We had dinner tonight as a big group, and when we got back, some people discovered that the valuables, i.e. laptops, iPhones, and iPods which they had locked in their room were missing, as well as a backpack to carry all this stuff. Needless to say, this is upsetting and problematic, and the hotel is not being helpful at all. Their security cameras in the lobby are all dummies, and all of us are pretty sure that it was an inside job.
I didn't know about this until I got back to the hotel after a thirty minute walk down by the Prado, during which I had been musing about how safe I felt in the city. I cannot tell if Madrid reminds me more of San Francisco or of somewhere else (maybe Boston?) but I do know that I am comfortable here and that everywhere I look, I see something beautiful. There are also a bunch of dogs in this city. Their owners sometimes hold their leashes while the animals run around, sometimes even into cafes. I saw a woman walking four Pomeranians and two Bichon Frises, and one of the bichons was off-leash. I waited at the crosswalk near the Prado next to a golden retriever who, upon the light's change, promptly took off across the street and headed purposefully down the sidewalk into a fountain.
As it stands now, the people whose stuff got stolen are in a different room, and the girls whose room safe was broken have also moved.
On a side note, we are all grouped on the fourth floor, but as it is a European hotel, that means I am ACTUALLY on the fifth floor and use the stairs as such. I am definitely feeling the burn. A bunch of people are going out tonight, but with a seven forty-five wakeup time and jet lag, I think I am going to bed early... ish. I also won't be using my phone tomorrow, but I probably will the day after that. I have less than two euros' worth of credit left and I can't access my debit account until June 2nd. Here's hoping I regain access a little sooner and then I can not only use my phone, but also buy drinks.
