Impress me in Madrid

'Is it your first time in Madrid? '

'What?! ' Greg couldn't hear her through resounding music. 'No. I mean yes! I've been here for a week, but yeah, it's my first time.

They were standing right next to the speaker on the lower floor of the nightclub.

He: tall, dark hair, student of Electronics at Warwick University. Characteristics: tattoos on the two forearms, a fanatic of Athlético de Madrid (he's got its logo on his chest, right where heart should be), brown eyes, allergic to peanuts, seafood lover. He's only been in Madrid for a week, but he's already figured out where the cheapest and the best bocadillos de calamares are. Surprisingly, it is on Plaza Mayor and around, right in the city centre. He would chow down one each day, every day since he arrived.

She: blond hair, piercing in her nose (and in other more intimate parts of her body); skater: everything from rollerblades to short boards, even though she prefers them long. Joking. It's not her first time in the Spanish capital, that's why she chose to do her exchange here. She normally does not like unnecessary risk, hence she's a perfect student of Aeronautics. A Spanish ham addict. No beer without jamón, the best on montaditos. Even 100 montaditos.

Venue: Nomads Club, located near Plaza del Sol, that year was a main nightclub for Erasmus student exchange organisers and participants. Definitely too small for such crowds, so it forced people to socialize. Unlimited sangría until 1AM helped a lot.

'So... ehm... what was your name again? ' he asked, shouted actually.

'Plamena'

'That's... a pretty name. Honestly. ' said Greg although he wasn't sure it was.

'It's pretty weird you mean? I got used to it. I'm from Bulgaria. You don't want to hear me swearing. That truly sounds strange'.

He looked at her. Pink bunny ears on her head, a fluffy white top, pink shorts with a bunny tail. It was an animal-themed party and somehow she appeared too cute to be able to produce anything grimmer than 'bummer'. Maybe 'crap', but only once in her lifetime.

Once again DJ molested ears of the clubbers by putting "Despacito" on. People danced, and it wasn't slow whatsoever. In fact, Greg felt his ears were red because of the temperature of the air as well as the whirls he just performed.

'Drinks? ' She nodded. They elbowed their way through dancing throngs and got to the bar by the time Daddy Yankee and Enrique Iglesias switched three times, never making a duo.

'So you know the city well, don't you? What's the best place to party? ' he opened. 'Have you ever been to Teatro Kapital? ' Greg shrugged. Theatre wasn't really his thing, so he wouldn't call it a place to party. Remotely being the best in Madrid.

'Then you must go, for sure. Some love it, other despise it. I had best of fun. But fact I was drunk. Like proper pissed. ' So she does know swear words after all.

'кучи син! ' Whatever it was it sounded dirty. Plamena looked at her watch and started rushing up. 'Gimme your hand. '

'What? '

'Now. ' Greg obeyed. She grabbed his arm, took a pen from the bartender's counter and wrote something on his palm simultaneously saying 'Gotta be going, I'm leaving for Sevilla tomorrow. I mean in two hours. I can't be late'. She finished scribbling and rushed down to pick up her jacket. Greg looked startled, unable to move or react. He saw two bunny ears disappear behind the door, and puzzled he looked down at his palm.

Saturday 7PM

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Friday 2PM:

'Take her to the opera if she likes theatre so much. ' Matt said pointing a greasy churro dipped in chocolate right at Greg's face. They were sitting in San Gines, probably the most famous chocolatería in Spain. It was a retro-style café right in the heart of Madrid, where celebrities from the photos stared at people devouring Spanish hot pastries.

Matt was Greg's best friend whose true name was Mateusz as he was from Poland. They both studied electronics in the UK, and they both decided to spend their semester taking part in Erasmus exchange at Politécnica de Madrid. Unlike ever-improvising Greg, Matt was a type of person who'd look everything up before his actions. He liked having a plan.

'Nah, I don't think opera is a good idea. True, she mentioned some theatre, but you know I'm not a millionaire and I don't want her to fall asleep on the very first date! It might impress her but the wrong way. '

'How old is she? '

'What? ' Greg asked perplexed.

'Nothing offensive mate, just tell me if she looked below 25. If she did, then you don't have to spend fortune on opera tickets. In fact it will cost you 20 euros. And there are few things more impressive than the gloss of the Royal Opera House. ' Matt truly was prepared about where he lived for next few months.

'I'm thinking about taking her to the Círculo of Bellas Artes rooftop with the view on Metrópolis building and panorama of Madrid. Grab a tinto de verano there and then head to the opera, as you said. '

'Do it then. It's the best shot you've got. For the next time I'd try to take her to Temple of Debod to watch the sunset together. Plamena is a pretty name after all. '

'You're so utterly corny, man. '

Saturday 10PM

'I didn't expect opera actually. You scored a point with this idea. ' Plamena said kissing his cheek when they left the opera house. They were standing in the porch overlooking the Palacio Real, presenting itself quite magnificent in the dim light of street lanterns. 'But now it's my turn to take you somewhere. '

They headed to Gran Vía, the main artery of Madrid, and then they turned left disappearing in a maze of narrow streets of Malasaña district. Straying through a labyrinth of passages, Greg quickly lost his orientation so he would not be able to tell how the hell they got to Plaza Dos de Mayo. He didn't quite expect the view that arose in front of his eyes. After his thorough research he had done about classy, cultural places to show Plamena around he did not expect to finish this Saturday on a common botellón. Not that he minded. Not at all.

They quickly popped into one of the little supermarkets scattered around the neighbourhood open virtually 24 hours a day, and bought a bottle of Madrid's most popular beer Mahou. The one particularly dear to Greg's Athelti heart.

They squatted on a little wall hedging the square, sinking deep into the ambiance of Malasaña. It's endless chats, nasty jokes exchanged in Spanish, English, French and any other language that people who happened to be around spoke. Wearing a suit and an elegant dress they contrasted a bit with a laid-back atmosphere of the place, but no one seemed to mind. Every now and then someone would open a conversation, and soon Greg and Plamena found themselves arguing passionately about the latest episode of Game of Thrones.

'Hungry? ' she asked. Until that moment Greg didn't realise that he was dying for something hot. Something cheesy and greasy would be best. She seemed to be reading his thoughts. 'I'll show you a perfect pizza spot. '

Again they were lost in the streets of the district, which made him wonder how the hell people navigated in this place. After some seemingly random turns they ended up on another square, where another botellón was taking place.

'El calambache' Greg read out loud.

'Yeah, it's supposedly an Argentinean pizza place, even though it has nothing to do with Argentina, frankly, but anyway you are going to love it. Trust me. ' They joined the huge line together that made Greg even more famished. Plamena's stomach made a loud gurgling noise meaning she was starving too. It took a while but it was worth it. Melting mozzarella was a divine meal for Greg's senses.

'Crap! ' he thought looking at his watch. It was already quarter past 1 and soon the underground would be closing. He grabbed Plamena's hand. 'We've got to catch the metro before it closes down. Do you know the way? ' She nodded having her mouth stuffed with a massive pizza bite.

They run to Tribunal just to see that there were more people waiting for the line 10 to arrive. Most of them partied. Yes, people do party in Madrid's underground. The train arrived and they both joined the crowd that was apparently having a blast in the last car.

Greg and Plamena looked and each other.

'We've got whole night. '

Glossary

Teatro Kapital is not a theatre anymore but a massive and wild nightclub that has 7 floors and really unexpected sets.

Botellón is a typical Spanish social gathering referred as 'pre-drinks' often turning into a massive party.

Tinto de Verano is a really popular drink in Madrid being a red wine mixed with lemonade that you can get literally anywhere.

Palacio Real is a royal palace of the Spanish Royal Family and one of the biggest Spanish tourist attractions. Absolutely worth visiting for its grand interiors.

Opera Matt was correct, Madrid is a perfect place for young people where you have massive discounts. Thus you are eligible for cheaper opera tickets, theatre tickets, and amazing public transport youth card.

100 montaditos is a chain of pubs where you have a variety of small sandwiches- montaditos, that you can enjoy from 1 euro each. Really popular spots in Madrid.

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