Every new culture brings unanticipated events. They're hilarious, shocking, surprising, and new. And perhaps that's the best part. It's like unwrapping a present—you don't know what you're going to get, but you have to be ready to put your best face on despite the surprise.
What We Didn't Expect in Madrid, Spain
Before we took the night train to Lisbon for #SteemFest, we flew into Madrid. In @shenanigator's and my first trip there, we couldn't have guessed we'd find...
1. The Most Inexpensive Wine Ever (Yassss!)
When we were at the Mercado de San Miguel, a 3€ glass of wine seemed like a pleasant surprise we might not see elsewhere. Then, we noticed the prices for the full bottles at a cafe. Perhaps it was a mistake that we lost in translation? Nope, it was confirmed to be that cheap at another place. It wasn't until we went to a grocery store that we noticed you can buy a bottle starting at 1€ (and change). A fancy bottle costs about 10€. That's a cheap to mid-range bottle in the US.2. Highly Aggressive Beggars
While sitting at a patio cafe, a beggar women—who looked like she'd been pulled straight from Disney's "Snow White"—approached our table. She spoke at us loudly in Spanish, which, for the most part, we didn't understand. After explaining in Spanish, no intiendo, solo hablo un poco de Español, (I don't understand, I only speak a little bit of Spanish) she continued begging with even more persistence. She pointed at our glasses of wine, talked about her hungry children, and asked for us to go inside and buy her food (I think?). We explained (truthfully) that solo tenemos una tarjeta (we only have a credit card), but she didn't seem to skip a beat.
(source)
Finally, she gave up on us and moved on to two other nearby tables before being ushered out by a waiter. That didn't stop her from coming back to our table two more times. I've never seen something like this before anywhere in the US. This type of persistence happened again in a few other instances during our stay.
3. No Regard for Other Walkers
While we were apologizing for getting a little too close (for our comfort) to another pedestrian, they were cutting us off without batting an eye. It reminded me of New York, but it was still surprising behavior. Meh. I get it: places to go, people to see.OUT OF MY WAY, BETCH! lol
4. Almost No Cell Phones Out
This is one thing I love about other countries in particular. I noticed this about Amsterdam, but I saw this again in Madrid. No one is on their smartphone at the table, walking around, when they're waiting, etc. If anything, they are taking a call but then it goes into a mysterious black hole on their possessions...not to be seen or heard from again. I truly wish the US was more like this. No one knows how to be present anymore.5. Such a Young, Fashionable Crowd...Obsessed With Shoes
Before I came here, I read that people in Spain pay a lot of attention to their footwear. For some reason, I assumed this would be somewhat like how foreigners assume Americans are idiots who yell and eat cheeseburgers all the time. Well, that's not the case here.
Every other shop we passed was a shoe store, or a clothing store with shoes prominently displayed. Suddenly, my own boots felt quite inferior. Lol
6. Sexuality Isn't Prominent in Dress
In Arizona, ladies are constantly looking for ways to show off more skin. Short shorts, mini skirts, stringy tops, backless dresses...the list goes on. Perhaps it's because men have become desensitized from porn and the increasingly scandalous media and that's how they have to stand out. In all fairness, it gets hot as balls in the summer...120°F is no joke people. I, too, am trying to wear as little fabric as possible to avoid melting into a Brittany puddle on the blistering sidewalk. But in any case, fashion in Madrid seemed to be far more important than cleavage, mid-drift, and skin-tight garments. Again, I'd love to see more of this trend back in the US.7. No One Gives a S#!% About the Walk Sign
Are j-walking tickets not a thing here? I was scared for my life unless the little pedestrian walk sign was green. (Whom I fondly punned, Green-Go...gringo lol). Well...no one waits for that sign. They just go. Cars honking and all. They just walk to their destination, cars-that-have-the-right-of-way be damned. Lol
Traveling to new places for experiences like these is gold in my eyes. Every new and unexpected encounter opens my eyes to other ways of living beyond my normal scope of view. I'd be interested to hear if others have experiences in Madrid or elsewhere that totally changed their way of thinking? Share in the comments.
All the best,
Britt (aka @sharingeverybite)