Last one

At this time I am probably already above southern France in my cozy seat reading last edition of Marca (Spanish sports newspaper) and the March edition of Vogue Spain :)

. . . it is time to write my last post in the Spain blog. Sad, sad thing. This time in Spain taught and made me practice many things: like always always and always looking at the bright side of life!, enjoying life at this very moment and to the fullest, take up to the challenge and keep in touch with people you carry in your heart.

I may not have learned all of them for an A+ grade, but certainly those past 6 months made me a stronger and a better person. Keep on learning though . . . I am happy I have spent this part of my life here and with those truly great people. I am dearly hoping that this is not the end and I will be able to come back . . . again and again. Thank you Spain for existing on this planet :)

Alcala de Henarez

My last Saturday trip to Alcala. 40 minutes on a train and you are in the birth-town of Cervantes. Ole!

Los Reyes Catolicos

Cute Disney 

Cervantes prize is given here

Church that is now a coffee-disco place? 

How far can you go ?

Art in Madrid

Hop hop for art in Madrid! There are endless possibilities: from old medieval art, to the classics of Goya and Velazquez to the impressionist and the modern art. The Golden Triangle of Art: El Prado, Reina Sofia and the Thyssen. All are amazing museums (or as I would rather call them palaces of ART) in their own way.

The last things I've seen before leaving Madrid were:

Marc Chagall exhibition in Thyssen - all the colors are just beautiful and very cheerful. Knowing the history of Chagall's life one feels "obligated" to enjoy our picture-perfect lives! But what I really want to see now is the ceiling in the Paris opera, also done my Chagall!

Paris Opera

The other one, much cheaper (free) was the light installations on the Plaza de Cibeles, right on the white City Hall building.

And of course there is Prado with its Hermitage exhibition. It is far from the real Hermitage feeling, but what I liked is how tasteful where all the walls and details prepared. May be even too trendy and tasteful . . . it felt like you are in the Benetton shop. Oh, well. Anyway, my eyes were only for Andre Derain, Franz von Stuck and Paulus Pottee: 

Franz von Stuck

Derain

P. Potee

Keep it up capital! 

TOP 10 Madrid (4months after)

So here it is. After 4 months I rewrote my TOP 10 Madrid list and here what came out:

# 1. Cibeles - still my #1. Nothing compares to this beautiful square and the building.

#1

From the top of the Ayuntamiento

# 2. Paseo del Prado - as one of the fans of Madrid-city told me: " I do not understand why tourists rather go to the Sol or Las Ramblas in Bcn, when Paseo del Prado is so much more beautiful!" Could not agree more. But at the same time I am happy it is this way! Except of grey-haired couples smiling quietly enjoying the sunshine, there is not much more people. And it is perfect like that! If you are not tempted to stop at el Prado,but continue down to Atocha, then for sure you are left on your own to do whatever you feel like: sing, dance, scream or just walk and think. It is real jungle in the center of the city. Bushes and tall trees protect you from noisy cars.

Paseo del Prado

# 3. Santiago Bernabeu stadium - Hala Madrid! Como no te voy a querer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkJFu6NgSZQ&feature=related

Bernabeu - Nov 21-2011

# 4. Tribunal Area - at some moments it beats Lavapiez. It is compact concentration of some of the coolest bars, pubs, restaurants, cupcake bakeries and just cozy places to meet up with friends. It is funny to think that Tribunal area is just between super hipster and different gay district Chueca and conservative and posh Calle Sagasta and Calle Genova (with Partido Popular headquarters and the Supreme Court).

Calle Espiritu Santo

# 5. Calle Sagasta- Calle Genova - Colon - This is weird choice, where your guidebook (if you have one) will never take you. But I like it. It has wide streets, few cars and some gorgeous buildings.

Glorieta Bilbao

Plaza Colon

#6. Salamanca district - The poshest place I can think of in Madrid. Even Cristiano Ronaldo said that Calle Serrano (the most western street in the district) is his favourite place in Madrid?!!! Calle Serrano is like 5^th Avenue in NYC or Parizska ulice in Prague. Lots of expensive stores and none of the style. But I would recommend to go further, pass the Calle Velazquez or go more to the North. Just wonder around.

Calle de Caudio Coello

# 7. Casa de Campo - is even more beautiful now. No sign of the August-September desert-like park. It is all green and cheerful now! Running there is always a pleasure.

The view on the Casa de Campo from Palacio Real

# 8. Templo de Debot -stays on my list thanks to the views. I do not think that anything beats it.

Templo

#9. Retiro - stayed on the list because of a hundred of things you can do there: from simply walking, to having a picking, enjoying an art-exhibition, reading, meeting with friends, jogging, roller skating... the list goes on.

Lions and the lake

# 10. Bar Vasco - The coziest eating place I've been in Madrid. Makes me feel good and happy inside.

La Bolsa de Madrid

I had a recent visit to the Wall Street of Madrid or La Bolsa de Madrid. Many people did not understand my idea of going to see greedy financial market in action. But it was an interesting visit. The building's interior is gorgeous with many symbolic things like the David's star in the windows or sculptures with two snakes representing supply and demand. But the thing that caught my eye was the presence of only gray haired traders and huge TV screens with fast-moving red numbers. It is sad to imagine the Trading Room being empty in 10 years with no quiet talks of the traders in the corners, but only silent enormous screens.

The star

Full of symbolism 

Gray haired

The screens 

The entrance

Exam time

And the time of exams is here again. It is a perfect example of a bitter-sweet feeling: you are happy some of the boring classes are over, but still have to face the challenge of extra studying and preparation. Probably the stupidest exam is waiting for me on Tuesday: International Public Law . . . in Spanish! It would not be that bad, because Law always fascinates and challenges me to grow with every page I read, but this ...

what I have to learn is just plain unreal stuff: when you are reading about the responsibility of countries to protect the environment and all the law/agreements that exist and afterwards you read a news article on the pollution, or less on all those useless conferences on environment in those exotic places . . . you almost give up and see no reason to continue reading the chapter. I felt the same way while reading the chapter on the development. When I got to the word "redistribution of wealth" I closed the book.

Oh, well. So I guess my first year uni professors were right, when they used to say that as long as we are young we have to be reading all kinds of theories and ideas. As soon as we form our own opinion, we will disregard all other theories and stick to reading things that we agree with. A bit stubborn, but I see what they had in mind.
May be it is a good thing? I have formed my strong opinion that I am ready to stand for!

P.S. Unrelated:

Donostia - San Sebastian with snow. Yesterday! 

TIME

as days on the calendar are disappearing from January, I become really nervous of a number of things I want to do in Spain . . . After putting all my wishes on the paper I realized that a lifetime is not enough. The truth is that I happen to have fallen in love with this country - however I understand that I am student here and the perception is quite different, with all the perks and fun that go with it. Spain being disorganized, highly laid-back and easy-going (read lazy) country has conquered my heart. I saw an successful end and a plan within all the disorganization, laid-back feeling helped me to relax and think, and easy-going is just fun :) 

So today I made a decision to stop being sad that my Spanish dream is coming to an end. From today, from 12:00 I will embrace every opportunity to enjoy, eat, read, speak, listen, love and learn this wonderful country! VAMOS!