My routine during the week has all but solidified – Monday through Thursday, I wake up early and catch the metro from Delicias to Las Tablas, work at school until 4 and then teach one or two private English lessons, and finally stop on my way home for groceries or a caña with a friend. Luckily the private lessons I give cover my weekly expenses – larger purchases like plane/train tickets, shoes, and a gym membership are going to have to wait until I get paid at the end of the month. Feeling a bit more self-sufficient without the help of a credit card or dipping further into savings has calmed me down a lot in the past weeks, and I know the feeling is going to improve even more when I have some real money in the bank.
Parque Warner nightscape 
I lost by one point 
La Llorona haunted house 
Me, Stefan, Luna, María
To save some money, I have stayed in Madrid instead of traveling since I got here – that doesn’t mean I haven’t gone out to enjoy myself though! Two weekends ago I went with a group of friends to Parque Warner for their Halloween celebration. Most of my friends went with costumes, but I didn’t get the memo. I just said I was an American tourist all day. I was volunteered to go first through a La Llorona-themed haunted house, and I’m happy to report I didn’t scream or ruin any jump scares for my friends behind me.
Rainy bus ride 
Relaxing in Retiro 
Breakfast before El Rastro 
Outside Bar La Terraza 
Mural in Embajadores 
Tirso de Molina
Otherwise I have been spending lots of time dando vueltas around Madrid. I’ve found a few favorite spots for coffee and beers (although I no longer depend on coffee shop wifi) and I’m excited to share my findings with my friends and family when they visit me throughout the year. One of my favorite things about Madrid is the sheer number of plazas, statues, and murals around the city. Part of my money-saving scheme includes reading in the big park here in Madrid, El Retiro. I recently purchased a blanket from El Rastro so I can lay out and read a book while enjoying the chilly weather or watching the leaves fall.
Pan Indio con Curry de Queso from Baisakhi 
Pizza Calzone from Pizzeria Della Cabeza 
Fajita de Pollo from El Econónmico
In addition, I have thoroughly enjoyed the Tapapiés festival here in Madrid for the past two weeks. During Tapapiés, restaurants throughout the Lavapiés neighborhood serve globally-inspired tapas and include cañas for €2.50 – which makes it easy to hop from bar to bar, socialize, and fill up on delicious food. I’ve gone out to Tapapiés multiple nights with friends and coworkers and I’ll be sad when it’s over. In all I have have visited fifteen or so restaurants over the course of the festival, and I will absolutely be returning to some of my favorites for a proper meal.