Okay, so today I was walking home from where I switch from the bus to metro on the way home from church. It drops me off at Avenida de América, right by where I used to live. I haven't walked home from there in awhile, but felt like venturing through the ritzy part of time (which has gorgeous architecture, fun shops to peak into, plenty of people, and just familiar madrid sites). As I was walking, I was reminded of some of the things I love about this city. Incredible café solo (espresso) or a nice cappichino con soja (soy cappichino) - both of which I had at some point today... People who just stroll down the street on Sundays or in the Evenings... Beautifully blue skies... Great and clean (except for the recent cleaning strike) public transportation... Free books that come with the Sunday paper (today's was about JFK thanks to El Mundo)... Plaza de Colón (aka Columbus Square) - a square close to where I live and close to where I catch the train to go to the outlying pueblos/towns... Amazing Architecture that never seems to end - I nearly always find at least something I've never noticed before... Great balconies & rod iron benches on the street... Great tile sidewalks... Cute kids decked out to just walk around town... Running up and down stairs (in the metro mainly and even though I really am not in a hurry -- secretly (but of course without them knowing) I just like to beat everyone else)... Did I say the architecture? (which somehow makes me want to sketch)... The great places to run around Madrid (besides the metro) - the park by my house, Retiro Park (the Central Park of Madrid)... I could go on... but will stop there for now :-)
