snapshot from Toledo, Spain

Holy Cathedral of Toledo

This last week, our dear friends Patrick and Emma earned the dubious distinction of being our first visitors from home. I say "earned" and "dubious" because the trip may have been much more enjoyable for Steve and me than it was for them; let's just say that we're still working out the kinks of being tour guides. (Sorry again about that 2.5 hour commute from Alcalá scenic tour of Madrid's outskirts.)

It was wonderful to see Patrick and Emma and spend quality time with them; since they live on the East Coast, we typically see them only once or twice a year. Selfishly, it was also a great opportunity for us to reflect on what we love most about Madrid and to share those things with our friends. Some of those things--leisurely meals eaten al fresco, wandering the picturesque cobblestone streets, chocolate and churros at Chocolateria San Ginés--translated pretty well. However, I think my favorite memories from this past week will be the stranger adventures we shared: buying almond cookies from cloistered nuns and meeting a nice couple from good ol' Bellevue, WA in the convent; exploring the medieval hilltop town of Toledo; and eating approximately 23940283 lbs of grilled meat at the one of the largest medieval faire(e) slash Miguel de Cervantes celebrations (Semana Cervantina) in Europe.

Thanks for visiting, Patrick and Emma!