Last weekend, we took a short 3 day trip to Spain for another visa run. We had a GREAT time!!! Spain has proven to be just as fun as our friends have been telling us. We did a lot of sight-seeing and even more shopping!
We arrived on Saturday evening, an hour later than scheduled due to a late departure from our country. We quickly checked into our hotel and headed out the door to hit a store before it closed. We had done a little research and found out that most stores were closed on Sundays or had very limited hours.
So we quickly found a few items at a clothing store - H & M. We ransacked the place looking for a few prime clothing items while asking the employees in our broken Spanish if they were going to be open tomorrow, Sunday. After a few tries, I came to the conclusion that they would sadly be closed. (Spaniards speak with a sort of lisp so the Spanish words that we know sound very different here. For example: 'Adios Amigos' would sound like 'Adioth Amigoth.' So Confuthing...)
Before heading in for the night, we stopped in to listen to this band playing in an alley. They did a great rendition of 'Johnny B. Good.'
We started our Sunday with our first trip to Starbucks in over 6 months! Wearing a tank
top and shorts while eating a blueberry muffin in an air conditioned Starbucks was such a glorious time! In total, we visited Starbucks 3 times during our 3 day jaunt...fabuloso! I know what you're thinking...who goes all the way to Spain to have Starbucks right? Well, the answer is us because it doesn't exist anywhere near us.
After Starbucks, we hopped on the Metro (we really love big cities and their metros - so efficient and fun) to go to a camera store Paul heard
about that was across town. We successfully found the camera store and Paul was in love! We also came across a huge street bizarre type market. It was crazy busy and so fun!
After metro-ing back to our neck of the woods, we discovered that ALL the stores which were thought to be closed on Sunday were in fact open! What?! I think it was due to something called 'Festivos' but never really understood
what that meant. All of the shops had times listed for Monday-Saturday, time for Sunday, and time for Festivos. I may not have understood
Festivos but I did understand that it meant more shopping :)
We did a little more sightseeing and then headed out to dinner at Hard Rock Cafe where we
indulged in nachos with real pinto beans and a yummy pulled PORK barbeque sandwich :)
For you fashionistas out there, we also came back with prime fashion advice as follows:
1) Rattails are back in...2 points if you're a girl...3 points if the rattail is in 1, 2, or 3 dreadlocks.
2) Gladiator Sandals. Buckles: the more the merrier!
3) There is currently a very strong gypsy influence in Spain leading to the wearing of gypsy pants. Some people call them 'Hammer pants,' others 'Aladdin pants,' we called them something entirely different. But whatever you call them, they're all the rage for sure!
4) Fanny packs are cool again! Only this time, don't wear them around your waist. Carry them like a purse or across your chest from the left shoulder tightly underneath your right armpit...especially while riding your Vespa.
5) Bright colored high tops or pink stone washed denim are no longer just a thought from the 80's.
(Believe it or not, the following picture was taken after dinner on Sunday night...at 10 PM! Check out how bright it is still!!!)
1 comment:
Look like you had fun. Next tim ecome to Portugal. We have all that - and it's open on Sunday! We'd love to have you. Glad to see you all are doing well.
Post a Comment