What I love about life in Madrid (in no particular order and non-exhaustive):
The weather. It is the middle of January and it was 60 degrees and sunny today!
The plants: most of the trees are non-deciduous and stay green all the time. The grass has also been green since end of September and flowers bloom all year-round.
The “Frutos Eloy†fruit stand in Chueca Plaza where I can get 5 pounds of sweet mandarins for 1.50€!
I get a nice view of the snow-capped mountains twice a week.
I never have to look for a parking space!
I get a lot more exercise from walking everywhere.
The Rose Garden in Parque de Oeste.
Aside from the graffiti, it is very clean.
I discovered “descafeinado con leche†here; a good way to get my calcium (hot milk and instant decaf with a bit of sugar).
I have a lot of time to read. I have read: “A New Kind of Christian,†“A Prayer for Owen Meany,†“The Partner,†the autobiography of Mother Teresa, and several articles in the daily free Metro newspapers.
Random men on the street call me “guapa†(beautiful 
Green olives with the pit.
Napolitanas con chocolate (a pastry filled with chocolate, mmm…)
Our DVD rental store is across the street.
The fruit market is next door.
The grocery store is around the corner.
Spanish tortilla (a potato and onion omlet-type tapa).
Nice students (the adults, anyway!)
A great community of friends – mostly English speakers, though.
Meeting and making friends with nice Spaniards!
Every time I can actually understand what a Spaniard is saying to me!
I watch a lot less TV
Riding the train above ground.
Hearing talented musicians performing in the streets, metro stations and plazas.
The history
The art and museums within walking distance.
Time to write for my website.
Observing Samuel speak and understand Spanish (he understands speech better than I do!)
Sharing this experience with my love, Samuel
Things I miss:
My family
My friends
Smoke-free coffee shops
Live music (not too loud), in smoke-free environments.
Free refills on soda
Pizza (Italian-American style
Mexican food
Autumn leaves in Michigan
Mars Hill
Nursing / medicine
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