Tuesday, April 7

Tuesday started out as more or less a typical day.  It was a bit rough for everybody to wake up.  We ate breakfast, Scott drove to work at the base, and thankfully the kids and I had a dry walk to school.  On my way home, I stopped at the nearest coffee place and drank my cafe con leche standing up on the corner.  Then I worked on the blog, did some laundry, perhaps unloaded the dishwasher, and then walked to my gym.  I've finally made it there a couple of times without referencing my map.  To get there I:

• turn right out of the apartment building, 
• jog left
• walk 4 blocks
• jog left at the dead end
• walk 2 blocks
• turn right
• walk 1 block
• cross the street and turn left
• walk 1 block
• cross the street and enter the pedestrian only street that jogs left
• and at this point I'm only .25 miles into a 1.25 mile walk.  

The directions are similar to this for the rest of the way to the gym.  But I finally recognize some landmarks and street names along the way.

After my workout I met the kids for lunch.  And, our American friends joined us.  But first, Cody insisted upon buying a school uniform zip-up sweatshirt.  It comes with gym pants, as well.  Cody tried on the jacket in the Papeleria and he hasn't taken it off since.  And we love how it looks on him.  Plus he says it's cozy and warm to wear - his criteria for clothing (and mine).  

Here's Cody at lunch in Alfalfa Plaza showing off his fabulous new jacket.  Tired Devon is resting his head on the table.

And here's Jennie, Devon, and Cody.  Devon has yet to ask for us to buy him this outfit.  And we've asked him if he wants it and so far his answer is a consistent no.

The girls joined us for lunch once the food arrived.

The American friends walked the kids back to school and then I walked with them to El Corte Ingles.  From there I found a papeleria (stationary-type store) nearby - but one that was closed since it was siesta time.

After school, the kids and I returned to the papeleria I'd found, and along the way we bumped into Scott who joined us there.  Rosa needed more arts & crafts supplies for school and all of the kids needed washable markers that didn't leak.  We had great success in this store.

From there we decided to eat out.  The challenge is that it was merienda time (afternoon snack time) and not dinner time, even though it was about 6pm.  Therefore, most restaurants were closed or at least their kitchens were closed.   We figured that if we stuck close to the touristy section that we'd have more luck finding a restaurant.  And sure enough, we did.  We ate at a restaurant (Mesones Serranito) with a number of bull heads on the wall.  We found out that the restaurant owner was once a big bull fighter.  I ordered salmorejo and ate it for the first of many times.  It was AMAZING!  Rosa ordered salad with hard boiled egg, Cody ordered a steak, and Devon ordered a lamb shish kabob (that looked raw).  Scott ate what the boys didn't eat.  And we had some cerveza (Cruzcampo) and sangria.

Since we were already on Alfonso XII street and there's a dress shop on the street with a dress I wanted to buy, I pulled the family into the store so I could try it on and get their opinion.  It's soft and colorful and I was given the thumbs up to buy it.  I think I'll save it to wear for the first time on my birthday.

Cody through a fit on the way home because we didn't go home the usual way.  Of course we didn't go home the usual way because we ate dinner out at a restaurant that wasn't on our usual route.

Once home, Rosa had some math homework (in Spanish) and some religion homework (also in Spanish).  Since Spanish isn't our primary language, and catholicism is even more foreign to us, it took quite some time to get through homework.  And while Rosa was awake, the boys were all wound up.

Finally everyone went to bed.