Dia 1

Getting in at about 9pm-ish Madrid time, I finally got to my new/old apartment and met a few of my housemates. There's 6 of us total, all girls, all UCD undergrads, with 1 bathroom. We'll see how that plays out. Other than that, we all seem pretty agreeable with each other and ready to experience this city together.

The Metro. Our transportation, schedules, practically our lives will be depending on this subway system, which thankfully is cleaner and more efficient than BART. Everyone uses it, and no wonder because the streets are tiny and semi-crazy. But before heading to orientation we grabbed some breakfast on the way.
*First meal in Spain - 1 slice of Tortilla (like a quiche, egg cooked with potatoes, probably onions) and bread. Not phenomenal, but good.

Orientation was hours long, informative, and I probably forgot many things. Hopefully I'll remember the details as they become relevant to my life...

10pm-ish (I think) we head out for a late dinner as we are told most Spaniards do to the Gran Via, pretty much the oldest and most major street of Madrid. Literally - the Great Street.

Our attempts at the famed El Tigre tapas bar failed us. It was closed :( But that didn't stop us from wandering about aimlessly through the brightly lit and full streets around that part of Gran Via.

Encounters:
People of all ages/races/ethnicities literally are everywhere at 10-11pm at night
Museo del jamón (Yes, the museum of HAM) famed, recommended and was seen in Pedro Almodovar's Carne Tremula
Hookers are EVERYWHERE. Just chillin', waitin' around. Apparently one tried to grab one of the guys with us and take him somewhere o_0 But I will say this, they are pretty fashionable and classy lookin' hookers.
Walking around on of the smaller streets, I saw a closed Sari-Sari store (Filipino convenience store) <3
Decided to hop into a bar, hoping for food but there was none. BUT there was spanish karaoke. In between singers, they played American classics such as Funkytown :)
Slot machines, in any given bar, cafe, or a shop of slots
Passing by a plaza, I spotted a group of Pinoys, possibly tourists, maybe OFWs. Dang we really are everywhere

Took the metro home at about 1ish. Interesting first night to say the least.

Note: Sorry I don't have pics yet. I haven't been taking out my camera with me, for fear of it getting JACKED. Pero no te preocupes, I will try to gather pics I'm in on Facebook, and start taking my own soon!