My favorite city so far: MADRID!!!

I fell in love in Europe, not with a man but with a city called Madrid!!! I went to Madrid the second week in April and I knew I would like it because ... well, it was simply a gut feeling. I got there and let me just tell you, dear reader that I did not want to come back! I actually skipped my flight back and extended my trip three days. I couldn't say goodbye. I think I left a piece of my heart back there. My roommate (a.k.a my right hand) and I, Mariana were figuring out ways of making money there... We were considering teaching English and just staying there...forever. haha. Any way, it was a  glorious city. I'm considering going back some time soon... very soon. When I got there, it's a good sign when the airport is clean, easy to access and BIG! Mariana and I met up with her aunt and uncle who then drove us 20 minutes away from the city to their lovely home. The next few days we were tourists. We went to all the popular locations, ate menu of the day and had sangria in a plaza in the middle of the day, fabulous!

As if the days weren't perfect, nighttime was even better. Madrid is known for going out late. The streets fill up around 2am and then people go out. CRAZY! but GREAT! the transportation is soooo easy to use, no graffiti and sooo clean. I couldn't remember what a clean city looked like until I went to Madrid. The cops are respected. The women can go out at whatever time they please and wear what ever they please without being harassed! the security was impressive and people's manners as well. Amazing to see a young woman walking the streets by herself or on a metro because I'm now used to Rome's aggressive and persistent harassers. It was very nice, refreshing. I enjoyed every minute of it. We went to one of the biggest theaters in Europe, we saw it all. The amount of parks and the way they were set up was also impressive. What a beautiful city.

A combination of old architecture with modern technology, perfect. I said to myself, "I can live here." Seriously, every one belongs there. I was explained the politics behind it all and how people like to pay their taxes because the government is not corrupt or let's say as corrupt as most. People see where their taxes go, unlike Italy people find loop holes each year to avoid paying. This was a nice change. Like I said, "I could live there...." I'm going to Barcelona April 30th. I've been there before, 4 years ago. But this time, my cousin lives there. Can't wait. Stay tuned.... *whispering* I think I'll still prefer Madrid.

Greece for Spring Break? Yes, please.

Let's just say that for some, Greece is a dream, an image from an ancient mythological book. Not a place I thought I would ever get the chance to visit. When my friend proposed to go to Greece, i stuttered and said, "Is that possible?".... and so it was. Lucky for me, my friend had an aunt that lived in an island close to Athens so the plan went like this. I traveled to Athens stayed there two days and then his aunt would pick us all up and drive us all to the island where she lived, Evia and then after a few days we would take a ferry to Mykonos and take a ferry back to Athens for a day and leave back to Rome,home. And that's exactly how it went. I went March 19-28. What a trip it was!!!! I fell for the food! Every day was a delicacy. Opposed to Italy, Greece has richness in food and I only mean that with the highest respects for both types of food. Let me explain... Italy's food is very expensive (Rome) and was made from traditional food made during poor times. The meat rarely put in the dishes is full of fat and the dishes are made with easy to find ingredients, such as olive oil, tomatoes, very little veggies and herbs. The meat sometimes used is the cheek of the pig if not another part that is cheap to buy. In Greece, meat galore. You had meat in every plate and so much to choose from. Less expensive and just plain delicious. Let me stray now form the topic of food because I can go on and on but by just admitting that food is a very big part of culture is enough, so lets it be. So, on to the experiences, the weather was great.

Athens was not magical, a bit dirty but like everyone said in the city, a few years back it was paradise and now it had gone bad because of the immigrants and lack of work. Alright, well if that's the case... sorry to hear that. When we went to Evia, we experienced so much of the Greek culture because of the aunt.She showed us about 10 different dances along with her Greek friends, explained some politics to us and basically the way of life. I tried all the traditional liquors, all shots of course. Wow! heaven. 1. Ouzo 2. Tentura 3. Raki 4. one that started with an M and 5. ...pretty much impossible to pronounce, forgive me, readers. All delicious, nonetheless. After we went to Mykonos, It was low season, windy and lonely but gorgeous. We rode all over the island in 4 wheelers. Felt the wind in my hair. I was in heaven. Greece, thank you.