I finally get through and retrieve my stuff. There is a couple of African American guys on the other side laughing at the commotion I just caused.They introduce themselves and after complimenting me on how well I speak English (obviously not knowing where NewZealand is) we decide to grab a drink while I wait for my flight. A bottle of coke later and I am in the line awaiting the bus to the plane to the mad seat scramble I have come to know so well. I avoid the madness and find a seat. Soon enough I am at the Madrid airport.
This has to be the most confusing airport in the world. I have no idea what the signs say, so I sneakily follow the group in front of me. Then the confusion starts. The bags aren't where they thought they would be and the group seems to split up! I continue to lurk behind a couple that I was originally following and after about 10 minutes of them changing direction they head through an exit that I am not sure of. I wander around like a headless chicken for the next few minutes before approaching security staff and being pointed in the right direction. I then have to walk all the way back through the airport, finally find the couple, get back into stalking position and follow them to the baggage area. The carousel starts after 10 minutes and finally I am reunited with my luggage.
I head through the gate and out to the taxi rank, line up and get in the cab for the most insane ride I have yet to encounter.
I walk up to the cab, and the man opens the door for me and takes my bag. Once he is in, he asks the address and types into his gps. he speeds off and takes a sharp right. He begins to make conversation and we very quickly establish that he barely speaks english. He speeds around the streets, darting in and out of lanes. He is talking on his phone loudly to someone in spanish. He turns to me and says something. 'I dont know what you mean' I reply. "you are very hot" is his response. I laugh and look out the window - omg have I just been kidnapped? is he going to sell me to the man on the phone? The speed gets faster - we are now doing 130 through the streets! Im scared, but even more to say something. We burst out on to the motor way and he drives even faster. we are now going 150 and he is talking on the phone in a loud voice. He ducks in and out between the traffic. I text Leo-my friend meeting me, hopefully I will be there in one piece!! Soon he slows down and drives into civilisation again. We are either near leos place or somewhere completely different and I will never see my friends again. I sigh in relief when I see leo out on the road waiting.
the taxi comes to an abrupt stop and leo opens my door. He talks to the taxi driver in spanish and I hand over 50 euros. I thanks the man, and tell leo about the crazy drive. he informs me that they all drive like that, and that was normal. Hmmmmmmm. He takes my bag inside and we go into his appartment. I unpack, get changed and head out to the lounge to catchup with leo and de-brief about my trip. after an hour we decide to head out and have a quiet dinner and drink. he takes me to the local pub where we have a beer and a wine. So much to catch up on, we talk and laugh and order another drink. Two drinks turn into five drinks. the quiet night is now 11pm. We decide to head home. On the way we pass Leo's friends bar and stop to have a drink with them. They have all finished work and are enjoying a drink and smoke outside the bar. I am introduced to them all and soon I have a delicious mojito in my hand. Once again, one mojito magically turns into three, and talks of a nightclub begin. Apparently up the road there is some kind of event on - I cant understand every thing they mean - but it sounds fun! After a few more drinks the clock hit 1am and we are in a taxi to the night club.
We walk in and it is amazing!! great music, huge dance floor and awsome atmosphere. We get a drink and head to the dance floor. After a few moments I notice the amount of gorgeous guys on the floor. In fact - they are all gorgeous guys, a lot without shirts and I am one of only five girls in the whole club. Click - it is a gay pride event!!!! It is a lot of fun, and hillarious to watch the interactions. The guys in our group make sure to keep the girls near by, and we all have a fun night dancing until the lights come on and the club closes. It is 8am and we head outside into the sunny day that awaits. We make our way to the closest pizzaria and replace all the calories we burnt off dancing.
After our delicious breakfast we jump in a taxi and head to the closest park. We all lie down under the trees in the warm sun and have a nice nap. A few hours later we head down to another local pub that the guys know and sit down for an afternoon beer. The owner is friends with pablo and so brings us olives and bread to begin. Another beer is ordered and more food fills the table. We relax in the sun with our food and beer - what a nice way to recover from the previous night. Madrid is so relaxed. The people greet each other with loud banter and friendly hugs. The owner joins us from time to time. I don't understand the jokes between them in spanish - but the atmosphere is friendly and fun. The sun slowly begins to descend, we pay the bill and start to head home.
On the way, suprise suprise the boys know another pub owner in the area. And so, being the social creatures that we are, decide to head inside and join in for another drink. By this time, with the amount of smoking every one seems to do over here, the second hand smoke has almost completely stolen my voice. I spend the next few hours nodding and smiling as I can't do much else! Finally we are finished and make our way back home to Leos house. It is 11pm that night and I havent been home since I arrived the previous day! I get inside and crash on the couch. Within minutes I am asleep.
The next afternoon (yes, afternoon) I awake after much needed sleep. I get up, shower and get ready for the day. After breakfast, makeup application and a quick facebook update, I check my phone. There is a message from Pablo and an invitation to another local bar. I accept and agree to meet later that day. Leo arrives home from work and I attempt to greet him - my voice is gone completely!
After a delicious tuna salad for dinner, I head out to meet pablo and see this new pub he told me about. Again, we walk in and everyone seems to know each other. I love the warm friendly/family type atmosphere I have experienced in spain so far. After they greet each other and have a catchup we head outside to the deck area - what an amazing view. It over looks madrid, and apparently this is where celebs come when they visit. So I sit down and enjoy the view with my glass of moet.
The following day I get up pack my bags and ask leo to call me a taxi. The time spent in madrid was so much fun! I have drank enough to supply a small country in my two days here, but now it is time to head to portugal and see my beautiful friend fabiana! The taxi arrives and Leo helps me with my bag. After a quiet goodbye ( I still have no voice) I make my way to the airport to catch my flight to Lisbon, and to experience my next adventure . . .
p.s due to the amount of drinking and partying in madrid, I took limited photos, I more than make up for it in portugal though lol, stay tuned :)
I walk up to the cab, and the man opens the door for me and takes my bag. Once he is in, he asks the address and types into his gps. he speeds off and takes a sharp right. He begins to make conversation and we very quickly establish that he barely speaks english. He speeds around the streets, darting in and out of lanes. He is talking on his phone loudly to someone in spanish. He turns to me and says something. 'I dont know what you mean' I reply. "you are very hot" is his response. I laugh and look out the window - omg have I just been kidnapped? is he going to sell me to the man on the phone? The speed gets faster - we are now doing 130 through the streets! Im scared, but even more to say something. We burst out on to the motor way and he drives even faster. we are now going 150 and he is talking on the phone in a loud voice. He ducks in and out between the traffic. I text Leo-my friend meeting me, hopefully I will be there in one piece!! Soon he slows down and drives into civilisation again. We are either near leos place or somewhere completely different and I will never see my friends again. I sigh in relief when I see leo out on the road waiting.
the taxi comes to an abrupt stop and leo opens my door. He talks to the taxi driver in spanish and I hand over 50 euros. I thanks the man, and tell leo about the crazy drive. he informs me that they all drive like that, and that was normal. Hmmmmmmm. He takes my bag inside and we go into his appartment. I unpack, get changed and head out to the lounge to catchup with leo and de-brief about my trip. after an hour we decide to head out and have a quiet dinner and drink. he takes me to the local pub where we have a beer and a wine. So much to catch up on, we talk and laugh and order another drink. Two drinks turn into five drinks. the quiet night is now 11pm. We decide to head home. On the way we pass Leo's friends bar and stop to have a drink with them. They have all finished work and are enjoying a drink and smoke outside the bar. I am introduced to them all and soon I have a delicious mojito in my hand. Once again, one mojito magically turns into three, and talks of a nightclub begin. Apparently up the road there is some kind of event on - I cant understand every thing they mean - but it sounds fun! After a few more drinks the clock hit 1am and we are in a taxi to the night club.
We walk in and it is amazing!! great music, huge dance floor and awsome atmosphere. We get a drink and head to the dance floor. After a few moments I notice the amount of gorgeous guys on the floor. In fact - they are all gorgeous guys, a lot without shirts and I am one of only five girls in the whole club. Click - it is a gay pride event!!!! It is a lot of fun, and hillarious to watch the interactions. The guys in our group make sure to keep the girls near by, and we all have a fun night dancing until the lights come on and the club closes. It is 8am and we head outside into the sunny day that awaits. We make our way to the closest pizzaria and replace all the calories we burnt off dancing.
After our delicious breakfast we jump in a taxi and head to the closest park. We all lie down under the trees in the warm sun and have a nice nap. A few hours later we head down to another local pub that the guys know and sit down for an afternoon beer. The owner is friends with pablo and so brings us olives and bread to begin. Another beer is ordered and more food fills the table. We relax in the sun with our food and beer - what a nice way to recover from the previous night. Madrid is so relaxed. The people greet each other with loud banter and friendly hugs. The owner joins us from time to time. I don't understand the jokes between them in spanish - but the atmosphere is friendly and fun. The sun slowly begins to descend, we pay the bill and start to head home.
On the way, suprise suprise the boys know another pub owner in the area. And so, being the social creatures that we are, decide to head inside and join in for another drink. By this time, with the amount of smoking every one seems to do over here, the second hand smoke has almost completely stolen my voice. I spend the next few hours nodding and smiling as I can't do much else! Finally we are finished and make our way back home to Leos house. It is 11pm that night and I havent been home since I arrived the previous day! I get inside and crash on the couch. Within minutes I am asleep.
The next afternoon (yes, afternoon) I awake after much needed sleep. I get up, shower and get ready for the day. After breakfast, makeup application and a quick facebook update, I check my phone. There is a message from Pablo and an invitation to another local bar. I accept and agree to meet later that day. Leo arrives home from work and I attempt to greet him - my voice is gone completely!
After a delicious tuna salad for dinner, I head out to meet pablo and see this new pub he told me about. Again, we walk in and everyone seems to know each other. I love the warm friendly/family type atmosphere I have experienced in spain so far. After they greet each other and have a catchup we head outside to the deck area - what an amazing view. It over looks madrid, and apparently this is where celebs come when they visit. So I sit down and enjoy the view with my glass of moet.
The following day I get up pack my bags and ask leo to call me a taxi. The time spent in madrid was so much fun! I have drank enough to supply a small country in my two days here, but now it is time to head to portugal and see my beautiful friend fabiana! The taxi arrives and Leo helps me with my bag. After a quiet goodbye ( I still have no voice) I make my way to the airport to catch my flight to Lisbon, and to experience my next adventure . . .
p.s due to the amount of drinking and partying in madrid, I took limited photos, I more than make up for it in portugal though lol, stay tuned :)
