Final Days (for now) in the City that never disappoints: No Work and All Play....

It has been an entire week since I returned to Madrid from San Diego. The week has been a whirlwind of seeing friends, wandering the city, plenty of play, and feeling elated... This overall elation could be that I am completely free, and have never quite had this opportunity before in Madrid. Of course, I am loving the city, my friends, and everything about my life here even more than ever.. why is it so typical of humans to love something the most when we know it is fleeting?

The following pictures are from my first day of official vacation, last Friday. I awoke with pure glee, excitement to do everything I have ever wanted here and to peruse and wander without any hurry.

Chueca, the famous gay neighborhood, was whizzing with excitement for what was to be the much-anticipated Gay Pride weekend. The Gay pride parade in Madrid is the biggest in Europe, and last year was considered to be the biggest in the world. Spain is always ready for a party. Rainbow colors everywhere, gay couples vacationing from all of the world to take part in the spectacular parade and festivities of the weekend.

I didn't actually attend the parade because that many people tend to overwhelm me, plus with the inconceivable heat that has overtaken Madrid, standing amidst so many bodies didn't feel like the most appealing option. I did have to cross through the parade to get to a dinner reservation, and by the time I made it to the other side was twenty minutes late..... oh well, it was worth it for a quick piece of the world-famous celebration.

Wine bottles designed specifically for the Gay Pride weekend. As I was admiring them in the window, the store owner came out to invite me to a glass of the wine and tell me all about his vineyard and this very wine that he and his father produce themselves.