Murry's Travels: The Creep with Weed in his Pocket...And More

I was so excited when I thought up this post. Mainly because the experience was hilarious. (Disclaimer: I am not the guy with weed in his pocket.)

Several nights ago, (I think it was last Saturday) some friends and I went out for drinks. We met in Puerta del Sol and had to wait on another guy to show up because he was bringing a friend. When he showed up, his friend was in his late 30s. Awkward. But you know, we gave him a chance. He was a Spaniard, so maybe it's normal for them to go out on the town with people half their age? (It's not.) The bar was nice, and really full, but we all had a good time talking in our little segmented groups. Until creepy old guy showed up again. He basically started talking to me from across the room, so I had to lean across a bunch of other people just to hear what he was saying.

He kept talking about how we were such good friends--keep in mind that by this point I hadn't even spoken to him, other than telling him my name--and so I smiled goodnaturedly. So here we are, leaning back and forth as he stops and starts the conversation, when he leans in one last time...

"Do you smoke-a weed?" (With accompanying hand gesture.) No. I do not.

So he walked away. Only to return 20 minutes later and creep me out again. I don't like random people touching me, and he just kept his hand on my shoulder. I was very uncomfortable. And I wasn't the only one...the entire group had similar experiences with the 40-year-old creep. I'm just hoping he doesn't wind up in my group again.

This was also the night that I decided to take the bus home (the trains stop running around 1:00 a.m.). First, I had to find where my bus stop was, which took about 30 minutes. Then I get on the bus, and get off WAY too early! I realized -- once the bus drove away -- that I was 2 metro stops away from my apartment. So, in the middle of the night, alone, I started walking. And walking. Part of me was freaking out, but I forced myself to stay calm and walk until I found something that looked familiar. It's still strange because I kept thinking, "Oh. I'll just pull out my phone and see where I am." Except there's no Google Maps on a flip phone. Whoops. I walked for twenty or thirty minutes, and then FINALLY made it back to my apartment, safe and sound. I consider it one of those must-have study abroad experiences. I can check that off the list!

On Sunday, I took a day trip to Toledo. By train, it's about 30 minutes west of Madrid. And what a change in 30 minutes. Very quickly, the train leaves the city and suburbs behind, and you're suddenly rolling through the countryside. In no time, we (me and 3 friends) were stepping off the train in Toledo. The original capital of Spain, Toledo has a very antiquated, old-timey feel to it (sort of like how I picture rural Italy.) that was a welcome contrast to Madrid. And wow. What a cathedral! (I feel like I say this about EVERY church I go into here, but they're all just so incredible.) It was gigantic, with sculptures and paintings everywhere. There was even a massive scene carved into one of the towers! Absolutely insane.