Madrid for a Day

Getting back on the overnight train to Madrid from Lisboa was hassle free. But we noticed a woman passenger sitting in front of us getting intensely questioned by the border agents on the train. I couldn't help overhear them ask her who she was visiting in Spain, how long, what was she planning on doing after the trip...was she carrying her ticket to return to South America? Who does she work for? Illegal immigration is something Spain is trying to crack down on... the police officer who helped file Erin's report in Madrid had mentioned that there were many illegal aliens in Madrid, particularly from South America and Romania.
The train ride itself was uneventful, and we hit the metro from Charmartin to Atocha to buy our tickets out to Granada. During the ride over, a small group of South American musicians boarded and began playing beautiful music with traditional Andean instruments but singing in Spanish. It's pretty common on many of the metros I have been on so far, a musician/musicians boards, plays a song or two (usually the "traditional" music of the country you are traveling in) for a few stops, asks for money then jumps off and gets on the next train headed back. The music was fun and super catchy (it was funny, no one made eye contact or tapped their feet while they were playing, so you would think the other passengers we not enjoying it, but when it was over, people got up, walked over to them, and gave them a few euros). I think was just more aware of their presence because of what I had seen on the overnight train.
Anyhow, after we bought our tickets, we found ourselves back at El Brillante for more incredible pork sandwiches :) and we walked around a bit (we had until about 5 pm to get on the train to Granada). Back in Lisboa, I had donated clothes and my heavy coat to the hostel staff, and now I needed a spring coat, so we headed back to the shopping center we had been to a few days before to find one. Jenny found a couple of really cute dresses at Lefties and Desigual. Shopping in Madrid is so much fun, there are amazing deals everywhere for anything you want. Lucky for me I only have so much space in my bag or there would be trouble!
We boarded the train around 5 and were set to get to Granada at about 9:30 at night. The countryside was very pretty, rolling hills and mountains, very green, with small towns and villages every few miles. I tried to take a few pictures, but being on a moving train, they don't really do the view justice.
Once we arrived at Granada, we got a little lost. The hostel we were staying at is located in an area under heavy construction. A taxi driver told us that the city had been in the middle of building metro stations when the economy took a turn for the worst about three years ago, and what was supposed to only take three years has now stretched out to five.
After we checked in, we washed up we went out to find something to eat. One of the hostel staff told us where to go for drinks and tapas (restaurants and bars run late in Spain, so it's not unusual to have dinner long after 9). The weather was pretty mild and a lot of people were out partying. I noticed most of the women were wearing very high boots with scandalously short shorts/skirts! We went to a place that served us free tapas with boxed wine (in Granada the bars and restaurants we went to served boxed wine, along with regular bottled wine - no shame in that game!). One of the things Jenny and I have picked up on is that people are very friendly and interested in San Francisco and when we tell them that's where we are from, we often hear that they have heard a lot about the city and want visit. The highlight of the night was seeing group of university students wearing wigs and dancing flamenco. Some pics:

Literally, all you need to do in Madrid is point your camera and you will take a beautiful picture:












Atocha's Tropical Gardens once again, after another sleepless overnight train ride. But somehow we can always rally for shopping...all we need is El Brillante! As Jenny says, "Excellente Everytime".












On a side note, Bieber Fever has spread to Europe. It's crazy, in the countries I have visited so far, usually across the street of a national monument, such as the Tower of London, the Eiffel Tower, ect, I find a magazine, poster, you name it, with his face on it. The best so far was a series of Bieber posters and Starbucks signs in front of the Familia Sagrada. When we got on the train to Granada, Jenny realized we were bringing him with us! Cue Twilight Zone theme song.












The countryside, from Madrid to Granada.
















































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