Hello from the library of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. A few minutes ago I entered the university in hopes of finding food and a place to read. Yes, this is a world capital and yes, a thousand places offer both of those hopes under the same room, but I want to see this campus. Every university has a cafeteria and library.
What luck that the first building I enter happens to house both! I followed the signs for the cafeteria which, it seems, occupies the lowest part of the building´s basement. I wondered if the signs were really a trick as I made yet another downward circuit. Perhaps I misread ´cafeteria´for ´bomb shelter´? Anyway, I did find it and immediately felt more lost. The cafeteria uses a series of touch screens for ordering food. You enter money then touch a corresponding button for the things you want. I read the instructions at least five times. Watching the crowds of students went a long way to assuring that I understood the process. So, you insert the money and select what you want; then, a ticket drops below as well as any change. Now that I think of it, it´s exactly like any mass transit ticket machine. Huh. I watched the students take their tickets to a bar area. Men took their tickets and, voila, handed over lunch. For as long as I stood watching and learning the process, it´s ridiculously simple and efficient. I entered my 20 euros, selected a goat cheese sandwich with coffee. The machine made a noise not anything like I´d heard when observing others. My 20 euro note spit out. I tried the process again. Same horrible noise. I noticed then a sign "no acepta los 20." UGH. I had a 20 and 50 euro note in my wallet. I felt ridiculous, thwarted. Not once during the 10 or so minutes that I watched people use the machine did I notice that sign. Feeling ridiculous, I walked out of the cafeteria and up the many many stairs towards the second floor library. I´m still hungry.
Today is beautiful.
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