Another Rainy Day in Madrid

H has been teasing me and saying that I'm the reason for all the rain in Madrid, which everyone swears is unusual.  I'll just be happy when it stops raining so much so I don't have to worry about walking around the city with my good camera instead of my little point and shoot!

I grabbed my umbrella and borrowed a more serious raincoat from la madre when H told me that he was bringing a motorcycle helmet for me this time.  It's hard to hold an umbrella over you while riding on a motorcycle, after all.  But I arrived into a Madrid full of sunshine and smiles.  H met me at the station and we zoomed over to the Parque del Oeste and wandered into the Egyptian Temple of Debod, which was open to the public, perhaps because it was a local holiday (the Feast of the Virgin Almudena).  It was really cool, and not just because it reminded me of Stargate.  But to be able to actually go inside an Egyptian temple and see how it was built, with hidden corners and corridors and hieroglyphics on the walls was pretty neat.

We headed to the Parque de Retiro next for some more walking and seeing sights.  It stayed dry but gray and after seeing about a quarter of the park, it was about time for lunch, which, I remind you, is a big deal in Spain.  After a brief bump up with another motorcyclist who apologized at the next light (I apparently can say I live in Madrid now that I've been in some sort of traffic accident), we ended up at an Irish pub H really likes which has amazing pizza.  And sangria, which is my drink of choice here, despite it being a summer drink.  Beer is just so ick!

After, we wandered down to cafe and got warm drinks instead, and I helped H with his resume a bit.  Being able to speak English is a big thing here in Spain, because a lot of companies make it a requirement to get a good job.  And jobs are seriously rare here.  We like to think we had it bad in California, but it's so much worse here in Spain.  The girls' eyes were huge when I told them I resigned from my job to come here, because apparently that's something people would never do in Spain unless they had another job already lined up.  And people are happy to have any kind of job here as well.

By the time we got out of the cafe, it was pouring down rain, but we made a quick and careful jog over to Taste of America, where I finally got my hands on some root beer!  It's sitting near my desk now, waiting to be drunk.  I just have to make sure I don't have it all, because I already promised the girls they could try some.  We'll see if they like it!

H and I decided to let the rain lighten a bit before making the final trip back to the station, and in the distance a glowing light appeared proclaiming 'Chocolatarium.'  H didn't need much convincing.  After a fantastic caramel hot chocolate, the rain finally gave us a break, and I headed home with my spoils.