Chapter 2: Madrid, Marijuana, and a Japanese Grandmother

03/04/2020 - 06/03/2020

I spend the first few days of the trip in Madrid. Spain's capital is just as you would imagine it. As a former colonial power, there seemed to be enough money in the past centuries to build magnificent structures. Combined with many small streets, Madrid exudes a lively and lovable impression.

However, the Royal Palace stands out in terms of splendor and wealth from everything seen in Madrid so far.

The largest palace in the Western world with over 2,800 rooms could quickly pass as the highlight of the first few days, but a completely different story remains in memory:

On the second day, on 05/03/2020, I participate in a free city tour organized by the hostel, which turns out to be rather average in terms of information. Coincidentally, we regularly pass by restaurants and cafes that the female tour guide praises as the really, really best places in the city with absolutely authentic food and drinks. Of course, no other place can shine in this quality and at this price. Towards the end of the tour, we are standing in a small market square where, in colonial times, the powerful and wealthy upper class used to live. During another well-memorized sales pitch, a familiar odor from Berlin catches the attention of the group. Marijuana! A 70-year-old Japanese grandmother from the group turns around excitedly and looks at 2 suspicious-looking individuals. Without hesitation, she turns around and walks towards the two sturdy men. But contrary to the expectation that she would ask the men to stop smoking, she asks for a puff and returns at the end visibly delighted even with the rest of the joint!