so many bars, so little time

So, in my lit class today, in addition to learning about some various authors during Spain´s Siglo de Oro period in the 16th and 17th centuries, we also learned that in Spain, there is one bar/restaurant for every 38 people. sounds pretty crazy, huh. But now that I think about it, it´s pretty visible. On my walk to the center of town, approximately 7 minutes on foot, I probably pass 15 bar/restaurant/cafes. So, next time you´re in Spain and think that there is nothing to do, think again...

Noche en Blanco!

Well, Noche en Blanco in downtown Madrid was an experience, to say the least...

For one night, Madrid's artistic culture can be seen both in the museums and on the streets. Madrid is turned into a pedestrian zone, main streets completely blocked off, and hundreds of thousands of people come to experience the Noche en Blanco. All of the museums in the city are open all night long (the festival goes from 9 PM to 7 AM!!) and are free to enter. Unfortunately with that comes long lines, long long lines, so we actually never got inside a museum. It was like waiting for a roller coaster at Cedar Point...not fun. On the streets, along with a swarm of people of all ages, are street performers, art exhibits, cool artsy designs projected onto some of the most famous and important buildings in town, and also an overall sensation of, hmmm, chaos. We wandered through the main areas of Madrid--Puerta del Sol, Cibeles, Plaza Mayor, Gran Via, etc. It was interesting, but I doubt I'd do it again...