Today's blog title comes to you from the one and only Mr. Luke. We were talking about my blog and how many of our days are spent just walking around looking at things and spending longer periods of time in specific places and that more often then not, there really isn't much to say about the day. Yet somehow within my brain I end up spewing out many a thing that we had mentioned or seen and rant on for a while it seems. Now luckily for Luke this blog, which is now being referred to as my rant, mean that he doesn't get to always hear my thoughts anymore out loud. As some may know I can go on and on it seems about the smallest and sometimes biggest of things.
Madrid continues to offer us many sites. Many more plazas and streets to meander, and get lost through. Which we somewhat intentionally chose to do today as we are starting to get our bearings around the area we are in. We continued to take back roads from place to place seeing many cathedrals and squares along the way.
Funny enough we even saw a lady get pooped on by one of the pigeons. It was absolutely hilarious. I was careful to not laugh to hard as karma seems to very much enjoy coming back at me. Especially as four years ago when we went on our road trip with Becca and Jordan, we stopped at Malibu beach, where as we were just walking in the sand and I got pooped on. Later that night as we got to our campsite and started to set up, I got pooped on AGAIN! Needless to say I was super not impressed. The first, and especially not the second time it happened. Both times it was disgusting, and gross, and smelled, and I would never wish it upon anyone. But being on the other side of it, it was hilarious. But I tell ya I don't know how it doesn't happen more. These stupid pigeons are everywhere! They just won't give up!
We walked through one of Madrids largest parks called Retiro. It is so large. With hedge mazes and all. Old men playing bagpipes, families having picnics and people biking through. It seems that on the rivers here boating is the thing to do. We eventually got to the main square and there were tons and tons of boats out on the little pond lake area, you really couldn't even go many places around it cause there were so many. We sat and took a load off and watched the people passing by. There continues to be many things to look at. Many different styles and fashion that cause conversations amongst us.
One thing that is really bothersome for some reason is the haircuts that all the dogs have. Don't get me wrong I am in no way a fan of all the rat tails I am seeing but the dog situation is just weird. It doesn't seem to get to Luke and we aren't sure why it bothers me it just seems so silly and wrong. They shave the top of the dogs and leave everything underneath long. Some shave everything except the legs. It is so so bizarre. Luke of course pointed out that they might think Roscoe looks silly, and I promptly told him, well they would be wrong. Haha it just is so backwards. Anyways moving on ward, here is a fairly decent example of what I am talking about, there have been both worse dogs and better ones.
We happened to stumble upon this market here that was blaring music. Naturally we decided that we should check it out, as per usual there were people outside drinking so we began to not think anything of it. We went into the market and noticed most things were closed. But what was open were many bars, and there seemed to be many DJ's. We decided that this was a place that needed to be seen. We walked our way through the many people and dance parties and realized this is almost like one big market party. Instead of moving from pub to pub getting tapas they made it easy and through a bunch right together and through in some massive speakers and opened the multi floor place and crammed mass amounts of people in it. Pretty unique to see.
Another odd thing we have realized, which really isn't so odd, is that majority of the places you go to here they are playing English music. Which is sweet, except that we also want the cultural aspect of these places, but we seem to have a great balance at the moment in that area. Walking by many places they are playing English songs, which many people know the words to. Even if they can't speak English.
We learned a few things along the way culturally speaking. When eating if you cut something, you have your fork in your left hand and knife in your right, which is the same as here, but here you do not switch hands after to eat your food. You keep your fork in your left hand and continue eating. I recommend giving it a try as it is very hard to to figure out how to eat this way. Almost like writing with your different hand. Another thing that we have learned is that you know you are at a real bar or pub, and also local place if when you order drinks they give you a treat along with it. Chips, cookies, popcorn, if you are at a real authentic place apparently they give you squid. Luckily we haven't stumbled on these places yet. But I must say it is real great to have a snack, plus the snack part is free which is always a good thing.
The place we ended up today, was built in 1904, and Ernest Hemingway was a fan and came often. The waiters are all dressed in black pants, white shirt and suite jacket, and a bow tie. Apparently this is how they have always dressed since it first opened in 1904. Here I tried a different gluten free beer. I gotta give em props for trying but they all still seem to have this funny taste/after taste to them. Guess the beer life just isn't for me, meh all is well.
Madrid continues to bring a smile to my face as today I noticed many Dr. Seuss looking trees. We definitely have seen a better full and tilted over tree but unfortunately I didn't get a picture of that although it truly was the most Dr. Seuss looking tree I ever did see.
This bear is climbing up a strawberry tree. This is the cities symbol. Look at the muscles on that guy! Can't say I have ever seen a bear with that much muscles, granted I haven't seen any bear up close and personal and I rather prefer to keep it that way. Only from the safety of my vehicle. But still crazy muscles on this guy.
The weather continues to treat us well. We ducked back into the gluten free bakery for lunch when it had started to rain a little bit. We definitely missed some rain there. Otherwise today was pretty mild. We definitely got some sun as well but not for very long before there was a pretty solid cloud coverage. We feel we have definitely seen the major sites that Madrid has to offer, and some that we just happened to stumble upon.
There seems to be something with the older people and the super young people dressing up in this vintage clothing. The older ones all walk together and then find a square and start to dance. It is pretty neat to see as well. All around there continues to be swarms of people. We keep joking that by the time middle to end of June comes around and it turns to peak season and all the 'tourists' come over, things will feel even more crowded. We are choosing to put ourselves in our own category, not tourist but not local either. Even though we are very much tourists and feel that often. Picture taking and other things besides the language that definitely give us away.
It is great to be in these cities during the weekend because we often don't even know what day of the week it is let alone remember that people are still living their day normal day to day lives. But we do look forward to the weekdays where the crowds become a fraction smal
And so the adventure continues...
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