The last bus ride

So I arrived in Madrid today, where I will spend the rest of the week before catching a flight  to London for Eurovision, Indian food and a copious amount of liquor. I am laying low tonight since a sore throat and achiness joined me on my bus ride here, and there is way too much to do in Madrid to be sick.

On the list is the Prado and one of the other art museums. I haven´t decided which one yet.  There is also the big park, the palace, and a zillion churches and cool twisty streets.

There is an olive oil co-op, as well as a wine shop,and a specialty chocolate store that I need to visit.

Tomorrow night, I probably will go see Jack Johnson with someone at my hostel, since seeing a live show in Madrid would be dope. And best of all, I just (hopefully) made reservations at a traditional Arab bath that is not expensive at all.

I´ve been in the Basque region since Thursday, where there are gorgeous beaches and mountains and fantastic food. It was too cold to hang on the beach, and I got caught in one of the craziest hail storms I´ve ever seen. Walking. With luggage. And an umbrella. 

Over the weekend, Kristen and I probably walked 10 miles. I am coming home in better shape for sure. We went to the Guggenheim in Bilbao and learned about the Aztecs. We checked out some of the bars near our hotel, which was in the partying part of town. The drink in the street phenomenon was alive and well in northern Spain. It is closely linked with street urination. We saw a man pee on the side of a church. There was also a line of guys peeing outside a bar.

We met a girl who was drinking flavored whiskey on the street. She practiced her English with us. Apparently she´s learned English watching Kevin Smith movies. Maybe if I watch lots of Spanish movies, it will move my language skills further along then 6 years of schooling.

Saturday, Kristen and I headed to San Sebastian, and checked into our posh hotel. The comfy bed and big bathroom was a delight after the shitty place I stayed Thursday. We walked many miles to and from the beach and the Parte Vieje, the old part of town with shops and many tapas bars.

San Sebastian is beautiful. It´s a small city nestled between the ocean and the mountains. I took about a zillion pictures of the bay area from many angles and heights, and contemplated retiring there.

Kristen and I, of course, ate fabulous food, but to do my weeks of Spanish food justice, I will post about it separately in one big mouth watering exposition (when I am not racing the get-off-the-computer clock).