Archive for January, 2008

Spanish men crash and burn too.

Add comment January 25th, 2008

The next night we are hanging out at the Dubliner when we hear a cackle of female voices coming from the back.  Apparently, it is a celebration – a bachelorette celebration.  Sean and I look at each other and just grin.

We are experts at this and we wanna show the Spanish and their piropeo” that the Yanks have game too.  We hold back and watch as the carnage begins.  Time and time again the Spanish try and dive into the hoard of women.  Time and time again they retreat with their tails between their legs as they are dismissed over and over.  I head over to the supposed leader – there is always one. And I befriended her.  I flash my Cruise smile and told her I was getting married in a few months so there was no way I was going to sleep with her tonight – no matter how much she wanted it.  She laughed and invited us both to join them.  I wish I had taken a picture of the looks from the Spanish guys.  BTW, Sean has some decent pics over at his blog.  He writes better then me anyway.  We spend some time there – they were getting pretty trashed – one chick even flashed me her taco.  We take off, we are both old enough we know you should always leave on a high note.  We head over to some Argintina  Salsa place and befriend some locals.  The guys asks me for $6 euros and comes back with a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black and hands it to me.  Man, I am really starting to love it here but we are leaving in the morning.  We visit a few more places and Sean bags it in.  I stick with them until the sun comes up.  I head back to the hostel and as I walk around the corner in the hallway I see Sean’s feet sticking out. He is laying there, sleeping, in the hallway.  I forgot to give him the keys.  It was kinda funny actually.

Well, against my better judgement I let my head hit the pillow.  I wake up, what seems 10 minutes later, but really is 3 hours.  We only have 1:30 minutes before our flight takes off.  Mother fucker.

I wake Sean up, yell to him to take the bedroom and I got the bathroom.  I rake my arm over the sink and pile whatever was there into my suitcase.  We will sort it out later.  He does the same for the clothes on the floor.  But, poor Sean misses a $100 pair of jeans, which he doesn’t discover unutil we get home.  Poor bastard can’t catch a break.  We run outside and pray we can find a cab driving around at 9:30am on a Saturday.  We are oh so lucky and I say this to the driver as I point to him, “You Mario Andretti. Fast.  Barajas.”  His eyes light up with excitement, which should have scared the shit out of me then.

This guy could be his little brother, we are zooming all over the place.  Sean is in the back going, “What the fuck did you tell him?” as he is thrown from side to side.  Between that and the hangover I am trying not to throw up.  We get there and the meter says something like $35 euros but he asks for $50.  I give him $60 and we dart into the terminal.  Sean, my good friend, becomes the ugly American and cuts to the front of the line getting into the Internationl terminal and almost starts an incident.  I follow him and answer their snears with “estúpido” and point to Sean.  We get through and settle into our seats just as the place backs away from the terminal.

We are headed home.  One a little lighter than the other, but both us heavier in the understanding of a foreign culture and experiences that not many in the States ever partipate in.  Most assuredly, this experience was great because I chose to travel with a guy who has the right mentality.  Cool and calm even when things weren’t going right.  And upbeat and fun without doing stuff that would get you thrown in jail.   I only make a point of saying this because I have been on the trips from hell and it was only because of the people I was with.  I tip my drink to you as you travel through China.  I wish I was there – almost.

Madrid has museums – a lot of museums (and bars).

Add comment January 25th, 2008

And they don’t let you take pictures inside – well they don’t let you take pictures with flashes.  I know as that I almost got a beat down by a security guard.  I took his picture – with a flash on.  Asshole.

Sean and I walked around Madrid and hit some of the big museums and saw some wonderful culture.  And even chatted up some locals in the coffee bar.  I headed back to the hostel to take a nap and left Sean to his own devices to go shopping.  I was saving up for the evening as that I heard the night life goes late and I didn’t want to puss out early.

Well, on our first night walking around Plaza del Sol we eat some tapas and drink some more sangria.  Every bar we walk into has a pig leg set into a contraption and they slice a sliver of flesh off and server it with bread.  From what I am told, the quality is measured by the color of the hoof.  The darker the better.

More walking and I am telling Sean, “I am walking into the next bar I see.”  We walk around the corner and lo and behold – “The Dubliner.”  I, a mere mortal, can find an Irish bar in a city I have never been in, in a country I have never visited.  We walk in after we talk to the doorman.  His name escapes me now, but he is dressed in an Italien suit and is carrying a glock.  (sidenote)We bullshit with him and he becomes our new best friend.  Over the course of the next four days, we always go to the Dubliner first and talk to the doorman.  He tells us the cool places to go (non tourist shit).  (end sidenote)  We walk in and the place is staffed with American chicks.  Damn, we hit the lottery.  This just became out homebase for the rest of the trip.  If you are ever in Madrid, Plaza del Sol, please go check this place out if you like Irish pubs.

Madrid

Add comment January 25th, 2008

After three days in Pamplona/San Sebastian we have had enough.  It was amazing but the accomadations were just too lacking for us American princes.   We need hot water and AC.  We are such pussies.  So, we head early to Madrid, but since Sean lost his bus ticket (well, lost isn’t the right word but I am trying to be nice)  I have to figure out how to buy him one.  I bought our first tickets on the Internet and it was all setup when we arrived in Madrid a few days ago – I didn’t have to really communicate, just give them a reservation number. We don’t go first class this time because it is booked and I couldn’t get a first class ticket for Sean.  We spend copious amounts of time in the bar car and try to talk to people.  It’s becoming a sport.  We take bets on how long before they walk away, and if I or Sean insults them first.  It’s completely unintentional on our part but people really don’t like Americans right now.

Well, onward to Madrid and this is the first sleep I have had in 4 days.  We take a train to Plaza del Sol and wander around until our find our hostel.  Man, this is the way to go.  Double beds, hot water, AC, security, and all for $79 a night.  I love hostels!!  We crash and sleep.


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