The Mustillo's in Madrid

Sunday, April 4th: Feliz Pascua!
So begins the train of sickness with Mom. After finally getting out of the hotel, I took Dad, Lisa and Katie to see el palacio real and la catedral de la almundena. The palace was obviously gorgeous, but didn't have that homey feeling if you know what I mean. While in one of the rooms, dad says, "Can you imagine being in your pajamas, saying good night and having to walk a mile to get from the living room to your bedroom?" While they were in the Cathedral, I made my way to the hotel to grab Mom and we all met at café de oriente for a light lunch. After we walked around Sol and did some shopping until Steph joined us for Easter dinner at La Finca de Susana. Great food, but not the friendliest staff in the world.

Monday, April 5th
Steph and the family came to visit Alcalá. When the family finally showed up at 2:00, we tried to see la casa de Cervantes. Unfortunately, it's closed on Mondays and therefore leaving little to see except more churches. Everyone came to meet by new host family. Thank God Steph was there because translating is a crazy job. Seems Lisa should be studying Spanish though. After chatting it up with the family, we got stuck in siesta time and thus had to stop at Telepizza for lunch, thus causing the second round of sickness with Lisa that night. Later, they relaxed in the plaza making fun of people until it was time for dinner. I called a taxi because I had luggage for them to take back to the states and the driver started charging me from where he was when the cab company contacted him! I hate taxis!

Tuesday, April 6th
Lisa is sick so Mom, Dad, Katie and I headed to the Prado Museum. Though the most confusing museum map, we were able to find all the paintings we wanted. We stopped in the little cafe for a snack and there was a soft chocolate chip cookie! it was like a gold mine- I hadn't seen once of those since January! We went to el Parque de Retiro where Dad where we took a little rest to have a coca-cola light by the estanque. After dilly dallying in the park, we ate dinner at my vegetarian restaurant, Yerbabuena. Mom and Dad split paella and Katie and I got onion soup that should have come with bread, cheese and almonds, but the cook "forgot to add them." After pestering this lady trying to find someone to talk to in English because she initially told me that even though that stuff was included in the menu I had to specify that I wanted it- you've got to be kidding me. So she gave us the cash for the two meals- very odd.

Wednesday, April 7th: Segovia
Steph joined us again for a day trip to Segovia and Dad was in picture heaven. First, we saw the Roman Aqueduct, built in the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. We took some cool pictures, stay tuned you may see them next Christmas. Then we found an American restaurant and Lisa and Katie were in their glory since Segovia is known for roast suckling pig. We saw the Cathedral here Katie tried to snap some illegal pictures of Monks and then almost lost Dad on the way to the Alcázar, another castle, but very cool. We weren't as restricted in this one as we were in the Madrid. Cutting it close as always, we make it to the train station, but not before stopping for some chocolate covered almonds. In order to avoid leaving Spain without having paella, we wet to Paella de la Reina. Delicious as usual, but Dad's sickness set in.

Thursday, April 8th
Again Lisa, Katie and I had to share two beds the night before, but I wanted to stay in order to help with the escapades of carrying 7 pieces of luggage between 3 metro switches to the airport- that definitely would've made America's funniest home videos. Anyway, I waited in line with them for a while and then said goodbye. I was super close to emptying one of the suitcases and jumping inside, but I resisted. On the metro I was sitting next to this guy with a cast around his hand and in a sling. While on the escalator switching from the metro to the commuter train, I felt something kind of tugging behind me. I moved, but didn't think anything of it. After feeling it again, I realized someone behind me was trying to open my purse. I moved my purse to the front of me and saw one of the section's was unzipped! Good thing I always keep the front of my purse to my chest and the back zipper, which only had post its and cough drops, facing the outside. The cast guy tried to pick-pocket me! I gave a dirty look, but was too much in shock to say anything- pendejo!