Hola chicos! Don't think that I'm lazy...I just have no Internet at home....and have to come back to my old hostel to get online....and it sucks! Yesterday I went with Robert (my roommate from Austria) to a teleshop to get informed about the Internet offers...we found a quite cheap package and have to discuss it with our landlord (Pilar). Hope everything will be fine and we get it soon! Last Friday I finished my Spanish language course and even though the level was not that high I think that it'll help me! The best thing is that I met many many Erasmus students from all over the world with whom I'm doin most of the things in Madrid. Everyday there is something goin on...sightseeing, trips, tours, parties, dinner or just chilling at somebodies place or in the centre of Madrid. This is a city which does never sleep! You even cannot get bored...u just have to open the door and u are standing amidst all this impressive life! I miss all of of u sooo much however I cannot imagine that I have to leave this town some day...The last weeks were amazing and it would take me ages to tell u everything but here are some impressions I collected...I was in the theatre Albeniz and saw 'El lago de los cisnes' (Schwanensee) presented by the National Ballet of Cuba...I was in one of Madrids most famous museums "La Reina Sofia" which presents a lot of amazing art...amongst other things Picassos 'Guernica'! (ohh I love this city)..furthermore there was at the 23.09. 'La noche en Blanco' when all museums and cultural meeting points where open and for free all night from 23.00-7.00am! This was also a great Erasmus night where we afterwards went on big 'marcha'...party party party! Something for the boys...u can be jealous because I saw the stadion of Real Madrid...and it looks really impressive...I even could have go to the partido against Dinamo Kiew for 15,- but I thought that I'll see my first match maybe with Steffen!? Of course, I was hundreds of times shopping...because everywhere u go...u see Zara, s'fera, Mago...etc...they are everywhere and we're becoming big friends*-) Madrid is definitely a place to be outside all the day and meet people...just go home to have a short Siesta and come back for the big Fiesta afterwards. People love to sit in small pubs, cafes or bars everybody next to each other, very overcrowded but cosy! Hope u'r all having fun too...Think I shouldn't occupy this computer any longer...sorry that I cannot show u pictures now...but I hope next time....so stay curious!

Besos, Karo

"Noche en Blanco" pictures made near Puerta del Sol!

"La Noche en Blanco"
Palacio of Communication...

In the morning hours...the streets are full of people.....

I'm sorry that I didn't write for so long but I was busy with running through Madrid searching for a flat or a room. This city is amazing, every time I walk out of the underground I'm standing in a completely new district which seems to be as big as Breda. The metro system is very complex... its an underground jungle and I guess that I spend 40% of the day there (like a mole). Its a labyrinth full of stressed people hurrying in all directions and I'm always surprised how this works?! It seems to me, secret laws rule the whole system: on moving stairs its only allowed to overtake somebody on the left, its normal that upstairs women have to carry her buggies alone furthermore does nobody (except me and the other strangers) carry an underground map along (I think its to be branded as 'no' madrilleno). What else is going on in the downs of Madrid I'll tell you next time;-)
I have good news: I found a room in a flat which I share with two other guys: Luca from Roma and Robert from Austria. Its not far from the centre and I'm sooo happy right now! Yesterday I moved in and we inaugurated (einweihen) it by cooking Spaghetti together with two other Italians (I guess in the real Italian way). This night was the first time I slept in my own bed, in my own room in our own flat. The last four days were only ups and downs... every time I got an appointment with a land lord I prayed 'Please, let it be the one!' and afterwards the reality was even crueler than expected. But this is over and I can start to enjoy Madrid in a relaxed way.
My Spanish course has started on Monday and of course I met thousands of new Erasmus students from all over the world:-) Tonight we're going out to a club in the centre of Madrid. Lets see what the nightlife has to offer!

Luca and Robert sitting in our living room...

Me, Ozge and Kathi in the Metro...

The metro plan: