You have no idea how happy the last 24 hours have made me!  Two of my very best friends flew across the ocean to come see ME (and ok, maybe to see Europe, too).  Either way, I am so, so, so happy to have Shannon and Teresa here!  They arrived early yesterday morning and we hit the ground running with lots of fun things.  We are actually going to Ireland for 4 days, starting this afternoon, so before we touchdown in grayer, colder climates, I wanted them to soak up as much sunshine as possible 🙂

After a nap for them, we headed to Retiro for an epic picnic in the sun.  This is something I have really been wanting to do, and am thrilled that we had the chance!  So easy and so relaxing and so fun.

After three hours or so of sitting and chatting, we decided to stretch our legs and walk through the park.  We stopped at the lake and took a few pictures.

Then swung by the crystal palace: 

And then made our way home to refresh and have some coffee (we all needed it).  Once we got back out, the first stop was for churros y chocolate!!  Shannon and Teresa had never had it, so I took them to the ultimate tourist stop- San Gines.

We made a quick pit stop to pick up a package, and then caught the sunset over some beers, chips, and a little conversation with a Finnish guy we met at The Gourmet Experience rooftop terrace.  We learned how to say “hello” in Finnish…something like ‘my’.

And although we were not all that hungry, I wanted them to experience a little more Spanish food, so we headed to El Buo in La Latina to share some tortilla and huevos rotos, but decided on getting a huge tortilla to share.  We ordered the Manchego cheese and red pepper one and it was delicious.

I’m slowly convincing them to move here 😉 .  It was an incredible first day and now I am off to get dressed and get ready to go out for a few hours before heading to the airport and going to IRELAND!  Catch ya later!