These are the Days of My Life - Madrid Spain

The Christmas lights of Madrid...

Plaza de Opera

Plaza Mayor with the Christmas shops all set up for the holidays...manger scenes and all the little pieces for the crate your own nativity.

Plaza del Sol the main square

The Grand Via...main downtown street with city scape lights

The gay hood...imagine a hundred blinking eyes as you walk down the street...so fun!

These are the Days of My Life- Madrid Spain

Well as the saying goes, All Good Things must come to an end.  My month in Spain is soon approaching it's final hours.  I gotta tell ya that it has been fantastic.  I know, I know I only visited Barcelona and Madrid and there is sooooo much more of the country to explore however I have finished my adventure in two of the most wonderful countries that I knew I wanted to spend some extended time in and they have not failed my expectations.  First the weather although getting cooler have all be fantastic, the rain in Spain has held of for the most part and alowed me to have my last two days of sunshine, shortsleeves and a good mystery novel and enjoy just relaxing in a park next to the palace overlooking the expansive park and mountain range and just soak in the sun.  I know that eventually I will be hit HARD with the winter that is inevitabley going to catch up with me before this year experience has come to an end but if I can put it off even for 1 extra day then i will bask in the sunshine for that extra day. 

I have so much that has been observed that i want to share, fashion, fashion, fashion...it is skinny jeans, thigh high boots for the ladies, it is hair jell piled high for everyone, it is 5 o'clock shadows to full trimmed beards (Bear Heaven), these people are hairy and coiffed.  The jackets all seem this season at least to be the big stitched down filled numbers with big hoods trimmed in fur (faux), blue eye liner/shadow, sorry ladies I'm not a fan but it sure is everywhere on the yooung and old alike.  They actually still have pay phones and hard to believe they seem to be in use alot?? There are these behind closed door gambling dens, machines and betting, they have hooker right outside the Mickey D's which is just up the street from the neighborhood strip mall police station no pun intended.  they love these street vendors selling what I think are lottery tickets aswell as a plethora of street entertainers.  I have never seen so many crative an;d over painted full body costumes some quite amazing others well...not so much.

I decided finally that since Zara is Spanish inspired is the reason for the sometime severe fashion sence of the city.  In Spaian they are not just the suits, ties, pants etc but also some of the real cutting edge runway fashion trends that obviously would not transfer to every market (US) but here the cowl neck shirts on the guys, They wear hoodies like they grow out of the back of their necks, they wear them alone with T's, under bomber jackets, under suit jackets; the hoody is alive and well in Spain.  Am I just that out of the loop in my t-shirt and blue jeans life style...well yeah.  If I had any fashion sense I would get out of the business and fast.  Oh yeah, hats yeah they love hats, not ball caps that would be a tourist or myself, they wear every conceivable design of the how do I descibe it...more of the 1950's business hat not a bowler but i don't know what you call it,  but more importanatly the guys love the gel in their hair and if I have seem one severe haircut they are a dime a dozen in Spain (men and women).  The shaved sides with the gelled mo halk, the shaved one side with long in you face on the other, you name it and the ...guys wear it.  So Cool!  The women are over the top as well, from the young to the old they are dressedto the nines...fabulous.

One thing I definately will bring with me next time to either of these two countries is someone to walk arm in arm with and to stop just about anywhere be it on a bridge, in the square, at the ATM, in the grocery store or in the cross walk is someone to just lean in and give a kiss,  It may just be a peck or it could be an OMG..get a room would ya kinda kiss but it always makes me stop and smile.  The old folks still walk arm in arm or holding hands as does everyone, boys with girls, girls with girls, boy with boys; it may not mean anything romantic or suggestive they are just countries that have not put a label on Human Touch.  It is so wonderful to see and experience and yet so disturbing that other places so many other places are so far ahead of the human conditions that at home are still conditions for ridicule.  We have come so far and yet the journey continues.

I did get my wish last night as the Christmas lights were lit and it has made my final days/evenings filled with the decorations of the season...too soon?  Well at least the cities waited until the day after Thanksgiving...even the stores diplays have not been overwhelmingly seasonal until today.  Up went the Holiday greetings and seasonal colors et al...

Pictures to follow later...

These are the Day of My Life - Thanksgiving in Madrid

OMG..It is one of those night here in Madrid where I just walked around and low and behold I stumble across a movie premier of of a film that is definately a "B" movie, some comedy that co-stars...wait for it...are you holding you breath...I know you want to know...i'm dieing to tell you....Ok it is where all the has beens go after their US career have alll but ended...they go overseas and become these silly amazing "B" movie stars...You have waitied long enough....David Hasselhof.

Not even a staring role but abunch of no names; at least to me; young kids in this movie that the trailer looks like "Dude where's my Car? David strutted his stuff and he looks like he could use a botox injection...He hasn't aged a bit from his Baywatch days. I was a little far in the crowd but what a hilareous way to spend my Thanksgiving in Madrid. I may not have been with family and friends or had the traditional Thanksgiving dinner,,,I ate alone at an all you can eat establishment (salad, pallaia(sp), bar b que something and spare ribs of some unidentifiable animal, pudding, cheese cake and did I mention all you can eat!!! YUM! Anyway did any of ya'll get to see David Hasselhof? So I gotta say this year's Thanksgiving will go down in the books as the wildest to date. No turkey trot or tradition but hey I'm all for starting new traditions of the unexpected nature. Blessing to one and all!!

I treated my self to the purchse of 2 knock off watches ($10.00) which is just like being back in Thailand.  In well alot of foreign countries there are the Africans with a big sheet tied at the four corners that at any moment; police not in the area, unfurl their sheet on the ground and display what I can only imagine as stolen/non-original goods.  you can select from original fake handbags 9all the big names: gucci, LV, Fendi, sunglasses (rayban...; watches (ferrari et al and you have to look and buy fast as they all seem spooked as they are looking both ways up and down the street for any approaching police and then as soon as they have made a few sales they scoop up their display sheet and head for the nearest subway to appear again in another location.  It was hilarious to watch in Barcelona on Las Rambla as about 30 of these rather interesting underground hawkers come spilling out of the subway station set up their wares and then in 10 minutes dissappear again like magic.  Anyway i felt that i deserved a few additional souveniers for my enjoyment when i returned.  Oh the memeories....lol

No left overs from my all you can eat Thanksgiving non-traditional dinner...Yum..Yeah 3 desserts...Bite Me!...lol

David in alll his glory...Not

Don't know what it says but it is a very "B" movies, lower right....see below...

So funny, but he still looks just like that only alot older in person...they say the camera adds 10 pounds..well this movie poster subtracted 30 years...lol

Too soon?...Well i am thrilled that tonight, Madrid is supposed to turn on the lights and i am so excited to see...This city definately still decorates for the people, There are these piazza's, squares, around almost every corner and each has it's own strings of lights/trees/mini stalls ready fro the holiday's spending.  Almost every street has amazing strings of lights that I cna't wait to see all lit up!

Ok, I know not all will appreciate this, however this is another forighn country phenomenon...There are these spraypainted motionless people sitting, standing, cloaked in sometimes some very elaborate costumes...and then some that just spray paint and sit there which is at least a bit more entertaining than just the plain beggars that are on everyother corner that is not occupied by what they like to be called performance artists.  I guess if you call motionless performanace it is interesting.  Tiss the season...not the reason.

These are the Days of My Life - Thanksgiving, Madrid Spain

OMG, it is hard to explain how thankful I am after this year.  Taking my life into my own hands, trembling as they were to retire last year just north of my 50th B-day knowing that i was able to  financially, with good spirit, sound mind (enter your snide comments here) and excellent health.  I am truely blessed.  I have said before that it takes some of us longer to realize our blessings than others who seem to know from day one what their mission in life is.  I am from the latter category but never too late to come into oneself and enjoy the richness of the life you have led and that which you are capable of.  I love dangling my participles...get over it! lol

I have so many friends that I am thankful; for making my year long adventure so memorable...I can't possibly mention you all however I give thanks for my Dad who was my most committed skype follower; I miss you forever knowing you are still following from above.  My sis for stepping in when life changes occurred to be with Mom until I return.  To my family/friends who have been my Fb contacts offering love, support and alot of giggles.  (Robert, Jordy, Norm/Ek, Che, CCS crew, Dee, Iris, Tawana, EG, RV et al...) may all your dreams come true and continues blessings to you all.

A few people have told me how envious they are but too be honest I have always been envious in a good way of all of your sucesses that I always thought came from you ability to know what it was that you wanted and your commitment to reaching those goals.  Believe it or not after a year away I am still no closer to knowing what lies ahead for me but I am a much wiser, open minded and understanding person than any of you have ever known.  I believe that with this experience I have grown into the person that I was headed for with or without my own intervention and I can now say that I am proud of me for being able to embrace my future with confidence that I never allowed myself to admit was there all the time.  Traveling around the world solo and with only 1 language capability is a true testament to my ability.  It has been amazing!

I have been told that the awesome Christams decorations that I have witnessed being erected around the city will be lit as of tomorrow so i am thrilled to be able to see the results.  Spain has about a million plazas that are being decorated in a grand style that very few cities I have visited participate anymore...except the big ones (NYC etc)...I'm not talking store displays, i'm talking city wide street decorations with light strung across the streets every few yards, market stalls set up in every square...It is going to be amazing.  Stay tuned for further updates.

Below are a few of the awesomey hand stitched maps of the world....It is an amazing place..Our World!  I have to say my next adventure will be to continue exporing our world so if anyone needs an experienced travel companion hit me up i would love to share the thrill of continueing to explore.  I travel light, cheap and ready for some of the more out of the way destinations that our fabulous world has to offer!

These are the Days of My Life - Madrid, Spain

  I now know the difference between Barcelona and Madrid....EVERYTHING!.  Hard to beloieve these sisiter cities are in the same country.  They are as different as night and day.  First off my hostel is not new and in the best neighborhood in the city...Uhm it is in the older red light district.  Hmmm something to be said for the upgrades and things to watch for in the marketing.  There is a 5th bed in the middle of the room where usually would be a coffee table or center table I get to have a bed with an asian woman sleeping on it.  Funny how all over the world they come in at the crack of dawn and leave around 5am to catch some flight that must only transport crazy asian travelers, they shop at the high end stores as they alll have a bag or two from YSL/Gucci or somewhere that shows they spent a butt load of money on non-essentials and they will only eat at restaurants that have rice dishes??  Go figure.  Anyway the moral of my rant is that Madrid ain't the same as Barcelona.

I went to church/mass this morning and the goal of international religious experience is to be entertained as I can't understand what they are saying.  Fortunately, the Catholics are big on the floor show so there is alot of replies, sign of the cross, standing, sitting, kneeling, sitting, more kneeling ooops forgot to stand...that and the pure awesomeness of the surroundings.  I tend to sit in back not the way back as that is reserved for the old codgers just like at home that don't seem to be able to get to church on time.  They always straggle in loud as you please like how dare the preist start without them.   It is a riot to watch.  The second best part of church internationally is being able to pick the best church with the most overwhelmingly beautiful interior as I spend alll my time looking around rather than listening to the preist as I don't know what he is saying.  Note to those that know me...I have attended church every Sunday except 6 this year, match that to your own record before you reply sarcastically.  Having attending a catholic mass in my day i was aware when they said the Lord's Prayer and managed to mangle the english version against thier Spanish so that at least we ended together.  The Cathedral i attended was not too far from my hostel and was absolutely  beautiful....meaning i was entertained and blessed during the same hour.  I may have been at the early bird mass as there wer only about 20 people attneding but as I left I saw that there was another crowd crush of elderly coming in so possibly they have multiple services.  It was a nice way to start the Sunday's adventure.

After mass I went to the Sunday market in the Latin quarter.  Talk about a crowd of people.  gotta say it is alot of older folks digging into the old antique stores and the rest is tourist trash/souveniers,,,how many scarves can anyone really wear...but if you needed essentials; socks, underwear, bras they were on sale as well as wool coats, furs and men's suits as well ass the mottley pile of XXL size clothes that are hawked loudly, picked over intently, and basically left on the table all for 5euro.  Needless to say I purchased nothing today as I just am shopped out.  Neither Spain or Italy are my kinda shoppers paradize and anything they have i can get at home and I don't like to shop at home, so enough about that. Then of course as it started to rain rather heavily the umbrella hawkers are always ready for that quick 5euro sale...fortunately for me I have my trusty orange with white polka dot pocket size umbrella that i was given in Japan.  It is not masculine, but it has kept the rain drops off my head on various occasions so for a freebie it has well served it's purpose.  I see many an umbrella cast to the street as it failed to open, broke one of the collapsable arms or the fabric came loose from the arm causing it to fail in it's primary duty.  Mine neither large or impressive does the job.  Funny how my funny little umbrella mirrors life so often.  Everyone wants to be the same and then the minute there is a breakdown they are cast aside for a newer mor efficient model, when the odd hard working one seems to just keep on plugging along.  Lesson...maybe.

I did take full advantage of today's siesta hour(s)...like all six of them, amazing what winter rain does for you motivation.  One word, two syllables...Draining  needless to say it is now almost 11pm and I just finish eating, taking a short evening stroll and am now ending this blog....back to bed...what a great day in Madrid!

These are the Days of My Life - Madrid Spain

I have had a few unique esperiences today that I have the need to share. Zara which is on every street corner in Spain in a Spanish company...DUH? Blue upper lid eye liner is not making a come back so young girls, middle aged women, old ladies and skanky whores in the red light district please stop wearing it....Yuk! I experienced the Spainish night life this Morning literally as I was out and about around 10pm last night. The streets were deserted for the most part but as the clock struck 12midnight it was like a pack of rats abandoning ship as the masses came crawling out of the word work and headed for the bars, drinkng holes and lord now where all else. I guess that traditional afternoon siesta is really a powerful tool to self motivation. The bar I happened to attend which will remain nameless at this time was cranking still at 5am...don't ask me how I know. Note of clarification...No businesses/offices in Spain opens before 10am in themorning and there are some bedraggled individuals on the street at that time or earlier...again I am not taking questions at his time on my knowledge of the bedraggled individulas on the street in the early morning hours...let's just say it was an observation that i may or may not of experienced first hand on several occassions in my not to distant past and/or have vague recall of my younger years and let's leave it at that; shall we.

Speaking of early morning life in the "Red Light District" ...hmmm was I on that topic...OMG the girls as so pretty, I mean they could easily be one of those girls that those scary rednecks get magazines from; for foreign countries to pick out a wife. Augh..what makes it look really ridiculous...they like the spray on tan in Spain and Italy...unfortunately they all look orange, unhealthy and well over sprayed with too much pancake makeup that doesn't match the spray on tan orange, few clothes and bad hair; why is blond with dark roots not a fashion statement...times up no more guesses...Yeah that makes me want to pay to get laid....Not....in this life time. But a girl has gotta make a living...I guess?!?!? It is really hilareous as the street that the ladies of the evening hang out on is right up the street from one of those neighborhood police stations that is in the strip mall...Hookers at one end on sale...Police on the other end hangin out at Dunkin Donuts. Love this City.

Now for my newest line of stories related to Occupy "fill in the city that I currently am residing"...I promise it started as just a nice drink/dinner with a couple of folks that I met at the hostel...and low and behold next thing you know the police have barricaded off the street, there are whistles, drums from at least 10 marching bands doing that really fast drummer beat that they do to get the crowd at the sports games all riled up and then let the political rally of some thousand plus people march right by the restaurant where we are sitting. The restaurant management couldn't have been nicer about accomodating us if it weren't that he and all his staff left the restaurant to go stnad outside to watch the "parade". Needless to say I plan on writing a strongly worded letter to the managemnt of the establishment on the level of their service to their dining guests. So my first step of course will be to take a course in Spanish literature when I get back to the States so the I can be sure to use all the appropriate Spanish words correctly to be able to get my point across. Then of course I will have someone else write it on a old selectric typewriter and mail it after being hermetically sealed in an envelope of which no finger prints can be detected...this sound kind of threatening and I really am just getting to the point that I wanted to make and that is that since all the staff left the restaurant and apparently forgot about us...well....yeah we walked the check. Not walked but the 5 of us ran like school kids, laughing so loud; banging our shins on the table legs and knocking things over to flee that if they wanted to catch us they could have but of course they didn't...even notice we left. So we of course had to follow the rally to Plaza del Sol to listen to the latest rants in a language that only 1 of my companions even understodd but was too drunk on Sangria to comprehend so of course being the only sober one...soberest one, I had to ask and of course got an ear full of the threat to having all school children getting an education and the exhorbetant cost that is deemed unfair to the common man...I'm embellishing a bit because all I really know is that their t-shirts said something about educacion equalization por todo...which I think translates in Engligh to equal education for Dorthy's dog...Toto, probably a mispelling on the hand painted sign. Yeah, I guess you had to be there. But what a fun night.

The Spainiards like to top their buildings with rather huge statuary.  This is one of the tamer. More to come...

Art tumbling into the metro stop entrance.

I have yet to find righties but I will continue my search...

Where I got my 9euro haircut...kind of like the Toni & Guy of Spain.

Love the directional singage even tho none of theses places is where i wanted to go.

Spain also has alot of these metalic stauaries thru out the city....

Life size gummy bears....Yuum!

Plaza de May with the Christmas light hung....They have yet to light them but I believe I will get an eye full before I leave next week...more to come.

These are the Days of My Life - Madrid Spain

Can I just say I will truly miss this lifestyle of mine; something new everyday to explore...or will I.  Maybe I was meant for this traveler/explorer lifestyle cause it sure has become easier and easier to wander my way thru life without structure or care. Maybe I need to pursue some type of travel business that allows this lifestyle to continue.   Memo to Scott:  Look into this line of employment when you return to reality ....LOL.
Todays adventure was a rather weak in information free walking tour.  We did see some of the city that I had not experienced which was a pleasant surprise as previously the tours all went to the most popular sites and not too much that I wouldn't have visited on my own so I did enjoy the morning stroll.
I am currently distracted by the Espana vs Costa Rico soccer game that is on in the hostel common area.  I guess it is a big thing here as there are at least 2 people actually watching it...lol  I just look up when the announcer starts getting excited to see what is happening. 
The rain in Spain remained in the plains today so it was a beuatifully overcast, cool day to wander around the museum area of the city to plan my day for tomorrow.  As my walking tour was from 11-2, my lunch was an hour of people watching, snadwich eating, beer drinking and then finding out that the Prado was free from 6-8, I decided to actually participate in the Spanish siesta tradition and took a 2 hour hap and was back at the Prado at 5:30pm.  It turnedquickly to 10:30 pm so I will close for another day...I hope each of you have a special time each day for doing the things in life that are important and not filler of all the things that we find our selves doing.  Nothing is more important that the things we do for ourselves and even better when then are done from the heart for others.  Both make you feel good.  Enjoy!

Walked past this doorway last night and decided I want this as the entry on my next home purchase.  I am so sick and tired of the renovation/poor plaacement of street lights and signage that detract from some otheerwise awesome photots.  Gotta Luv it!

Hemingway hangout..the oldest recorded restaurant to remain in business per the Guiness book of world records...over 300 consecutive years in business...Yeah but is the food any good; that is the question?  Per the menu it is expensive but no awards for delicious...hmmm

This is the official government seal of Madrid.  There used to be bears in madrid till they were all hunted to local exstinction along with the tree with red berries that the city of Madrid is supposedly named after.  The seven stars and then of course the Crown all have significance but that was this morning and I have had a few beers since then so I don't rememeber...LOL.

My favorite snack.  At Museo de Jamon restaurants which are a standing quick cheap sandwich shop.  The sandwiches are 1euro, the glass of beer is 1 euro, the place is packed all day long.  With each beer purchase you get a little tray of sausages/fried something but I already ate all of them in this pic will do better to take the pic before I devour the subject matter...LOL

Pair of Lion's in front of the court building that were cast from old war cannons.  And then there is me not cast from old civil war cannons but real happy to be in Madrid!!  Grrrrr...

After all the art of all the world that i have admired...Do you know what this is a picture of??.....One of my many oppps photos but I kninda like it....figured it out ye?....it is the palm of my hand....LOL  Such a photographic pro.

Gotta love actually reading all the signage so that you can get in free from 6-8pm.  So guess who came back for the free entry...Love free stuff while traveling...more euros for Museo de Jarmon sandwiches and beer!!!

Autum at the Botanical Gardens in Madrid....Wow it is a lovely time of year to be in an environemnt that actually has seasons.

Boys on the Beach in the Prado.

These are the Days of My Life - Madrid Spain

Wow, I thought I HEART Barcelona..which I did, but Madrid is turing into another love of my life and I have only been here 2 days.  The weather has cooled and the rain fell lightly today but it did not limit my day out in this fabulous city.  I got to wear my wellies and tuck my jeans into my boots and tromp thru the puddles without worrying about cold wet feet.  Yipee! 

I ventured a bit out to the Palace and the Cathedral and the park all of which were either free or free.  My favorite way to spend a Monday.  All the major museums are closed on Monday so I picked the right direction to venture out on my own.  I attempted to take the free walking tour but as I was the only one that showed up, it was cancelled.  I can underatnd as they work for tips that only one person isn't going to well worth the 3 hours of their time.  No worries, there is always tomorrow.  I will try again.  Hopefully they will show me a bit of the city that I have not already seen...lol.

You won't believe what was going on in the Plaza del Sol on Sunday afternoon....wait for it...yeah a political demonstration.  Is the whole world gone to heck since I left my native land???   Protests, riots, countries going bancrupt, leaders being replaced to avoid financial ruin.  I must have really been in the groove to leave to being my travel adventure to be paying much attention to what shape the world was in.   Oh wait a minute, I was in the mode of not watching tv or listening to the radio so that all the negatives of the media didn't distract me.  I have just recently been paying attention as so many of the places that I have recently been...Turkey, Egypt, Italy, Spain...Yikes have all had various travel warnings the i have been made aware of by all my Fb friends. Unfortunately, these kind warnings have been quite a distraction; as I then have to research via my traveling friend network to see if in deed what the media is putting out is really what is going on on the ground (local).  fortunately reality is never anywhere near what the media is proclaiming.  Yeah a handful of bad eggs are as usual spoiling it for the rest of us in the media anyway, but I challenge you to put down the remote, turn off NPR, change to chanelll to easy listening or some other non-crisis of the wrold reporting and take Your world into your own hands.  Those that do will be rewarded.

Note to Scott: Upon return to the real world, do not I repeat do not get caught up in the media babble of how horrible the world is...you have been out there and experienced it and it is all good.  THe focus is to be on what You Can Do, not on what other are not or should be doing.  Keep your focus and enjoy the prosperity of what life is all about!  Wow, I feel better already!  Hope you do as well.

Now back to Madrid...

Another pair of shoes walked to death.  these were the most comfortable daily walking shoes that I bought in Thailand for $12US on the street.  Will miss you thanks for the mileage/memories.

Magic fountain show...do I look a little tan??  5 days of sun on the Bacelona beaches!

The entire show is about 30 minutes played to various songs some mainstream, som local and then repeated 3 times but with different lights/music/water fountain displays...awesome Friday and Saturday nights from 7-9pm.

Odd brass plate in the sidewalk of Madrid?

How can you get lost not only street names but pictures...I heart Madrid...I will neveer be lost again...LOL

Templo de DEBOD..read about it below...

Autum is a real season...the trees are changing colors..who knew?

Framed with my crown..lol..Halo and/or horns optional...

For my Thailand friends...look what I found in Madrid..hardly the same...trust me...not in the Right Neighborhood!!!

If my church as a kid had half the elaborate details that these foreighn cathedrals have I would have been a better acolyte/alterboy...but we had nothing like these...I would still never have listened to a sermon but i sure would have been visually entertained...see below...

OMG it almost made me dizzzzy so I had to climb to the top for a better view...keep scrolling...

OK..what is up with the funky dollar sign on the cupid statue?

Easy to follow directional arrows for the directionally challenged traveler like myself...I heart Madrid...More later Enjoy!