Viva la España!

Well readers, I have returned from yet another successful European adventure... Spain! Friday morning (at 5am to be exact), my 7 friends and I left for Madrid. Once arriving, the grogginess of travel and lack of sleep quickly shrank into oblivion. We were in Spain... and it was beautiful.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by a warm spanish sun, cool crisp air, and streets crowded with locals. Lauren, Beth and I chose a hostel separate from the other 5 girls, so we parted ways in the airport and sought out to find "The Analina Rooms Hostel" near the Puerta del Sol. AMAZING LOCATION. AMAZING HOSTEL. Things were looking good.

Once we got exploring, we realized our stomachs were aching for some grub. Unfortunately, the meal we stumbled upon wasn't the least bit grubby.

Somehow I managed to force it down though...

Chicken curry fajitas with chips and guacamole. HOLLLERRR

After collecting our energy at the charming little restaurant (which didn't seem to excited to host a collection of American girls stumbling over broken Spanish)... we headed out to conquer the rest of the Peurta del Sol region.

And suddenly. Things got a little sweet and nasty.

First I'll hit you with the sweet:

Now, I'm not exactly a candy person... but this assortment of spanish candy was out-of-this-world. After tasting a few types, I don't think I can pick my favorite. So I guess I'll have to do another taste-testing the next time I'm back in Spain...

Now I'll hit you with the nasty. Grandma, shield your eyes!

In an area splattered with cute restaurants and boutiques... this shop seemed a little bit out of place. But being the curious young girls we are, Lauren, Beth and I couldn't help but poke our heads in. Once entering... we promptly poked our heads back out. Not exactly a family-friendly store folks. Take note.

After a naughty and nice afternoon, we needed to relax over a jug of sangria. And so, we searched for the perfect restaurant. Suddenly, we saw the name "Museo de Jamon" (one of the restaurants my friend had suggested I visit if in Madrid)... so we wandered on in.

The. Place. Was. Packed.

Utilizing our savvy American skills, we finagled our way to a table right in the center of the dining action. The walls of the restaurant were covered with hanging meats, but the ambiance was more exciting that disgusting... even though dried pork isn't exactly my wall decor of choice.

Overwhelmed, we glanced at our menus praying for English translations. We weren't so lucky.

We did however get pictures next to each meal option... even better. When the waiter came over I pointed to a picture that looked good and cheap... And it was!

Wasn't thrilled about the fact that this fish was bony through and through,

but hey... that place was busy... guess the chef had bigger fish to fry!

SANGRIA also graced our table...

Briefly.

We finished our meal around 9:30pm (actually a very early dinner for the locals!) and wandered back to our hostel. Nightlife didn't start in Madrid until 2am!! What were we supposed to do?

Siesta!!!!!!!!!!! zzzzzZZZZzzzzZZZZzzz

Siesta: Where you snooze, you win.

Several hours later, we were ready to dance. So where did we go? Kapital. Undoubtedly the craziest nightlife I have experience. Thus far. (Amsterdam still awaits as a travel destination...)

A PACKED dancefloor at 2:15am. Half naked dancers. Oh yea, and a rope dancer...

Yea sure, typical Friday night...

So what do you do in a packed nightclub with circus acts, flashing lights, and stripper poles? YOU DANCE! In the most tasteful way possible Daddy :)

Lauren and I strut the American moves...

And then pass out a half hour later.

Listen, I know, I know. "When in Rome... do like the Romans do." Except:

1) We weren't in Rome.

2) We had woke up at 5am for our flight. We couldn't stay up until 7am like the locals!

SO, by 3am we headed back to the hostel... ready for the beddy. Next thing we knew, it was 1:30pm and we had slept the day away. Good thing Madrid likes to start off the day late!

We decided to wander the city and find the Royal Palace...

and found the spectacular Retiro Park on our way.

Turns out they had boats for wanderers to ride.

So of course...

we rocked the boat. Baby.

(Pre-rocking the boat)

Some other things we stumbled upon during our delightful agenda- free afternoon:

A mariachi band... AYE AYE AYE!!

A pub... Ireland was following us...

A store with its OWN PERSONAL DJ... can I get a woo woo?

A man on the street who spontaneously sprouted out of

a table to petrify... me.

And stores with super cool bracelets. Beth and I got HOOKED UP:

Flashforward. It's 10pm... do you know where your children are?

Well, we were in Madrid. And we were hungry.

So we wandered the seductive streets of Madrid

to find a location with Tapas. TAPAS TAPAS TAPAS

Can you feel the romance? The air was thick with seduction. Rawrrr...

An hour later...

We find a restaurant that meets our expectations.

Cheap, beautiful, tasty-looking...

and LOADED WITH LOCALS

(key sign as to whether the food is authentically-awesome or not)

What we're eating: Manchego cheese, olives stuffed with anchovies, fresh bread, salad with tuna, onion and tomatoes, fries with scrambled eggs... and then some.

I bet you can't TAPAS that!

(Get it? Top that...)

The only problem was that the napkins were pieces of wax paper.

Tapas makes for messy fingers. And wax paper makes for terrible napkins.

BAD COMBO!!