Spain: one big party, all day, all night

¡Hola, hola! ¡VIVA ESPAÑA!   We made it to Spain, all in one piece.  I think we’ll be able to leave it that way, but that depends on whether or not we decide to join the super-happy Spaniards in their revelries. J  (For those of you who are unfamiliar with what is happening in the sporting world, Spain just won the Euro Cup 2012, becoming the first country in the world to win three major titles in a row.) 

Well, let me back up…the game didn’t even start until 8:45 here. 

We got in this morning at about 6:30, which was FORTY MINUTES EARLY.  I have NEVER been on a flight that arrived that early—and apparently neither had the airport, because they didn’t have a gate for us.  We ended up getting off on the tarmac.  Took us about another 15-20 minutes to get the luggage and be on our way to the hostal (where the poor proprietor allowed us to leave our luggage at 7:30, a good 3 and a half hours before check-in).  We went to this little café for, well, café, and then we went to church—this really cute little church down the street from Hostal Armesto. 

After church, we went back to that little café for actual food this time, where we had a breakfast that would certainly make me fat (well, fatter) if I ate it every day (but in retrospect, that’s pretty much how I feel about all the food I ate today…).  I think my mom has a new admirer in the proprietor; he even let her pose with the hindquarter of ham that he slices fresh for all the plates he makes.  

We still had about an hour and a half until check-in, and given that we were already beat, we got on one of those hop-on, hop-off double-decker buses.  Let me tell you, that is the best way to see the city when you’re feeling lazy as sin.  And you also get fabulous pictures. J (Check Facebook for those in the near future)

Of course, we participated in the age-honored tradition of siesta—for about 2 hours, thank you, jet lag—and then hit the streets of Madrid to do the whole site-seeing/touristy thing.  I must say, I’m not sure what I was expecting from Madrid, but I have been pleasantly surprised at every turn.  It’s clean, with lots of trees and controlled pedestrian paterns, and everyone has been super-nice!  We went to the Plaza Mayor and went to this little tapas place.  We blew the whole tapas tradition in that we didn’t go tapas bar hopping, but my word, we certainly ate well!  (And the sangria?  DIVINO.  That fruit at the bottom was the best part—and it helped us fight off scurvy.)  During dinner, the game started, and it was really cool to hear the town explode when Spain got their goals.  After dinner, we went for churros and chocolate (I told you!  Fatty fat fat!) and we decided that it would be best to make it home BEFORE the end of the game. 

That being said, I’m feeling a bit foolhardy…and we can hear the crowds at Neptune’s Fountain right down the street… ;)  Until next time…hopefully!