Home of the Salsa!!!
Trip Start
Jun 13, 2008
1
5
76
Trip End
Nov 20, 2008
Madrid,
Madrid,
Spain and Canary Islands
Monday, June 23, 2008
Loads more driving today. Stopped off at Burgos Cathedral on our way to Madrid. Very cool. It is where El Sid is buried.
Had 4 hours free time when we arrived at our hotel in Madrid. So went and checked out the mall opposite the hotel. Kinda difficult to do stuff when you don't know the language.
That evening we had a really cool local guide, Corina, who took us on a tour of the fountains of Madrid. She was very concerned that with my fair skin I should be very careful that I don't get sunburnt. lol.
Dinner was at a traditional restaurant with live music. Was nice. Went for a walk after dinner then headed to a Salsa club called 'El Son'. They don't really get started till about 2am when the locals arrive, but if you get there around 11pm they give free lessons. Gave it a go but I am crap at salsa. Fantastic atmosphere at the club. Everyone really is there to dance and it isn't sleazy. Everyone dances with everyone-no one gets left out. Very cool. Would recommend going to anyone.
Today (Sunday) we headed off on a tour to the medieval spanish town of Toledo. Was amazing. You really felt like you were going back in time-and really felt like you were in Spain. The architecture was fantastic-very medieval with arabic influences. Went on a walking tour of Toledo. Very interesting but very hot! The whole time we have been in Spain it has averaged 38 Degrees-even at midnight!!
Brought some Damascene pieces of jewellery and dishes-they are unique to Toledo and are intriquely inlaid with silver and gold thread. Had a fantastic Paella for lunch!!
Headed back into Madrid for a few hours break before heading off to a bullfight. Interesting experience. They have about 6 different fights a night with 6 different bulls and matadors. To begin with they have some guys (who aren't the matadors but dressed very similar) who antagonise the bull along with another guy on an armoured horse. The bull usually tries to attack the horse and the guy on the horse spears the bull in the neck. Apparrently this weakens the bull so he puts his head down more (and this makes it easier for the matador when he comes out to 'fight'the bull). Then the other guys run around with capes trying to get the bull near enough so they can put spears in his neck. Then the matador (who is a national hero) comes out and does this dance type routine with the bull. He then spears the bull with a sword and kills it. That is the end of the first round. If the bull wins the fight he gets to live. Could only watch one fight then had to leave. Seems a bit of an unfair fight as the matador is protected by the other minor matadors and the bull has been weakened by the time the matador gets to him. At the next fight that I missed the poor horse got gorged by the bull. :(
