Day: February 8, 2017

I know many of you are sick of me writing about food (although many want to hear about our dining recommendations) but I have to tell you about the best meal of this or any of our trips.  Tonight we had dinner at Erica’s apartment with a number of her friends who live here in Madrid.

Prior to the meal we accompanied Erica to the local grocery store.  We found a number of interesting items and curiosities.  One thing I found very interesting was that in the fruit and vegetable departments you bagged your item and then took it to a scale.  From the scale’s monitor you chose the name (or in my case, picture) of the fruit or vegetable in your bag.  A sticker with a bar code is then printed out.  You attach the label to the bag and then you are ready to check out.

There were many items in the store that I have not seen in the US.  For example they had a variety of pizzas.  One was definitely new to me (see below).

 

Also I had not seen this food stuff before either.

 

I think germ-phobic Americans might like to see the practice below adopted by grocers in our country.  Most of the fruit and vegetables come pre-wrapped (see below).

 

Dinner was wonderful.  Erica did a great job of preparing the meal.  Patrice did a lot of work too.  I was a major contributor by playing Words With Friends on the couch, thus keeping out of the way.

Erica’s friends were delightful.  They all spoke perfect Spanish and pretended to understand what I was trying to say.  The one theme that was clear and most important to us was that they all love Erica.  It was also very heartwarming in that they also asked about Lindsay since they knew her from her time here in Madrid.

Until tomorrow,

Roberto

We had another wonderful day in Madrid.  Today we played the part of a true Madrileño (person born in Madrid).  We got up late and then met Erica for breakfast at 12:30 pm.  I had my usual favorite of Tortilla Española and Cafe Con Leche.  Tortilla Española looks like a quiche and is made of eggs, onions, potatoes and kosher salt.  I assume the kosher salt is the Spaniards attempt to make amends after the Spanish Inquisition when Jews were given 3 choices:  1.) Leave Spain, 2.) Convert to Catholicism or 3.) Die.

Erica left us for work and we then decided to have a unique Spanish experience so went to Puerta del Sol and visited the Apple Store and then went to the movies to see “La La Land”.  I guess we were feeling a little homesick and the numerous shots of home were lots of fun.  I especially liked the scenes from the Hermosa Beach pier and the Lighthouse (also located in Hermosa).  It brought back fond memories of when I took a date to the Lighthouse.  We had a fun time until I started to put my arm around her only to knock the beer off the table behind me onto some other guy’s date.

It rained a bit today and lucky for me that it did.  I had my umbrella up and it prevented more than rain from hitting my head (see below).

At night we had an early dinner (9:30 pm) with one of my friend’s here in Spain.  I have been to Madrid many times so I have almost as many friends here as I do in Los Angeles. My LA friends have said that is because my Spanish is very poor.  As they say, “Once your Spanish improves they won’t like you any more than we do”.

Hasta luego