Ella está aqui! I really can’t even put into words how exciting this morning was. I was running a bit late this morning and the Metro took a while longer than I expected to get to the airport, but I made it. It was literally one of the best moments ever when I realized that she was running down the concourse at me with her arms outstretched. We had the longest hug ever, and both just cried. This is the longest that we’ve ever been apart in my entire life, and all I have to say is that I’m never going this long again. Spain is great, but my mom is better. I’m so lucky.
After we got over the initial tears and shock of us being together again, and in Spain none-the-less, we got on the Metro and came here to our hotel in Madrid’s Salamanca neighborhood. Out room was ready when we arrived, so we were able to drop off our suitcases, freshen up, and eat a little breakfast before heading out into the city.
Puerta del Sol
Manhole covers
I’m not sure how she did it after only sleeping one hour on her flight, but we hit the city hard. We walked down past the Plaza de Torros, where the Madrid bull flights use to be, through Parque de Retiro, through the Plaza del Banco de España, and all the way down to Puerta del Sol. Puerta del Sol is the main tourist area of Madrid, and we wandered around the little shops and through the Plaza Mayor before stopping for lunch at Maoz. Maoz, where I came when I was in Madrid with Preshco on our orientation tour in September, is a vegetarian falafel place. It is a bit like Subway in the way that you go down the line and say what you want, except that each item is a different sauce or mixed salad. I’ve been thinking about it since I was last here, so it was nice to chow down once again. We also got a great seat at the bar in the window, so we spent a good chunk of time people-watching and trying to realize that we’re together in Europe for the first time- hurray! It still hasn’t sunk in that this is real life.
After lunch we continued our journey and walked over to the Palacio Real, the royal palace of Spain, and took some photos.
We also went to the fountain by the palace where Chris and I took a photo when we were here during our junior year of high school. Its too bad he’s not here to take another one four years later.
By late afternoon we wandered back over to the Puerta del Sol area and went to Chocolateria San Ginés, a famous chocolate and churros place in an alley here in Madrid. Hot chocolate here is essentially melted chocolate chips, really viscous and smooth. We each ordered a little cup of chocolate and dipped our churros, which are almost like sugary break-sticks, in the chocolate.
It was the perfect little alley to people-watch and have a late-afternoon pick-me-up before meandering back to the hotel.
Band and dancers at the Puerta del Sol
Walking back to the hotel
Mama
Arch by Parque de Retiro
When we left the hotel this morning we passed a Chinese restaurant, and since we were both tired we decided we’d get takeout from here and just bring it back to the hotel. Unfortunately, when we walked past at 7:15, the grates were still over the windows and it looked like it wasn’t going to open for Saturday night business. At this point we were so tired that it was hysterical. We were so counting on eating Chinese food on the beds in the hotel, and then this place is so closed. Delirious hysterical laughter is without a doubt the best kind of laughter.
We admitted defeat and got dinner at TelePizza across the street from our hotel and picked up a bottle of “Sangre de Toro” red wine from the supermarket on the other corner. The pizza was bad, the salads were good, and the wine was great. We each had a small glass and now we’re headed straight to bed. I’m excited to another day of exploring the city tomorrow! It’ll be even better since we’ll both be well rested, too.
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