Futbol

I have heard that Europeans love and are passionate about Futbol or more commonly known as Soccer in the States. So I made sure I get to see this in person and watch a live game.

On February 6, Sunday i went with new friends - Danielle, Esteban , Val, .... who I've met through couchsurfing, we went to see a Futbol game - Real Madrid vs Sociedad Madrid at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. This stadium's capacity is more than 84,000 and this was where the 1992 World Cup was held.

As I was at the metro train, there were a lot of people especially guys speaking different languages - French, Italian, Spanish. I may not understand all the things that they were saying but I knew it had something to do with Futbol. As soon as the metro train stopped at Santiago Bernabeu station, these guys rushed out of the train and run up the 3 flights of stairs because the game was about to start in 10 minutes. It was like seeing 5 year old boys going wild after opening his gift on Christmas day. These guys were on a mission and want to be there when the game starts. They are very loyal to their team, since they were young their fathers and grandfathers have already influenced them on the team they should cheer for.

The 7 of us ( 5 from US and 2 from Spain) decided to get the cheapest ticket - €35 / $ 48. The 5 of us from the States just wanted to experience a live game in Madrid. The stadium was almost filled up to full capacity, by the looks of it I think there were about 80,000 people there that night because only a very small part of the "nose-bleed"/ cheapest section had empty seats, everywhere else completely full.

The game was good. I don't know much about Futbol / soccer, all I know the guys kicking the ball around towards the goal. For me, The best part of watching the game was not the teams scoring a goal. It was watching the audience's reactions. From raising their arms up when the team scored or if they disagreed with the play. There were people blowing their horns - it was very loud since I was sitting next to an 8 y/o boy who just liked blowing that horn to cheers his team. Most of the time the whole crowd especially if their team scored will jump off their feet, clap and cheer. During the game they are very serious, all eyes focused on the game. It was definitely a great to see on how much they love Futbol. As the game ended Real Madrid = 4 and Real Sociedad = 1.

GGGOOOOLLLL !!!!!
- Kaye

Getting To Know Madrid

I have been here in Madrid for 3 days and I am enjoying my stay in this city. Let me share with you a few things that i have seen, tasted and experienced on my first few days in a foreign country where I speak poco Espanol (a little bit of Spanish) just enough to get by.

Here are what I know of Madrid so far......

Greeting: A hi! or hola, smile, nod or some kind of acknowledgement when meeting someone on the street is very rare. They usually walk by you with a serious face and avoid eye contact. However, kissing on both cheeks when getting introduce to someone or if you are already friends this is the way you say hi! and goodbye each time you hang out.

I consider myself a hugger but kissing on both cheeks, especially with the guys that is something I need to get used to. Besos!

Food: The most unique food I've had so far is the Jamon, a salty thinly sliced piece of meat on bread like the croissant or bocadillo, special bread hard of the outside but soft of the inside like the Lee's sandwiches bread I am familiar with in Orange County, or the Jamon can be eaten by itself. The price of Jamon varies depending on the quality. The cheapest one is 1€ two slices of Jamon Serrano on a bocadillo or croissant. The most expensive I've seen is 139€ per kilo. I have not tasted that yet but I plan to treat myself before I leave. The Jamon before they are sliced are huge big legs hanging. It was definitely a new thing for me.

Here in Madrid they love their sweets. The few times I have eaten in a restaurant, I see a lot of people ordering coffee and poured with thick sweet cream. I tried the chocolate milk, it was too thick I thought I ordered chocolate mouse. I asked for hot water too dilute the drink or else I may end up using my spoon to drink the chocolate milk. I also know that they love their sweets because all the people in the restaurant have a dessert either a cake, tiramisu or flan. Even at McDonalds they have an extensive menu of coffee and desserts in a separate counter from where you order the regular food items. Their dessert menu include tiramisu, donut, muffin and cheesecake. As the McDonald slogan says " I'm lovin'it".

Fashion: It's winter time right now but tt has been sunny since I got here 3 days ago. During the early morning and at night the temperature can drop to 4 degrees Celcius (39 F) but during midday it can go up to 15 C (60 F). Because it'S chilly almost all the women are wearing knee high boots, skinny jeans, long shirt and wool jacket. The women are confident of themselves, some don't really care if they are more overweight but still dresses like the skinny gals. The older women are often have their makeuo on, well dressed and their long fur or wool coats. And some of these women are just walking on the park. Most men are also fashionable. I've seen them in suits especially the older men some and they are just walking on the park. I see most men wearing scarves of different colors and some not just plqin but stripes, checkered or another design. I do not see this too often in Los Angeles either because it is not cold enough or that the guys are not courageous enough to wear these scarves because they are scared people may think they are gay. But here in Madrid this is normal and I like it because real men wear colorful scarves when they are cold. I even saw men wearing sparkling gold and silver sneakers. Overall,their sense of style is really good here, or maybe it's a law that wearing low waist baggy pants, yoga/ workout outfit in public is a crime (hahaha)

Activities: Walking around town is a great way to see beautiful parks and architecture in Madrid especially in this great sunny weather that we've had. I have gone to 3 museums so far and all for gratis / free ! First, I went to Museo de la Ciudad -The City Museum (free entrance everyday) where they featured miniature buildings of the city, miniature layout of the city, miniature types of transportation and different pictures featuring the city. Second, I visited Museo de la Biblioteca Nacional - The National Library Museum (free entrance everyday) where I saw a wide range of books from different genre like cook books, religious books and comic books being preserve. They did not allow photographs to be taken. The third museum I have visited is Museo Nacional del Prado - The Prado Museum (Free entrance everyday between 6 pm to 8 pm Tues to Sat, 5 pm to 8 pm on Sundays). This is my favorite so far, it reminded me of The Getty Museum is Los Angeles. Many amazing paintings and sculpture in 4 floors. Besides museums, I get to do other activties here in Madrid. I went salsa dancing with Danielle, a couch surfer too but now works in Madrid teaching English to 4Th grader and other fellow couchsurfers. It was really fun, we got in for free using a special promo card plus a free drink. I got to taste Pina Colada from a bottle like those Coke bottles. It was good. The Spanish people can dance even the guys can shake their hips better than I can. In this club there people of different ages and there were no guys standing on the sideline because they were on the dance floor. It was a great night of dancing. Another new experience for me is watching "The King's Speech" American movie dubbed entirely in Spanish with no English subtitles for 8€. I probably understood 25% of what was said but because of the great acting I think I got it.

I am very grateful for my host couple, Chema and Karla who have been so nice and very accomodating to me.

I would recommend visiting Madrid :)

Gracias,

Kaye

Madrid: My First Impression

After 13 hour flight I finally arrive in Madrid, Spain. it was sunny with blue skies however, still cold 40-50 F. it is clean here in Madrid. Reminded me of Singapore.

Here's how my first day went.

Took the Metro Train (Subway) from airport to the closest Metro Station of Karla and Chema for €1 then short bus ride from Metro station to the bus stop close to their apartment for another €1. Total cost €2 for a 12 miles distance. The metro staion in clean unlike the one in New York. So far, people here are not very friendly like the customs officer did not say anything to me , he just looked at my passport and stamped it, and too many people say hi or hello -typical behavior of people living in cities. However,they are very helpful - a guy directed me to the right metro train when he saw me going the wrong way I needed help with carrying my luggage because there's a 5 steps of stairs and a guy with dreadlocks approached me and volunteered to help.
Travel tip #1 - Buy the 10 trip pass - €9.30 +€1 airport tax = €+10.30

I am staying with Chema & Karla, great couple I am staying with. I found them online through couchsurfing.com. And thank God for facebook ,this was what we both used as a background check to make sure we are good normal people.

Travel Tip #2 - To save money on accomodation and have an adventurous spirit. Try couchsurfing.com -a website with directory of people all over the world willing to have you sleep in their couch or spare bed for Free for 1-2 night. if staying longer you may need to pay depending on the agreement of both parties.

I have heard from a lot of people who traveled to Europe that food is expensive. So I made sure to find places where I can save money. I went to a local big supermarket - CouroFour. prices are reasonable. I got banana ,tangerines, milk , water, bread 3 strawberry yogurt , 2 caramel yogurt, 4 fruit yogurt = €9.30. I ate at a local restaurant -combo plate of chicken french fries lettuce and tomatoes + bottle water €5.

Travel tip #3 - Shop where the locals shop. Eat where the locals eat. It will save you some money.

I am traveling alone so staying connected and letting my family and frinds that I am doing good is important. I have an Iphone and I do not want to have any roaming charges. To do this , I placed my phone on airplane mode and turned Wi-Fi on. the Madrid airport does not have Wi-Fi,but the Mall has a free one. Kindle with Wi-Fi is good too because it is lighter but bigger than Iphone. Having an unlock cell phone is good and you can buy a European SIM card.

Travel tip #4 - Bring an unlock phone and buy a SIM card for € 9.You need to bring your passport when buying SIM card or else they will not sell you one. Do not buy SIM card at the airport it's expensive.

I enjoyed walking around. There are many people walking around too. I saw many older people even some with canes still very active and moving around.

Travel tip #5 - Always bring passport with you because sometimes police do random checks and asks for identification to check legal status. This reminded me of Arizona new law.

Gracias,
Kaye