quick update

We just got back from a couple tapas bars and a chocolateria with our American friend. We realized that everyone thinks I (Al) am Dutch. At the first tapas bar (where you order una cana de cerveca for about $1.50 and get an entire plate of tapas for free) a group of people walked out and said “tot ziens” to me as they were leaving (I totally had to google that to figure out how to spell it. It sounded like “toe seese” to me), and after saying perdon a couple times, the guy switched to English and said they thought I was Dutch. I think they see (somewhat) blonde and tall and assume I am Dutch. (Crazy dutch b*st*rds – MC).

Also, an entire shop devoted to chocolate with a full bar? Best. Thing. Ever.

-cuptastic

waiting for mc

I am catching up on some email and blogs today while waiting for MC to finish getting ready. We are going to look for a market that is supposed to be close to our apartment and much cheaper than a store that rhymes with Smell Courte In glase, which I consider to be a cross between two stores that rhyme with Farget and Carbucks. (Spelling is strange because I’m trying to avoid weird web searches and spam). Farget because it offers pretty much anything you could want (although at higher prices) and Carbucks because there are so many of them and you can find them right across the street from each other.

Our tour yesterday was very interesting and made me feel pretty good about my Spanish comprehension. Although at the end, they did about a half hour tour of typical Spanish taverns and restaurants and I was so hungry that it was a little hard to concentrate. I might suggest to them that next time they do the taverns at the beginning of the tour when everyone is still full from breakfast and the historical part at the end. It was extremely disheartening to spend so much time in front of these restaurants with such wonderful smells emanating from them while my stomach was growling and have to walk right on by.

After the tour we had lunch at a little outdoor cafe and then walked around quite a bit until finally ending at the park where we sat and soaked up the sun for at least an hour. (For all the foodies reading, MC and I shared a ham and egg dish served on top of potatoes fried in olive oil. I’m drooling just thinking about it right now). The park was beautiful yesterday and full of Madrilenos who had the day off for Semana Santa. (And, by the way, we’re pretty sure there was a little bit of exaggeration going on when we were told everything would be super-cerrado. There were tons of stores and restaurants open all over the city). I’m glad we spent a lot of time outside in the sun yesterday, because today is much cooler and rainy. Madrid is in a drought right now, so the rain is a good thing, but tomorrow is supposed to be down in the low 40’s and some people are talking about snow. I think maybe that’s another exaggeration, but we’ll see.

Tomorrow is Easter and we are going to try to go to a Procession that’s done in the city and I believe ends in Plaza Mayor. We have heard a number of different things about the Processions, but I’ll wait until tomorrow to explain them once I’ve actually experienced one.

Okay, on to the market and then to do some laundry. Don’t our Spanish lives sound so exciting?

-cuptastic