SPEAN in Madrid!

(FYI: This happened like 3 weeks ago. And it turns out I only have like 4 outfits for the whole summer, so you're about to see some repeats.)

Until a couple of days ago, my brother lived in Logroño, Spain, and my sisters visited him during June. And since Madrid is just about my favorite city in the world and I miss speaking Spanish everyday, there was no way I was going to let this family reunion be sans Julia. Here are the highlights:

PICTURES:

Cola cao is Spain's hot chocolate. A little packet of chocolate powder mixed with steamed milk is just about the most perfect thing ever.

Napolitanas (basically, chocolate croissants) were my favorite food when I lived in Spain.

 

El Parque de Buen Retiro is a huge, beautiful park in Madrid—complete with cats! 

My siblings and I went to the small lake in Retiro and rode the boats!

It was the Year of the Selfie.

Also, Krista and I climbed to the top of Palacio de Cibeles for this view of the city:

Plaza Mayor is one of my favorite places in Madrid. It's perfect for an overpriced drink.

This sign says, "Any pretty girl want an ugly guy so that no one will take him from you, and if you don't, I'm sorry, my love, because you're the one who will be missing out":

VIDEOS:

Here is a nice collection of clips from our incredible boat ride in Retiro. Notice the lovely giant hand. And my rudeness.

While K and I were leaving Plaza Mayor, we passed a huge crowd watching a procession of Christians carrying a religious shrine to commemorate the anniversary of a church's foundation. I was so excited—not only because Anthony Bourdain sees a similar procession during one of his Spain episodes—but also because the skill involved is just crazy. These young men had to carry this shrine through the streets of Madrid for 5 hours, and when they have to turn corners on small, cobblestone streets, their feet barely move.

Here's the view from the top of Palacio de Cibeles:

Watch as I try to Anthony Bourdain while getting tapas (small finger foods) in La Latina. The tapas culture in Spain is completely unique. For 1 to 4 € (depending on the city), you can get a small bite of food with one drink. People typically eat tapas standing up, and they move from restaurant to restaurant for hours. 

Two days in Madrid were not enough. If you haven't been, you should go ASAP. And to Toledo/Alcalá/the rest of Spain.

Besos y abrazos!!