Wow, this thread has really exploded since my last viewing. The amount of support from forum members is astounding and it's incredibly rewarding to see Scott take possession of the truck.
I apologize for being so silent lately. I landed in Madrid on July 11. Since then, I have rarely thought of the Rally - a somewhat welcome change! Mongol Rally thoughts and preparation have consumed my brain since I first paid the entry fee last November, so this is the calm before the storm. Between purchasing a car, obtaining visas, and making travel plans it has been rare for more then a couple of hours to pass without a Mongol Rally-related thought entering my brain. I've been using my time here to relax and enjoy myself.
My stay in Spain has been incredibly pleasant. An old friend of mine picked me up from the airport when I arrived and was a fantastic tour guide. The highlight of the day: tapas-hopping through the Barrio de La Latina. La Latina is an older neighborhood and up until a few years ago was considered the dangerous part of Madrid. It's now an area of town famed for it's restaurants. Later that evening we went to watch the World Cup final. When Spain scored the only goal of the match, the roar from the crowd was unforgettable. After the victory we spent several hours marching around town with the other celebrants.
I spent several days in Madrid recuperating from travelling, seeing sights, and enjoying life. Madrid doesn't have the cultural cachet of Paris, the ruins of Rome, or the reputation of Barcelona (the preceding sentence was blatantly stolen from my Lonely Planet guide) but it is a fantastic city. As my guidebook described it: Madrid is a is cross between Penélope Cruz (beautiful and quintessentially Spanish), Madonna (sassy and getting better with age) and an ex-convent schoolgirl who grew up, got sophisticated but never forgot how to have a good time. The Museo del Prado and the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza are both must-sees. Madrid is also a great mix of new and old architecture.
After five days in Madrid, I set out for the south of Spain. I wanted to visit Andalusia, which as a very unique history. Andalusia formed the heart of the Muslim region Al-Andalus (from which the name Andalusia is derived). Muslims invaded the Iberian Peninsula in the early 700s and were finally expelled from Granada in 1492. This has given a lot of the culture in the area a unique flavor. After seeing the remnants of the Muslim architecture, I almost wish they had stayed.
I spent several days in Seville and Cordoba. Both are incredibly beautiful regions, but during this time of year they are both extremely hot. I spent most of my time sightseeing and staying cool. Seville has many language schools and universities - I ended up exploring the nightlife with some Americans I met. There's nothing like arriving back at your hotel after sunrise.
Days begin and end late here in Spain. It's rare to see much going on before 9 AM. The streets are empty from 2-4 PM. No one goes out for dinner before 10 PM. Bars usually close at midnight or 1 AM. Night clubs don't even open their doors until 1 AM and they rarely close until dawn. The relaxed pace of life is very pleasant. I'm already plotting ways to avoid returning to the US.
As I write this, I'm back in Madrid for a night. I'm heading to Barcelona tomorrow. Scott and I will rendezvous there and we begin our journey to Mongolia on the 24th.
With the Mongol Rally rapidly approaching, expect a lot more content from me. I plan on writing extensively about the journey to Mongolia. For those that are curious, you can view the blog I maintained during the Central America expedition here:
http://cwnordstrom.blogspot.com
Chuck
P.S. The Mongol Rally blog page has a few kinks that are getting worked out. I will be re-posting my prior entries and cross-posting this one.
Random thought: my mother was kind enough to loan me her Barnes & Noble Nook, which I absolutely have fallen in love with. The e-ink display the Nook and Kindle feature is extremely easy on the eyes. I was able to read for hours at a cafe today, which most certainly would not happen on an LCD display.
Another random thought: you can purchase gazpacho soup at the McDonald's here in Spain.
