Frequenting cheap internet shops adds an experiencial flair not found in travel guides. Myself and other forigners enjoy the low rates to call home or skype our loved ones. It is an atmophere of countless languages and the strange comfort of the mass communications of the internet. I happily join in.

Last night I was able to go out with some friends and real Madridleñas (people from Madrid). It was fun to see the city from such a different perspective. No one knew we were foreigners, until we spoke at length, and so we were able to strike up conversation with ease. I was surprised at the graciousness of our Spanish hosts. They were eager to talk about similarities and differences between the countries, and take us to the places they loved. Me pago, me pago is a common term meaning, I pay, I pay. I admit thought, it took me some time to relax and chat much in Spanish.

I have been finding more similarities than differences here in Madrid compared to the United States. The metro rides could very well be a morning on the Broad Street line in Philly with the same people reading their free Metro papers, keeping to themselves, reading, listening to music, or reading the Metro maps. Sometimes I am surprised to hear people that look and act like the Americans I know speaking Spanish.

This afternoon my host mother cooked a delicious meal of Paella. She says the best Spanish seafood comes from the North because it is colder. There were clasm, oysters, mussles, and shrimp. I took some pictures to show, but my camera battery just died. I will have to post them later.

I am headed out to the Reina Sophia Museum of Modern Art beacuse it is free Saturday afternoons. Pablo Picasso has many paintings there which I am excited to see. Hasta Luego.