A Day In Central Madrid (Part One)

I have arrived and I am in heaven. I shared some pictures on my personal Facebook account telling my family and friends how much I love it here and how different to Japan it is (the fruit are not wrapped in plastic, the people are happy and care-free, there’s much colour and diversity). Then my dad told me off. He said, I shouldn’t be comparing countries because each flower has its own beauty. You’re right papa! That was not my intention. Just, I can’t believe I’m actually here. It’s so damn romantic and it looks just like its pictures.
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More delicious than expected. According to Jose (my new host-father), the chocolate sauce/drink must be so thick that when dipped, your churro sticks up-right in it. Oh mama!
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A real espresso.
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I found this man and his chess board alone in the park. I asked him (well, gestured) if I could play and he said, “SI” (yes). Of course I lost because he was an expert but wow what an experience. We had no idea what the other was saying.
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Sorry dad but I have to compare. I mean, look at this! No plastic and so fresh and cheap and organic. Ugly but delicious. No gigantic plasticky apples here.
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A for Anisa.
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16 comments

  3. I see no problem in making comparisons. It’s good for a writer to look for the qualities they like in any situation, I agree, but making comparisons is actually essential.

    Comparisons challenge readers to first look at what is being compared – such as food packaging, to see if we agree or not with what the writer shows us, and then to consider our own realities, about the topic – maybe we had not really noticed packaging of fruit or whatever but now we see differing ways it can be done.

    Sunday music in the park in San Jose, carousels in the piazza of Lucca, art exhibits in castles, streets full of pedestrians examining displays by flower sellers in the market – for sure when we travel we compare these to our environments ‘back home’. We want to do this.

    I say, compare away !

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  4. I am a huge Japanophile and am sad that I will not be vicariously following your adventures there any longer. However I look forward to your new experiences in a beautiful country.

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  7. I was fortunate enough to spend 11 months in Spain in college, and I have very happy memories of Madrid. The cafes in the Plaza Mayor, the churros y chocolate that we had for breakfast or for a snack, endless hours in the Puerta del Sol drinking wine and eating tapas, the paintings and sculptures in the Prado, the architecture, the food………I could go on and on. Enjoy your time there. It’s a magical place.

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