Partying like a Madrileño...kinda...not really...

As I have mentioned before, Madrileños are known to start the night very, very late. Because I've been so busy with classes, I really haven't been able to go out in Madrid. So I decided to try it out this weekend...and I'm pretty sure I didn't pass the test.

Friday night, my class celebrated our last day of classes. Our teacher took us to El Tigre, the tapas bar I went to on my first day here. Again, that place is just ridiculously awesome. I mean, with 5 euros, I was able to get a good buzz and lots of food. They just don´t stop feeding you!!! After overdosing on croquettas and patatas bravas, we finally went to a cafe bar and got some coffee, wine and more cervezas. We just sat there for hours talking about bloody shit and mormon sex...it was quite an interesting night. We all wanted to go dancing, but considering we started the night at 6 and festivities do not start till midnight around here, we just couldn't quite make it. So I walked home at about 12, just when the Madrileños were finishing dinner and getting ready to party.

Saturday night, I thought I would give it another shot and really party like a Madrileño. We got back to Madrid from Toledo around 8, and I went home for a delayed siesta...I knew I needed to really prepare myself before going out so late. At about 11:30, I left to meet up with Andrea, Andrew and Sara to go dancing. Andrea met a british girl who is friends with a girl who, through the internet, invited all these random people (locals and foreigners) to meet at a bar and hang out. Basically, it was like a social networking type of gathering. Well, the three cups of coffee and the two hour nap didn't help. After walking to Banco de España, I realized I was supposed to go to Plaza de España, which is on the opposite side of the city center.

So I hurriedly got on the Metro (in heels mind you!), and finally arrived at the right place. We went salsa dancing at the "Tropical House". I was intimidated at first because people were awesome dancers, but I actually had a lot of fun. The British girl was telling us that you basically just stand around the dance floor, and a guy will come and ask you to dance. I was just not drunk enough to be making a fool out of myself (the drinks were ridiculously expensive so I decided to stick to one drink), so I didn't stay too close to the dance floor. But after a while, you can't help but get closer, just so you can watch these people dance so well. And in the back of my head, I thought, "shit, I'm in Madrid! I want to dance with a cute boy!"

But then this old man started talking to me (of course, I attract the freaks or the elderly!) and was telling me about his friend. Thankfully his friend was not that old and spoke some English. This friend, Carlos, asked me to dance and I felt so awkward at first. My body really was only made to booty dance, not to do salsa or merengue or manchata. And I usually just like to dance on my own and not have to depend on someone leading me! Nonetheless, Carlos was nice enough to teach me and I started to get the hang of it after a while...I am definitely taking some kind of dance lesson while living here.

By three, we were tired and hungry. Andrew, Andrea and I decided to go food hunting. Surprisingly, it was very difficult to find food! We were starting to get really pissed. It was cold, cabs were all taken and not even Burger King was open! You would think in a city where people are partying until the wee hours of the morning, somebody would be savvy enough to think that having a late night pizza/hot dog/burger joint would be a very lucrative business. But no, we just couldn't find it, not even in the busy areas...or maybe we were just ignorant American's and didn't know where to look. The only thing we could find were Chinese people selling drinks, and snacks and bocadillos from a box on a street corner. Call me a snob, but I just didn't feel comfortable buying a sandwich from a box from a random person on a street corner (sorry, Juan!).

Finally, we found this tiny little dive bar in Chueca and saw people eating outside. So we went in and got some hot dogs. They were very interesting hot dogs (Andrea's was slathered with about half a jar of mayonnaise...gross!), but we were so desperate that we inhaled them. As we sat there and snacked on a big cup of french fries (it was a combo of super hot and semi frozen ones), I noticed these two guys totally making out. I just thought, wow, I'm totally jealous. Here I am stuffing myself with food I'm not so sure of, and other people are getting some. That's when I knew I needed to go home.

The sad thing is that as we were walking home, people were just starting to line up for the clubs. I just couldn't believe it! It was almost 4 and I was deliriously tired. And yet, people were just starting their night. Just when I thought I was doing better on my second night out, I failed again. But I am determined to adjust to this Madrileño style of going out! I will not give up.

As for Carlos, he asked for my number and I foolishly gave it to him. I mean he was nice and cute, but I have a feeling he's a lot older (like mid 30-ish...definitely older than my brothers!). I just don't know how I feel about that. I was hoping he wouldn't call, but he texted me tonight to go dancing...again! I just had to say no. I mean really, it's Sunday! I know I don't have to go to work tomorrow, but two nights in a row and a weeknight is just too much for me.

I guess adjusting to the Madrileño social habits will just take me a little longer.

TEFL course

Salsa Dancing