Vale

Hola, back from Spain, and here are the highlights:

- TAPAS!
- Wine
- Cortaditos (espresso w/ a little milk)
- Flamenco show
- My love affair with pork
- Gaudi's architecture
- Madrid (sigh...)
- Trying to live like locals in Madrid by going to the supermarket for some of our meals/cheese/water/etc.
- Apparently, when in Spain: drink wine or cervesita (small beer), have lots of cafe, eat small frequent meals, no sneakers, and smoke cigarettes (bc everyone seems to)

Pictures: click here

Day 1 - Madrid
Landed in Madrid and took Metro to our hotel, Husa Moncloa. Actually had Starbucks because it was our hotel's neighbor and we were tired from the overnight flight. Went to Parque de Retiro but took a detour to find Citibank for euro withdrawal. Stumbled upon Puerta Del Sol. Had churros dipped in hot chocolate at San Guines. Unexpectedly bought three pairs of shoes @ "Vas". Shoes made in Spain for cheap. Happy. Walked to Plaza de Santa Ana and had Iberico ham (now I understand why it's so expensive), chorizo iberico, fresh octopus (pulpo) salad, and tortilla patatas. Washed it down with Sangria. Expensive, but delicious. Pick pocketers tried their chance with Aggie's bag, but thankfully, no luck. She caught them. Needed a nap. When in Spain, might as well take a siesta. Refreshed after our nap. Cortes de Ingles department store and supermarket (similar to Macy's and Walmart combined) is right next to our hotel. Yes! Off to Plaza Mayor. Old Madrid is BEAUTIFUL. Sat down to people watch. Ate gelato while on our way to Palacio Real. It was closed by Aggie took a video of a marching band rehearsing inside the gates. Sat in Cafe Descha Santa Maria while the drizzle passed. Cheese tapas and cafe - why not. Decided to have dinner at a local neighborhood called La Latina at Cava Baja. Perfect for tapas hopping. Kinda like lower east side and all the different restaurants and bars. Wine and more cheese at Diaz y Larrouy, then off to Taberna Los Lucio for huevos clasicos (fries w/ "scrambled" eggs), anchovies and avocado salad, and wine. Oh. My. Goodness. Delicious.

During the day, stumbled upon other places: Mercado de San Miguel, Plaza de la Villa (oldest building in Madrid), and the bronze sculpture of a bear and a strawberry tree (symbol of Madrid).

Day 2 - Madrid
Bullfight in Plaza de Toros Las Ventas - what we did not get to see. They weren't offering shows that particular day. After taking pictures in front of the stadium, we hopped back on the train to visit the Prado museum. After that, time to $hop. Oh boy. Our 4th pair of shoes (each), and one blazer later, we set off to watch our first Flamenco show at Casa Patas in the birth place of the Flamenco dance.

Day 3 - Madrid
We were done with "tourist" stuff, so we decided to visit the legendary Cafe Gijon (opened in 1800s, familiar with famous writers, artists, actors, etc). Coffee turned into a leisure lunch of gambas with garlic oil and some wine, then some more cafe. When in Spain, smoke a cigarette...

Walked around Plaza de Espana (similar to Union Square). Discovered Cortes de Ingles supermarket is like our second home :)

Day 4 - Barcelona
Landed in Barcelona. Hungry. Went to Las Ramblas to go to St. Josep's Market for lunch but it was closed. Went to Cerveceria Catalana. Found out "Andalusian style" means fried. Left to take pics of Gaudi's Casa Batilla and Casa Mila. Stumbled onto Barri Gotic and Placa Reial. People-watched in the Placa Reial square with tapas and Claras (beer w/ lemon).

Day 5 - Barcelona
Strolled in Port Vell. Beautiful day and fun pics. Best paella ever at Can Manel by the beach. Surfers and palm trees by the coast. Polished off the paella with 1/2 a bottle of vino blanco. Walked to Parc Guell to see more of Gaudi's creations. Steepest hill climb I've done, but worth it. His architecture is amazing! Stopped at Cacao Sampaka (sweet shop owned by Albert Adria) for chocolate tasting and coffee before touring the inside of Casa Mila. Dinner at a local place by our hotel: mussels, clams, octopus, bacalau, yuummmm...

Day 6 - Barcelona
Leisure day with some window shopping and sidewalk cafe visits. Didn't get to see the Fuente Luminosa at Monjuic (aka Magic Fountain) because it was rainy and windy by nightfall. Oh well. It was Spain's national holiday so 90% of Spain was closed. Tapas 24 for lunch and dinner (chef is Carles Abellan, trained at El Bulli). Best tapas in Barcelona. Ready to go back to NYC. Adios Espana y gracias.