Madrid in a local neighborhood Condo

We arrived at our condo after a train, a plane, and a subway. A total of about 7 hours of travel. The condo was A LOT smaller then the pictures made it look like. It was clean and close to the Metro so that was good. The four of us bucked up and stayed there for three nights together then Steve and I had it for one more night.

The first night Steve and I left the condo to explore at 9:30 at night. Just hopped on the tram and decided to get off at the Sol station (Central). We walked around and found a cool little square for wine and a sandwitch. It took the waiter about 90 minutes to get us our food but in the meantime we talked to our neighbors. One man named Frank was visiting from Atlanta. He was visiting his friend Alex who was with him.

We got a few tips from Alex, what to see the next day, so we decided to put it into the agenda. After our wine and sandwiches we went inside so Steve could go to the bathroom. While he was in there a BIG rain storm started with thunder and lightning. We waited it out until we could run to the metro. Once we got to our station the rain came down even harder. We had no umbrella with us. We waited it out some more in the stairwell of the metro. By the time we got home it was 2:30 am and the Schabilion's were waiting up for us a little worried.

The next day we headed out to see the sights. Well it just so happened to be Columbus Day in Madrid so the sights we went to see were all closed. The Francisco Cathedral and the Royal Palace:( We decided to get some lunch and then take it from there.

After lunch we walked around some more then headed back for a nap before dinner. Steve found a great place for dinner called La Trucha. We were seated at 10:30 pm and stayed until they kicked us out about 12:30 pm. We headed home and played some cards. We were fitting in well with the late nights, and sleeping in, until 10 am.

The next day we took a 30 minute train to Toledo. Cute town with twisting small little roads. We shopped and walked around for a couple of hours. We headed back to Madrid at 5:30 so we could rest up for Nancy and Jeff's last night with us.

Steve found another awsome place called Casa Benigno that had spectacular Pallea and lobster pasta. It was a perfect last dinner. It was a little bit of an earlier night since the Schabilion's had to wake up at 6 am to start their trek home.

The following day Steve and I did a repeat of Madrid so we could actually go inside the Cathedral and the Palace. It was a beautiful day of sunshine with not a cloud in the sky. Not only did we go to the Cathedral and the Royal Palce, but we walked all around the city through it's parks and squares. We ended up going back to La Tucha for dinner. Not exactly the same experience but good.

We headed out to Seville the next day. The train ride was plesant and we arrived at our hotel by 3 pm. The hotel here is gorgeous, more like a resort really http://www.hoteles-silken.com/hoteles/presentation.php?idmenuleft=0&deploy=true&idhotel=5&lang=ENG

We toured the town of Seville from 3:30 pm until we got home at 9:30 pm. We saw just about everything and again had perfect weather. It was about 80 degrees here in Seville yesterday. They have a cute old town with Cathedral, Alcazar and neighborhoods to twist and turn through.

We actually had lunch at an Irish bar. Steve had nachos that were better then the ones we have at the club!

In the evening before we went home we found an excellent place to rest our toes and have a magnificent view and some nice wine. I forget the name of the place but will post it as soon as I get it.

So here I am now in the business loung of our hotel catching up on my blog. Tonight is our last night sad but true. We are really looking forward to coming home to our little girl and friends and family. Thanks again for watching out for Siena and we will talk to you as soon as we get home and settled.