I felt like a Spaniard today. It's happened a few other times on the trip, but it's usually very fleeting and followed by a totally American move on my part. Not today, my friends. Nope, today it was a real, strong awareness. I just kept thinking, "You could belong here. You DO belong here." When we went to Alicante for the weekend, I missed home. But it wasn't Alabama I missed that weekend...it was Madrid. How weird is that?
I've realized that I really connect well with places. I'm big on tying memories to the place they happened. I love to visit somewhere again and remember what happened there and how I felt and how everything smelled and sounded and what people were around and why I would remember in the first place. It terrifies me to know that I may not come back here. It also terrifies me to know that a part of me is already nestled here and will never leave. I don't think Madrid will let me stay away...Honduras won't let me stay away. That's why I take pictures of everything and have such horribly long blog posts. I don't want to forget anything.
I think part of my "I can be a Spaniard" realization today was the outfit. Flowy cream shirt, cobalt blue slacks, Spanish made sandals, and a white, cream, and matching blue scarf. It also helped that we walked all over the old part of Madrid today, including the Plaza Mayor. Have I mentioned how much I adore Madrid?
Sara, Cynthia, Olivia, and Tyler (all friends from our Auburn group) and I walked to all the major buildings we saw on a walking tour at the beginning of our trip: Banco de España, el ayuntamiento, the Plaza Mayor, el Mercado de San Miguel, etc. We hopped into H&M, Zara, Mango, and a few other stores looking at the crazy European clothes. I love it. This afternoon was great, just walking around the city, window shopping, taking pictures of anything I wanted, and getting a few more things for my family.
It's already Tuesday. Which means I'm already almost halfway done with this week. Which means there's only one week after that. Which means I'll leave this place in ten days. TEN DAYS.
Don't worry, Sara and I are taking full advantage of it. Tomorrow, we go to a museum with our group. Tomorrow evening, a flamenco ballet! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we're going to Sevilla and Granada. Next week, we're taking salsa lessons and visiting the Palacio Real. Then Paris. Then lots of flying. Then home. My. Oh my.
I'm so glad I branched out and hopped over the pond.
So crazy you're almost finished. Take it from me, 10 days goes by super fast when you're about to leave a place you love. You'll come back though. And take someone else back with you next time so they can see where you had all of your adventures!
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