walk

My anti-depression camino for you (evening preferably): Go to Tribunal metro station, walk along Calle de Fuencarral, and when you arrive Gran Vía, turn right, and go straight until you reach Plaza de España (where there is another metro station 'Plaza España') [Extra: If you want to relax and it's not very cold, continue to Templo de Debod to lay down near the water (it's very beautiful in the night)].

At the end of Calle de fuencarral, instead of turn right you can go straight to arrive Calle de Montera where you can say hello to the prostitutes, and where is my favorite restaurant (La Gloria de Montera, cheap and modern). It's a little hidden but you can ask for it. At the end of Calle de Montera, it's Sol square, the geographical center of Spain. All the roads of spain are planned in a radial way, and every road of Spain end up in Sol (Sun).

About the food, the most popular dish is 'Bocata de calamares' (sandwich of squids), you can try everywhere near of Plaza Mayor. The more people are in the bar, the better (and cheaper) will be the bocata. You can also try the tapas (Calle Cava Baja is full of bars of tapas), but If I were you, I would wait to Burgos or Bilbao because in Madrid, tapas can be expensive and all the bars are packed.

From Gran Vía or Montera, go to Calle de Hortaleza (it's parallel to Fuencarral) (There is a gay bookstore in that street called Berkana, which was the first gay business of Madrid. The owner is a spanish old woman who lived gay movement in San Francisco, there is a lot of english material. I have spent lots of hours there), later turn right to Calle de Gravina and reach Plaza de Chueca, then, come back to Gran Vía towards Calle Barbieri or Calle de Bartolomé (both are parallels).

If you want to go out around Chueca, be ready to spend money. In order to enter to a club you have to spend an average of 12€ (one drink included). Skinny young boys are in Longplay (Plaza Vazquez de Mellá). Muscled and mixed people are in Cool (that club is amazing, with three rooms and different kind of musics. It's near Tribunal). If you want to see very modern and snobbish people with strange haircuts and extravagant outfits, go straight to club V (near Montera street). If you just want to have fun, maybe the best place is Delirio Live (very mixed) in Calle Pelayo 59.

This is a place where I always go, and no tourist know it: "El Jardín Secreto" (Calle San Bernardino 22, near Plaza España). It's a magic place, very well decorated, where they serve drinks like chocolate with violet petals, or the cake served in Nicole Kidman's wedding. It's the best place to go if you want to invite someone (your coachsurfer?) and have a relaxed time. It's open from 6pm or 7pm. You will probably have to wait a little bit in order to sit down.

I found bars (not restaurants) with flamenco spectacles, you can find them at the end of this webpage () I think bars are more authentic and passionate (and cheaper) than sitting down in a restaurant.

While I'm writing this, I'm having a terrible nostalgia. People use to say some things about Madrid: 'If you are in Madrid, you are from Madrid', or 'When you visit Madrid for your very first time, you will feel the itch for coming back again and again', and if you end up living in Madrid, you would say 'De Madrid al cielo' (from Madrid to heaven, because you don't need to go anywhere since Madrid is the best place to stay :)) Madrileños are known in spain because they are very cocky and proud. In fact, when Madrid lose the chance of celebrating the olimpic games in the city, the general comment was 'Well, It's their loss' :P

Be ready to see A LOT of people in the streets. Many spanish people go to Madrid to do the christmas shopping and to see the christmas lights, which are designed by spanish fashion designers.

Feel free to use the metro whenever you want. It's quick, easy, clean, really cheap and you can go everywhere (1€ per trip, 9€ 10 trips), and for me, the metro can reflect very well the soul of Madrid.

Be careful with the pickpocketing, is very common in crowded places. The touristic police can be reached calling 112 and asking for them.

Madrid -> Burgos: You can easily buy the bus ticket here (website link)... In order to not pay commission, insert my BusPlus card. The buses are in 'Avenida de América' metro station, second floor (you can also buy the tickets there without comission). You can enter directly to the bus with the code the webpage give to you when you buy the ticket, and your name and last name (you don't even have to print anything). Be aware of the 'number of the bus' (maybe there are 3 buses to Burgos at the same time, you have to enter to the correct one!). You don't have to buy the bus ticket in advance, you can buy it few hours before. Alsa is very flexible, they put more or less buses in order to fullfil the demand.

Bilbao -> Madrid Airport: I don't know when do you have the flight, but there is only one bus everyday at 20:00, and arrives to Barajas at 00:35. If is not the best option, there are buses to Madrid from Bilbao every hour, and from Madrid's bus station (Avenida de América) to Barajas airport it's only 30 minutes by metro :).

I hope this is enough, don't hesitate to ask me anything about Madrid! :)

Kisskisskiss

I moved to Madrid because I fell in love with you: I didnt know what I was doing then. I was just sure I had to go. I was aching to be with you.

Everything in circles. I'm back here again. I'm in love again. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to feel it then. And to follow it now. It's such a force, that choreographs yet to be known but pretty decisive movements and encounters.

I'm a better cook now, at least more aware of more things that happen in a kitchen situation. But I still dont know whats happening. I do know that with love, fire does not burn things, it waits.

I went here last night, smoked a joint. In the last days, I've been frequenting this area. So much in love now. As I know you are too. With life!

The cute boys are still there. I see them, but I don't need them anymore. Now. Here. It's what matters.

I found my own favorite, I was not alone. The sweetness of company. A churro place, and they serve porra filled with Dulce de Leche. I know what you are thinking.

I learned to dance flamenco. My own style. And my favorite flamenco artist is actually from Brasil. Her name is Laura Pacheco.

I came here both heartbroken and in love. Nostalgia of what I left in Berlin. And yet being embraced back by Madrid. The people. As if I never left. Kisses, kisses, kisses. Hugs, hugs, hugs. And they mean it! I know what you mean. And I decided to reconnect, to inspire them as much as they inspired me.

This has not changed. And in Cibeles, there's a big banner that says Refugees Welcome. It gives me hope.

P: It's 1.50 now and 12 euros for the 10 trips. My favorite station is Republica Argentina. Its the station to go to the embassy.

They still look very gay. Skinny pants. Beard and Moustache. And mangossiping while walking.

I have taken this route countless times that now it feels so near. The hours of travel don't count. It's the many circles that do. They grow. Like my busplus card. It's gaining points.

I want to go to Bilbao next week. No airports for me these days ;) Land travel is amazing, and very underrated

What we shared was more than enough. It's enough to keep us connected. And our connection is evolving. Thank you, for everything. For being you that I could be me.

Kisskisskiss