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A Week With Cousins and Bro in Madrid

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lunch at Mazál

Well hello there, happy Saturday! I am usually able to sleep 12-13 hours over the weekend and then wake up feeling like garbage because I overslept so this morning when I naturally woke up at 8:30, I washed my face with cold water and then walked as far away from the bed as possible. I’m still sleepy, but I feel better than when I sleep until noon and wake up with a headache that lingers all day. And if you’re wondering, I sleep 12-13 hours because it literally sometimes feels like I can’t sleep less – like I am in the deepest sleep of my life and getting up early feels terrible.

Last week my cousins and brother were here and we had a really nice time – way more fun than I expected! It all came together because my cousin (Hayden) wanted to come and travel around Spain on his own and we told him he was more than welcome to use Madrid as a home base. Last minute, his Mom (Heather) decided to join and since it was already like a mini family reunion, I convinced / coerced my brother into joining as well. It was a full house, but so fun and seeing Madrid and this place that I call home with fresh eyes was really cool.

Hayden and Heather didn’t have anything they specifically really wanted to do, so we spent the week going with the flow and exploring Madrid. Here’s a peak into how the week looked:

We started out by patiently waiting for their train to arrive from Barcelona and patiently wait we did … with full drinks and all these free tapas. Spain is known for the “tapa” but usually the tapa is a bowl of potato chips. This was a mountain of potato chips, olives, little pinxos, and peanuts. From Soto Verde.

Retiro in the blazing sun
Lunch at Casa Abuelo (not very good IMO)
Lots of snacky dinners. The first night Heather and I wanted wine and cheese (mission accomplished) but we also got salmorejo and gazpacho, fresh tortilla, grapes, made a tomato salad, and some of the group wanted to try various piggy products
We had breakfast at Mazál together and I really enjoyed being able to enjoy it “as a customer”
Chocolate chip bagels are new! And delicius with butter or cream cheese

Since Luis and I worked during the day, we took advantage of our nights. For dinner, we took everyone to Sidrería Balmori, one of my favorite places in Madrid.

Lee pouring the Asturian Cidar (it is poured like that to aerate it
Everyone got to ride the moto
Including Heather
Retiro picnics were enjoyed with wine and olives bought at the market
And nightly terrace meals. We had this on Shabbat – a fresh salad with cucumbers, blueberries and avocado and some spaghetti from the embassy. Those cheeses were gifts from Hayden, Heather and Lee and were delicious (and VERY strong).
The end.

Loved having family here and I am very much looking forward to my parents and brother visiting in September! But first, there are pools to swim in, beaches to walk on, late night drinks to be had, and summer dresses to be worn. How’s that for bad preposition use?!

Have a nice weekend!

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