Madrid.. Welcome to Spain!

WE made it to Madrid. WE only had two days in Madrid so we just went thru the city a lot. The city isn´t very old historically and so there is just a lot of museums. We were a little dead on the plane and got to our high tech hotel as it was called. WE couldn´t check in so my dad had us eat a real fancy 12 euro breakfast. IT was so good though, we definitely packed it in. WE put out stuff away in our room which had bunk beds.




We went to the plaza de toros to buy some tickets to see a fight. After we got some tickets we went to the royal palace. WE got a guided tour but the mans english was pretty bad. One interesting thing was how he explained in Spain when eating at a huge table, the least important people sit on the ends, they sit in the middle. This was weird because in England the most important people sit on the ends, not here though.

Afterwards my dad went home and Shannon and I explored the Plaza Mayor which is the biggest in SPain. MAdrid has like 5 or 6 million people so the city is packed and Shannon said it reminded her of London somehow. WE went to the puerta del sol where they celebrate new years and eat their grapes. Shannon and I were hungry later and she got to have so typical Churros. She had them at taco johns before but I am pretty sure the ones we had were a little better.

AFter eating we went to the park de buen retire which is like a massive central park with flowers and performers and a lake where you can rent a boat and row around. We strolled along and went back to the hotel to see my dad. He was napping as usual but it was fine with us. WE were running without sleep but got ready for the bull fight. WE had some tapas before and went to the ring. It was raining and we sat in the cold and waited for this show. I don´t know if I like bull fights but I want to see one at least. We waited in the rain and then learned it was cancelled because of the rain. We could have returned our tickets for money... but my dad just said we should go. We left and went home. Later on we went out for some drinks and snacks. The next day we planned on going to Toledo which is an old fortress city so we rested up.

We went to the train station and got some tickets. This was where they had a terrorist attack not too long after ours and they redesigned the station so it had a big botanical garden in the middle of it. We slept on our short train and got to Toledo. Toledo has tons of history because the Muslims controlled it and it was a fortress. Spain eventually took it back in the 700s and it is full of old city walls and narrow streets. It is all on a hill though so it would be another death march according to my dad.

We went into a cathedral but they charged 7 euros to get in! What a robbery. I don´t mind resoration fees, but that is terrible. Shannon and I lost my dad for a moment but we found him. The problem with this town is u can get lost in 4 seconds because the streets are like alleys and it all looks the same. MY dad then ditched us and Shannon and I walked around and snapped some shots of this old town. This is where the best swords used to be made and in movies they get a lot of their swords from this city.

Shannon and I got some pizza for lunch and we met up with my dad later. We tried some typical sweets from TOledo and went back to meet my dad. WE got a taxi back to the station and our driver was a very odd Mexican man who had an aweful accent. I have been studying here for a while and I guess I am used to Spain. Mexican Spanish is like a song and it was so weird to hear him speak. I mean picture British English vs ours. It is a total change.

WE for some reason ended up being an hour early at the station and hung out on the patio underneath some palms. We headed back and Shannon and I explored the Picasso museum while my dad went back. I love Picasso and we saw his famous Guernica painting that depicts a small Basque town that the Germans bombed during the Spanish civil war. It was cool to see and the guided towns you can buy really help.

We later on went out for wine and enjoyed our last night together as the Griswolds. WE ate some kebabs and walked around Madrid. My dad and Shannon liked Barcelona more, but its because Madrid is just a big busy city.

We went to be that night and they woke me up at 3 am and I gave them a nice 3 am I am have asleep hug. They left and I enjoyed my own hotel room and then took a train home later that day. They had a long trip home and it was sad it was all over. I had a wonderful time and I really tried to make them try the Spanish food and experiences and they did. It was a great time and many funny memories were made.

The highlights of Madrid were:

Eating churros

Seeing Toledo

Going out for drinks and then ending up losing my dad on the way

The day when it was warm and sunny

When i added coke to my dads wine so that he could try the typical calimocho, shannon didnt think it was proper.

Staying in a hotel, I am usually stuck in a hostel.

The whole trip was a highlight and it was fun traveling with my dad and Shannon, only my dad wasn´t as adventurous as we were. IT is ok though we all like different things.

I have been busy with tests lately and I crammed 200 years of complex Spanish history into my little brain. If you have any questions about the trips please ask I would love elaborate on anything. Take care and be good this weekend.