The clock is tolling the 36^th hour I’ve had without real sleep; I can hardly count the short naps I’ve managed to get on the floor of the airport terminal. It is the 34^th hour of travelling, and the 7^th hour I’ve had sitting in Madrid. Five more to go before my flight to Alicante. I’m so sore from sitting in terminals and airports that I hail the man who invented BioFreeze as a god and the man who put it in 1oz airplane friendly packages – a demigod. Who knew sitting could hurt this much.

                But not all hope is lost! I am in Spain – in Madrid! And since entering, with the exception of helping another solitary American, have not spoken a word of English. A point of pride for me, however, that means my conversations have been kept rather minimal. I’ve enjoyed it though. I spent my first Euros on a Spanish – English dictionary and managed to order food in the native tongue. This is a step in the right direction.

                I’m currently sitting in the airport watching a televised sport I have never heard of. It appears to be played like a cross between rugby and indoor soccer. I’d tell you more but watching it gives me about as much information as listening to soccer on the Latino radio station. I really have no idea what’s going on until someone shouts, “Goal!”

                But so far, I love it here! The land is gorgeous, the language is beautiful, the people are colorful, and as Officer Tihinen once said, “They must kill all the ugly women.” Hahaha.  For now, I’ve run out of things to say. So, until next time, keep your stick on the ice.