And an anecdote

One day I came home from class, after not having the greatest of days and decided to go to the internet cafe down the street, but then as I left I decided I would be better off going for a little walk and exploring the barrio. So off I went, just kind of wandering up the Calle de Embajadores, just sort of seeing where it takes me. So I walk and walk and walk, its not the prettiest of walks, its kind of a big street in the area and it's pretty commercial. But I walk past a police station and so on the way back I stopped and asked one of the three police officers outside for one of their eternal smoke breaks, if he can tell me where an electronics store is. So these three cops turn to each other and start speaking animatedly and arguing over where this place is. I feel kind of neglected, and I feel almost forgotten, like "guys, I'm still here..." Finally one turns to me, and says, sort of exasperatedly, clearly fried from his intense intellectual debate with the other officers, "ven conmigo" (come with me). So I expect to go walking around the corner and running into one. But this guy walks straight to the car and puts me in the back. And away we go. Here I am seeing Madrid from the back of a police car, I guess you can't really say that under good circumstances most of the time. In hindsight I wish I had called my mother to tell her I was in the back of a police car, it would have been only slightly evil, and I probably would have gotten a good laugh out of it (sorry Mom!!!). Anyways, we finally show up at the Electronics store and I bid my new favorite form of transportation adieu and go in (after 20 minutes of waiting for siesta to end, as usual).

So, what have we learned here. If you need to get somewhere in a foreign country. Ask the police, they will argue for a second, and be the cheapest cab fare you will ever receive. Just a little travel advice.