costume of the person who waves the red flag at the bull - which perhaps was appropriate for my personality??? I had great fun encountering others dressed as the bulls and practising “running the bulls” with them and shouting “Olay!!!” All the excitement was too much for me, and I was one of the first to head home through the streets of Madrid at 5.30AM!! I hope everyone else’s New Years was just as much fun!
The party never stops in Spain - also was lucky enough to be here for the big parade for the Three Magic Kings day... its a parade to delight the children with lots of glittery floats, fireworks, acrobats, lollies thrown into the crowd so of course I was enchanted! It was a couple of streets away from where i am staying, so was right in the midst of all the excitement.
So after being in Spain for 2 weeks I decided enough as enough of speaking Spanglish and I signed up for Spanish classes. Have had three days of classes so far and while my brain hurts, my Spanish has improved. Its been 2 years since I was in a classroom... how time flies. The school is fantastic as its just the teacher and two other classmates. I got into trouble this morning though as i kept staring out the window at the SNOW! So even though people keep saying "it never snows in Madrid" it has twice since I have been here! Very exciting.. my Danish and Norwegian classmates thought I was very strange though to be bouncing up and down in my seat at the sight of that white stuff. I have signed up for two weeks of classes in the mornings, and wil continute to volunteer on some afternoons as well as do all the touristy stuff.
Speaking of tourist stuff.. went to a town called Toledo, very close to Madrid. It is UNESCO listed and for a very good reasons.. its so so pretty. Will not try and describe it in words... just check out the pictures.
Have also visited the Prado a couple of time whilst in Madrid, getting in touch with my non-existent arty side. Its around the corner from where I am staying so makes a great evening activity away from the cold.
And this weekend am planning to go to a soccer game!!!!! FUTBOL!!! Real Madrid versus Barcelona I think... hopefully I will come out of the manic crowd alive. Can't wait to expereince the madness.
Will say hasta pronto (until next time)
Am flying hugs across the world to where ever you are
Love TRisha :)
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