We’re nearing the end of our week in
Madrid. Today (Friday) is our last full day of siteseeing. Tomorrow, Tricia
arrives, then Sunday we head south for the beach. It’s been a great week but I
do admit I’m pretty full-up with the big city and ready to lounge at la playa.
Wednesday was a fun, yet thoroughly
disappointing, day. The reason – World Cup. After spending some afternoon time
in the city including a stop at a cider bar for some cold, home-brewed apple
cider and a menú del dia – OK, I have to stop here. We tried another Rick
Steve’s joint for our afternoon meal. Whoa, what a difference. This place
rocked. I had a vegetable soup, then some fish stew thing and rice with milk
for dessert. Rick, you’re back in my good graces. – we made our way to Bernabeu
soccer stadium to view the evening’s game between Spain and Chile. It was a
long walk slash metro ride slash bus ride to the stadium, but we were all
pumped for the big game. Most of us were dressed in Spain jerseys and David had
even draped himself in the Spanish flag. The atmosphere at the stadium was
great. They had 3-4 huge screens set up outside the stadium and a pregame
concert to keep us entertained before the game. But, oh Lord, once the game got
underway things turned sour very quickly. Spain got down 1-0 early, the 2-0
sometime in the middle of the match. They tried desperately to claw their way
to victory, but it wasn’t meant to be. When it was clear the match was over, we
left, and made our way on the long metro journey back to the apartment. It was
a night with so much promise, but it all ended with a devastating result.
Then yesterday, Thursday. This was
probably our most low-key day of the trip so far. With all the hoopla from the
night before, we all slept soundly until about 11:00 in the morning. Eventually
I left to read my book (Salem’s Lot – I’ve never read it.) in a nearby park,
then Sammie met me for breakfast at a local bar. Once everyone was awake,
Sammie, Casey, Eva and I took the metro to Retiro Park. We had a really nice
time there. We did some walking, snapped a bunch of pics, had a really nice
sit-down lunch by the boat pond, snagged some WIFI for awhile, rented bikes and
toured the beautiful, expansive park, then ended with ice cream and some rest
in the shade. We were there for 4-5 hours and it was just what we needed – a
break from the hustle and bustle of the big city and a chance to just chill for
a day.
Later my mom and I enjoyed some drinks,
again at the same local bar, while watching Colombia beat the Ivory Coast in
World Cup play then my family and my mom ordered pizza in the apartment because
the Aragos had left to have dinner with one of David’s friends. Ordering pizza
over the phone was an adventure. I had to use my Spanish as best as I could.
All in all, it went just fine with the exception of ordering far too much pizza
than the four of us could ever eat. And, unfortunately, the pizza was a bit
“sketchy” as the kids would say. There was something off about the cheese –
just not what we’re used to in the states. But, we enjoyed it nonetheless while
watching Uruguay knock England out of the cup.
Side note – I was excited with the
thought of coming to Europe for the World Cup. There was the possibility that I’d
be able to watch some exciting matches in three countries that would be playing
– Spain, Portugal and England. Well, already, two of those three countries have
been eliminated. That sucks! And, the only way Portugal will get to the next
round is if they beat the USA tomorrow night, so I don’t really want to see
that happen. So, World Cup action has been a bit of a bust so far. I guess my
mantra now will just be USA, USA, USA!
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