Alright, must write about last night. First, yesterday, we went to the Prado. It was one of the last days you could take pictures - starting in October, no pictures allowed, whatsoever. So we took lots of pictures, imitated statues - all that. On Wednesday, when I went on my own, there was a painting by Velazquez that for some reason really captivated me and almost brought tears to my eyes. The painting, El bufon de Calabacillar, was loaded with a subtle sadness difficult to explain. The "bufon" appeared, at first glance, somewhat happy, with a goofy lopsided smile, but there was this unbelievable degree of human despair and hoplessness, and the saddest part is that it appeared the subject in the painting wasn't even aware of it himself. After the Prado we saw the movie Alatriste with the group. (yay Viggo). What I could understand, I guess was good. I should read the books. But the theater was unbelievable! Restaurants, lounge areas, and the seats themselves sooo comfy - all cushy and armrests cushy too. Then we went to VIPS for dinner and I got a delicious brownie and ice cream dessert! Everyone else but Meg bailed on the jazz idea to go to a 7-story super-club nearby, so Meg and I left them and found one of the coolest streets to spend a night out - Calle Huertas. It was soo fun! First, we met some members from the Cuban band that was playing at Cafe Populart, a popular Jazz Cafe. There were sooo many people and no seats so we left. Then we walked around and found other bars and a cute little Plaza, (Plaza de Angel), and a place where we could learn Tango on Friday nights. Then we were walking by a latin bar and some guy opened the door and shook his Marracas at us so we stopped in to what seemed like a private party! Haha it turned out they were "famous cooks" from a cooking club in Holland. They invited us to eat the lunch they were cooking at teh Royal Cooking School in Madrid. We didn't go, but it would have been fun. They didn't believe we were from America, but they had a Bill Clinton look-alike! Then we went back to the Jazz Club and our new friends, "Roman Feliu Quinteto" were still playing! We got a wave! Hehe. And then we talked to them for a while afterwards. They invited us to go out dancing but Meg wasn't feeling it. We are going to see them play again on Sunday night. COOOL - WE'RE FRIENDS WITH A BAND!! Then it was my first Buho bus ride. I wish I had a pic of one of the Buho buses we passed stopped on the street - everybody looked drunk and asleep! (Buho buses start on weekends when the metro closes around 1:30 am and follows same route as the metro). WHAT A NIGHT! You can see pictures in "MADRID" album, and I have a couple videos on myspace of the band.