Madrid...

Seriously...a great few days in Madrid...just great! Would move there in a heartbeat. Love the language! Love the city! Love the people! 

We arrived Thursday around lunchtime and dropped our stuff at the hotel and headed out. Grayson's teacher had given us directions to a little plaza, so we walked over there and found an outdoor cafe to enjoy lunch - and ice cream for the boys!

Then it was a quick tour of the city via the Hop On/Hop Off bus. It was a gorgeous day and the bus was crowded, but we finally managed to grab seats on the top deck!

Then it was back to the pool for a swim on the rooftop. Just stunning!

The evening brought a tapas tour and flamenco show. Our guide was a man named Luis - and he was great. We had three stops for tapas and then the flamenco show for dessert. Some guys from CrossFit TLV were on our tour - which was funny as I had mentioned CrossFit TLV in a WODTalk story from Seoul two years ago. They were here supporting their team again. It was enjoyable talking with them.

The next day we went to Day 1 of the CrossFit Meridian Regionals. We ran into one of Sara Sigmundsdottir's coaches, John Singleton, in Starbuck's as we were heading over to Caja Magica - and introduced ourselves. (He was actually staying at our hotel, but I have no idea if Sara or any of his other athletes were as well.) He had to be thrilled with how the weekend went for Sara.

I have to say we all really enjoyed Regionals that day - even the kids. They were awesome! They asked great questions. Watched attentively. Cheered loudly. (And in then end they each scored some new Nanos because, well, because mom is a sucker!)

After Regionals we went immediately to the bullfights. I had been previously when I was here, but this was a first for Blaine and the boys. I think they enjoyed the cultural significance of it (and Luis had explained to them what they would see on the tapas tour the night before). We all wished that we spoke more Spanish so we could understand why the crowd was happy or upset when certain things happened. Caleb, my sensitive one, felt bad for the bulls, but was comforted in knowing that they were immediately butchered and sold in the local markets. (After all, he's my little carnivore!)

We were too tired for much else after the bullfights - so the boys' wish came true! Taco Bell for dinner! We haven't seen a Taco Bell in 10 months - so I'd be lying if I didn't say we were all pretty happy for some soft tacos!

Saturday morning was all about churros y chocolate! While we could've gone to San Gines, Churreria Chocolateria 1902 was super close to the hotel, had no wait, we could watch the man making churros and was DELICIOUS! Big cups of thick chocolate and lots of yummy churros and good lattes! What more do you need?

Then it was off for a free walking tour! I tried to download just a few pictures to share, but Google is having none of it right now...so here's a link to some pix from the tour:  https://goo.gl/photos/2VCKyDXZrT5atGfMA

Santiago was our guide and he did a great job!

Lunch that day was at Botín - the oldest restaurant in the world (according to the Guinness book of World Records). It was great simple fair and excellent service! Highly recommend the roast suckling pig (which Grayson had)!

Then we got stuck in a downpour - so that necessitated a little shopping! (Yes, we brought back ham and cheese! Arrest me now!)

The evening had us heading out for our last tapas. We found a great place where we could sit outside and people watch - and there was lots to see as Real Madrid was going to be playing Atletico Madrid in Milan later that night. The streets were full of fans heading to bars to watch the game! We decided we would do tapas and head back to the hotel and watch it there...

And that was our long weekend in Madrid! Definitely a good one!!