Madrid

Didn't know it was possible for people to speak so fast and eat so much... Between the speed and the accents, I am having a very difficult understanding normal discourse and I haven't had a meal with less than 5 courses yet!  When people speak to me and they slow it down I'm fine, though.  I seem to be able to say pretty much what I want, but not always in the way that I want to say it.  People get it.  Elí and her family live right in the middle of everything.  Their apartment is walking distance to the art triangle, main train station, their equivalent to central park, etc.  Today is their equivalent of Christmas Eve, and then their holiday on the 6th is Reyes Magos (or Three Wise Men).  Families get together and exchange gifts.  There is a big parade through Madrid, etc.  We went to the Prado yesterday and it was spectacular!  Today I had churro con chocolate for breakfast and then played paddle tennis with Eli's brothers, which was lots of fun.  After that I got a moped tour of Madrid.  I was told that if you can drive in Madrid, you can drive anywhere in the world.  I'd have to agree- it's crazy!  Bout to go to Plaza Mayor to see the floats from the Reyes Magos parade come in and then see the Royal Palace whatever else is around there.  I've done so much more, but don't have time to write about it all... Maybe tomorrow during siesta :)