An hour or so later, I was finally showered fresh as a daisy and ready to begin my day off!
In no time I was wondering the streets of Madrid solo and basking in the glow of some sunshine! Instead of going to my usual digs, I decided to just start walking from a fairly random point. The method to my madness is only to follow my gut - it's like a sort of destinationless geotracking for the soul, in which you tap into the universe's guiding energy rather than using a GPS. Haha! ^_^ I literally walk in the direction that "feels" most adventurous and warm. I am sure other people do this, but I've never heard about it... So it makes me feel like a very unique and adventurous spirit almost out of a book when I do it. I always feel like I'm on a grand secret mission and keep my eyes out for every little detail, overcome with awe at the smallest things! Once I read that this was a very specific kind of walking meditation, and boy if this is meditation, I see why people love and advocate it? :)
My first great find was Juicy Avenue - a little cafe that served freshly squeezed juices, along with American style bagels, salads, etc. Finding freshly squeezed juice in Madrid is surprisingly difficult, and so I was overjoyed to find such a cute place while I was still in the mood for something else breakfasty! I ordered an orange/carrot/raspberry juice and happily sipped it all over town! Yummmy.
My second great find was a little super chic yet unassuming neighborhood that I had never before come across. The streets were small and unimpressive, but the boutiques were beyond amazing and unique. The other people who were out in the street were clearly members of the creme de la creme of the city. It was like I had accidentally stumbled upon the secret neighborhood of color and style - and all I could do was ask myself, awestruck, ¨Where the hell am I?!¨I felt like I had entered an entirely different city - it felt a lot more New York City or Paris than Madrid. But it was Madrid! And that made it even more magical. :)
I drank my juice and window shopped, coming across one particularly amusing window display:
I continued my walk through the adorable neighborhood when I was stopped dead in my tracks. My jaw dropped. What. Had. I. Just. Found?!
It looked like a Gaudi building - only I knew there weren´t any Gaudi structures in Madrid. It was, by far, the most whimsical building I´d ever seen outside of Barcelona and I was in instantly in love. I walked around the whole thing, taking it all in and looking at each and every detail. I finally found a plaque that told of its history. It was a private residence constructed in 1901 for a prominent Madrileno in the a style influenced by Art Nouveau and Gaudi. As adorable as that neighborhood was, it was no thanks to the buildings, which were dark, small and run down. The streets were a little dirty and very narrow. And so to have this magestic building proudly stituated in the middle of it all - well, it was absolutely breathtaking. I did a little jig and sang a little song, proclaiming it to be my new secret gem of Madrid! ^_^
I continued on my little walking adventure, stumbling across a bright yellow, Moxie colored Vespa (wow!!)...
... and also spotted a hidden slice of Brazilian graffiti (awesome!!)...
I wandered a bit further in search of lunch and, before long, it was time to meet up with Abby at Sol for our roomie date in the city we´d planned on Friday! :) She and I had both been so busy all weekend that we hadn´t seen each other in what felt like forever, and so as soon as we saw each other we let out a mini squeal and gave each other a big hug.
:) Adorable!
We spent the whole afternoon and evening aimlessly wandering around the city center (and trying, but failing, to find me pants that actually fit my suddenly tiny, tiny, tiny booty cheeks), catching each other up on our weekends while laughing and giggling. :) I´d promised her a week or two before that I´d take her to Malasana, since it was pretty much my favorite neighborhood in Madrid now, and so we headed that way. I really wasn´t sure I´d be able to find the cute cafe I´d gone to the other weekend and wanted so desperately to take her to, but after some wrong turns (and a stop in the Wine/Coffe/Book store, which she found to be amazing) I actually found it! Turn left after the Mango outlet on Fuencarral, walk until the plaza, turn left on the Calle de Pez, where you see the bar called ¨El perro en el parte detras del coche,¨ and walk until Calle Barco. Then it´s on the corner on your left.
BAMF.
I honestly couldn´t believe I´d found it. I hadn´t been paying much attention when he´d taken me there the other weekend, because I wasn´t even planning on going to a cafe. We´d only stepped inside because it was raining. Little did I know how adorable it´d turn out to be!
Anyway, Abby and I got a cute little seat near the window, on the adorably apolstered, super low to the ground seats, and the spunky lady from last weekend brought us over menus. We both ordered cafe asiaticos - the most alcoholic coffee choice on the menu - haha - and we both ordered a cake. We sat in that cafe for over an hour, talking about all sorts of things. That is one of our talents when we are together - never, ever running out of things to say. Haha! Spending a late afternoon at an adorable cafe talking with one of your closest friends and giggling - no better way to spend a part of my day off!
Our wandering and talking continued after we teared ourselves out of the cushy seats and we picked up some Thai food on our way home. What a brilliant plan Abby had! The food was amazingly still hot after our 45 minute train ride home, and we were more than ready to eat after getting into our PJs. :)
Overall, a lovely day off!
XOXO
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