bienvenidos

Yes, well I made it. Three planes later I'm in Madrid, and all was going so smoothly until I began seeking accomodation. The two hostels listed in my guide turned up short, as one was full and the other was literally a poor-house -- which I should have no problem fitting into since I'm poor, except that the people lurking-sitting-drinking-burningthings on the grounds of the place looked as if they'd like to make me poorer, and I don't need any of that.

I did a lot of not sleeping on the trans-atlantic flight, and a LOT of walking with my big fat backpack around the city looking for a place, (not to mention I've already explored thoroughly half of Madrid's metro system,) so at around 6pm heretime I gave up and collapse in the bed of a single room rented from a "pension," basically a family's apartment with some extra rooms. 18 Euros. More than I can afford in general, but not bad for a night or two.

I still haven't heard back from the farm I was hoping to work and live on, yet, so it's past time to begin exploring other options. I have a list of about 110 of them around the country, from joining WWOOF, so something will work out eventually.

But I'm anxious, and I am sooo underprepared language-wise... And I have trouble holding the camera still to take pictures without the flash.