Last Thoughts and Madrid, Spain

architecture Madrid
old street Siesta time


their version of street signs

church
church
church
looks like Zeus
Queen Isabella 2

north Spain
road trip
sunset

royal palace - looks like ours

i ended up road tripping down to Madrid from the north. the coutry side is beautiful. it went from mountain country, arroyos, rolling plains, etc. i took one of the nicest sunset pictures ever. reaching Madrid was a little tricky with the highways but in the end I reached the airport and dropped off my car. next time i am driving manual. it has been quite exhausting to drive being sick but the countryside was invigorating.

the people have been very warm and kind. the food looks freaking great. the only thing is that whatever i eat comes back out in 5 minutes. so gastronomically it would be a waste of good food and expensive euros. the good news is that i gained weight for the last weeks, because who really excercises on vacation? the great news is that i have lost it all in 2 days. not exactly the ideal diet but i am not complaining.

i am posting some of the shots that i took while walking around the old historic district of Madrid. it is beautiful here and a nice way to wind down before leaving europe. it is depressing to be sick and to not be able to adventure with the food and the culture.

so, after 12 airports, 14 planes i am coming home. i have made a shitload of good friends who are coming to Hawaii and made great friendships.

it has been a good learing experience and a good chance to broaden the mind and soul.

leaving on vacation should be about taking yourself out of your comfort zone and experiencing unique things and trying to find the high road in life. it makes you a better person because you realize how much more there is to life.

one think is that you realize how other cultures perceive you as a person as well as americanos in general. i realize how privaleged we are as a country, society, etc. Consumerism and Capitalism are the key words that people associate with americans. it was nice to see countries that aren´t quite the consumers. the flip side is people work very hard to made a decent living.

In europe people work to live, and in america we live to work. a good friend of mine noted that if you have time you don´t have money, and if you have money you don´t have time. this is apparent when you see tourists on vacation for a week and they complain about the weather, the time, the accomodations, the transportation. we are so used to getting what we want, when we want it that we are unable to see past the immediate problems.

the last thing i want to say is that i am very impressed with the international news regarding current events abroad. it is sad to see we don´get the same news standard in Hawaii or the mainland. i am also very impressed with how people view the environment here.