Spain, A.K.A. The Week Long Layover in Madrid
Spain was of course somewhere I wanted to go, however, this wasn't the trip for it. We were heading East and Spain would have taken up three weeks or more for us to see all we wanted. How we ended up in Madrid for a week was actually only due to a cheap flight we found which would take us from Lisbon to Madrid and then from Madrid to Milan. The catch was, to get the amazing price we would have to wait in Madrid 5 days. Don't worry, I'm not complaining, I happily went to Spain for 5 days.
Madrid
September 2 to 7
Truthfully, Madrid is a blur. 5 days staying in a party town, in a youth hostel, drained us completely… and not because of partying. Going 5 days with no where to be and not much to do takes it toll. We were going absolutely stir crazy. We did all we wanted to do; walked end to end in the huge city, took the free walking tour, saw a bull fight, went out on a pub crawl, ate paella, and said gracias more times than I can count. That was Spain for us.
I know I'm not selling Madrid very well as a vacation destination and thats not fair. The city was gorgeous and we did like it very much. I just would suggest a shorter stay in Madrid and then heading out to all of the other wonderful places Spain has to offer.
I think I will just let my photos sell you on the city now...
I know I'm not selling Madrid very well as a vacation destination and thats not fair. The city was gorgeous and we did like it very much. I just would suggest a shorter stay in Madrid and then heading out to all of the other wonderful places Spain has to offer.
I think I will just let my photos sell you on the city now...
Be Careful What you Ask For: A Bull Fight in madrid
We wanted to see a bull fight. I admit it. It sounds terrible and not at all like us. Really. And in our defence, in a naivety, we really thought bulls were no longer killed in bull fights.
Are we the only ones?
I sound silly typing this, especially because I spent my time in University and Post-Graduate studies learning about the various societal, ethical, and development issues around the globe, but we genuinely believed this.
We thought that a show would be put on; the macho matadors would parade a bull around the ring, there would be a few near misses, and the whole things would be more like a dance. Not the case.
They still kill bulls in Madrid.
There is a huge push to end bull killing in Spain, but Madrid, with deep ties to tradition, unfortunately has not changed its practices. We entered this arena so excited and naive and we left completely disheartened, unable to even talk about what we had just seen until back at the hostel.
I won't go on a moral rant here, its not the place, but I will say, the practice of bull fighting we saw was sadistic, cowardly, and inhumane.
Here are a few photos from the fight, nothing too graphic.
Are we the only ones?
I sound silly typing this, especially because I spent my time in University and Post-Graduate studies learning about the various societal, ethical, and development issues around the globe, but we genuinely believed this.
We thought that a show would be put on; the macho matadors would parade a bull around the ring, there would be a few near misses, and the whole things would be more like a dance. Not the case.
They still kill bulls in Madrid.
There is a huge push to end bull killing in Spain, but Madrid, with deep ties to tradition, unfortunately has not changed its practices. We entered this arena so excited and naive and we left completely disheartened, unable to even talk about what we had just seen until back at the hostel.
I won't go on a moral rant here, its not the place, but I will say, the practice of bull fighting we saw was sadistic, cowardly, and inhumane.
Here are a few photos from the fight, nothing too graphic.