My first time in Madrid, I was nervous. I had abnormally high expectations for what is ultimately just another city. At that point, I was knee-deep in work, a tad socially isolated, and exhausted. I would wake up, thinking, "It will work; I can juggle these workloads today and I'll have time to myself by 10 pm." Never happened. I needed a break. My boyfriend suggested a trip, and the flight from Amsterdam did seem intriguingly short and cheap in comparison to heading back to the States to see family. So, I went to Madrid.

My expectations, as previously stated, were quite high. I needed a respite from life, a guarantee that things weren't all that overwhelming after all. And although Madrid wasn't a cure-all for my overloaded plate, I did immensely enjoy having the opportunity to eat tapas, speak Spanish once again, and meet some amazing people if only for a weekend.