My Spanish love affair (This is a long one)

Aah, I'm back from one of the best holidays Ive ever had in my LIFE.

It's funny how the novelty of being in Spain never wears off. My first Spain trip was back when I was in grade 5 with my family and Ive been going there almost every year since 2nd year high school - with different people, experiencing different things, leaving with different memories but ALWAYS having an amazing kick-ass time! I know lots of people who feel a real affinity for certain countries/cities. And usually it's for cities like New York, Paris or London..and I love these cities too (actually, i take that back. im not the biggest fan of paris) but no other city in world stirs me like Madrid and Santander. And no other country makes me giddy the way Spain does.

This trip was beyond what I expected it to be. I went with my amazing friends Sarah and Lauren and it was just pure silliness from start to end!

Said silliness involved:

1) Lauren climbing up a statue for a photo op (it was a meter above the ground) in Parque Retiro. A guy high on crack wanted to carry her down to which she replied: 'No thanks, Hanna tell him I want to enjoy the view from up here a little longer!'

2) Sarah using an African shampoo she found in her room and waking up with a massive afro!

3)Perving around the Madrid Metro- Uh, there was this beautiful man who was staring (not in a creepy way i might add) at us the entire time we were at the train..so when we reached our stop we decided to wait for his train car to wave goodbye to him! When he spotted us he couldn't stop laughing. Im sure that made his day.

Actually, make that perving around Madrid. So many hot guys, so little time! Im telling you we are DEPRIVED in Edinburgh.

4) Seeing Pablo my favourite Spanish person in the world (who I first met when I was 14. I cant believe it has been that long). Him showing us around and us using him as our personal photographer. Haha! He's such a wonderful boy - great manners, intelligent, funny and very sociable. Sarah and Lauren absolutely adored him. Pablo Fan Club much?!

5) Hiding from Lauren when she fell asleep in the Metro. You should have seen her face when she woke up and we were no where in sight. Terrified Lauren Face is the best.

6) Stuffing our faces with food glorious food.

If youre in Madrid go to Bazaar and Vivares37. Both are in Chueca and both have absolutely stunning and delicious food.

Get the swordfish with clams and the blueberry cheesecake in Vivares and order chocolatissimo in Bazaar. It will be a sin to not try the two when you are in Madrid.

7) Taking crazy photos in Mango, Fuencarral while Sarah shopped! They wanted to kick us out by the time she was done.

8) Watching an experimental version of Hamlet in The Retiro Theater that explored Hamlet's phsyche. Walked out after 20 minutes of it. haha.

9) Going to the Museo del Traje/Costume Museum which also happens to be my favourite museum in the WORLD. It was so great to have Lauren and Sarah (both of them study costume design) educate me about the design, craftmanship and the historical references of all the clothes.

Visiting Museo de la Reina Sofia, Madrid's contemporary art museum where we saw some Dali and Picasso. Lauren, who is a modern art fanatic, was in heaven.

10) A random man taking a picture with us when we were in Puerta del Sol. So random. So Madrid. I love it.

11)Typing Isabel's (my other friend who was suppose to go with us but flaked because she needed to go to Paris with Gareth Pugh) fake details in 'Hard'jet's website because we couldnt print our boarding pass.

Name: Isabel Wong
Citizen of : Costa Blanca
Country of Birth: Bhutan
Birthdate: 23/10/1910
Document Number: 123456

12) Uh, way too many to mention so Ill stop here.

I LOVE SPAIN!!!!

The funny thing is, everytime Im there, I get the feeling that it loves me back.

Some snapshots from our first day:

Vivares: c/Hortaleza, 37
Go there for an epic meal!

Pictures of day 2 to follow!