I am sorry for the lack of blogging over the last couple of weeks. I have been entertaining a young french lady who goes by the name Anne Sophie. We lived together in Brighton last year while she was on her year abroad and since then have kept in touch with each others' lives. It was delightful to have her around. She has a fun energy and is always cracking jokes. We were also able to choose from three different languages when we spoke to each other. We mostly spoke English but it was often littered with French abuse and Spanish phrases. Oh the joy...

With her I also rediscovered (a bit) the beauty of Madrid. It's got a lot going for it this city, Especially when you are able to sit in a park with a T shirt on a late January day listening to the old sax man playing a tune.

It's very easy when you live somewhere to get too dogged down in the daily routine and miss out on things. I realised this a while ago. There are few cities in the world that offer as much to a person as London yet I found myself when I lived there going to and fro from school to home. Only occasionally would I venture the two miles into the West End to see an exhibition, or go to that new club opening, or try that Arabic place on the Edgware Rd that everyone raved about...

But I will always have London. Madrid I will leave in June. So I decided yesterday to abandon my revision before it had even begun and sit in the park. I read a book about Spain. I then wondered around the labyrinth of tightly packed old streets in the Centro where I discovered a whole array of things I never knew existed. I came across new restaurants, shops and a great independant bookshop. I also came across new roadworks (Madrid is undergoing a rather huge facelift - good in the long run i'm sure but a lot of noise) and revelled in the excitement of the new.

Today however I was more disciplined and did some work. But just to know that it's all out there and that there's still so much to explore is exciting enough. It made me want to explore more and more and be on a constant holiday! But I also remembered that there's plenty of time for that too...inshaallah.

so anyway, here's my top 10 of Madrid. For anyone who's ever visited this great city. Put down what your top 10 is.

1: El Retiro (and other Madrid parks) - it has a civilised and ornamental beauty as well as great african drumming on a Sunday

2: The Art Galleries - Madrid is world renowned for its art galleries and they are amazing. I must admit though I still haven't been to the Prado - the grand institution housing the world's best art is just a bit too daunting for me. I will though...

3: Puerta del Sol - it's the beating heart of Madrid and it's so old and charming. I particularly like the Mariachi bands.

4: Gran Via - It's Madrid's answer to Regent Street or Fifth Avenue, fall of big buildings and fast traffic. I especially love its fast flowing energy at night.

5: Palacio Real - It's just beautiful and ever so grand.

6: El Tigre - It's one of the few remaining bars where you can get free tapas when you order a drink. With the stuffed animals and hanging pigs' legs everywhere, you couldn't get more Spanish if you tried.

7: Chueca - it may be the gay area but it's not exclusive, it's a liberating, anything goes atmosphere. It also has the best and most sophisticated restaurants in Madrid - my particular favourite is the tagine at Wagaboo!

8: Plaza Mayor - the main plaza of Madrid is old and full of character thanks to its uniform architecture and perfect cobbled ground. I especially enjoyed the very tacky christmas market there.

9: Opera - the square outside the Madrid opera house was my first view of Madrid as I ascended up from the metro onto the hot, sticky street. It is beautiful and full of life!

10: Lavapies - it's cosmopolitan Madrid at it's best. Expect to hear Arabic, Urdu or any African language on its old winding streets.

So there you have it. I have plugged Madrid to the world! It's a great city. Some days I hate it and no I am not bi-polar, it just comes with the moods.

Right that's it for now. I want to sleep. Will be back soon and who knows what will have happened by then...

A New Year Back In Spain

So, it's 2008 and after a few weeks at home I am back in Spain. Christmas was a period spent seeing loved ones, consolidating relationships and just enjoying being back at home. Now I am back and have some work to do...oooh, do you hear my enthusiasm? I am not stressing though.
In some ways I am quite upset to be back. Well, sometimes you just want to say sod all that positive 'it will be the experience of a lifetime' stuff. It can actually be quite lonely here especially after a trip home and it will be sad to see many of the friends i've made leave in February to continue their erasmus elsewhere. There will of course be a select few, the cream of the crust who will stay and fun times will be had no doubt, especially as the weather warms.
For the moment, well, this work is a bit of an anoyance, I just want to go out and socialise!
I think one of the things about the year abroad is learning to put up with things. It's a different country and there is often the feeling at the back of my head of just waiting until it's over. I'll miss it when it's finished i'm sure and will take a lot away from the experience personally but for the moment one of the things that keeps me going is the prospect of 5 days in Brighton in February as well as visits to Madrid from home. It's the people I miss here - if they could all be transported to Madrid then it would be perfect! But being apart from them makes you realise how much they mean to you and on going back the experience is so much fun because you don't take people for granted - all you want to do is see them and enjoy their company and the shared pleasures that you have.
Talking with a friend yesterday, we discussed loneliness. For me it is the most unpleasant symptom of the year abroad. One can so easily feel far away from family and friends. It was what I most 'feared' about coming back after the time at home.
I am making it sound like I am really down to be back, i'm not, promise! It's fine. I am quite settled here and I know what the score is now. I have friends here and the imminent visits from Anne Sophie and Shamus mean I will be able to excuse myself from the mundane and explore more of Madrid...Something to look forward to. But for now, well back to the work. It's not all bad really. The book I am reading is nice and in French...la vie est belle