Maaadreeed (condensed)

Because we didn't have internet access and because I am lazy, Madrid blogging will be condensed into this entry.

I arrived in Madrid Wednesday, sleep deprived but armed with several Diet Cokes. I took the Metro to an up and coming neighborhood in Madrid (so says NY Times Travel) and got breakfast. I went for a long walk all the city and wandered around til I met the family at the apartment for dinner.

Thursday, we woke up and explored. Brendan (with the help of Lonely Planet) led us on a tour of the Moorish and later royal quarters of Madrid. We stopped at a market for lunch. We shopped, ate, watched Spanish TV, and passed out.

We toured the Palace (verdict: Versailles-like, not the best tour) then visited the Reina Sofia and the Prado museums. At night, we got dinner at a supposedly very chic restaurant. Brendan, despite his supposed fluency, forgot how to say "check." Luckily, I remembered (from when I awkwardly ate and drank alone Wednesday) that it was "la questa." Unfortunately, I was wrong. The waiter burst out laughing: he asked for "the quest." The term is "la quenta." Brendan must have been so humiliated.

Lack of language skills

We are leaving in two weeks. We do not speak Spanish. Or Castillian. I do not speak Portuguese. However, we are fairly confident in our handmotion skills.

Trip Planner

Despite a history of airplane bickering, museum falling-outs, and dinner fiascos, the Johnsons are going to Spain in August of 2009. Father, Steve, age 49, believes that he has the entire trip planned out. He has booked apartments, houses, and hotels throughout Spain and mapped out our roadtrip. Joan is looking forward to spending time with her family, relaxing in the Spanish sun, or rather, chugging sangria. Mairead, as the only member of the family to have previously been to Spain, can't wait to buy Pedro Garcia sandals in Spain nor drink legally with her mother. Brendan, the espagnolephile, plans to use his expert Spanish to guide the family through as many museums as possible. Cate wants to go parasailing. And get tanner. Emmy isn't coming.