http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Johnny/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Johnny en-us Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:20:28 +0000 Sat, 19 Dec 2009 23:20:28 +0000 So here I am coming to you direct from lovely Madrid Spain. After an excutiating 30 hour trip arrived in Barajas airport. Ive never had someone standing for me at the airport entrance with a sign before but suffice to say it wasnt as glamorous as Id envisioned. Its hot as hell here which I confirmed immediatley upon stepping outside of the airport. Just the walk from the terminal to the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-12774.html Imagine if you will a world where people start their day comfortably at a moderate hour say 9 or 10am. Upon arrising you go through your morning routine casually. Maybe you have some cafe and toast or maybe you leave the house early and get some breakfast on the way to the park. Desayuno breakfast is cheap like 3euro about and usually includes a bocadillo bebita y postre. sandwich be http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-12873.html Anytime one travels to a destination that is foreign to them that person will inevitably experience a state of culture shock. This state has many phases covering a broad spectrum of emotions and experiences. Undoubtedly any experience one may have is largely effected by the emotions it fosters within them. Memories of home or thoughts of ones dreams realized effect these experiences as well. Th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-13560.html So Im moving We kicked and screamed for a bit and got a new place to stay with another friend of ours. From what he tells us he gets all kinds of amenities included fresh squeezed OJ in the morning daily laundry service and a big screen tv and dvd player with a host of movies. Sounds very nice and Im excited to go... however....We have to confront our current host mother today in what http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-13674.html Ahoy and welcome back people. What a huge weekend this was I don't even really know where to begin....Friday was indeed an eventfull day. Much like the Jeffersons Armando and I 'moved on up' in every way imaginable. Our new digs is sweet sweet nectar indeed exceeding our expectations vastly. Upon arrival we were greeted warmly offered refreshing beverages and some tasty chicken salad and al http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-14041.html I knew it. I just had to get sick here didnt I. The last thing you want to do on a very long and very expensive I might add trip is to get sick and mope around for extended periods of time. For about 4 days now Ive been fighting a cold that seems to be having its way with me. Each morning my nasal cavity has berthed all manner of technocolor substances no doubt enhanced by the pollution and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-14261.html Word up kiddies Im back in Madrid again and able to write you all some more lovely posts. Yesterday was a national holiday in Spain so everything was basically closed schools banks stores etc. Needless to say the spanish are back to their usual routine consisting largely of eating drinking and sleeping and not much else. When in rome....Barcellona was definatley a good time. The comminuty http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-14799.html Word up....I dont have a whole lot to say today however I thought Id write anyhow since I want to keep up with 3 entries per week. Today is a sad day since its the last day Pierre has with us here in Madrid. This place will definatley have much less life and lustre once he leaves. Some people just bring the party wherever they go and Pierre is one of those people. We spent the afternoon in the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-14920.html Today is full of beauty.I arose rested and calm feeling full and well. My days past have been flighty and dreamy full of restlessness and uncertainty. Definition eluded me and the spiral I walked left me dizzy and estranged. Today however housed some kind of tranquility. Questions that have hung around my neck have escaped at least for the moment. Sometimes there are no responses not in the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-15193.html Wow what a weekend. Well Im back from Pamplona from seeing the running of the bulls. While I did have a fun time there I dont have many nice things to say about the city people or the event. Rather than complain for an entire entry Ill just graze over the events in a somewhat chronilogical order. 6 hours bus ride freezing city bought bandana drink beer eat drink drink drink freeze d http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Spain/District-of-Madrid/blog-13251.html So here I am getting ready to leave my life behind for a month and a half as I venture into the unknown. Well for me anyway.... people have been there before I'm pretty sure. Madrid Espana will be my destination for more than a month and I'm both excited and nervous at the same time. I'm not really sure what to expect at all I've been wanting to do this for so long that I'm not even sure why http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Fort-Lauderdale/blog-12394.html