We were excited for our first trip into Madrid (a 30-minute train ride from Alcalá de Henares). It is amazing that this is our second time in Spain and there is still so much that we haven't even seen yet, let alone the things that one could do 100 times.
We decided to keep this first trip into Madrid simple and focus on what the kids remember and look forward to. This meant that our first stop was to see Eva's beloved turtles (she called them "turties" when we were here in 2004--say it out loud and you'll see why it always makes us laugh.) The main hall of Atocha train station features a tropical garden. It is beautiful and a bit humid inside with a turtle pond in one end. The turtle pond is one of the few things that Eva remembers from before and she wasn't disappointed.
We then made a bee-line to the boys' favorite spot "the sword store," a tourist trap with tons and tons of swords and armor and fans and everything touristy. They were in heaven.
Although David and I determined in advanced that we wouldn't overdo it, we ended up walking over 5 miles . . . or at least some of us walked that much. Check out Eva asleep on my shoulder. The building across the street is the Madrid Post Office if you can believe that. We're not in Springville anymore, that is for sure.
5 comments:
Nathan says "I really want to go to Spain and I really really want to go to that sword shop!!! I hope you guys are having a lot of fun. If you come home with a sword for me I will be your best friend forever. And I mean FOREVER! Did you give the turtles names? And how come the Post Office is so cool? Man...I wish I was there."
What??? The post office is beautiful, provo's architecture not so intersting,huh? You are going to be in great shape, all that lugging and walking! I hope you're eating lots of great food to get some balance.
Stephanie,
Hmm . . . the Provo Post Office . . . actually, I've always been sort of fond of the Provo Post Office. It is one of those landmarks that for me supports the notion of Provo-as-a-perpetual-town-of-the-1950s.
(And don't get me wrong, I like buildings from the 1950s)
BUT to compare them? Well, it isn't fair. It's not even like comparing apples to oranges --more like comparing an elegant meal to a tic-tac.
Thanks for your funny comments. I love the way you write because I can hear your voice in my mind's-ear.
Nathan, We all wish you could be here too!
Hmmm,I like your positive answer to that one,I haven't though of it that way. Your photos just make me want to be somewhere else! You know the day to day grind gets old no matter where you are.
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