Junio en España

It´s June! Ok, so ten days in, but whatev. In my first week of June, I had a dinner night at one of the other au pair´s houses that lasted until 4 a.m. on the following Tuesday morning. Let´s just say I like early morning, slightly tipsy walks home in San Lorenzo. It´s always very calm and it seems as though I have it all to myself!

Now...for something new I learned about: Bank Holidays. Yes, Thursday, June 3 was a Madrid Province Bank Holiday, so the government and banks close down and pretty much it means party time. It was also Alberto´s 43rd birthday and him and Silvia took the boys out for the day, so naturally I went into Madrid with Fiona and Mairi for a day of sunbathing and beer in Parque de El Retiro. It was a hoooooooot, but lovely day and boy did we have some nonbloggable convos :) Sorry, what happens with girls´convos stays between them. I also learned some new Scottish and Irish grammar and phrases and they told ME that I have a COOL accent!! Made my day. That night followed with meeting up with Katie and Laurel at non- other than El Tigre (they love us ther now...because now we get free Tequila!) and we were there for FIVE hours. We are good customers and our endless tapas, cidras and mojiitos purchased prove it. Now, after we left it was crossroads time...go home or keep going? Well, Katie and I decided to keep going and we met up with some friends we have made here and eventually we all watched the sun come up. I LOVE Spanish sunrises!

Saturday, June 5 - my FIRST Spanish Orienteering race!! Okay, the forests that are NW of my town are MUCH harder than the parks of Boise. Silvia went with me to find the first couple markers, then I was on my own navigating boulders, forest, trails and hills with my compass and map. I had a GREAT time and only missed two markers. It was challenging, but I´m so glad I did it.

That night was yet another crazy one. I should´ve known better, but it was Saturday and well, "when in Rome" I guess ;) Fiona, Mairi, Laurel, Katie and I found yet another great viewing spot of the Royal Palace and brought along our typical two bottles of vino tinto. We have decided to patent our method of smashing in the cork with Katie´s apartment keys, as this is now the fourth weekend we have used it. They say it´s my raging biceps...oh pshaw! Make me blush. Haha We ended up wandering to Puerta de Sol to meet up with more people and Fiona is hilarious when she´s a.) tipsy and b.) swearing while tipsy with her thick Irish accent.

The only truly messy part of the night was Fiona and I getting our wallets stolen. Yep, I´ve heard that if you stay in Europe long enough, it will eventually happen. I thought I was being so careful, but the last place we were at was CROWDED wall-to-wall and dark. Oh well, but darnit! I really liked my DL and CCL pics. And that wallet. Sorry Scarlett!!

Today is Thursday. I am still in sleep recovery mode as every day this week I have taken a 3 hour nap after the boys go to school!! Ey yey yey...I love you Spain!