I took a trip to Madrid this past May to visit a good friend of mine from when we were little, Meredith Stewart. She had happened to be on exchange the same year as I was (through the AFS program), and you just have to take advantage of things like that. Although it was relatively stressful to plan giving travelling alone under 18 normally has its issues, it was an absolute blast to be able to truly go to and from the small city of Kempten to Madrid, Spain's capital. I stayed with Meredith's host family about 45 minutes outside of the city, and spent my time learning and experiencing Spain with Meredith and 2 of her friends. I find Madrid an absolutely beautiful city. My best description is that it's very colorful - the people are of all shapes, colors and sizes, there is enough green to keep the heart pumping healthy, and many cool boutiques, restaurants or museums to keep culture very much alive. The city, and country of Spain, isn't like South America at all really. The food is heavier, and the atmosphere and accent as well. I visited an awesome bull fight when I was there, ate a lot of yummy food (and ended up buying drinks to no end given the heat), the world famous Prado museum, many of the Plazas including 'del Sol' the Plaza that every street (well main streets) of the city lead to, took a tapas tour, visited the royal palace, visited the historical city of Toledo and even visited a sort of scary torture museum there, and spent time back with a lovely Midwesterner, like myself.
Flying over the Alps.
travelling supplies.
meredith grabbing a bite to eat in the royal garden.
Plaza Mayor -home of the market and earlier bull fights.
Travelling with the underground - Spain is a European country, and I was very surprised to find it so unlike the Southern American culture hwen I got there, but the country still has traces of a developing nation lingering inside it. Spain is very close to Africa, so often gets immigrants from northern African countries, or handlers. This area of the underground stunk really bad - a common place to sleep (or pee) for many homeless peoples.
A weird octopus along the streets of Madrid.
-173°. ha! More like 36° celsius - in the 90s
At my first bull fight ever - procession of the horses as the beginning.
Bull fights actually ended up having many more rules than I ever really imagined they did - each of the bull fighters comes out to 'show off' before the fight begins, and then the younger 'toreros' will aggravate the bull . Then horses come out, and the large javelin type thing the rider carries should be stabbed into the bull's withers. The horses are wearing padding, but I still got really scared when the bulls charged right into them. The process then follows with the matador coming out and first sticking a few little things between the bull's withers (like flags), then going after it with his sword. He is the highest form of Spanish bull fighter. They kill approx. 6 bulls each night of a bull fight, which can go on for a few weeks in a holiday season, like when I was there. I was expecting it to be really scary nasty, but the bull's meat is sold anyway for food, and so at least they have a fair fight - plus it is a true art to do that, the fighting. The bulls averaged about 500tons and were usually black with horns. If the bull ever tripped or fell on his kness, even worse falling on his horns, the true Spaniards stareted clapping three times in rhythm and waved a green flag, and the bull was thrown out for a new one that could fight better. A white flag meant the bull or matador was doing well, but they were fairly critical so I didn't really get a chance to see that.
Meredith, me and another exchange student from Oregon at the bull fight (with Chuches - gummis as a snack).
We sat WAY up at the top, where the seats are cheapest, and right in the sunshine. SO HOT!
female bulls leading a 'bad fighting bull' out of the ring
They felt bad for the bulls :(
Dragging the dead bull out after a well fought fight.
sundown - the bull fights end as sunset hits.
The Matador wins!
At the 'Reina Sofia' Museum, or national Museum of Spain. They have one of the largest Picasso collections in the world, including his 'Guernica' painting, which was really exciting to see.
The main train station in Madrid, Attocha.They even have a nice turtle pond and small greenhouse inside - very cool.
sunbathing turtles
Checking out the statue checking out the extremely old ruins behind us.
Visiting Spain's Royal Palace, complete with active King and Queen, intensive security and an old armory.
Meredith and I helping to guard the palace from any unwanted guests.
old knight armor in the Royal Armory :)
along the streets of Madrid
Attempting to Geocache in one of the city's gardens. 
The city of Madrid sits right in the middle of Spain, really an area that appears fairly dry and desert like. I was completely surprised with the city though that it was able to host such a vast variety of vegetation. Outside of the city, you were able to see cacti, pine trees, hardwood trees and cedars, etc . . . A little unbelievable. 
Riding on a Spanish trian - Meredith reading Spanish newspapers.
The earlier capital of Spain, Toledo, and old fortress for the royal family that lived in Madrid. 
On a small tram tour around the city. 
Toledo is surrounded on three sides by a river. 
Lokking back at the city. 
a true spanish city
Given the days are so hot, the covering above provides a bit of shade for shopping.
Typical store in toledo - i.e. obsession with medieval stuff. :)
It was really cool to see how three different religions were able to coexist so efficiently in Toledo. 
The handwork is amazing there - tiny gold bands bound in all sorts of jewelry, medaillons, etc.
close- up
typical Spanish architecture and streets
eating a typical spanish lunch down by the river - we got uncomfortably dirty attempting to climb down.
we had messy chocolate for dessert. 
working the locks at the riverside
biggest fishing pole I've ever seen.
Having a drink at a hawaiin bar in Madrid's famous 'Night Life'
Some pretty amazing street performers 
Sonja on her way back home :(
