Our trip to Madrid this Winter Break was really all about hanging out with family and taking it easy. With weather a bit chillier than normal, we didn't venture too far from home, but we enjoyed the little outings in the city including the Madrid Rio area with playgrounds and slides. The girls were there a few years back, though Carolina was way too little to remember it. But this time she definitely enjoyed herself and we all loved our free-for-all on the slide mountain. There was no one there thanks to the fact that it wasn't a vacation week there. So we ran up and down and slid til our hearts content. What a fun day.
After a couple of city strolls on our own and a lunch at La Bola, Nacho and I relented and took the girls in for a walk around Temple De Debod up on the hill overlooking the city. It was almost sunset by the time we got there so it was a popular evening choice. Of course, the Barbie Spy dolls the girls got before the trip made the city walk even more exciting and we finished our evening with dinner at Casa Mingo just down the hill from there. I'm always glad that we get to spend time in Madrid with the girls because it means a lot to me that they know where their Papa is from. These are his roots. And just as much as visiting family, I want them to have a feel for the place he calls home. They love the buses and the old city streets. They are getting better about eating a few Spanish foods--though Elisa definitely leads her sister in this category. So far, Carolina mostly likes pan and casera. I can't really blame her for not loving all the other stuff, but I hope she'll try more and more with each visit. And this visit their Spanish was definitely better and more easy going. They both understand almost everything being said to them, but it takes a few days for them to figure out that they really must answer in Spanish. Carolina continues to use it when speaking with our Spanish friends here in Sunnyside which makes me happy. She told me, "Mom, I just had to think!" when I asked her how she knew those words. Love that girl.
By week's end, I think we were all hoping to squeeze in just a little more time with cousins. We had a few short visits before, but on our last full day in Spain, we had a midday soccer game for Alvaro and a lunch with the whole family closer to Majadahonda where Jesus and family live. Alvaro played goalie for the first part of the game, and later scored at least 2 if not 3 goals of his own. The girls were delighted to play and run around with Sara while the game finished up. And then we were off to lunch and that's when the real fun began. The rustic parilla offered many kinds of grilled meats, but best of all, they had a large open play area out back for the kids to run around and climb and swing. It was a perfect choice for these growing kids who need less supervision, but still can't set for 3 hours at a time. I don't know how they will develop as friends, but seeing these cousins love hanging out together makes me so happy. They really try to engage one another in both Spanish and English. Diego is off to London for one school year in the fall and I hope all of them will have similar options as they grow up. Mixing their family ties with their love of travel can only be a good thing, and I can't help but wonder which of my girls will have crushes on Alvaro's friends as they grow older in Encinar. Little Paula was the newest addition to this growing clan and Amaia and Jesus seem to be taking their new parenting roles in stride. Of course, with 4 years between Paula and Carolina, she'll have some catching up to do before she'll be running around the field too. But in time. Yes, it all seems to be happening as I think about their future summers in Spain and spending time with family around the pool. Hopefully we will make it back this summer for our first family beach trip. But for now this week was a great little visit and I can't wait to see them again soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment