Random rants and observations...

Ok, so here are some random observations about Spain:

1) They don't have dryers here. So, they hang everything out on the line and then iron it. Also, lots of families have live-in nannies, who do the ironing everyday, as there is a lot of it to do when you hang everything out on the line. This translates to very little privacy. If you weren't satisfied by everyone in the neighborhood seeing your assortment of thongs hanging out the family window, then you will likely be humiliated when your underwear are then ironed and neatly folded by the 50 year old nanny. I would not share this kind of information with my own mother. Yet, all of northern Madrid and my host family know the contents of my underwear drawer. Freaky.

Word to the wise: if you plan a similar trip, learn this simple, perhaps not grammatically accurate but functional, phrase: "Gracias, pero tu no necesitas planchar mi ropa interior." Translation: "its not necessary for you to iron my underwear."

2) Soon I will post a picture of some of the parking offenses I have observed here. The cars are all very compact, and therefore fit into extremely small spaces. You find cars parked in the most unlikely places, such as in the four feet of space between a car and the corner of a street when a car hasnt quite pulled up to the end...another car will just back in, with the back of the car against the sidewalk, perpendicular to the flow of traffic. Also, you can parallel park in whatever direction you want, it seems. Facing with the flow of traffic, against, whatever strikes your fancy. This could come in handy if you say, are blind in one eye or have a pinched nerve that prevents you from looking left. Other than that, I ask, why not park the proper direction? And if you do have one of the aforementioned ailments, should you really be driving? is that safe?

3) I was recently robbed on the subway. I was taking all precautions that they recommend to tourists to guard my belongings when it happened. (Apparently, I don't blend well) I had a hidden zipper purse that fits under my shoulder. I would like to add an addendum to said rule:

A tall blonde tourist who speaks English should carry a purse that fits under her shoulder with a hidden zipper made of steel or other impenetrable material.

The crazy b*tch cut a hole in my purse, made off with my wallet and camera. How skillful is that?

And, she used my credit card immediately, which meant that I had to go to the police station and file a report. Nothing like being confronted with spanish legal jargon to take the wind out of your sails about your quickly improving spanish skills. The policeman thought I was an idiot.
Incidentally, I'm now more upset about my camera. I mean, my facebook profile is going to suck. Que mal suerte.

Anyone know where I can buy a metal briefcase in Madrid?