Sala Costello

This place, Costello's Lounge, is definitely worth a visit if you're in Madrid. I was happy I discovered it, because it's a cool little music venue with a good line-up of bands. The upstairs is a bar/lounge with chairs and couches and the downstairs has a stage and a bar. It reminds me of The Middle East Club in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I've only seen one show here so far, but it was an indie-rock band called Niño y Pistola, and it was amazing. The crowd was fun, with lots of people dancing, plus it was only €5 to get in.

Club Costello
Niño y Pistola

Americanism

The thing that’s kind of weird about living abroad is that no matter how much you might blend in, you'll still stand out as a foreigner. You’ll always have an accent and get some words wrong. You’ll always be a little bit different.

People often come up to me and ask me for directions, so I guess I’m not an *obvious* American. Is that because:

a) I’m not sitting sprawled out in the metro with a box of donuts;

b) I don’t own a fanny pack;

c) I don’t use a credit card to pay for everything;

d) I don't frequent fast food joints like McDonalds and Burger King;

e) I don’t ride on tour buses; or

f) I haven’t even walked around holding a coffee or tea from Starbucks since I’ve been here?


However, one thing I am guilty of is taking lots of tourist pictures! Like these of Atocha Station and the Museo Centro de Arte Reina Sofia:








This photo from Plaza de España is another favorite of mine. Behold the elegant composition as some stranger photographs some buddies from Simmons and me:

Yesterday

I went to Plaza Mayor


and made a friend there.

New Apartment

I’ve got a new apartment with WiFi! It's in a central location, and pretty close to where I work. Best of all, my roommates are nice and laid-back. I am the happiest girl alive!