One of my favorite things to do in Madrid is to get lost. I don't think I've ever let myself do this before in any of my travels for a few reasons: 1) I only have a few days in the foreign city so there is no time for getting lost; 2) the foreign city is not safe enough to wander aimlessly around in; 3) I'm a big chicken and too scared to let myself be vulnerable; and, 4) I am traveling with someone and it is NEVER fun when two or more people are lost together...someone is bound to get frustrated, angry, and just hate someone (me!) for not caring about getting lost.
But since I would like this to be my Fran,-grow-some-balls! life experience, I've become a bit more accustomed to getting lost in Madrid. So every once in a while when I have time and in the mood to do some exploration, I go and get lost in Madrid. Yesterday, I decided to get lost in San Sebastian de los Reyes, a suburb of Madrid.
In the middle of the class, I decided that I really wanted to get something for my students as a goodbye present. The cheapest and easiest thing I could think of was a mixed CD. Music is a wonderful tool in learning a new language. I thought songs would at least give them some practice since most of them will not be able to continue taking English classes. But of course, to make the CDs, I needed to get blank CDs. I really didn't feel like spending a ton on it, so I decided to go to Media Markt, which is like a Best Buy. People have told me that this is the best place to buy electronic stuff because it's very cheap. The only problem is that it is in San Sebastian de los Reyes, nowhere close to where I live.
Now I'm not going to tell you all the details since I will not be able to fully explain it. Let me just say that I basically took a couple of buses, a train, and walked up and down hills and narrow streets. I had no map so I just had to go with the flow and guess everything. By the time I got to Media Markt an hour later, my bookbag was getting heavy and I was starting to get blisters from my not so comfy boots. I got what I needed at the store, and then decided to stop in Ikea next door. I've been wanting to get a mirror for my room since there isn't one (I never know how my outfit looks!). And with four girls coming to visit me this weekend, I know this would be even more necessary to have. After Ikea, I headed home. Two hours, two buses, and two trains later, I was home. All the while I was lugging my mirror with me. I'm surprised it didn't break.
Despite the long journey, the back pain, and the blisters, I had so much fun yesterday. I got to know a part of San Sebastian de los Reyes. I ran into the city's plaza del toros, the venue for bullfights. The city is known to have the next best running with the bulls after Pamplona. I will definitely check that out in August! I've also become more familiar with the buses and trains, which is always a plus considering I might be teaching there soon and would need to take the same train.
It always end up fun when I let myself get lost. For some strange reason, it is very liberating to not know where you are going. When I am lost, I always seem to find something I've been meaning to find but haven't had the chance to look for. When I am lost, I find something new that is cool and interesting. And best of all, when I am lost, I learn something about Madrid and its many surprises.
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2 comments:
franniee.... miss u!
this made me feel so peaceful. kinda made me think that in life, you can try and try to get something, but something else always falls in your lap when you're not expecting it...and new opportunities are presented. miss you.
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