Madrid!

Here we are at the end of our Spain trip!  On our anniversary we were taking a fast train (150 mph!) to Madrid in the middle of the country.

The family we stayed with, Veronica and her son Mario, are good friends of my sister-in-law, Jenn.  She stayed with Veronica's family when she was in college.  Here we are having tea, coffee and the famous Santiago Torte, an almond cake named after St. James.  From the left:  Antonio (Veronica's dad), Veronica, me, Pilar (her mom), and Macarena (her sister).  Almost all of them speak English!  Veronica got them all together to provide amazing hospitality to us while she was away working everyday.  Macarena drove us around the city and took us for breakfast, her mom gave us a great tour of the old part of town, and both her parents had us over for the well-loved "Cocido Madrileno," a many-course lunch of soup, bread, wine, appetizers, a selection of cooked meats, and plate of vegetables.  So good, so good!  Veronica and a friend took us out to a late night dinner (eating time is traditionally 9 or 10 PM)!  Veronica and her son Mario were great hosts to us.  Such a loving family, so trusting of us, and very fun!

These pictures were taken at Plaza Mayor, a well known part of the old city of Madrid filled with cafes and street artists.  So beautiful!

As an anniversary gift to ourselves, we bought tickets to an evening of flamenco dancing -- the dancers showed so much skill, passion, and intensity!

 

Here we are with Pilar and Antonio having Cocido Madrileno.  What hospitality the whole family showered upon us!  Spending time with Veronica and her family was a great way to end our time in Spain.  What great memories we will always have.

John and Mario asleep in the car!

Valeria (Macarena's daughter), Veronica, me, Mario, and John

We arrived safely back in Tacoma after 40 days out of the country!  Next it was on to Vancouver, Canada, to visit some good friends.