Day 2 - Keep On Walking!

Welcome back everyone!
I know yesterday's entry might have been a little boring, but hopefully today will make up for that! Rather than trying to tread water for an extra paragraph as I seem to be doing here, I'll let you get right on in and experience what we got up to on the second day of our Madrid experience... Enjoy!

This morning I woke myself up with a refreshing shower and joined the others at a local branch of another chain cafe called Zahara. I was goood with my foood today, staying with yoghurt, banana and orange juice, but the size of those pain au chocolats makes them soooo tempting!
Anyway, today happened to be Maddy and Emily's shift at the shop, which gave Vanessa, Mrs Kelman and I the chance to wander aimlessly around the streets of Madrid. Eventually we spotted a photo opportunity in the form of two fountains and a rather small and rather closed market. After taking a couple of snaps, we met back up with Miss Tingle and went for lemonades (or Fanta Lemons, as they are here) at a nearby bar. It's a good job she knew where she was going, because I wouldn't have had a clue with all those back alleys!
After plenty of time soaking in the ambience, we split again and Vanessa and I had the opportunity to do a spot of shopping. We went into the Fnac, which is basically a continental version of HMV, the Apple store, Borders and Toys 'r' Us combined, first, and although I didn't buy anything, I did notice a couple of interesting things I might return for later in the week. In H&M, Vanessa spotted, and bought, a dress and scarf she liked the look of, and though I know very little about fashion, they look like the sort of clothes that would suit her.
When we were bored of shopping we met back up with the teachers and set off to pick up Maddy and Emily. The Metro linea 3 runs straight from Sol to Arguelles, the nearest station to the shop. We had time to kill, and so enjoyed a fun exercise in reaching the top of the nearest Corte Ingles, (the 7th floor, no less), just to get to the toilets, and then working back down again. Not great, but it filled time. I also got some batteries, beause I knew that at some point, someone, somewhere, would need them! It is the nature of school trips.
After a short hike down the street, we arrived at the Intermon Oxfam shop where we would all be working. The shop is full of random nik-naks and miscellanea, and from what I've seen I'm going to enjoy working here tomorrow. So anyway, from there we stepped out to a nearby park to have a typical picnic lunch. From THERE it was a short walk back to the Metro, and a few stops further to the Hostal, where we could sort a few things and have a quick rest before we set off on a longer walk which took us past the magnificent Correos (post office) building, various government departments, and the headquarters of the army, before we stopped in Retiro park, the central park of Madrid. Within the park, we saw a massive pond full of colourful fish, the only statue to the devil in the worl (I think, if I've got my facts right), and a humungous conservatory, with nothing really inside. Must have the mother of all dead fly problems though.
By this time, spirits were flagging, so we took a circuitous route back to the Hostal to have a siesta and smarten up for the evening meal. I knew that if I stayed as I was I would be incongruously underdressed, so I showered and slipped into a shirt and smarter trousers, and spent the rest of the wait people-watching on the front balcony. At quarter past nine, we all met up in the lobby and Vanessa unveiled her new dress. I'll admit to those who don't know me, I'm no fashionista, but the whole combination looked great from where I was standing. In fact, I was worried I wouldn't be able to have a constructive conversation without blushing bright red. Just telling it how it is, folks! Would I ever put you through a pointless emotional tangent if I thought it wouldn't add to the value of the diary?
Anyway, apart from that epic fail on my part, dinner was very enjoyable. We got a round of drinks and a tapas-style seafood platter with extra shrimps to share out. No-one else seemed to want the squid - all the more for me! I also got to show off my shrimp-shelling expertise without making too much of a fool of myself. The restaurant itself was a typical old-fashioned pub with a few subtle Spanish touches like the yellow-daubed walls and decorated tiles in place of traditional pictures.
Soon the paella was ready, and we tucked in! It was every bit as tasty and complex in its flavours as I remembered, amde all the better by the fact that it was hand-made by locals! Though some of the sea-critters in side still looked a little too lively for my liking, the mussels and crabmeat were extremely flavourful, and before long I was full, tired, and very relaxed. On our way back to the Hostal we saw the glittering (ish) lights of posh Madrid hotels lit up in the dark. Too soon, we reached the building, and turned in for the night.

So there you go! We continued to thrive on seafood for the rest of the week, but that's no excuse for you not to tune in TOMORROW, when Vanessa and I begin working in the shop, we spend a lazy afternoon by the pool, and then pay a chilly visit to the cinema! Watch this space!

Jack