Retiro Park
The day before while I was shopping in Sol, I ran into my friend Kate. We talked about getting up early and going to the grand park in Madrid, Retiro, together. As planned, Kate called me early in the morning and we met in the park. I can’t believe I lived in Madrid for four months and this was my first time in the park. It’s quite depressing to be completely honest, but before this week, the weather has not been that great and what fun is it to play in the park when it’s cold and raining? However, Retiro was amazing! It was so much fun and so beautiful. There were huge fountains, a pretty lake, an amphitheatre-like structure, waterfalls, trees, flowers, sculptures, gardens and even a crystal palace! After a while, Nicolette met up with Kate and me. The three of us continued to explore the park. Right outside of the park we found the famous arches, Puerta de Alcalá. We took a few pictures, and then went to have lunch by the lake. Regularly, there are little boats that you can rent and ride around the lake. However, this week happens to be a fiesta for San Isidoro (the saint of bull fighting) so they built a huge stage in the middle of the lake for a concert and presentation of the lake. It was pretty cool if you ask me.
Palacio de Cristal
After a sandwich and café by the lake, we made our way to the Crystal Palace. It is also in Retiro Park. It was amazing! It’s literally a glass house. It would be an awesome place to host a party, maybe a Suffolk University reunion. That is only in my dreams, but it would be awesome to have a party there on a clear night, looking up into the stars. Getting back to reality, we went inside and they were hosting a special exhibition. I’m not going to lie; I didn’t really understand the sculptures. There was a glass igloo with sticks inside, and a four walled mirrored piece with twigs attached to it. I wish I had someone to explain the purpose of these things to me so I could possibly understand them and appreciate them more.
Gran Via + Sol
Following our excursion in the crystal palace, we decided to take a stroll through Gran Via to Sol. Madrid is a huge city, but everything is relatively close to each other. It was a long walk, but it was such a beautiful day out that it didn’t even matter. We passed all sorts of beautiful sights too – a rose garden at Banco de España, the Fuente de la Cibeles, the Metropolis building, and when we finally made it to Sol, I said goodbye to the bear climbing the tree statue, El Madroño, and Plaza Mayor. Retiro wasn’t the only place in Madrid celebrating San Isidoro, Plaza Mayor was hosting something too. There was a stage and screen assembled in the square. I wish I would be here for the fiesta, but the holiday falls on Tuesday, and I leave on Monday.
El Cabañon + Cats
To conclude my fabulous day in Madrid, Kate, Nicolette, Lindsey, Dan and I made one last trip to El Cabañon. Even though my friends don’t work there anymore, I will really miss it and I will miss Teresa. I had to say goodbye to her and her husband tonight. I hate saying goodbye – especially in this situation because I know I will never see or talk to her again. Now that I’m finally falling in love with Madrid, it is time for me to leave. So sad! However, my friends and I had a great time talking, laughing and reminiscing of our semester abroad over sangria and tapas. I wish we could have a Suffolk University Madrid Campus reunion in the near future. I will really miss my friends here. At least I know if I ever make it to Boston, I have a place to stay. I definitely have plans of visiting Boston. I hear it’s a beautiful city. My older sister went to summer school at Harvard, and she absolutely fell in love with the city.
Kate made some Spanish friends this semester, and after a while they came to meet us at El Cabañon. They were so nice and so polite. I was beginning to think there was no hope of finding a Spanish boy with manors, but these guys proved me wrong. Unfortunately, I met them on my last night in Madrid – better late than never I suppose. As El Cabanon closed, Nicolette, Kate, the Spanish boys (Perdo, Jesus and Michael) went to the club Cats. What’s my last night in Madrid without going to a club? We all had a great time, but called it a relatively early night – leaving the club around 4 a.m.
