It’s been almost 5 years since I’ve been back to Madrid and to be honest not much has changed. Maybe a little more development and, according to our taxi driver, a lot more traffic. But at least in the four days that we’ve been here it’s felt like we’ve never left.

Our good friend is getting married on Saturday. He met a Spanish woman when we were all studying out here 5 years ago and they have been together ever since and have a 5 year old son together. They are finally tying the knot with a big Spanish-American wedding just outside of Madrid. More about the wedding in the next blog.

It’s hot and sunny in Madrid and people are out and about like only Madrilenos can be. Terrazas filled with animated conversation in the middle of the afternoon on weekdays and twice as packed on weekends. Bars filled with classic older Spanish men and woman drinking canas and café and sharing bocadillos de Jamon and talking about how Real Madrid players are over paid and lacking any kind of passion for the game. Puerta del Sol and Plaza Mayor are bustling with Madrilenos and travelers alike soaking up the sun and indulging in the art of conversation and relaxation.

We’ve been moving to the Spanish rhythm of life as well. Visiting old friends and favorite restaurants that are all still around. Spending the days in the parks and in the plazas shooting the shit. At night we start off at a small bar in Huertas, or La Latina or around Embajadores were we are staying and speak as much Spanish as we can. It’s always depressing to realize how much your Spanish suffers when you don’t use it everyday in the States. But it’s coming back.

It’s great to be eating dinner at 11pm and not worrying about going out until midnight. Always you to slowly ease into your evening. Clubs close at 3 or 4am or sometimes not at all here and although we aren’t as young and resilient as we were when we were living here in college we’ve still been able to show the Madrid nightlife that we can still hang.

Ross and I are staying with 2 Spanish gals, and Argentinean woman and our friend who writes for Matador from Dubai in an apartment in Embajadores. They’ve been incredible stay with. Allowing us to park ourselves in their living room on a couch and fold out bed. All very unique gals with interesting stories and aspirations. Abha, who is a travel writer, is the only one that speaks English so we’ve had a good opportunity to get our Spanish warmed up for the next couple of weeks that we’ll be in Spain.

We’ve also been hitting up study abroad programs and hostels all over Madrid and spreading the word about Matador, which is being very well received. People are just excited about travel and excited about sharing their enthusiasm with other like-minded people. Madrid is a huge study abroad destination and it’s been great to connect with people who are traveling for the first time and hear about their struggles and successes.

Our friend Ryan had a BBQ at his house in a small suburb outside of Madrid. His whole family was there from the states, many of whom had never been to Spain before. Interesting folks and we drank, ate and talked all night. Ryan bought a shitload of fireworks that we blasted at midnight. Not sure how happy the neighbors were about it, but Ryan’s son was loving them. Check the pics (real deal).

Today is our last day in Madrid and we are heading down to Seville to stay with a rowdy bunch of Spaniards (see wedding photos). It’s been a great week in Madrid soaking up the lifestyle again and remembering our time here five years ago. Such a different mentality than the states. Madrilenos work to live, while Americans tend to live to work. It’s been nice to gain that perspective once again.

Off to Sevilla next wher things are even slower and more traditional....