Metro trains, train trains, etc.

Yesterday I accompanied my friend Terrence to the train station. He is leaving Friday to visit family friends in northern Spain, and only has 45 minutes between the end of class and when the train leaves. So, being the smart, plan-ahead type he is, he decided to do a practice round to get all the kinks out for the big day. At first, the line we were on (Linea 10, light blue) was moving unusually slow. So far, my experience with the metro had been extremely pleasant. It still got us there on time though! I suppose I should have had a little more patience and assurance in the system. It turned out that it only takes about 20 minutes to get from school to the train station, which will give him lots of cushion time before the train leaves.

Chamartín is the metro stop where the train station is conveniently located, and it is by far the most impressive station I have yet seen. As soon as you disembark from the train, you are immediately overtaken by an entire wall of a mechanically-created, blue and transparent waterfall. The walls are freshly painted and extremely clean--maybe even cleaner than my bedroom at any given point in time. The signs were easy to read (even though I didn't know what many of the words meant, it is a wonder what universal signs for food and bathrooms can do for a traveler!) Some important words to know, though:

andén: platform (for example, on the metro)
línea: the metro line
Con la dirección: in the direction of
Estación: station
Ave: the "fast," not as cheap train service to and from cities throughout Spain

Overall, I was extremely impressed with how simple it was to get to the train. I'm hoping my experience with Barajas Airport will be just as easy, seeing as I live literally five stops from the airport (and I don't have to do any transfers!) We shall see...

The "Loco" Locals

One of the most interesting parts of traveling throughout Madrid on the Metro is people-watching. I have learned more about Madrileños so far by just waiting in the "andénes" (Metro platforms) for my train to come. The other night, as I was waiting for a train home after a long night of dancing the salsa and bachata, I saw someone do something I didn't even know was possible. He hopped like a frog from one side of the tracks to the other, just to drunkenly say hello to some friends. I was afraid the tracks would have shocked him, but to no avail (thankfully!) After saying hola, he hopped right back, just in time to catch his train.

Another night, I was able to see first-hand the efficiency of the Madrid Polícia. As I was leaving the station to walk home, I was blocked from the exit by about 10 police. At first, I thought they were having a coffee break or donuts or something, but I soon figured out they were in the midst of an arrest of a couple. For what? I have no idea. But the guy looked extremely intoxicated while the woman looked slightly more innocent. They were escorted handcuffed out of the station, and I was finally able to go home.

So next time you have to use the public transportation system, keep your eyes wide open: you never know what crazy kinds of things you may see!!

Welcome and Bienvenidos!

As I am writing this, I am sitting in Syracuse's computer lab in the heart of Madrid. It is the day before classes start, two weeks after the start of an amazing, incredibly informative and exciting travel seminar through the south of Spain. There is so much I've been thinking about--what types of food I want to try, where the good pubs are, how caring and wonderful my host mother is. But one thing I haven't had to worry about so far is getting from point A to point B.

And that is exactly what this blog will be about--getting from point A to point B. If I couldn't get around Madrid and from country to country in Europe, I wouldn't have much of a semester. So what better subject to blog about than modes of transportation themselves. From the fast Ave train that takes travelers to cities throughout Spain, to the Spanish metro and bus system that is easier to navigate than any public transportation I have ever seen to the government-owned taxi system, where there is never a chance of being cheated out of money by an illegal taxi driver.

I've only been in Madrid for four days now, and I am already overwhelmed by how easy it is to navigate the city. While I am still directionally-challenged when it comes to walking or driving from one place to another, the easy-to-read numbers and colors of the Metro station enable people of all ages and sobriety levels to find their way. And the prices: a little less than one Euro for every trip (regardless of the number of transfers) if you buy a 10-day pass ("un billete por diez viajes"). Monthly pass-holders can ride both the Metro and bus systems unlimited amounts of times. For individual rides, each one costs one Euro--a small price to pay for such a competent and clean transportation city. There is no graffiti and dirt piles like you may find throughout New York City's subway system, though there is the occasional musician in the walkways or on the train itself.

The one dangerous thing in the stations (at least for me) is the plethora of clothes stores and vending machines. A great idea for the vendors, a terrible idea for a student on an attempted budget. But even the clothes aren't too expensive. I bought an adorable black and white patterned blouse for 12 euros the other day. A little shopping on the way home does a body good. And why not? During January and February almost everything in this city is 50% off or more. Pull out the credits cards and put away the guilt!!