We had churros at Rick Steves’ recommended breakfast-churros place off of Epoz y Mina. It was pretty good, and I appreciated that it wasn’t bustley. Bustle and kids don’t mix. I am really really glad that we brought the portable booster seat for Ruby. It’s come in handy. I’d also like to point out how much I love cafe con leche and cafe solo (it’s a single shot of espresso, but I think it’s a long shot… that just means that made it a little differently, if you are not familiar with coffee.)

We went to El Retiro where we explored a bit and walked around the water. We didn’t do rowing today, but we watched the ducks. We found the “brain trees” again, and took some better pictures of them to show to a former colleague of Chris, a computer game artist.

We ate at a sidewalk cafe, sort of north and east of the park. We were looking for the El Corte Ingles to pick up a picnic, but a restaurant seemes easier. We had a good tortilla and a nice fritura mixta (various fried fruits of the sea). And of course cerveza!

After lunch we headed home for nap. Napping and a picnic dinner takes up most of the afternoon and evening and we only have time to grab ice cream before bed time. It’s been really hot. Too hot for Ruby, I think. She’s been taking 2 or 3 naps a day, usually falling asleep while Chris holds her as we walk.

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 1:43 pm)

We went to Rick Steves’ recommended churro spot, it was good. We have churros at home sometime, but it’s always better when someone makes them for you! In the back of the cafe there was the “churro guy” with a big churro-batter-gun and a vat of oil. It was a beautiful thing.

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 9:33 pm)

The little birds were acting very strangely… so I took a couple of pictures. The littler ones, who seemed to be babies, were following around the bigger one flapping their little wings rather convulsively and peeping with open beaks.

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 9:52 pm)

The big one (after being followed around and peeped at by the little ones) would pick up bits of stone and sand and put it in the little ones mouths. How odd!

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 9:53 pm)

I had to repeatedly explain to C that the little fences were there to remind people not to go over them, and not that they were short so that he could go over them.

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 9:57 pm)

C sported the off-the-shoulder look for much of the trip. His new shirts are slightly too large for him, and with sink-washing and hand-wringing they became a little stretched out. They’re back to normal now!

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 9:58 pm)

Prehaps a not very interesting movie… I assume Chris took it because he thought C would enjoy watching it later. We do often review our home movies together and C loves doing this.

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 10:02 pm)

Often in the afternoons the main balcony at Hostal Helena would be closed, but the Señora let us use the second balcony, which seemed to be her laurndry balcony (where the washer was, and clothes lines). Ruby slept so much while we were out that she often did not sleep at the hostal when we came back for naptime for C. I think she slept so much because of the heat and because often someone was carrying her. I’d fall asleep too!

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 10:09 pm)

I love these ones!

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 10:09 pm)

Ruby’s hair is in her eyes of course. It’s been a constant battle for the last few weeks… maybe we should just cut it. I don’t know. Grandma Wendy got us some nice barretts in Barcelona. We’ll give those a try for a while. (Thanks Grandma!)

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 10:10 pm)

It was so hot that Ruby’s wet foot prints evaporated after about 8 – 10 seconds.

Katy(posted on Jun 27, 2006 at 10:11 pm)