Madrid the region and Beth the reflector

Plaza Mayor in Alcalá de Henares

Most people don't know this, but Madrid is also a region. The city of Madrid is surrounded by the Community of Madrid. And I'm so lucky to be able to see a good bit of it. Toledo and Segovia are near Madrid, but actually in different regions. But El Escorial, Aranjuez, Alcalá de Henares, and Manzanares el Real are all a part of the actual Madrid region.
Last weekend I visited Alcalá de Henares, the birthplace of Cervantes. There is also a university that is about 600 years old. It is a very typical, small, Spanish village, the kind you imagine being in the Spanish countryside. Adorable, old buildings, a huge main square with a cathedral and terraces to have coffee. And on top of all of the buildings, storks have huge nests that they guard and perch themselves on while looking down on the plaza. I was lucky, because there was a festival going on and a huge wedding. So, the streets around the plaza were filled with families watching the street performers, little jewelry stands, and plenty of tables outside to sip coffee and people watch.

The mountain stream in Manzanares
Yesterday, Shannon, Leo, and I went to Manzanares el Real. It's a village in the mountains with less people, but a lot more nature. The mountains surrounding the city look as if they are painted. It was impossible to take a photo that looked real. But the highlight was the creek running from the mountains down to the lake. We went wading for a bit, and then just relaxed in the shade. The water is straight from the melting snow, so it was quite cold, yet refreshing. We were mostly trying to scope out a low key campsite because it's not exactly legal to camp there. But in all fairness, the only two campsites there were either closed forever or not taking campers without RVs. What kind of camping is that?
I'm really trying to take in all I can. I can't believe I have less than a month left in Madrid. And this month, I'm going out of town a lot. Sevilla and Granada are the next few weekends, and after that, it's basically over. The last few weeks have felt a bit surreal, and I am trying to reflect and appreciate the little things about Spain. It's easy to complain about things like service in a restaurant, or extreme lack there of. But where in the States can you sit at a four-person table, order only a coffee, and not get the evil eye when you sit there for over an hour?
It's also been a time of self reflection, trying to remember who I was when I came here, and trying to figure out who I am now. A lot has changed, but I say that not really knowing exactly what has changed. I kind of have a mullet (thank you Spanish hairdresser Miguel), obviously that's a big change. But don't worry, I'd die before I'd let any of you see it. I know that my fundamental self hasn't changed, and never will. But other things I see with different eyes and at a different perspective. It's been interesting to ponder all of this. Wait till the end of June, then I'll really make you sick with all of my sappy, sentimental thoughts and proverbs according to Beth. Haha.