Tuesday, 29 November, 2016:
Today would mark our last trip into Madrid. Wednesday would be dedicated to packing for the flight home to California early Thursday morning and to any other last second things that might pop up.
We started the day by packing up the entire Las Casa Grande family into the Land Rover for a drive into la ciudad as Bere had an appointment at the Mexican Embassy to start the process of getting the two girls their official Mexican passports for future travel purposes.
Though Luna and Camila were born in Spain, by Spanish law they are not automatically Spanish citizens. They will be though once they have Mexican passports like their parents and then apply for citizenship due to being born on Spanish soil.
While Bere was working on the passports, the rest of us went to the El Retiro park for some fun with the girls.
It is Madrid's HUGE city park
Great place to be on a chilly day
with kids
Or on a photo shoot with a
pampered white poodle
Autumn leaves serve only
one purpose . . .
. . . for kids play
Peek-a-boo game between
Camila and Jesús
Jesús with Camila and
Laurie with Luna
One year old Camila
likes to slide
Two year old Luna
likes to slide
Slightly more than
Two year old Laurie
likes to slide too
After about an hour of fun and frivolity we got the word from Bere at the Mexican Embassy, that all went well and we could pick her up.
When Bere boarded the Land Rover, we got out as we were going to launch our last official Calle de Jesús Tapas Crawl for 2016.
In true Tapas Crawl fashion, we were going to go from one bar to the next for just one drink and one tapa each until we got full.
First stop . . .
Cervecería El Diario
The vino tinto was good
So was the company
An army entering Madrid
Spain's? France's? Beats me.
I like these slices of tile artwork
It was our first time in El Diario and it was a fine way to start the day.
The next stop was . . .
La Anc???
Damn, the tree got in the way.
There we go . . .
La Anchiota
They specialize in seafood
Gambas with your beer
The gambas come automatically with your beer order. We each had another delicious seafood tapa as well.
Another great set of tapas but we were starting to get full.
Nevertheless, the next stop was . . .
Cervecería Los Gatos
It would be our final stop as we were ready to explode upon leaving.
Easily our favorite spot on
the Calle de Jesús Tapas Crawl
Since it was chilly, they served
every customer a shot of
warm chicken broth for free
Unusual, but tío was it ever spot on!
Caramelized onions are good
So are sun dried tomatoes
Great colors and decor at
Cervecería Los Gatos
In Spanish tapas bars, the custom is to throw your used napkins on the floor, the staff will sweep them up during a lull in the action sometime in the late evening.
Thus, when you walk into a tapas bar for the first time, look to see how much trash is on the floor. If there is a lot of trash, by all means enter as it means that there have been a lot of happy customers before you!
More than fully sated and a little tipsy, we boarded the #27 Madrid bus for a 30 minute journey through many of Madrid's newer neighborhoods.We boarded by the Prado Museum and got off at the end of the line at the Plaza de Castilla and its stunning Puerta de Europa towers.
How Laurie felt after
our Tapas Crawl
The 15 degree
Puerta de Europa Towers
Calvo Sotelo was a right wing
politician who was assassinated
in 1936
I guess that is Señor Sotelo
laying at rest
Laurie in front of one of
Franco's typically Fascist
architecture styled buildings
They housed want of the Spanish dictator's ministries.
These Ministry buildings are
679 meters above the sea level
in wonderful Alicante
Brick Pillars
Francisco Largo Caballero
Spanish politician and
trade unionist
Indalecio Prieto Tuero
Spanish politician and leader
in the Socialist Worker's Party
I think that it is a safe bet that both of these statues were erected after Franco's death in 1975.
Laurie during our walk down
Paseo de la Castellana
Fountain and Christmas Tree
at Plaza de España
We really need to see one of these trees lit up at night.
Fountain honoring
Queen Isabela Catolica
In front of the famed
Duchess of Alba's home
The Palacio de Liria
Another random monument
I've got to buy these
Palacio de Liria guardian
Back on Puerta del Sol
La Mallorquina's offerings
We were strong.
Plaza Mayor
Photogenic as always
La Latina barrio this way
More food on Plaza Mayor
Magic Hour
First Santa Sighting of 2016
Plaza Mayor lit up with
a Christmas motif
We had purposely stayed out later than normal for one reason . . .
We wanted to see the Christmas
Tree on Puerta del Sol lit up
It was worth the wait even though it was pouring rain.
Madrid is just a magnificent city and we have been fortunate to experience so much of what it has to offer!
Now, it was on to my last Guadalajara Stings practice.
Go Stings GO!
It was a GREAT night to practice . . .
AMERICAN FOOTBALL!
Oklahoma Drill
"Are you ready back there?"
And away we go
We're getting more physical
every practice
Could someone PLEASE
lower their pad level!
With my Sting linemen
one last time
With Coach Carni
With WR and team leader Alejandro
Thanks for the bottle of wonderful Rioja vino tinto Alejandro!
With Stings President,
Offensive Guard
and Defensive End Borja
With Stings GM Hector
With Stings QB Tim
The drive out to Guadalajara and our late night practices with the Stings have been a delight for me.
I got a chance to meet and work with a lot of people who I regard as friends and brothers after these past two months.
I was very touched when, at the end of practice, instead of breaking the team huddle with the usual "3-2-1 STINGS!" they opted to go with "3-2-1 CONTRERAS!"
That was a first for me.
I am blessed to be able to say, "I am a Sting!"
Back at La Casa Grande
it was time to open
Alejandro's gift
GRACIAS again to all of the Stings family for sharing your time with me and be so coachable!
