First Night in Madrid

Today was really rainy here, which was a blessing in disguise, as it brought us back to the hotel for long afternoon naps to get us synched up with Madrid time. By the time 8 PM rolled around, the rain had stopped, we were ready to go out and find our first real meal.

Not quite having our bearings, we wandered a bit until we found a decent looking tapas place with a few other tables occupied, and we decided to go for it. We had grilled octopus, a ham sampler, patatas bravas, grilled veggies, and Laurel went for a grilled mushroom dish (which is normally out of her comfort zone). The food was decent, and everyone ate well.

Being this is Europe, we weren't expecting the same street-vendor-in-the-restaurant treatment you get in Mexico, and as such we were not quite prepared when a flower seller "gave" us some colored, perfumed roses, and as such we felt obligated to pay him. I was going to give him 3 Euros, but he didn't gave change for my 5, so he just gave me another flower. Laurel appreciated them, but I was a little mad at myself for being such a pushover.

Later, the kids found the local Chocolate-and-Churros place, and delighted in dessert. The chocolate part is a hot chocolate pudding, in which you dip these fried strips of dough. Together, they are really good, and surprisingly not too sweet. Bryce especially enjoyed his.



 
Sensing an opportunity for a date night, Sue and I took the kids back to the hotel, got them ready for bed, and let them enjoy the iPads (with promises to use the Learning Spanish app first), and then escaped for our own adventure. The plan was to get some wine or sangria, but as we were heading out we ran into a Easter procession. Like in Mexico and Nicaragua, the Spaniards go all our for Easter. We saw two floats, each with it's own band, hooded klan-looking people, and other costumed followers-on. Here's a video I made:



Afterwards, we found a cute wine bar, and had a really nice time chatting and enjoying a Spanish wine, and some free snacks (and more ham!)