Madrid

We've been in a Madrid for a week now! We've been spending our time getting acclimated to the time zone and the new culture. Beginning at the airport, it's all been interesting. The post-Brexit Brits having to suffer through the non-EU passport control line were pretty funny. The Metro is easy and clean and quiet (no one blasting videos on their phone, etc). Plus, the rule is masks recommended in the stations and required on the trains. By and large, people are obeying. Since the metro is the most crowded (indoor) place we've gone, it helps my sense of security.

We are staying in a studio apartment which allows us privacy and the ability to come and go as we please (Brian says the kitchen could be bigger though). We are northeast of the city center in a nice little neighborhood called Cuidad Jardin. It's quiet, walkable and has easy access to the metro and buses. There are at least six grocery stores within 500 meters, along with all other kinds of shops and markets. We lack for nothing. Tho seeing signs for Black Friday sales was a jolt: the worst of American consumerism.

Groceries are ridiculously inexpensive, so we are enjoying most of our meals at home. That allows us to have good portion and time controls. Spanish mealtimes are still something of a mystery since we are not dining out much. We've been to one neighborhood restaurant, where we arrived at 7:30 pm on a Saturday night. Dead empty. And portion sizes were surprisingly large. We have since learned the phrase, "media racion" - half portion.

Not another soul in the place.

Our outings have included the El Retiro Park which even in November had blooming roses. 

 

Also a very large gang of peacocks and peahens.

Came around a corner and were surprised by this gentleman.

At this point we'd seen about 40 of this species.

 

Very taken with the trees. Some kind of pine, but haven't figured out the specifics yet.
 

 

Then we walked up the Gran Via where we encountered a rally/protest for Iran. It was very organized by the city it appeared, the police had blocked off the streets where they gathered to march so that there were no people/car conflicts. 

The Gran Via - Lots of People

Yesterday we went to the Prado Museum. I'm sure if I said it aloud to the Madrileños I'd be in trouble, but I really don't care for Goya and El Greco. Velasquez I can live with. So we cruised through some of the galleries quickly, and more slowly through others. We have at least 3 more museums we'd like to see while here.

After the Prado we walked to the Plaza del Sol where they are busily putting up the Christmas tree. It appears that the trees get lit Thursday night and the Christmas markets start in full on Friday. I am just telling myself it's because that is one month before Christmas, and nothing to do with American Thanksgiving. I hope I'm right. Either way, we're looking forward to all the lights. They are strung everywhere in our little neighborhood and I am sure it will be pretty when they are on. We will be going to the Plaza Mayor Christmas market in Madrid this week too.

The pace of our travels and expeditions remains slow. We've discovered that a one day in/one day out rhythm seems the best for staving off exhaustion and the other long-Covid symptoms. Dining at home keeps me away from noisy environments which exacerbate my noise processing issues. Our very small sample size of restaurants suggests that background music is not deployed here. A huge bonus.

~Lucy

New York, Baltimore, DC....Oh my, oh drat.

Caught a cold. Blegh. Which means a lot of hoped-for visits and excursions did not happen because my energy levels have been cratered. And it appears that either this year's cold is particularly virulent, or my covid-impacted immune system is weaker than anticipated. Which makes our continued masking sensible.

We made it to New York, and took in Some Like It Hot (in previews). They are still working out a little timing, but the show was great. Funny, timely, and sweet. The longest lines in the theater district were for Phantom of the Opera, as it will be closing soon. Weird to see. I'm sad we missed out on the walks and excursions we planned, but New York isn't going anywhere. I suppose that's the difference between tourism and traveling. We don't have to bucket list through the world. (And I did see a rat, so you know, tradition!)

Just past peak colors, such as they are in the City

Next up we managed to duck down to Baltimore and visit college pal Kristen Harbeson. It's been 9 years (since the last blog!) since we've seen each other. Nothing has changed. Since she had never done it, we all ventured further south (on a hideously deer corpse-strewn B/W parkway) to go to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture. It's the museum which has opened since I was last in DC, so I definitely wished to see it. The behemoth of a building is architecturally striking. I have to admit that the crowds were too much for me. The interior of the building has some surprisingly awkward pinch-points and flow issues, which meant accessing the exhibits and not being constantly jostled were challenging. My energy wasn't up for it. 

Given the breadth of the Smithsonian, I think we'll just need to plan to come and spend a month so we can tour through at a more leisurely pace. If anyone knows someone who needs house/dog/cat sitting, we are happy to provide references.

Both of these shots show the museum behind us.

Just off the Mall, Lucy & Brian

 

Kristen & Lucy

A few more random thoughts: I do not love the aesthetics of the Apple Watch. I've worn a wristwatch pretty much continuously for decades so that's not an issue. But the Apple Watch is just kinda ugly. Maybe I'll invest in a prettier band. BUT. The utility of just pressing a button and bopping onto public transit (Chicago, NYC) is pretty slick.

~Lucy

Philadelphia, Phamily, Phriends and the Phillies.

So Boston down...Thanks Joaquin and Eleanor, Matt and Sunny, and the fog, so much fog...

So when driving from Boston to Philadelphia one naturally thinks of Allentown, no? Well that is where one of my aunts lives, and that is where we headed from Massachusetts. After a relatively uneventful 6 hour drive we were able to spend time with my aunt Sherry and cousin Josh in Allentown. We experienced part of the Philadelphia sportsgasm there. What is that you may ask? Apparently when multiple sports teams are having success in a single city it is called a sportsgasm (or a sportspocalypse). I'm not sure who made that up but we are rolling with it. After a couple of days we drove south to Philadelphia proper for an extended stay with our friends Brad and Christie and their new puppy Jackson. Jackson is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi who is roughly 4 months old. OMG is he cute...

Here sleeping next to Brad and myself, notice the blerp of his tongue.

Those ears!!

Lucy and I may be a little addicted to this guy. So much personality, so damn cute. It's going to be hard to leave him behind.

We managed to visit with all of my aunts (2) and uncles (2) and many of my cousins (too many to count) while also watching much sportsballs (World Series, football, basketball and soccer) in between gatherings.

Thanks Bob, Brad looking like his puppy. 

 

Let's make funny faces!

Sound on.

Now do a time-lapse on the roof deck.

We also made it to another cemetery so that Lucy could get her fix.

Still great fall colors going on at Laurel Hill

Lucy found the Jeni's Ice cream shop.

Now we're off to New York City for a few days to see a show Some Like It Hot and get some culture.

 

~ Brian