Madrid from Ana

Madrid
Freedom from Almorx and house sitting. However, I will have to say we did have some good moments along with the bad. I know I will not forget the dogs running away, our odd Dutch hostess, the cold house with seven cats and three dogs, and falling down the stairs =o(. The great things were getting some sun, laughing a lot with Mandi, going to Toledo and Avila, finding the dogs, Mandi and I laughing when she learned I talk in my sleep =o), and leaving. Both of us had such a feeling of freedom when we left we felt lighter and lighter from the pressure or oppression from our house sitting. What a joy to see Madrid and say good-by to a memory!

Hello Madrid. We are happy  to see you and Madrid welcomed us with open arms. We find our hostel easily and our hostel was so friendly and we were blessed with our first night in a private room when we booked a six bed female dorm. Yea, a good start. We then decide to try some Spanish/Madrid cuisine and our hostel receptionist walked us to a great and cheep restaurant. We had a good restful first day and then we were back on our routine for the next day. Free walking tour with a very handsome tour guide who has a grandmother in Georgia. It was such a difference from the northern Europe who had greater effects of WW!!. We learned of assignation attempts on the king and queen, who invented tapas and why (to get the workers to come back to work after lunch since most farm workers could only afford alcohol or food they always chose the alcohol so the tapas were required by the king that all establishments that served alcohol to have a small appetizer with each drink), that the palace had all the previous kings and queens of Spain including two kings from the “Americas” (Inca and Aztec) and as payment for all the gold Spain took from the Americas those who come from central and south America can enter the palace free of charge. I would like to see some of that gold go back. Some may ask about the riots from the news, well we asked the tour guide and he said they have been demonstrations daily but nothing violent. Mandi and I learned the next day why. They have tons and tons of police out ready to keep any crowd in control. We did not see any violence and I have actually seen harsher control efforts in Guatemala.  Since we were enjoying our freedom we ate out more than usual but it was eating at cheep places like Kabob/Schwarma places and for those of you who don’t know it is shredded chicken or lamb in a tortilla or a pita with lettuce and yogurt. Sangria is a gift from God to us since we left Almorox and ran out of vin-fiert. We found some in Madrid and have enjoyed it ever since. We did go to the park and enjoyed the warmer weather. Europeans really do take advantage of the weather and walk, run or cycle everywhere. Honestly, I don’t blame them the traffic is terrible, I guess that is what I get for thinking the metro-plex is bad. One night in Madrid we decided to go to a Flamenco dancer show and it was great! There were four dancers two guitarist and two singers. I had always wanted to see a show in person and where best than in Madrid. It was as if they were having a party and allowed us to see.  I tried to put small shots of the dancers dancing on face book but it did not take, sorry. Then we were off to Lisbon or Lisboa in Portuguese.