Mi Familia Esta en Espana: El Cuarto Dia

On the forth day we woke up early and went back to Café Libros for breakfast. Once again we had café con leche and postre for breakfast. Then we went into Madrid and went back to the Basilica de San Francisco since the first time it was closed. The basilica was breathtaking and it still amazes me how someone could paint a dome on the top of the chapel and make it so magnificent. Next we went to Plaza Mayor to take a walking tour run by the tourism office because it was finally nice enough to take the tour. We saw many of the places we visited but it was good because I was able to learn some more history about the places. For example, the statues in the Plaza de Oriente were originally meant for the top of the palace but Charles III wanted fewer decorations so he had them placed in the plaza. We also got to see the Opera house, which during the summer they put a screen outside so people can sit in the plaza and watch the performance.

Following the walking tour we went around to the various shops by Plaza Mayor because my mom and Victoria needed to do some souvenir shopping. We then went to this restaurant known as VIPS, which is a chain in Spain. It is like an upscale Friday’s and we were able to get a great lunch that was not that expensive. While a lunch I was trying to figure out how to get to the next site and an older women overheard we and offered to help. She was extremely friendly and explained to me the metro we needed to take and offered other places we should visit. She talked to me completely in Spanish and I was able to understand everything she said, which was great. Next we headed to the Templo de Diablo, or Devil Temple, which is this Egyptian temple that was discovered and reconstructed in a park in Madrid. This was really cool because the temple still had hieroglyphics on the walls and it felt as though I was in ancient Egypt even though I was in a park in Madrid. Also, the temple offered great views of Madrid and would be an amazing place to go to see the sunset.

El Templo de Diablo

After this we went back to Alcala because my mom and Victoria needed to pack because they were leaving the next day. We walked around Alcala and I took them to the cloister nuns in Alcala, where we got these honey-roasted almonds that were absolutely delicious. Then I took them to the Casa de Cervantes, or Cervantes House, and we took the classic picture with the statue of Cervantes that is outside his house. Following this we went to the hotel to get dressed for dinner. Then we went to this restaurant known as Tapelia and had amazing chicken paella. This was the last night that my mom and Victoria would be in Spain. The following morning we had croissants in the room and my mom and Victoria left for the airport around 9 am. It was amazing to be able to have my family visiting and I cannot wait to see them in two months.