Bilbao

The last few days in Madrid were quite fun. What an overwhelming city, though. Honestly, people thronged the streets all day and all night. It was like being in a huge outdoor mall at all times. I was also fed up with paying out the nose for tiny portions of food. The last night, I went out with a bunch of people from the hostel. I met another person doing my program in a different province. We also had the best ice cream in the most stylish ice cream shop ever.
Before:



















After:



















Caipirinha--a delicious and mighty alcoholic beverage:















Anyway, we made to Bilbao last night and started shivering immediately. People here vary in ages more than in Madrid, and they are generally less stylish, though still more stylish than I. I was scared it would be a nothing town, but it's actually the perfect size. It's not as ridiculous as Madrid, but it's still a densely populated area.

I feel like people double-take me a lot on the street. My sister feels it, too. I think it's mostly because we are black women. It is a curious thing. I can count on one hand the number of black women I've seen in Spain. Half of them have been over the age of 50. I've seen a good number of young black men in Madrid, most of whom were either setting up various wares in the street or running from the police with bags of said wares slung over their shoulders. They did not look American or Caribbean. The black men here in Bilbao look like they live here or are tourists like us. Anyway, I think we're an interesting sight to many.

Funny: We got hit on by a group of 40-something, drunken German tourists.

Interesting cultural notes:
- Spanish couples are WAY AFFECTIONATE. Ass grabbing, deep kissing, and more! Practically nothing's off limits. My eyes pop out on a regular basis.
- The Spanish version of Wheel of Fortune has a super hot, tan, 7-foot Adonis as a host, and the "most common letters" (ours are RSTLNE) are CLXGA.
- The old men are not hot. They wear dress pants and sweaters.
- The old ladies are GILFs. They are always dressed to the nines.
- Old people have quite a presence here in Bilbao. I saw several young people taking strolls with their elderly relatives along in wheelchairs or walking alongside them, attached to their elbows. It makes me wonder what happens to old people in America. We don't walk them, that's for sure.

Random Madrid pics:





























Pics of the Segway tour are to come. My camera is dead, unfortunately!